Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 45.

CARL DILSHEIMER

     The progress and development of any town is entirely dependent upon the
energy and enterprise manifested by its business men, and in this respect Baker
has been extremely fortunate as it numbers among the heads of its mercantile and
industrial institutions many public-spirited and enterprising citizens, who have
been most diligent in their efforts to advance the interests of the community.
Among these must be numbered Carl Dilsheimer, who together with Max Weil owns an
operates the largest department store in the city.
     He was born in Germany on the 29th of March, 1862, and is a son of Abraham
and Ernestine (Halle) Dilsheimer, who passed their entire lives in the
fatherland.  They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom became
citizens of the United States and of these four are residents of the state of
Oregon.  One daughter, Mrs. Isaac Kaufman, is living in Portland; while two
sons, Moses and Carl, our subject, and another daughter, Mrs. Max Weil, make
their home in Baker.
     Carl Dilsheimer was given the advantages of a high-school education in his
native land where he passed the first nineteen years of his life.  When ready to
begin his business career, however, he decided to come to America, believing
that in the western portion of this country he would find better advantages and
greater opportunities for advancement than were afforded in the congested
countries of Europe.  Therefore in 1881 he took passage for the United States
with Portland, Oregon, as his destination.  Although he knew very little about
the mercantile business, and still less regarding the language and business
customs of the United States, he possessed too much determination of purpose and
confidence in his own powers to become discouraged.  Soon after his arrival he
obtained a clerkship in the store of his future father-in-law, Sam Lowengart, in
East Portland.  As he was an industrious and ambitious young man, he applied
himself intelligently and earnestly to acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of
the mercantile business and American commercial methods, his efforts in this
direction meeting with well merited success.  At the end of a year he severed
his connection with Mr. Lowengart and coming to Baker took a clerkship in the
store of Heilner & Ottenheimer.  He remained in their service for six years, and
during that period by his thrift and industry accumulated sufficient capital and
knowledge of the business to feel warranted in starting an enterprise of his
own.  Together with his brother-in-law, Mr. Max Weil, he established a general
store in 1887 that during the intervening years has developed into the largest
department store in the city.  They began in a small way, but they were both men
of tireless energy and more than average business acumen, and by reason of their
close attention and careful consideration of the needs of the community as well
as their progressive methods have met with highly deserved success.  In the
development of their enterprise they have not only kept pace with the progress
of the town, but have always managed to be in advance of it.  They carry a large
and well assorted line of merchandise the quality of which is fully commensurate
with the price, and in the conduct of their business have adopted a policy that
has won for them the confidence and esteem of those with whom they have
transactions.  Their store occupies sixteen thousand, five hundred feet of floor
space and they employ on an average eighteen clerks.  Mr. Dilsheimer has
prospered during the twenty-five years of his connection with the commercial
interests of Baker and is a heavy stockholder in the Baker Loan & Trust Company
and the Copperfield Town Site Company, the latter corporation handling its own
property only.
     On the 22d of August, 1892, Mr. Dilsheimer was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Lowengart, a native of Harrisburg, Oregon, and a daughter of Sam
Lowengart, Mr. Dilsheimer's first employer in America, and his wife, whose
maiden name was Fannie Barman.  The parents are still living and now make their
home in Portland.
     Fraternally Mr. Dilsheimer is affiliated with Lodge No. 338, Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks of Baker and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  He
is an enthusiastic member of the Baker Commercial Club, and gives his
unqualified indorsement and cooperation to every progressive movement
inaugurated by this organization.  Ever since granted the right of franchise he
has voted the republican ticket, but has never been connected with the official
life of the municipality.  Although Mr. Dilsheimer has a warm regard for the
land of his birth, he has always been loyal to the United States and its
institutions, and has had no occasion to regret the transference of his
allegiance to the country in which he has prospered in his undertakings, which
led him to become one of the leading business men and most substantial citizens
of Baker county.
 
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Oregon Death Index:
Carl Dilsheimer; Baker Co; Sept. 8, 1912; Cert. # 2554
 
 
 
(This is a portion of text in this book with references to "Dilsheimer.")
 
"An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties"
Western Historical Publishing Co. 
Spokane, Washington; 1902; Page  215-216
 
     The spring of 1897 was a disastrous one in Baker City.  Early in April the
weather turned off warm, rapidly melting the accumulated snow of a rather long
winter.  The residents along the banks of Powder river expected a flood, but it
came so rapidly that they had not time to prepare for it.  The ordinarily
peaceful Powder river soon became a roaring torrent, rushing madly downward to
the Snake, and bearing upon its bosom bridges, timber and debris of many kinds.
On the 17th of April it overleaped its banks, causing much damage to city
property.  The roadbed of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, contiguous to the river,
was completely washed out, entailing a loss of several thousand dollars.  The
railway necessarily discontinued operations and once again the stage was called
into requisition.  During the ensuing twenty-four hours every bridge on the
river, within the city limits, was washed out, with one exception.  When the
Auburn avenue bridge went out not a little excitement was occasioned, for it was
reported that a number of persons had gone down with it, and as a matter of fact
several people did narrowly escape.  On Tuesday, April 20th, the weather cooled,
the river began to recede, and in due time it returned to its old channel, after
having washed out acres of valuable real estate and done damage to the extent of
several thousand dollars.  An issue of the Bedrock Democrat, which appeared a
few days after the river first overflowed, says:  "The entire span of the river
at the block bridge is filled with timbers and debris of every description and
the main part of the river is running through a channel at the east of the
bridge and circles over to the George Campbell residence.  The water before
coming to the bridge and near the rear of the Weil and DILSHEIMER residences,
runs straight and is inclined to force its way through the grade of the west
side of the bridge and on through the Jenkins property.  If another rise of the
river occurs this channel will be cut and the loss of the Weil and DILSHEIMER
residences is certain, and perhaps the Jenkins place also.  The only preventive
is to clear the bridge of debris or take it out altogether."
     "All over the north part of the city the ravages of the angry torrent of a
day or so ago are plainly to be seen and the sight causes an expression of
sympathy for the people who have been the victims of the flood.  The damage done
will take a long time and the expenditure of much money to repair."


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.