In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881)
COL. WILSON C. LEMERT, Bucyrus. The subject of this sketch is a son of Lewis and Ruth (Purdue) Lemert. This family are among the pioneers of Crawford Co., and an appropria ate sketch of its early history will be found among those of Texas Township, where Wilson C. was born March 4, 1837. He assisted his father on the farm until 14 years of age, when he went to the Republic Academy, in Seneca Co., for one year; from there he went to [ Heidelberg College, which had just been established at Tiffin, Ohio; he there completed the preparatory course. In about 1854, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, 1 and continued four years, teaching public [ school in this county in the meantime. He ! graduated in 1858, and studied law for some i months with the Hon. James R. Hubbell, of I Delaware, then came to Bucyrus and further I pursued his law studies in the office of Franklin I Adams, Esq., for about one year. From there I he went to the Cleveland Law College, from I which he graduated, and was admitted to the I bar in 1859. Mr. Lemert then returned to Bucyrus, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for one year, then removed to Greensburg, Ind., in 1860. Six months after his removal to Greensburg, he enlisted as a private soldier in the 7th Ind. V. I., and, before going to the field, was made Second Lieutenant. During the first year of service, he was promoted to the position of First Lieutenant, and then Captain of his company. He led his company in the decisive battle of Winchester. Va., and, for gallant conduct on the field, was recommended for promotion. He participated in the battles of Philippi, Rich Mountain, Carrick's Ford, Greenbrier and Winchester. Some three months after the lastnamed engagement, he was commissioned Major of the 86th 0. V. I., and took part in the West Virginia campaign. In July, 1863, he re-organized the 86th 0. V. I., and was commissioned Colonel of that veteran regiment. The regiment was assigned to Gen. Burnside's
Corps, and joined in the East Tennessee invasion. At the conclusion of that campaign, Col. Lemert was appointed to the command of a brigade, and stationed at the post of Cumberland Gap, then a vital strategic point. His command as Brigadier General consisted of Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Illinois troops, numbering over 7,000 soldiers, including thirty pieces of artillery. He was mustered out in February. 1865. In 1865-66, the Bellefontaine Cotton Companjwas organized at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and, at the solicitation of its stockholders, Mr. Lemert became its President and General Manager. Floods disheartened the associate adventurers, and, at the end of five months, he purchased the interest of those desiring to abandon the venture, and, in company with John Jones and Dr. Nathan Atwood, organized a new partnership, and continued the business until the spring of 18G6. It proved a dangerous but very fortunate enterprise, yielding a handsome return to those who had the hardihood to weather it through. In August, 1866, Col. Lemert became a partner in and business manager for the wagon and carriage woodwork factory of A. M. Jones & Co., at Bucyrus, and continued in that relation until 1877. This business was conservative, and yielded results far above the hopes of the investors. In about 1871, the firm of B. B. McDanald & Co. was organized for railroad building, and did about a half-million dollars' worth of work for the A. & L. E. and the 0. C. R. R. Owing to the insolvency of these corporations, McDanald & Co. became seriously embarrassed, and, in 1878, Mr. Lemert assumed control and management of the propertjand business of JIc];)aald & Co., and closed its affairs without loss. At the same time, he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Coal Co., an organization owning a very large area of coal and iron lands in Perry Co., Ohio. During the same period, he served the A. & L. E. and the 0. C. R. R. in the capacity of director, and, when its financial condition became hopeless, he assisted in its re-organization, and is now the only person connected with the road who plaj-ed a conspicuous part in its early history. Though persistent yet misguided criticisms have been directed at these gentlemen for their share in the railroad scheme, it is believed the consummation of their labors and the enduring good achieved by it, will bring in future the just meed of credit so richly' earned. The fight was long and rugged, yet marvelously successful in the end. In 1877, Mr. Lemert organized and became President of the Mo.xahala Iron Co., of which he is still President and General Manager. In 1879, he superintended the construction of the southern division of the O. C. 11. R., which embraces the Moxahala tunnel with its heavy approaches, in all nearly a half a mile long, furnishing the work in good order, in six months, which was the quickest and cheapest work of its kind ever done in Ohio. In the spring of 1880, Col. Lemert superintended the raising of $100,000 local aid along the line of the O. C.
As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILSON C. LEMERT.
No adequate memorial of Colonel Wilson C. Lemert can be written until many of the useful enterprises with which he has been connected have completed their full measure of good in the world and until his personal influence and example shall have ceased their fruitage in the lives of those with whom he has been associated while an actor in the busy places of the world. Yet there is much concerning him that may with profit be set down here as an illustration of what can be done if a man with a clear brain and willing hands but seriously undertakes the real labors and responsibilities of life.
Colonel Lemert is numbered among the native sons of Crawford county who have attained distinction and honor in connection with commercial and industrial interests. He was born upon a farm in Texas township, in 1837. His father, Louis Lemert, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, August 5, 1802, and was a son of Joshua Lemert, who was also a native of the Old Dominion, but whose parents were of German birth. Joshua Lemert was united in marriage, in Virginia, to Miss Mary Wright, and in 1808 emigrated to Ohio, settling on a farm in Coshocton county, Ohio. He served as an officer in the war of 181 2 and is said to have been the strongest man in the regiment. He died in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1858. Lewis Lemert, the father of the Colonel, acquired a fair education in his youth, and on the 2d of January, 1823, was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Perdew, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1802, a daughter of William and Rachel Perdew, who removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, in 181 6. In 1826 Lewis Lemert came with his young wife to Crawford county and took up his above on a farm in Texas township, where he won prosperity through the tilling of the soil. Both he and his wife were active members and liberal supporters of the Methodist church in an early day and they lived exemplary Christian lives. The father held various positions of public trust and ever merited the honor and confidence reposed in him. Their son, Joshua, was for three years a member of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the time of the Civil war and for one year commanded his company, with the rank of captain.
Wilson C. Lemert pursued his preliminary education in the schools of Crawford county, later entered the Republic Academy, in Seneca county. Ohio, subsequently was a student in Heidelberg College, of Tiffin, Ohio, and was graduated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware, with the class of 1858. In the following year he was graduated in the Cleveland Law College, and in 1860 began the practice of his chosen profession in Greensburgv Indiana, but about a year later he put aside all personal considerations that he might aid his country, then engaged in civil war.
During the first year of hostilities between the north and the south Wilson C. Lemert joined the Seventh Indiana Infantry, was chosen second lieutenant of his company, and during the first year of his services was promoted to first lieutenant and afterward to captain, receiving" the latter promotion in recognition of meritorious conduct on the battlefield of Winchester. In 1862 Governor Tod tendered him a major's commission in the Eightysixth Ohio* Volunteer Infantry, and in \ 863, on the reorganization of that regiment, he became its colonel. The regiment was assigned to the command of General Burnside, with the Ninth Army Corps and was active in the historical campaign of eastern Tennessee. Colonel Lemert was given command of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, consisting of over seven thousand soldiers, including infantry, cavalry and artillery troops,, which constituted the Federal forces in the department of Clinch river. I J is headquarters were at Cumberland Gap, the strategic gateway of east Tennessee. Colonel Lemert continued in command of this brigade and a part of the time was acting commander of the division, until the expiration of his services in 1865. The movement of his troops formed an important chapter in the history of the war. He was a gallant officer, with a comprehensive and practical knowledge of military tactics. Ever fearless himself, he inspired his men with his own bravery, yet he was never reckless in exposing them to needless danger. His loyalty was above question and he enjoyed the confidence of his superior officers and those who served under him.
On his return from the war the Colonel entered upon a business career requiring generalship no less marked than that needed in commanding troops on the field of battle. It requires a master mind to plan, formulate and execute gigantic business enterprises, and this the Colonel has done. No citizen of Crawford county has been connected to a greater degree with important commercial and industrial concerns. In 1865 he was president and general manager of the Bellefontaine Cotton Company, eng'aged in raising and trading in cotton in Mississippi and Alabama. From 1867 until 1877 he was a partner and manager in the business of A. M. Jones & Company, extensive manufacturers of wagons, carriages and sleighs. In 1877 he became manager of the firm of McDonald & Company, railroad builders, who constructed and operated the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad. In 1878 he became president and manager of the Moxahala Furnace Company, of Perry county, Ohio, constructed and operated the plant and opened coal, iron-ore and fire-clay mines at Moxahala. During the same time he superintended the construction of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad from Moxahala to Corning". He purchased the land, platted and built the town of Corning and there developed other coal mines, with a daily capacity of three thousand tons. In 1880 he completed the Corning mines and built the railroad from Corning to Buckingham, and raised by subscription along the line to Toledo one hundred thousand dollars to complete the line to Toledo and enlarge its equipment. He was appointed manager of the entire mining and railroad properties and conducted the "Corning war" which resulted satisfactorily to miners and operators. During the same year he secured a location of the railroad machine shops at Bucyrus and purchased and reorganized the Bucyrus Manufacturing Company, which became large producers of mining and railway equipments, steam shovels and dredges. In 1881 he built an extension to the Ohio Central Railroad from Corning to the Ohio river, a distance of fifty-one miles. He also successfully operated extensive drafthorse ranches in Iowa and Colorado for ten years. He was appointed chief engineer on the staff of Governor Foster. In 1882 he built the St. Louis & Emporia Railroad, afterward a part of the Missouri Pacific system, and in 1883 began the construction of a railroad from Findlay, Ohio, to Columbus, which was sold to the Ohio Central Railroad Company. He was also interested in the Nickel Plate enterprise, which was sold at a good profit to the Vanderbilts.
Colonel Lemert organized the Northwestern Natural Gas Company, which supplied Toledo, Sandusky, Tiffin, Fostoria, Fremont, Clyde. P>ellville and Detroit with natural gas. Colonel Lemert then assumed the general supervision of the Price & Thomas natural gas plants in Ohio and Indiana, — at Springfield, Dayton, Piqua, Sidney. Troy and Lima, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Logansport and Lafayette, Indiana. In 1887 he purchased, rebuilt and consolidated the gas and electric light properties at Bucyrus and in 1889 purchased the brick machinery factory of Frey, Sheckler & Hoover, organizing the Frey-Sheckler Company, which he later consolidated with the Penfield & Son plant, at Willoughby, Ohio, the new organization being known as the American Clay Working Machinery Company. This company has enlarged its business until it now has the most extensive plant in the world in the manufacture of clay-working machinery. In 1894 Mr. Lemert purchased, combined and rebuilt the gas and electric light plant and the electric railroad at Fort Smith, Arkansas, so that the different concerns are now under one management. In addition to all his other interests the Colonel is a director in the First National Bank at Bucyrus. In his manifold undertakings he has prospered and is now able to retire with a comfortable fortune acquired through good management, close attention to business and careful economy. His relations with his employes have ever been of the most desirable character. His bearing is entirely free from ostentation and there is a kindly interest manifest in his intercourse with those who serve him. He is generous in helping the needy and distressed, is quick to reward merit and is ever prompt in payment.
Colonel Lemert was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Jones, a daughter of Dr. A. M. and Elizabeth Jones, of Bucyrus, and unto them were born two daughters, Katie E. and Blanche, but the former died on the 11th of March, 1896. The Colonel has traveled extensively, visiting many points of interest in Europe, continuing his travels to Palestine and looking upon the evidences of the ancient civilization of Africa. He has always preferred to control gigantic business enterprises rather than to enter politics and has declined many responsible positions of honor and trust. He has never held office, save when in 1866-7 he was postmaster of Bucyrus. The career of Colonel W. C. Lemert has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men. What the world needs is such men — men capable of managing extensive, gigantic mercantile concerns, and conducting business on terms that are fair alike to employer and employe — men of genuine worth, of unquestioned integrity and honor, — and then the questions of oppression by capitalists and resistance and violence by laborers will be forever at rest.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Jones (b. 1834) Lewis Lemert (b. 1802)
Their biographies name Wilson C. Lemert: Franklin Adams John Harrison Trago (b. 1840)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.