Bio of DUENSING, Louis (b.1834 d.1901), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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LOUIS DUENSING - Vol II, pg 701-702
Louis Duensing, who enjoyed the distinction of being the first grain dealer in
Minneapolis, departed this life on the 28th of November, 1901. He had then
attained the age of sixty-seven years, for his birth occurred March 13, 1834, in
Hanover, Ger­many. There he acquired his education and spent the period of his
minority, crossing the Atlantic to America in 1857. He first made his way to
Chicago, where he remained until the spring of 1866 and during that period he
was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade and was engaged in the grain
business. At length he left the city by the lake to become a resident of
Minneapolis, where he entered the foundry of Lee & Hardenburg. He continued in
that line of business until about 1874, when he gave it up on account of his
health, and in 1875 he turned his attention to the grain trade, being the first
to establish a grain, feed and flour business in this city. In this line he
continued throughout his remaining days and was long honored as the pioneer
grain merchant of Minneapolis. He was actuated by a spirit of unremitting
industry and progress in all that he undertook and in the course of years he
built up a business of very large and satisfactory proportions. He was also one
of the charter members of the Chamber of Commerce, which he aided in organizing.
Mr. Duensing was well known in Masonic circles and advanced beyond the blue
lodge until he had attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He
was ever loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft and its beneficent
spirit actuated him in all of his relations with his fellowmen.
On the 29th of January, 1863, Louis Duensing was united in marriage, in Chicago,
to Miss Wilhelmina Duensing, who was his playmate in Germany during their
child­hood days and who also came to America in 1857, taking up her abode in
Chicago. To the marriage of this worthy couple five children were born: Bertha,
who was born in Chicago and died in infancy; George, also a native of Chicago;
Julius, who died in infancy; Louise, at home; and Minnie, the wife of Frank T.
Howes, a resident of St. Paul. The death of Mr. Duensing occurred November 28,
1901. His wife survived for many years, passing away March 2, 1918. Two
daughters, as indicated, are yet living and it has been but a few months since
their brother, George Duensing, was called to his final rest. He was practically
a lifelong resident of Minneapolis, here acquiring his education in the public
schools, and before his textbooks were put aside he had entered the grain trade
in connection with his father, being at the time but a lad of eleven years. He
worked with his father before and after school hours and thus when quite young
became familiar with the grain trade. He supplemented his public school
instruction by a course of study in a business college in Minneapolis and was
thus further qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He continued
to engage in the grain, hay and feed business to the time of his death. He
assisted his father in the management and development of the trade until the
father's demise and then assumed entire control of a business which grew in
volume and importance as the years passed. George Duensing, like his father, was
a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Both were broad-minded men, liberal in
their views in both religious and political affairs. They were most generous in
giving to the needy and their benevolence was always bestowed without
ostentation or display. Like his father, George Duensing measured up to the
highest standards of manhood and citizenship, while in business circles he
enjoyed an unassailable reputation for integrity and reliability, as well as
enterprise. He closed out his business on the 31st of December, 1918, and
retired to private life to enjoy a rest which he had truly earned and richly
deserved. In less than four years, however, death called him and he passed away
on the 24th of October, 1922.