Herman Oransky

ORANSKY, FREEDMAN

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/5/2011 at 07:14:24

Herman Oransky, a dry good merchant of Estherville, belongs to that class of progressive, energetic and farsighted business men who in promoting individual success contribute also to the public welfare, for the advancement of a city or district does not depend so largely upon the machinery of government, or even upon the men who fill the public offices, as it does upon those who are active in controlling its trade relations. Mr. Oransky was born in Poland in 1876, a son of the Rev. J. H. and Charnow Oransky, who were natives of that country, the father being a minister of the Jewish faith. In their family were ten children all of whom were brought to America by the parents, the family home being established in Des Moines. All are yet living. One of the sons, Louis Oransky, came to Estherville in 1890 and established a drybgoods business in the corner room of the Masonic building. A few year later he removed to the Opera House block.

Herman Oransky received special training for a commercial career through a course of study in the Capital City Commercial College of Des Moines, of which he is a graduate. He also completed three years' study in the East high school of Des Moines and his initial practical experience along business lines was obtained in a clothing store of the capital city. Coming to Estherville, he entered the employ of his brother and in 1900 succeeded to the business, the store being then conducted in the Groves building which had been erected by his brother. He remained at that location for eight years and then sold out, building with his brother a modern business block, into which he removed his stock of dry goods, ladies' ready-to-wear and millinery. He occupies the entire building, which is situated on Sixth street, and he is today at the head of the oldest dry goods establishment of Estherville. He has always concentrated his efforts along this line and his progressiveness diligence and determination have constituted the salient features in his growing prosperity.

In 1906 Mr. Oransky was married to Miss Lillian May Freedman, a daughter of S. S. and Carrie (Frank) Freedman, of Corsicana, Texas. The father passed away and his remains were interred at Corsicana, where the mother still makes her home. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Oransky are two children: Merrill Bernard, born in 1907; and Cornelia, born in 1908.

Politically, Mr. Oransky is a republican and keeps well informed on the salient issues before the people. He is well known in fraternal circles, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and and the Modern Woodmen of America. He became a charter member of the Commercial Club of Estherville, of which he has been one of the directors and the president, and in this connection he has put forth every possible effort to advance the interests of the city, extend its trade relations and uphold its civic standards. His has been a well-spent, active and useful life, fruitful of good results, and Estherville numbers him among its valued and representative citizens.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.