Biography of 	Sincer, Louis Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller September 2000 

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Louis Sincer, painter of New Orleans, La.  There are few branches of industrial art that have
attained such prominence as that of the decoration of our homes and general surroundings and
Mr. Sincer stand. at the head of his profession and is talented and deservedly successful.  He
has devoted his attention to this useful calling for the past forty years, twenty-seven years
of which time he has been extensively engaged in contracting, in fact, one of the most
extensive in the city of New Orleans.  He was born in Natchez, Miss., in 1839, his father,
Louis Sincer, having been a native of Germany, from which country he came to the United States
when a young man, or about 1830, and located as a butcher in the city of Natcbez.  In 1847 he
took up hi. residence in the city of New Orleans, but died very soon after locating, and
although he had always been an industrious and faithful worker he was not a successful
financier, and at the time of his death left his wife, son and daughter almost penniless.
Louis Sincer, the subject of this sketch, attended school up to the death of his father, at
which time he was. compelled to abandon all thought of $ better education, and was compelled
from necessity to accept a position as first clerk in an Italian fruit stand for the sum of $6
per month, working from four o'clock in the morning to twelve o'clock at night.  He afterward
became an employe, at the coffee stand of the old St. Charles theater for $8 per month and at a
still later period he entered the employ of Arthur O'Donnell, a celebrated character of New
Orleans at that time, and a liquor dealer by occupation.  From that time until 1858 Mr. Sincer
followed various callings and then commenced to learn the painter's trade under John Breen,
with whom he remained until the strained relations between the North and south culminated in
civil war in 1861, when he espoused the cause of his section and was detailed by the
confederate government in the Dixie works at Canton, Miss., where he was engaged in the
manufacture of ambulance., gun carriages, etc., until the surrender of Vicksburg to General
Grant, at which time the works were moved to Macon, Ga.  After the termination of hostilities
Mr. Sincer returned to New Orleans, and for a short time was employed by the United States
government on the Illinois Central railroad, after which he again turned his attention to
painting, this time a. a contractor in partnership with John Kellett, but afterward became
associated in the same line of work with Adolph Conrad.  Mr. Sincer has always been interested
in the political affairs of his section, but being strongly opposed to rings and cliques, he
identified himself with the Young Men's Democratic party and has always loaned his aid to men
and measures rather than party.  For thirty-one years he has been connected with the honorable
order of Masons, in which he has attained to the council.  Since embarking in business Mr.
Sincer has executed a vast amount of work, and such has been the able manner in which it has
been performed that universal satisfaction has ever been expressed.  He is favorably known and
highly endorsed by leading architects, builders and property owners, for he has thoroughly
familiarized himself with all departments of his work, and is recognized as one of the leading
exponents of the art in New Orleans.  In 1859 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Hennessey, a
relative of the late chief of police of New Orleans, who was killed by Italians.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 499-500.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.