Son of Wolf Elkan Naumburg and Rifka Naumburg, Louis (born Lazarus) Naumburg came from the Bavarian village of Treuchtlingen, one of seven siblings. Descended from a family of cantors, Louis would continue that tradition. He married Helen Levy, and there first son Max was born in 1847. The following year, the family settled in the United States. Starting in 1850, Naumburg served as hazzan of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel at Philadelphia and headed a religious school there as well. In 1865 he took the position of minister of Rodeph Shalom in Pittsburgh, and even after the close of his tenure, five years later, he remained in Pittsburgh until 1890 and remained an engaged religious authority there. Louis and Helen raised six children.