Herman Umbstaetter

Herman Umbstaetter
Herman Umbstaetter
Born	Herman Daniel Umbstaetter; February 26, 1851; Parma, Ohio, U.S.
Died	November 25, 1913 (aged 62); Lovell, Maine, U.S.
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Founding The Black Cat
Spouse	Nelly Littlehale (m. 1893)
Children	1

Herman Daniel Umbstaetter (February 26, 1851 – November 25, 1913) was an American businessman and founder of the magazine The Black Cat.^[2]

Early life

Umbstaetter was born on February 26, 1851, in Parma, Ohio the son of Charles Umbstaetter and Helen Hege. He later moved to Cleveland.^[2]

Career

Umbstaetter had become wealthy in the advertising and publishing business in Baltimore by the late 1880s.^[1]^[3]^[4] In 1886, he attempted to start a magazine in Boston, proposing to price it at ten cents, but was unable to get funding.^[3] He worked in the United Kingdom for a while, but lost his fortune and returned to the US, spending some time in California before settling in Boston in 1891. He again attempted to find capital to start a magazine and was again rebuffed. He finally launched The Black Cat in 1895, having saved enough money to start it on his own account.^[3]^[4]

He began to have health problems in 1912, and that year he sold The Black Cat to Samuel Cassino, the publisher of Little Folks.^[5]^[6]

Personal life

He married artist Nelly Littlehale in Boston in 1893. They had a daughter called Amo.^[7]

Death

On November 25, 1913, Umbstaetter and Howard Palmer went on a hunting expedition on the shore of Kezar Lake in the Maine woods. Umbstaetter stumbled as he tried to cross a stone wall and fell, resulting in his rifle accidentally discharging and a bullet passing through the left side of his body. He was taken to a cottage and a surgeon and trained nurse were obtained. He died at two o'clock in the afternoon from his wounds.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b Mott (1957), pp. 428–431.
^ ^a ^b Bessom, Harold E. (October 1920). "The Story of The Black Cat". The Black Cat. Vol. 25, no. 12. pp. 84–85. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bessom (1920), pp. 84–85.
^ ^a ^b Anonymous (1898), pp. 99–103.
^ Mott (1957), pp. 428–431.
^ Anonymous (May 1912), pp. 79–80.
^ ^a ^b "Founder of Black Cat Dead: Herman D. Umbstaetter Fatally Wounded While Gunning in Maine". Boston Evening Transcript. Vol. 84, no. 279. November 26, 1913. p. 22. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[:1-1] Mott (1957), pp. 428–431.

[:42-2] Bessom, Harold E. (October 1920). "The Story of The Black Cat". The Black Cat. Vol. 25, no. 12. pp. 84–85. Retrieved November 4, 2022.

[:4-3] Bessom (1920), pp. 84–85.

[:3-4] Anonymous (1898), pp. 99–103.

[:12-5] Mott (1957), pp. 428–431.

[6] Anonymous (May 1912), pp. 79–80.

[Boston-7] "Founder of Black Cat Dead: Herman D. Umbstaetter Fatally Wounded While Gunning in Maine". Boston Evening Transcript. Vol. 84, no. 279. November 26, 1913. p. 22. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

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