LOUIS JACOB BINDER
Ludwig Jackob Binder was born February 4, 1898, in Day County, South Dakota to Ernst Jakob Binder and Katherine Heinrich. (His Delayed Certificate of Birth issued in 1942 states he was born in the town of Butler, however the certificate of his christening, dated May 16, 1898, states he was born in Bristol.) Louis was the third of four children, and was the first-born son. The names of Louis and his siblings were later Americanized, and Ludwig became know thereafter as Louis Jacob. See the entire Binder family here.
By early 1902, Louis and his family moved to what would soon become the state of Oklahoma, settling near Shawnee, Pottowatomie County. Other Binder family members came from South Dakota and settled nearby, as did Louis' maternal grandparents. The following year, Louis' father died of typhoid fever. At the age of 12, Louis was confirmed in St. John's Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Oklahoma. As a young adult, Louis had several jobs in the Shawnee area. According to the 1940 U. S. Census, the highest grade of school completed by Louis was the eighth. On February 13, 1920, Louis and Florence Louise Harris obtained a marriage license in Tecumseh, Pottowatomie County, Oklahoma, but the license went unused. Two days later, on February 15, 1920, the couple were married by a justice of the peace in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. To this union, one child was born: Ernest Jacob. By 1930 Louis, Florence and Ernest had moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Ernest was employed as a bill poster. In Tulsa, Louis became the owner of Binder Neon after purchasing the ?? Neon Company. Binder Neon made many of the classic neon signs seen in the Tulsa area and beyond. In December 1939, Louis filed for divorce from Florence, alleging risque and promiscuous behavior on her part. The divorce was finalized and granted January 19, 1940. Florence eventually left the Tulsa area, and it is believed she moved to Detroit to be near her family members. Louis died on January 15, 1976 at his home, 739 N. Florence, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is buried in Fairview Shawnee Cemetery, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Click the links in blue to learn more about Louis' parents, siblings, spouses, children, and to see photos. |
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