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.