Losekampf  
 
 

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     FRANKLIN A. LOSEKAMP, the leading merchant and influential business man of Leavenworth, Chelan county, was born at Dayton, Ohio, November 20, 1859.  His parents were natives of Hessen, Germany.  The father, Jacob Losekamp, came to the United States when thirteen years of age, but earned his title to citizenship right royally by serving in the Mexican and Civil wars.  For many years he was a merchant in Dayton, Ohio, and at St. Joseph, Missouri, dying in April, 1902, at Los Angeles, California.  The mother, Catherine (Breidenbach) Losekamp, now lives with her son at Leavenworth.
     Franklin A., our subject was reared principally in Missouri and Kansas, receiving the advantages of only a limited education, but by application in the days of early manhood, he secured a good business training.  He went to the Black Hills at the age of eighteen, where for five years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits.  About the time of the completion of the Northern Pacific railroad he went to Spokane and opened a mercantile establishment, in a tent, succeeding the great fire.  He came to Leavenworth in 1891, one year ahead of the railroad, where he established a pioneer store, was postmaster, the office at that period being named "Icicle." Our subject has four brothers living, Augustus, George and Lyman, of Los Angeles, California, and John D., a merchant at Billings, Montana.  He also has three sisters, Annie, Florence and Catherine.
     March 3, 1888, Mr. Losekamp was united in marriage, at Chicago, to Effie C. Head, born in Carlinville, Ilinois, April 17, 1868.  On August 21, 1902, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who was called from earth at the age of thirty-four years.  Mrs. Losekamp was a member of Lorraine Chapter No. 6, Seattle, Washington, 0. E. S., and had taken a great interest in this order.  Her father, William R. Head, is an Englishman, born in Rye, Sussex, England, and is at present a retired capitalist residing in Chicago.  Her mother, Martha (Neely) Head, is a native of Kentucky, being born in Franklin, Kentucky, April 22, 1838.  She was of French ancestry.  One sister of the latter was the wife of General John M. Palmer, ex-governor of Illinois.  Another sister was the wife of E. A. Sluck, of Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Mrs. Losekamp had three brothers, James, a real estate dealer of Portland, Oregon; Richard W., of Chicago; and Paul D., also of Chicago, and connected with a lake steamship line.  Her three sisters are Millie, wife of Alexander McGregor, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Sarah, wife of Charles Heydenburg, of Chicago; and Norah E. Head, residing with her parents at Chicago, Illinois.
     Our subject stands high in Masonic circles, being a member of Riverside Lodge No. 112, A. F. & A. M., of Wenatchee; Oriental Consistory No. 2, Spokane; El-Katif Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Spokane; and Everett Lodge No. 479, B. P. 0. E., Everett, Washington.  His political affiliations are with the Democratic party, and he has been a delegate to the state conventions, and is as active in political campaigns as business will warrant.  He is a public spirited, progressive man, and popular among a wide circle of acquaintances.