Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04
HERMANN oE1R1cH's CAREER.
He Was a Successful Business Man
From the Start.

From the start.
The death of Hermann Oelrichs removes
one of the most successful business men
in New York.
He was the son Of Henry Oelrichs, a we'll
TODD merchant of German descent Of Bal
timore. Md. His mother was of the famous
May family, which was known in the Oriole
city long before the war of the revolution.
Hermann was born in Baltimore June 8,
1850, but while he was yet a lad his father
removed to New York, where after a time
he became the representative of the North
German Lloyd Steamship Company. The
son was educated in private schools in New
York, In a military school at Ossining, and
finally in Germany, whence he returned in
1871, on reaching his majority. He imme-
diately went into the business of his father
He became partner four years later and
in 1887 he became the senior partner. He
remained in that capacity until 1885, when
his other business compelled him to relin-
quish his place. That was on the one nun
dredth anniversary of Oelrichs & Co. in
business.
Mr.. Oelrichs was married in 1890 to
Theresa Alice Fair, daughter of James G.
Fair Of Nevada, and they had one child a
son, Hermann, now in his fifteenth year.
When Mr.. Oelrichs passed through New
York city to sail for the other side in June
friends were startled at the change in his
appearance Although he was near the
half century when he went to California
there was absolutely no sign of weakness
In his athletic frame. His eyes were just
as bright as ever, his skin just as clear as
1t had been two decades before, and only
a slightly increasing stoutness showed that
age was demanding its price.
When he last came to New York from the
west the color had gone from his face, the
shoulders had begun to droop and there
ho
that indicated rheumatism or govt, or per-
haps some disease Of the kidneys. He left
the city on June II, expecting to return
early in September to look after his bust
ness interests in California.
1t will not be invalid that Hermann
Oelrichs will be remembered in New York
city, where for thirty-five years he was an
interesting, picturesque, many sided and
every phase of life will recall him as one
eminent in that particular direction.
In the business world he was the head Of
the firm of Oelrichs & Co., representatives
ship Company in this country; he was the
head Of the same firm which did a large
business as exporters of wool; he was at
one time interested in Wall street; he man
aged successfully the great Fair estate dur
ing its most trying times; he was a sue
cessful investor in western real estate, and
his clear head had aided in untangling
many trying financial knots in other direc-
lions.
He won once for himself name in dem
ocratic politics and might have gone far
had he chosen to do SO. He succeeded
William Steinway as a member of the dem
ocratic national committee, and he was SO
prominently mentioned for mayor in 1888
that he was obliged to publish a card de-
claring that he would not accept the nomi-
nation, which Tammany would have given
to him. The defeat of Mr.. Cleveland that
year seemed to kill his interest and he was
never thereafter active.
AS an athlete Hermann Oelrichs will long
be remembered. Five feet eleven inches
in height, broad shouldered and inheriting
from his German ancestors magnificent
he undertook. His business visits to San
Francisco inspired In Mr.. Oelrichs love
for the coast" and after, in 1898, he re-
tired from the firm of Oelrichs & Co., he
spent much of his time in California. AS
attorney in fact for his wife he had the
investment of large sums of money in the
Inflated city, as well as his own fortune,
which was considerable. He spent little
time in New York after that, and had not
visited Newport, it is said for four years.
Both he and Mrs. Oelrichs were heavy
losers by the San Francisco disaster. but
there was no loss of confidence in the city
by the golden gate. Before his death he
had already made plans to develop his real
estate there.
Mr. Oelrichs never severed any Of his
ties in New York city. He was a member of
perhaps twenty clubs. Among them were
the Union, the Metropolitan, the New YORK
Yacht the Manhattan, the Players, the
Racquet, the Liederkranz and the New
York Athletic, in which he was one OF the
most active Of the promoters.
Although Mrs. Oelrichs is very wealthy,
the estate Of her husband was comfortable.
His fortune, 1t Is natural, will go to his
son and namesake: Mr. Oerlichs had two
eiotare Mrs William Jay and Mrs. Richard