William Kassebaum, the secretary of the Herman Oak Leather Company of St. Louis, was born at Farmington, Iowa, in 1870. His father, H. A. Kassebaum, was born in Germany in 1808, emigrated to the United States in 1840, and settled in St. Louis, his occupation being that of wagon-maker. With the exception of a very short period spent in Iowa he lived the rest of his life in St. Louis, dying there in 1906. Louise (Hadaway) Kassebaum, the mother of the subject of this review, was born in Germany in 1810 and came to America with her parents when very young. Her father became a well-known contractor of St. Louis.
William Kassebaum received his education in the grammar and high schools of St. Louis and in the Business College of that city. He began his commercial career with M. Wolfheim in the hide and fur business, going in 1892 to the Herman Oak Leather Company as a clerk in the offices. In 1910 he became the secretary, a position which he holds at the present time.
During the World war he was active in all drives for the Liberty loan and Red Cross, furnishing supplies to the government from the products of his factory, besides subscribing liberally himself.
In 1902 Mr. Kassebaum was married to Miss Addelyn Helmkamp, who belonged to an old St. Louis family. They have one son, Charles Edward. Mr. Kassebaum is independent in his political thinking. In his religious faith he is a Methodist. He is a Mason, belonging to A. F. & A. M., Rose Hill Lodge, No. 550, and is a member of the Missouri Athletic Association.