Edwin Lehmann1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 7315, (1868 - 1941)
FatherJoseph Lehmann4,5,6 (abt 1833 - )
MotherBarbara [surname unknown]4,5,7 (1840 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 29 Apr 1868, Burlington, Iowa8,9,10
Marriage: 8 Jan 1906, Minnetta Ruth Watson (14 Aug 1868 - 11 Aug 1947)11,12,13
Death: 29 Mar 1941, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois3
Burial: 31 Mar 1941, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois3

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Edwin Lehmann was born on 29 Apr 1868 in Burlington, Iowa.8,9,10 He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa, in the household of his parents, Joseph Lehmann and Barbara [surname unknown].14 He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa, in the household of his parents.15
     Edwin moved to Chicago, Illinois, before 1900. He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, at 40 East 16th St., enumerated 9 Jun 1900. He was listed as a roomer in the home of Mildred White, a 30-year-old widow, along with three women and another man.16 He was an insurance salesman while he was in Chicago.16

Moving to Peoria --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     By 1903 Edwin moved to Peoria, where he joined Arthur Lehmann & Co., his younger brother Arthur's wholesale liquor business.17 When Edwin first came to Peoria, he roomed at the Fleetwood, apparently a rooming house. By 1904 he was living at 1709 N. Perry Ave. He, and his wife after their marriage, lived there until 1917.18,19,20
     Edwin married Minnetta Ruth Watson, daughter of John Quincy Watson and Lucy Florence Walker, on 8 Jan 1906.11,12,13
     Min's youngest sister, Jessie, and her husband, Joseph Frank Prenger, lived with Min and Edwin after their marriage in 1908, livng with them until about 1910.21
     Edwin and Min appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 1709 N. Perry Ave., enumerated 15 Apr 1910.22
     Min's parents, Lucy and John Quincy Watson, moved in with Edwin and Min about 1917, living with them the rest of their lives, except for a brief time about 1918 when they lived with their daughter Stella and her husband.23 After the death of Min's sister in 1917, her husband, Joseph Frank Prenger, and their two young sons moved in with the Lehmanns, and continued to live with them until the boys were grown and the Lehamanns moved away in 1935.24,25,26
     About 1918 Edwin and Min moved their extended family to 1201 North Monroe.27 About a year later, they moved to a large home at 309 North Institute Place, where they remained until 1935.28,29 Edwin and Min appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 309 N. Institute, enumerated 12 Jan 1920. Also listed in the household are her parents, Joseph Frank Prenger, the widower of her sister Jessie, his sons, Joseph and Edwin, and a 25 year old servant, Ethel Lightbody.30

Expanding the Distillery Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     In 1903 Edwin was listed in the City Directory as a compounder (one who blends liquors) at Arthur Lehmann & Co. The next year he was listed as a manager and in 1907 he was a general manager. By 1910 he was the secretary-treasurer of the firm, a title he retained until at least 1918.18,19,31,32
     He and his brother Arthur seem to have gained control of another distiller, Arrow Distilleries, about 1913. Arthur is listed as secretary and treasurer in 1910, vice president in 1912, with Edwin listed as secretary and treasurer. From 1913 through 1916 Arthur was president and Edwin secretary and treasurer. In 1918 and 1919 Edwin is listed at president.33,34
     In 1919 Edwin was listed as president of E. Lehmann and Co., a wholesale liquors firm. No other record of this firm has been found.35 Both Edwin's firms and Arthur's original distillery were closed by prohibition, which became effective in Jan 1920.36

Diversifying His Interests --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     He had begun to diversify his interests beyond liquor by 1916, when he appears to have started, or perhaps acquired and renamed, Federal Warehouse Co., a general warehouse and moving business. In 1919 the firm advertised "Fireproof Storage, Private Rooms for Household Goods, Heated Piano Rooms, Expert Packers," and "Household Removals." Edwin is listed in the City Directory as president in 1916 through 1927, when he seems to have sold his interests in the firm.37,38
     Edwin joined with Charles K. Gerdes, one of the principals of Gerdes Sprague and Co., an insurance agency, about 1917. The firm was renamed Gerdes and Co. Inc., and Edwin was listed as vice-president from 1917 to 1921. About 1922 Gerdes seems to have left the firm and it was renamed as Illinois Underwriters Corp. Edwin was listed as president until 1931, when he apparently sold his interests.39,40
1919 Cole Aero-Eight
from advertisement in Motor West magazine41

     In 1918 Edwin and Jacob L. Stern formed Lehman-Stern Co., operator of knitting mills. Edwin was listed as president, and Stern vice-president, from 1918 to 1926. Edwin seems to have regarded this as his principal business by 1920, when he listed it as his occupation on the census. About 1927 he left the firm, and it was re-named Stern Knitting Mills.42,43
     He made a number of attempts to become an automobile dealer, apparently without great success. In 1918 was listed as secretary-treasurer of Dickerson-Lehmann Motor Co., a Ford dealer. The firm is not found in either the prior or next year's issues. The same year and again in 1919 he is listed as a partner with Charles E. Vreeland in another dealership. The two of them seem to have acquired Crown Auto Co. from the Moutier brothers the following year, when Edwin was listed a president and Vreeland as secretary-treasurer and manager. In 1920 the firm advertised itself as dealers for Cole, a luxury brand that pioneered the V-8 engine, Oakland, "America's premier light car," then a General Motors brand, and Jordan, "the American ace of light cars." No record of the dealership is found after 1921.44,45

Dealing with Prohibition --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Edwin engaged briefly in other businesses as well. In 1919 he was listed as president of Arrow Products Co., manufacturers of non-alcoholic drinks and syrups, but was no longer associated with them the following year. The same year he and Jacob Stern were listed as owners of Peerless Manufacturing Co., maker of aprons and wrappers, but the firm is not found after that.46
     Edwin was also engaged in the coal business. In 1927 he was listed as proprietor of Southern Coal Co. He seems to have obtained control of Liberty Coal and Mining Co. about 1928 and merged the two firms. But neither firm is found after that.47
     At the same time he became a contractor. In the 1928 city directory he listed among his occupations municipal contractor, and the following year his sole occupation listed was general contractor. In 1930 and 1931 he was listed as a paving contractor.48,49,50 It was this period, when he operated a contracting business, that his niece Carmen Edith Glabe recalled when she related stories of him allowing her to drive him around in his car to conduct his contracting business. However, either he started in the contracting business earlier than the records found indicate, or she mis-remembered his occupation while she was in high school, because she recalled doing so while she was in high school, which should have ended about 1926.24

Retirement --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     He seems to have retired after 1931, at age 60, as his listings in the City Directories after that date show no occupations, with one exception. With the repeal of prohibition effective 5 Dec 1933 Edwin seems to have briefly returned to the liquor business. In 1934 he was listed as the president of Lehmann Distilling Co., Inc. That firm is not found after that, but his focus as that as his primary occupation is suggested by the fact that his death certificate shows his occupation simply as distiller.51,52
     Edwin and Min appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 309 North Institute Place, enumerated 14 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home worth $30,000, and owned a radio. Her father, John Quincy Watson, is listed as living with them, as is the widower of her sister Jessie, Joseph Frank Prenger, and his sons Joseph and Edwin, and a 22 year-old servant, Etta Conover.26
     Edwin and Min moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a time about 1935, with her nephew Edwin. While there he married a girl from New Orleans.53,54
     They all returned to Peoria by 1940, with young Edwin and his wife living with them until the elder Edwin's death in 1941.55
     Edwin and Min appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 202 Doubet Ct., enumerated 5 Apr 1940, reporting that they were renting their home for $75 per month. Her nephew, Edwin Frederick Prenger, and his wife Marguerite were listed as living with them.56
     Edwin died on 29 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at age 72.3 He was buried on 31 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois.3

Children:
     There were no children with Minnetta Ruth Watson

Citations

  1. [S3463] Joseph Lehmann household, 1870 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa, shows name as Edwin Lehmann.
  2. [S3461] Joseph Lehman household, 1880 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa, shows name as Edwin Lehman.
  3. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359.
  4. [S3463] Joseph Lehmann household, 1870 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  5. [S3461] Joseph Lehman household, 1880 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  6. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359, shows father as Louis Lehmann; record for his apparent brother Samuel shows his father as Joseph, so this record may well be wrong.
  7. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359, shows mother as Abette, but record for his apparent brother Samuel shows mother as Babette, suggesting this is a typo.
  8. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359, shows date, town, and state.
  9. [S3463] Joseph Lehmann household, 1870 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa, shows age 2 and state.
  10. [S3464] Mildred White household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows month, year, and age 32 and state.
  11. [S66] Pound, Family File "POUNDA~1.FTW," 31 Jan 1999, shows date.
  12. [S3465] Edwin Lehmann household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows married 3 years.
  13. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows married, both at age 38.
  14. [S3463] Joseph Lehmann household, 1870 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa.
  15. [S3461] Joseph Lehman household, 1880 U.S. Census, Des Moines Co., Iowa.
  16. [S3464] Mildred White household, 1900 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois.
  17. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1903 pg 420.
  18. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1903 pg 420; 1904 pg 420; 1905 pg 428; 1908 pg 498; 1909 pg 499; 1910-1911 pg 526; 1912-1913 pg 585; 1913-1914 pg 616; 1914-15 pg 583; and 1915-1916 pg 603.
  19. [S3472] White's Peoria City Directory, 1906 pg 480; and 1907 pg 452.
  20. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 616; and 1917 pg 540.
  21. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1909 pg 668 shows Joseph at 1709 N Perry av, the address of the Lehmanns.
  22. [S3465] Edwin Lehmann household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  23. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1917 pg 540 shows Edwin and Minnie R. Lehmann at 1709 N Perry av. and pg 878 shows John Q. and Lucy Watson at same address.
  24. [S24] Interview, Carmen Glabe Reigel, 7 Oct 1998.
  25. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph and his two sons in the household.
  26. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  27. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1918 pp 945, 1109, show the Lehmanns, and Prenger at 1201 North Monroe.
  28. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1919 pp 960, 1127, show the Lehmanns, and Prenger at 309 N Institute; all years later years found through 1929 show the Lehmanns, many years with Prenger and the Watsons, at the same address.
  29. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1930 through 1935, pg 370, show the Lehmanns at 309 N Institute, many years with the Prengers and John Watson at the same address.
  30. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  31. [S3465] Edwin Lehmann household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as secretary, industry as wholesale liquors.
  32. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 616, 1917 pg 540, and 1918 pg 945 all show him as sec & tres or sec-tres; 1919 pg 960 does not list that firm as one of his occupations, and firm listing does not include a sec-tres.
  33. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1910-1911 pg 526; 1912-1913 pg 72; 1913-1914 pg 75; 1914-15 pg 119; and 1915-1916 pg 120.
  34. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 150, 1917 pg 148, 1918 pg 521, and 1919 pg 521; neither firm listed in 1920.
  35. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1919 pg 960; 1918 and 1920 not listed.
  36. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "Prohibition in the United States," viewed Aug 2009.
  37. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1915-1916, firm not listed.
  38. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 615, shows him as pres Federal Warehouse Co.; other issues through 1927 show same; 1928 shows others in control.
  39. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 415, shows Gerdes Sprague & Co with Chas K Gerdes as one of two principals; 1917 pg 370 shows Gerdes & Co Inc at same address with C K Gerdes pres and Edwin v-pres; 1918 - 1921 show same; 1922 pg 73 shows Illinois Underwriters Corp as successors to Gerdes & Co, Edwin pres and Gerdes not listed; issues through 1929 show Edwin as pres.
  40. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1930 pg 370 and 1931 pg 453 show Edwin as pres; 1932 shows other management.
  41. [S3458] Wikimedia Commons, online, shows from Motor West, Volume 32, published 1919, original from the New York Public Library, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
  42. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1917, firm not listed; 1918 pp 683, 945 shows Edin pres and Stern v-pres, as do 1919 - 1926; 1927 pg 683 shows new firm, Lehmann-Stern not listed.
  43. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as manufacturer, industry as knitting company.
  44. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1918 pp 683, 945; 1919 pp 664, 1320; 1920 pp 16, 528; 1921 pg 758 lists Crown as one of Edwin's occupations but the firm itself is not listed; firm not listed in 1922.
  45. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "Cole Motor Car Company," and "Oakland (automobile)," viewed Jul 2012.
  46. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1918, none of firms listed; 1919 pp 521, 960; 1920 pp 418 shows Arrow under different management, pg 863 shows apparently a different firm as Peerless Manufacturing.
  47. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1926, Southern Coal not listed; 1927 pp 476, 673 show Edwin owner of Southern, pg 480 Liberty under different management; 1928 Southern not listed; pg 499 shows Edwin pres & tres of Liberty, at former address of Southern; 1929 Liberty not listed.
  48. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1928 pg 495; 1929 pg 498.
  49. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as contractor, in the paving business, and an employer.
  50. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1930 pg 477; 1931 pg 453.
  51. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1932 pg 388; 1933 pg 351; 1934 pg 350; and 1935 pg 370.
  52. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Edwin Lehmann, citing FHL#1832580 and cn 12359, shows occupation as distiller.
  53. [S3505] Edwin Lehmann household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows all of them living in New Orleans in 1935.
  54. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1935 pg 370, is last listing of Lehmanns in Peoria until 1940; 1940 pp 342, 463 show them back in Peoria.
  55. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1935 pg 370, is last listing of Lehmanns in Peoria until 1940; 1940 pp 342, 463 and 1941 pp 387, 524, show Lehmanns, Prenger, and his wife at same address.
  56. [S3505] Edwin Lehmann household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.