Louis Bowman Albright Biography


	This biography appears on pages 129-130 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				LOUIS BOWMAN ALBRIGHT.  

	Louis Bowman Albright, a prominent pioneer citizen and merchant 
of Pierre, was born in Mount Vernon, Iowa, February 26, 1857. His 
father, Henry D. Albright, was engaged in general merchandising and was 
among the early arrivals in Dakota territory. He did not remain, 
however, but returned to Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he passed away in 
1896 at the age of seventy-four years. He was a native of Pennsylvania, 
whence he removed in 1852 to Iowa, being among Mount Vernon's oldest 
and most respected business men, In Hanover, Pennsylvania, he wedded 
Julia W. Wirtz, a native of Baltimore, and they became the parents of 
seven children, of whom Louis B. was the sixth in order of birth. Five 
of the number survive.  

	Pursuing his education in the public and high schools of Mount 
Vernon, Louis B. Albright afterward attended Cornell College at that 
place and won his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the 
class of 1877. He taught school and read law during the following three 
years, thus providing for his own support while preparing for a 
professional career. In 1880 he was admitted to the Iowa bar and in 
September of the same year arrived in Pierre, where he found employment 
in connection with the survey work of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad Company. As soon as the railway was able to handle shipments 
he ordered the necessary stock and engaged in the lumber and building 
supply business, continuing therein until 1886, when he disposed of his 
interests and with his associates in the former line purchased the 
wholesale grocery business of Ward & Frick, continuing the conduct of 
the trade under the firm style of Albright & West. In 1891 the title 
was changed to L. B. Albright & Company and in 1910, on the 
incorporation of the business, Mr. Albright was chosen president, which 
position he still fills and as the head of the house bends his energies 
to administrative direction and executive control, his well formulated 
plans finding expression in the continued success of the business, 
which is today one of the foremost commercial enterprises of the 
capital city. He is also a director of the Pierre National Bank and the 
secretary and one of the directors of the Hild Canning Company, a most 
important productive industry. He is likewise largely interested in 
city real estate and his judicious investments bring him a gratifying 
annual return.  

	It has not been business interests alone that have gained for Mr. 
Albright the prominence which is today his. In other connections he has 
served the city's interests and promoted her welfare. He was mayor of 
Pierre for three terms and gave to the capital a businesslike 
administration, in which he safeguarded municipal interests with the 
same care and thoroughness that he has ever displayed in the management 
of his individual business concerns. He was also clerk of the courts 
for two and a half years. He is fond of outdoor sports of all kinds, 
particularly hunting, fishing, golf and baseball. There is another side 
of his nature of which he speaks but little and yet which is largely 
recognized - frequent and generous contributions to various charitable 
institutions and causes. As success has come to him he has reached out 
a helping hand to those less fortunate and in this way has shed around 
him much of life's sunshine.