Rudolph Loebenstein was born 11 November 1865 in Atchison, Kansas to Bernhard and Sarah (Aaron) Loebenstein. His father was a prominent businessman in the clothing industry before and after his service in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Rudolph’s father, Bernhard, was born 12 July 1836 and raised in Datterode, Curhessen, Germany. He immigrated to America and briefly stayed in New York City, St. Louis, and finally Rolla, Missouri in 1856. In Rolla, Bernhard worked in the retail clothing business. It would only be a few short years before he would answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to fight for the Union.

Bernhard enlisted in the Union Army’s 2nd Missouri Infantry in September 1861 while in St. Louis, Missouri. He served under Capt. Marder and Gen. Osterhaus for one year. His corps participated in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the Battle of Corinth fighting under Gen. Grant. Private Loebenstein was mustered out and honorably discharged at Benton Barracks, Missouri in September 1862.

Following his duty in the Civil War, Bernhard married Sarah Aaron in St. Louis, Missouri on 27 September 1863. Together, Bernhard and Sarah were blessed with five children: Caroline, Rudolph, Bertha, Samuel, and Flora. It is unknown where Caroline was born, but the family moved to Atchison, Kansas prior to Rudolph’s birth as he was the next born and the only child born in Kansas.

In 1866, Bernhard moved his family to Warrensburg, Missouri where he opened a clothing store on West Pine Street. He became associated with others in the mercantile business, creating a partnership until he purchased his partner’s interest of the business in 1879. Bernhard was also active in various organizations including the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Bernhard died 23 October 1895 survived by his wife and four children. He was interred in the Jewish Cemetery of Sedalia, Missouri. Exactly fifteen years later, Rudolph’s mother, Sarah died on 23 October 1910. She, too, was survived by four children and was interred next to her late husband.

Rudolph attended Warrensburg’s public schools and the Warrensburg State Normal School, and later Spalding’s Commercial College in Kansas City, Missouri. He assisted with his father’s business as a child and from 1885 to 1889 was associated with his father in business as B. Loebenstein & Son.

In 1885, Rudolph became a member of the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America. It wasn’t long before he became the camp’s Commander, then mustering officer of the Division of Missouri. In 1889, he became the Commander of the Division of Missouri. He also served as Chairman and member of the Council-in-Chief of the United States. Only five years after joining, in 1890, Rudolph was elected Major-General at the St. Joseph, Missouri meeting. During that time, he was the third highest ranked officer in the National Department of the United States.

Rudolph chaired the meeting of the Commander-in-Chief at Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1891. Another post he held from 1890 until August 1892 was Assistant Postmaster of Warrensburg, Missouri. He gave this position up when he was elected Quartermaster-General of the Sons of Veterans in a Helena, Montana meeting. His headquarters were located in Chicago, Illinois. At a meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loebenstein was reelected, and he retained the position for another six years.

Rudolph Loebenstein became quite the businessman. His ventures included Johnson & Loebenstein, a brokerage business he developed with a partner in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1900-1903, an association with the St. Louis Clothing Company of Sedalia from 1903-1910, and as the district agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin beginning in 1911.

Besides his activeness in the Sons of Veterans, Loebenstein was also a member of the Corinthian Lodge #265, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Warrensburg Lodge #673, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was also the director of the Home Service Section of the American Red Cross.

Rudolph Loebenstein, PDC never married. He died 18 March 1929 in Warrensburg, Missouri at 63 years of age. He is interred in Hebrew Union Cemetery in Sedalia, Missouri next to his parents, Bernhard and Sarah.

Cockrell, Ewing.  “Biographies for Warrensburg Township.”   History of Johnson County, Missouri.  Topeka.  1881.

Gage, Erica.  “Missouri State Archives - Death Records Certificates.”   Missouri Secretary of State.  State of Missouri Government.  30 Dec 2006   <http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/>.

Graham, PCC, Tim.  Portrait photograph of Rudolph Loebenstein.  James A. Garfield Camp #142, Department of Ohio.

Willick, George C.  “Pettis County, Missouri : Hebrew Union Cemetery.”   gwillick.com.  04 Jun 2003.  RootsWeb.com.  30 Dec 2006 <http://gwillick.com/Pettis/cem/HebrewCem.html>.