Bio of EICHHORN, Edmund (b.1825 d.1907), 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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EDMUND EICHHORN - Vol III, pg 790-791
There is something in the recollections which twine about the memory of an
honest man vastly more grateful to the contemplation of the historian, the
biographer and the public at large than in all the éclat which may be attached
to the distinction of rank and the possession of great wealth. How much this
statement is applicable to the character and memory of Edmund Eichhorn those who
knew him best can most fully understand. For thirty-four years he was a resident
of Minneapolis and in his passing this city lost one of its honored pioneers and
representative business men.
Mr. Eichhorn was a native of Germany and his ancestors were Austrians, ranking
with the landed and governing class of that country. Members of the family moved
to Germany and F. F. Eichhorn, father of the subject of this review, settled in
the Thuringian forest, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was also a
successful manu­facturer and in public affairs he was deeply and helpfully
interested, standing high in the regard of his fellow citizens.
His son, Edmund Eichhorn, was born at Boehlen, in the principality of
Rudolstadt. on the 15th of August, 1825, and attended the common schools of that
locality until he reached the age of eleven years, when he went to the city of
Arnstadt. He became a student in a commercial college of that place, completing
his course in 1838, and then entered business life as an employe of a wholesale
and retail drug and grocery house of Arnstadt. He remained with that concern for
four years, afterward going to Ham­burg and Magdeburg, and for a time he was
employed in the counting rooms of com­mission firms of those two cities, thus
gaining valuable experience along business lines. Subsequently he accepted a
position with the large jobbing house of Boehwe & Company at Leipsic, Germany,
and for four years he acted as its traveling representative, taking a large
number of orders for the various brands of tobacco handled by that firm.
Political troubles and an adherence to the revolutionary spirit which was then
prevalent among the young men of Germany, made it apparent to Mr. Eichhorn that
it would be to his advantage to emigrate to America, where a democratic form of
government offered the freedom which he and his compatriots, Carl Schurz and
Franz Sigel, had vainly sought in the land of their birth. He arrived in the
United States in September, 1848, and selecting the west as the best field for
the achievement of material success, he located at Mayville, Wisconsin, where he
opened a country store. Later he engaged in the manufacture of potash and
continued in that business with varying success until 1857, when he came to
Minnesota. At Hastings, this state, he again entered the retail line,
establishing a grocery business, which he conducted for sixteen years, when he
disposed of his interests and removed to Minneapolis. He arrived in this city in
1873 and turned his attention to the real estate, loan and fire insurance
business, with which he was connected until his retirement from business life,
and the interests of the firm are now controlled by his son, Arthur E. Eichhorn,
a prominent business man of this city. He also became a conspicuous figure in
financial circles of Minneapolis, being one of the founders of the
German-American Bank, which was established in August, 1886, and for three years
he served as its president, or until ill health made necessary his retirement,
although he continued as a director of the insti­tution for some time afterward.
The insurance business which he organized is now operated under the name of E.
Eichhorn & Sons and is one of the leading underwriting agencies of the city,
also dealing extensively in real estate and loans. Mr. Eichhorn retired from
active association with the firm several years before his death and spent a
large portion of his time in travel, residing principally in California. In
1868, 1887 and 1889 he went abroad, touring nearly all parts of Europe and
revisiting the land of his birth. A farsighted, resourceful business man, he
displayed keen sagacity and marked executive ability in the conduct of his
interests and his initiative spirit, and powers of organization carried him into
important relations.
Although a successful business man, Mr. Eichhorn's efforts were not confined to
the promotion of his own fortunes and he gave liberally of his time and labor to
pro­mote the public welfare, leaving the impress of his individuality upon the
commercial and civic development of Minneapolis. His fellow citizens,
recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office and while a
resident of Hastings he was elected register of deeds, alderman and school
inspector. From 1882 until 1887 he represented the third ward in the common
council of Minneapolis, resigning in the latter year, and his career as a public
official was characterized by marked capability and devotion to duty.
Mr. Eichhorn was twice married. At Watertown, Wisconsin, on the 15th of August,
1852, he wedded Miss Veronica Goeldner, whose parents were natives of Bresiau,
situated in the province of Silesia, Prussia. She passed away at Minneapolis in
October, 1877, leaving two sons and two daughters: Alvin A. whose demise
occurred in 1910; Arthur E., who is connected with the firm of E. Eichhorn &
Sons; Ottilie V., who became the wife of J. W. Dreger and died in 1905; and
Helma, who married Arthur Stremel of this city. Mr. Eichhorn's demise occurred
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Stremel, on the 14th of May, 1907, when he was
eighty-one years of age, and he is survived by his widow, Mrs. Matilda Eichhorn.
He was a member of a number of clubs and musical organizations of the city,
being fond of social enjoyments and athletic amusements, and his was indeed a
well rounded development. He was a self-made man whose success was the result of
intense application, ceaseless watchful­ness of opportunity, unwavering courage
and readiness to assume responsibility. Genial, frank and open-hearted, he won
the unqualified esteem of those in every circle in which he moved, never failing
to inspire respect for his ability, confidence in his integrity and admiration
for his firmness of character. He had the greatest apprecia­tion for true worth
in others, recognizing the fact that of all things character is of the greatest
value in the world, and judged by the consensus of public opinion and the
stricter standards of the church, he measured up to the full stature of upright,
honorable manhood.