Bio: Loether, Richard H. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Loether, Meyerzedt, Curry, Wolf, Boemer 

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 778-779 

Richard H. Loether, president of the Eau Claire Bedding Company, was born at Blackhawk, Sauk county, Wis., April 1, 1861; son of Ernst and Elizabeth (Meyerzedt) Loether, natives of Prussia and Austria respectively. The father served as a soldier in the Germany army the regular period of three years and in the early fifties emigrated to the United States, settling at Blackhawk, Wis., where he later married. He was among the pioneer farmers of that section of the state, clearing and improving a farm of 220 acres, which, in later life, he sold and moved to Eau Claire, where he died at the residence of his son, Richard, in 1910, at the age of 76. His children were: Reynold, Richard H., Ernst U. F., Alfred B. and Lena (deceased). 

Richard H. was reared on the old homestead in Sauk county, where he attended the district and public schools of Sauk City and Baraboo. At the age of sixteen he began teaching a country school and followed that vocation until 1882, when he came to Eau Claire, where he was variously employed until 1884; at one time he was chief clerk under Stephen Curry, of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, at Altoona, when that city was first started. In 1883 he went to Chippewa Falls, where he acted as clerk in a general store until the Spring of 1884, and in May of that year, embarked in the grocery business in that city continuing until September of the same year, when the great flood destroyed everything he had and left him practically penniless.

He then returned to Eau Claire and followed teaming for several years, then resumed his former occupation as clerk, working in that capacity until 1890, when he became bookkeeper for John Walter & Company, when that concern started in business, and continued with them until 1905, when his health gave out. After recuperating he engaged in his present business as the head of the Eau Claire Bedding Company, which concern was incorporated in 1902, with a capital of $5,000. The company are manufacturers and jobbers of mattresses, pillows, cushions, iron beds, springs, cots, cribs, go-carts, etc.  John and Margaret Boemer, and they are the parents of three children: Olga E., a teacher in the public schools of Eau Claire; Ernie J., a graduate of the Agricultural department of the University of Wisconsin, is now engaged in farming at Holcombe, Wis., and Eda. Mr. Loether is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and was first lieutenant of John Bar Glen's Division, U. R. K. of P., that received first prize of the world for military drill. He served eight years in the Wisconsin National Guards under Captain Wolf, of Old Abe Eagle Regiment fame, part of the time as a non-commissioned officer and also as private military secretary to Captain Wolf. For nearly twenty years he served as a member of the Eau Claire school board, twice as president, and is now president of the Eau Claire county training school board, and is also a member of the Eau Claire Public Library board. He is deeply interested in educational and agricultural matters and has the best reference on agricultural matters of any one in Eau Claire county. At the time he first became a member of the school board he was the first one to insist upon and get the first appropriation to start the kindergarten system in the public schools of Eau Claire.