Biographical Sketch of Rudolph Loebenstein, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Rudolph Loebenstein, the well known district agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a member of a prominent and highly respected family of Warrensburg, Missouri. He was born November 11, 1865, in Atchison, Kansas, the son of Bernhard and Sarah (Aaron) Loeb- enstein, both of whom were natives of Germany. Bernhard Loebenstein was born in Datterode, Curhessen, and in that province was reared to manhood. In 1856, he emigrated from the old country and came to America where he located for a short time in the city of New York, from which he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, thence to Rolla, Missouri. At the last named city, Mr. Loebenstein engaged in the retail clothing business and later, was in the same business in Atchison, Kansas. In 1866, he moved with his family to Warrensburg, where he opened a clothing store on West Pine street. Within a brief time after coming to Warrensburg, Bernhard Loebenstein became associated in the mercantile business with Manuel Frank, and they conducted a clothing store in partnership until 1879, when Mr. Loebenstein purchased Mr. Frank's interest in the estab- lishment. Later, Mr. Loebenstein was associated in business with John H. Wilson, who is at the present time conducting the Buente Mercantile Company's establishment. During the Civil War, Bernhard Loebenstein enlisted in September, 1861, at St. Louis, Missouri, with the Second Missouri Infantry and served until September, 1862 under Captain Marder and General Osterhaus. His corps took an active part in the battles of Wilson Creek and Corinth, Mississippi, fighting under General Grant at the latter place. Mr. Lobenstein was mustered out and honorably dis- charged at Benton Barracks, Missouri. September 27, 1863, he was united in marriage with Sarah Aaron in St. Louis, Missouri, and to them were born five children: Caroline, deceased; Rudolph, the subject of this review; Bertha, Warrensburg, Missouri; Dr. Samuel, a leading dent- ist of Kansas City, Missouri; and Flora, the wife of Sylvain Kahn, of Sedalia, Missouri. The father died October 23, 1895, and interment was made in the Jewish cemetery at Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. Loebenstein was a worthy and valued member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was a thoroughly capable and strictly honorable business man, a citizen universally respected and esteemed. October 23, 1910, exactly fifteen years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Loebenstein joined him in death. Rudolph Loebenstein attended the public schools of Warrensburg and the Warrensburg State Normal School and later, was a student at Spalding's Commercial College, Kansas City, Missouri. He assisted in his father's store in his boyhood days and from 1885 until 1889, he was associated in business with the elder Loebenstein, under the firm name of B. Loebenstein & Son. For one year, Rudolph Loebenstein was on the road as traveling salesman for C. H. Garden & Company, manufacturing hatters of Philadelphia. In 1885, Mr. Loebenstein became a member of the Sons of Veterans, United States of America, gaining his right to membership from his father's service in behalf of the Union. His rise in the order was rapid, being captain of the local camp, mustering officer of the Division of Missouri, commander of the Division of Miss- ouri, chairman and member of the council-in-chief of the United States, and finally was elected major-general of the order (the third highest office in the United States) at the meeting held in St. Joseph, Miss- ouri in 1890. He presided at the meeting of the commandery-in-chief at Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1891, winning the respect and esteem of all his colleagues. In 1890, he was appointed assistant postmaster of Warrensburg, Missouri, which position he filled until August, 1892, when he was elected, at Helena, Montana, quartermaster-general of the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America, with headquarters located at Chicago, Illinois. At Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. Loebenstein was re-elected to the same position, which he filled six years. In February, 1900, Rudolph Loebenstein and E. N. Johnson, of the Peoples National Bank of Warrensburg, formed a partnership under the firm name of Johnson & Loebenstein and conducted a brokerage business at Colorado Springs, Colorado for three years. Mr. Loebenstein, in 1903, went from Colorado Springs to Sedalia, Missouri, where he was associated in the clothing business with the St. Louis Clothing Company of Sedalia until 1910. He was appointed district agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1911, which position he now holds. His territory covers the counties of Cass, Lafayette, John- son, Pettis and Jackson, exclusive of Kansas City and Independence. Mr. Loebenstein is a member of Corinthian Lodge Number 265, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Warrensburg Lodge Number 673, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also a director of the Home Service Section of the American Red Cross. Mr. Loebenstein is a quiet, unob- trusive, industrious citizen, one who, though not at all courting publicity, is very widely known throughout the state and even beyond its confines. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================