Biography - THEODORE CHRISTIAN LOEHR

Theodore Christian Loehr, for more than thirty years identified with the commercial interests of Carlinville, during which time he has been conducting a drug store, was born in this city on the 30th of September, 1862. He is of German extraction, his parents John Christopher and PYiederika (Knabner) Loehr both being natives of that country. The father emigrated to the United States in 1857 locating in Carlinville, where he and his wife continue to make their home. In the early years of his residence here he became associated with W. H. Steinmeyer in the general mercantile business, with whom he was connected for several years, and later was alone in the business until his retirement in 1907. He has always been one of the public-spirited, enterprising and progressive citizens, who has interested himself very largely in advancing the community in every way possible. To Mr. and Mrs. John Loehr were born seven children, who are living, while they also have twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The members of their immediate family are as follows: Paulina, now Mrs. William Surman, who has eight children; Adolph; Theodore C., our subject; Gustav; Mathilda, the wife of Emil Johnson, who has two children; Theresa; and Ida. The family all attend the Lutheran church of which the parents are earnest members, Mr. Loehr being a deacon. He has always taken an active interest in municipal affairs and represented the second ward in the city council at one time. His long period of residence here entitles him to membership in the Old Settlers Club by means of which he maintains relations with those with whom he shared the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He and his wife together with the younger members of their family live in one of the many pleasant residences of Carlinville, among whose citizens they number many friends.

The Lutheran parochial, public and high schools of Carlinville provided Theodore Christian Loehr with such educational advantages as he enjoyed, after the completion of which he began his commercial career. In 1878 he entered the employ of T. H. Steinmeyer, a druggist of this city, with whom he remained for two years, at the end of which time he went to St. Louis. There he entered the College of Pharmacy, from which institution he was awarded his degree with the class of 1882. During the ensuing two years he followed his profession in a pharmacy in St. Louis, and returning to Carlinville purchased the drug store of Robertson & Glass. He has one of the best equipped and modern pharmacies in the county, and enjoys an excellent patronage.

At St. Louis Mr. Loehr married Miss Minnie Steinmeyer, a daughter of David and Christina (Kinner) Steinmeyer, residents of that city but natives of Germany. Mr. Loehr passed away in 1901, leaving two children, Theodore Edwin and Adele Marie.

Fraternally Mr. Loehr is identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a member of Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P. He also belongs to the Macoupin Club and Macoupin County Fair Association. He maintains relations with his profession through the medium of his membership in the American Pharmaceutical Association and the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association, having at one time been president of the latter organization. He is president of the Macoupin Telephone & Telegraph Company, and holds the same office on the Carlinville Cemetery Board, while he is one of the trustees of Blackburn University. Politically he is a democrat and has served in various public capacities, having been alderman from the second ward for one term, 1889 to 1891, and a member of the board of education for six years. He is one of the estimable citizens and highly respected business men of Carlinville, whose success must be largely attributed to his upright principles and standard of integrity.

Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 642-643.