History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, profusely illustrated with portraits of early pioneers, rare pictures and scenes of olden times, and portraits of representative citizens of today, [Vol. 2]

BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

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recognized as the leading cigar and tobacco store in this section of the State.
By industry, integrity, and affability of manner he built up a prosperous
business which now comprises twenty-three stores located in growing cities
in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The original store on Genesee
Avenue still occupied by the large concern, is the headquarters of the extensive business, which for several years has been ably managed by Harry E.
Oppenheimer, a nephew of the founder.
The nature of his business brought Mr. Oppenheimer in contact with a
very large circle of acquaintances, by whom he was held in high regard, and
his store was the rendezvous of many of Saginaw's prominent citizens. He
was progressive, substantial in business affairs, and possessed of an interesting personality which made him many friends and more than ordinarily extensive acquaintances. Although taking a keen interest in everything pertaining to the city's welfare, he gave little attention to politics and never
cared for public office. In his fraternal relations with his fellow men he
was likewise reserved, his only affiliations being the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he became a member of the local lodge in 1910.
Mr. Oppenheimer never married, but for years made his home with a
brother, Benjamin Oppenheimer, who died in 1904. He continued his residence with his brother's family, at 1213 Genesee Avenue, until his death which
occurred January 8, 1915. Of his immediate relatives are two sisters, Mrs.
Dan Daniels and Mrs. Sam Ottenrider, of Little Rock, Arkansas, two
nephews, Harry E. Oppenheimer of this city, and Frank Oppenheimer of
Toledo, and also his nieces, Mrs. Lowry Pierson, Misses Cora and Stella
Oppenheimer of Saginaw, and Mrs. Thomas Heggie of Joliet Illinois.
HARRY E. OPPENHEIMER
One of the most progressive and successful business men of the younger
enterprising class of citizens is Harry E. Oppenheimer, the president and
manager of the largest tobacco business in this section of Michigan. He was
born at Richmond, Indiana, February 10, 1872. His parents were Benjamin
and Caroline Kline Oppenheimer, the father being a native of Niederrodenbach Hesse Castle, a province of Hesse Nassau, Prussia. The family emigrated to America about 1850 and settled at Massilon, Ohio, where the father,
Moses Oppenheimer, engaged in the clothing business. Benjamin Oppenheimer died in 1904. Mrs. Oppenheimer resides at the family homestead,
1213 Genesee Avnue.
Harry Oppenheimer received his early education in Richmond, and had
passed the grammar school grades when, in 1884, he came with his father's
family to East Saginaw. His ambition and activity of mind was early manifested by his working during school vacations and at odd times in his uncle's
cigar store, which had been established by Sam Oppenheimer at the old stand
210 Genesee Avenue. After completing his schooling Harry continued in
the cigar and tobacco business, and by industry, strict integrity and devotion
to the interests of his uncle, he became the mainstay and guiding spirit of
the enterprises in which Sam Oppenheimer and himself established. As years
passed the business expanded and branch stores were opened in thriving
cities, so that today the Oppenheimer Cigar Company owns and operates a
chain of tobacco stores in Michigan and in the States immediately adjoining
on the South.
Although actively concerned in the management of the large business so
well established many years ago, Mr. Oppenheimer still finds time to devote
to other enterprises and projects calculated to enhance the prosperity of
Saginaw. He strongly believes in investing personal funds in home indus