# Hugo Siepmann

Richard Hugo Siepmann known as Hugo Siepmann (German pronunciation:; 24 May 1868 – 4 October 1950) was a German industrialist, philanthropist and gentleman farmer. He is most notably known for being one of the founders of the Siepmann concern, once Germany's second largest drop steel foundry. Between 1933 and 1938, Siepmann served as president of the IHK Arnsberg. From 1939 he was appointed honorary president.

## Early life and education

Richard Hugo Siepmann was born on 24 May 1868, in Hagen, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, the third of six children, to Heinrich-Wilhelm Siepmann (1827-1902), originally hailing from Schwelm, and Louise (née Siepmann; 1828-1899). His father was the proprietor of the lumber wholesale company H. W. Siepmann which he operated in the second generation. This business would later be taken-over by Siepmann's eldest brother August Siepmann (1861-1894).
Siepmann grew-up in an Evangelical family and through his father's business relations, was able to secure a commercial apprenticeship at J.C. Söding & Halbach, a steel manufacturing company, in Hagen. He initially worked there until being deployed by his brother Emil Siepmann to lead the commercial department of Peters & Company in Warstein.

## Career

In 1892, he was deployed by his brother Emil Siepmann, who took-over the management of Peters & Company in Warstein. Their common brother-in-law bought the former Hüsing & Co plant who went into bankruptcy and continued to produce under new management and name.
Siepmann, popularly known as Schippen-Hugo, was active in the distribution of the steel products, which were mainly used in the agricultural sector. Over time, the company was completely converted to drop forging. In 1916 a new hammer was built with an 85 ton anvil. That was the heaviest hammer that existed in a production plant in Germany at the time. All bridges from Soest to Warstein had to be reinforced for its transport to Siepmann's works. The company had been an important supplier to the bicycle and later to the automobile and railroad industries since the turn of the century. Siepmann was also active as a patron in his workforce and the place.
His first public endowment was in 1907, when he contributed 5 Goldmark (approximately $3,200 in 2024), to the construction the Equestrian Monument in Windhoek (then German South West Africa). In 1916, he and his brother Emil, contributed over 45,000 Papiermark (approximately $150,000 in 2024) to a variety of philanthropic causes. In 1921, the Siepmann brothers donated 250,000 Papiermark (approximately $800,000 in 2024) for the construction of the Warburg children's home, an orphanage, on the North German island of Norderney. Additionally, Siepmann was among the founders and patrons of the Kriegsstiftung des Kreises Arnsberg, which provided aid to families affected from World War I.
Siepmann held numerous honorary posts and was on the Board of Directors for the Warstein Saving's Union (Sparkasse). Since 1935, Siepmann was a board member (supervisory board), of Maschinenbau-Aktiengesellschaft (English: Mechanical Engineering Corporation) in Kassel (previously known as Beck & Henkel).

## Personal life

In 1897, Siepmann married Louise Emilie Johanna (née Lämmerhirt; 1876-1962), daughter of Alfred Lämmerhirt and Emilie Schmiedt. His father in-law hailed from a well-established family of lawyers, judges and politicians in Stolberg (Harz) and was primarily known for his industrial activities in the Ruhr valley during the late 1800s. He founded the machinery factory Lämmerhirt & Brandenburg in 1872, which would ultimately turn into Westphalia Dinnendahl Gröppel (WEDAG). She was partially raised in Winterthur, Switzerland, while her father held a management position at Sulzer Brothers. Her brother Fritz Lämmerhirt had been a senior officer in the Prussian Army. The couple had three children;
* Louise Emilie Margarethe "Grete" Siepmann(1898-1990), married Georg Dassel (1881-1944), a marble manufacturer, of Allagen, a son of Georg Dassel, Sr.; four children.
* Alfred Hugo Heinrich Siepmann (1899-1974), businessman, politician and former military officer, involved in a variety of companies such as Siepmann, Dresdner Bank (banking) and Gerling-Konzern (insurance); married firstly to Jenny Wilkesmann, an heiress to the Rautenbach concern; three five children, married secondly to Annaliese Bobring, his former secretary.
* Rudolf Richard "Walter" Siepmann (1902-1985), engineer and main heir to Siepmann; married to Johanna Luise Trebs (1905-1986), a daughter of Dr. Carl L. Trebs and Josefa Trebs (née Wilke); four children.
Siepmann died on October 4, 1950, aged 82. His elder brother died only three weeks later, aged 87. With both patrons of the largest employer of the region a ceremonial march was held with several hundred attendees.