Biography of 	John H. Wendt, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller September 2000

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John H. Wendt.  If it be true that no commercial or manufacturing enterprise of magnitude can
be successfully carried on without the aid of adequate capital, no matter how lavishly it may
be furnished, it is valueless unless controlled and directed in its application, by that
knowledge acquired by long practical experiments.  When the two elements are in combination
with an active spirit of enterprise, success is the sure result, and of that kind which
reproduces itself in an extended reputation.  An interesting example of success in the conduct
of an industrial enterprise is afforded in the history of the Orleans Manufacturing company of
New Orleans; La., manufacturers of coffins and casket linings, robes, etc.  It was commenced on
a much smaller scale in 1885, and has steadily increased, until at the present time it is the
largest enterprise of its kind anywhere south of the Ohio river, and the manufactory at new
Orleans in complete in every detail, the equipment of machinery and trade appliances
representing everything calculated to lessen cost and improve production.  The work of this
establishment will compare most favorably with that of other establishment, of like nature, and
this is especially true of their burial robes, for in this line they have become famous.  The
company manufactures coffins in every variety of wood finish, their white goods being
especially noticeable and beautiful in design, the output reaching upward of 100 daily, and a
trade has been established that reaches through Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
and Florida, and many shipments of burial robes are made to the Pacific coast.  They expect
soon to engage in the manufacture of cloth-covered casket, and enjoy every facility for turning
out the belt description of work in their line.  Strict attention is given to the details of
their work and the immense productive capacity of the factory combined with their facilities
for obtaining stock from the best sources of supply enables the company to offer the trade,
both at home and abroad, inducements which their competitors can not duplicate.  John H. Wendt,
the secretary of the company, was born in New Orleans in 1854 a son of Henry and Anna Adelaide
Wendt, the former of whom was born in Germany and came to the United States when a young man,
working himself up in the commercial and business world to that of a manufacturer of smoking
tobacco.  The building in which the factory was still stands and is located at the corner of
Caliope and Magazine streets, and this was where John H. Wendt was born.  The father died about
1855, when about forty years of age, but his widow survives him at the age of seventy-five
years and is still well preserved.  John H. was educated by his mother in the city schools and
after a time graduated at the Soule' Commercial college, paying his tuition through his own
exertions.  His first occupation was u a clerk in the stationery and fancy good house of W. E.
Seebold, where he served faithfully for eight years, and upon leaving this establishment became
a bookkeeper and salesman of A. H. Nelson, stationer, for a time, after which he went to
Woodville, Miss., and became bookkeeper for L Gunst & Bro., after which he was with the
extensive mercantile concern operated by Picard & Well, of Bayou Sara, La., as accountant.
After the death of his first wife he returned to the city, became the bookkeeper for F. D.
Becker, the wholesale grocer, and was next with the Property Holders' Insurance company, being
its first secretary, which was fortunate in securing Mr. Wendt's services.  He still retains an
interest in the company, being one of its directors and a member of its finance committee.
Soon after the organization of the Orleans Manufacturing company he became its secretary, and
through his efforts and the efforts of his brother officers, the company do the largest
business of the kind in the South.  The office is at the works, corner of South Peters and
Girod streets, the officers being: F. B. Johnson president; J. H. Wendt, secretary, and 0. J.
West, 
manager.  They are all enterprising and liberal men, and it is pleasant to know that they are
successful and the demand for their goods steadily increasing.  In promoting the industry of
New Orleans through the manufacture of goods of uniform quality, the officers are entitled to
the esteem in which they are held in the community.  Mr. Wendt was married in 1884, to Miss Ida
May Chisholm, of Woodville, Miss., and after her death he took for his second wife Mrs. A. T.
Estel, daughter of a prominent old merchant of New Orleans, Mr. H. Pohlmann.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 502.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.