Louise Markscheffel


Louise Markscheffel was an American literary and society editor, as well as dramatic, musical and literary critic.

Early years and education

Louise Weber was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1857. Her mother's father was the president of one of the Cantons of Switzerland. His daughter, Kathrina Zimmerman, fell in love and eloped with Caspar Weber, a teacher in a Swiss university. The young couple came to the United States, finally fixing their home in Toledo. There, in a strange land, after a hand-to-hand struggle with poverty during those earlier years, Mrs. Weber died during childbirth, bringing Louise the youngest of her children, into the world. Louise's siblings included: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Jacob, Minnie, Emma, John, Helena, Flora, and Gustave.
When but two weeks old, Louise was taken by her father's brother, George Weber, and his wife, to be brought up by them as their own child. She attended the public schools and showed great aptness as a scholar, but at the age of fifteen, her school career was brought to a close by her betrothal and marriage.

Career

She married Carl Markscheffel, a prosperous business man of large property on October 15, 1872. Markscheffel & Co. engaged in wholesale liquors, fancy groceries, and cheese. Four years later her son, Carlos, was born. She was widowed in August, 1892, after her husband suffered a long and painful illness.
Markscheffel began her regular literary work around 1888, when continued misfortunes had caused the husband's loss of fortune and bereft him of health and ambition. She became the literary and society editor of the Toledo Sunday Journal. Her work immediately became a marked feature of the publication. She created social columns that were absolutely unique, and delightful even to those who cared nothing for the news details. Her leaders sparkled with bright comments upon things in general, with witty sayings, mingled with pathetic incidents, while underneath ran a current of kindly thought. She was an excellent dramatic, musical and literary critic. She occasionally found time to contribute short stories and sketches to eastern papers.

Selected works

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