Biography of 	ODENHEIMER, Sigmund, Odenheim, GER., then Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller April 1998

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Odenheimer, Sigmund, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed 
citizens in New Orleans, having taken a position of prominence in the 
development of cotton manufacturing, as well as the civic and industrial 
interests of his state and community.  He was born in Odenheim, Baden, 
Germany, in 1862, a son of Seligman and Mina (Reinach) Odenheimer, the 
former having been engaged in a mercantile business in Baden, which he 
conducted very profitably until his death in 1885.  Mina Reinach, his 
wife, was a native of Sinsheim.  The subject of this sketch, after 
availing himself of the educational advantages afforded by the town of 
his nativity, entered the Polytechnicum, at Karlsruhe, Germany, where 
he devoted 2 years to the study of engineering, and where he graduated 
with signal honors.   After completing his scholastic work, Mr. Odenheimer 
sailed for America, landing in New York, where he resided for 1 year.  
From New York he came to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and became associated with 
the cotton mills of that city, where his remarkable talent soon 
accentuated itself, and he became manager of the plant, in which capacity 
he served for five years.  He later moved to Natchez, Miss., where he 
assumed the management of the cotton mills of that place, and where he 
remained until he accepted the position of manager of the Lane Cotton 
mills in New Orleans, which incumbency he has filled most admirably  
ever since.  In addition to this responsible position, Mr. Odenheimer 
has conducted the affairs of the Maginnis mills, of New Orleans, and 
the mills at Wesson, Miss.  He is well known as a man of splendid business 
qualifications and indefatigable energy.  He is the original inventor 
of the "Odenheimer" cotton bagging, which is manufactured from cotton
instead of jute, as is the case with other coverings for cotton bales.  
Mr. Odenheimer is a member of the New England and American Cotton 
Manufacturers associations.  He has also served on the state board of 
health of Louisiana, and the association of commerce, of New Orleans,
being on the committee on manufacturing, and has always identified 
himself with every effort for the betterment of his commonwealth.  He is 
a member of Temple Sinai, of New Orleans.  In 1898 Mr. Odenheimer led to 
the altar a daughter of Julius Freyhan, a  wealthy and prominent citizen
of the "Crescent" city.  To Mr. and Mrs. Odenheimer have been born 3 
children, as follows:  Marian,  Alice, and  Freyhan, who reside with 
their parents in their palatial home.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), 
pp. 334-335.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century 
Historical Association.

Note: Original source includes a photo of Mr. Odenheimer.