Person Page 732

Minnetta Ruth Watson was born on 14 Aug 1868 in White Pigeon, MichiganG.^4,5,6 She was known to family as Min.¹²
     She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Elkhart, Elkhart Co., IndianaG, in the household of her parents, John Quincy Watson and Lucy Florence Walker.¹³ She moved with her parents to 1023 S. Adams, Peoria, IllinoisG, before 1876.¹⁴ She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois G, in the household of her parents.¹⁵ She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois G, in the household of her parents.¹⁶
     She was a stenographer before her marriage. City directories from 1893 until 1900 list her as a stenographer for The Bradstreet Co., one of the principal predecessor firms of Dun & Brandstreet Corporation. No employer is then listed until 1904, when she is listed as assistant bookkeeper for Arthur Lehmann & Co., the wholesale liquor business owned by the brother of her future husband, and where he was then general manager. She is listed with the same title the following year, then in 1906 and 1907 she is shown as a clerk with the firm, though it might be supposed that she left its employ when she and Edwin married in Jan 1906.^17,16
     Minnetta married Edwin Lehmann, son of Joseph Lehmann and Barbara, on 8 Jan 1906.^7,8,9 After their marriage, Min and Edwin lived at 1709 N. Perry Ave. until 1917.^18,19
     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 1910.²⁰
     Min and Edwin appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 1709 N. Perry Ave., enumerated 15 Apr 1910.²¹
     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.²² 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.^12,23,24
      About 1918 Min and Edwin moved their extended family to 1201 North MonroeG.²⁵ About a year later, they moved to a large home at 309 North Institute PlaceG, where they remained until 1935.^26,27 Min and Edwin 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.²⁸
     Her niece, Carmen Glabe Reigel, recalled that Aunt Min took her role as oldest sister very seriously - she was actually rather "bossy." As one example, Min insisted that Carmen attend the high school in her neighborhood because it was more elite than the one closer to Carmen's home.¹²
     Min and Edwin 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.²⁴
     Min and Edwin moved to New Orleans, LouisianaG, for a time about 1935, with her nephew Edwin. While there he married a girl from New Orleans.^29,30
      They all returned to Peoria by 1940, with young Edwin and his wife living with them until the elder Edwin's death in 1941.³¹
     Min and Edwin appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 202 Doubet Ct. G, 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.³²
     Her husband died on 29 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IllinoisG.³³ Min moved to 2802 MainG, after his death.³⁴
     Minnetta died on 11 Aug 1947 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IllinoisG, at age 78.^10,7 She was buried on 13 Aug 1947 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Peoria Co., IllinoisG.¹¹

Edwin Lehmann was born on 29 Apr 1868 in Burlington, IowaG.^4,5,6 He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Burlington, Des Moines Co., IowaG, in the household of his parents, Joseph Lehmann and Barbara.¹⁰ He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa G, in the household of his parents.¹¹
     Edwin moved to Chicago, IllinoisG, before 1900. He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois G, 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.¹² He was an insurance salesman while he was in ChicagoG.¹²

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

      By 1903 Edwin moved to PeoriaG, where he joined Arthur Lehmann & Co., his younger brother Arthur's wholesale liquor business.¹³ 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. G He, and his wife after their marriage, lived there until 1917.^14,15,16
     Edwin married Minnetta Ruth Watson, daughter of John Quincy Watson and Lucy Florence Walker, on 8 Jan 1906.^7,8,9
     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 1910.¹⁷
     Edwin and Min appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 1709 N. Perry Ave., enumerated 15 Apr 1910.¹⁸
     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.¹⁹ 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.^20,21,22
      About 1918 Edwin and Min moved their extended family to 1201 North MonroeG.²³ About a year later, they moved to a large home at 309 North Institute PlaceG, where they remained until 1935.^24,25 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.²⁶

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.^14,15,27,28
     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.^29,30
     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.³¹ Both Edwin's firms and Arthur's original distillery were closed by prohibition, which became effective in Jan 1920.³²

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.^33,34
     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.^35,36
     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.^38,39
     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.^40,41

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.⁴²
     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.⁴³
     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.^44,45,46 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 1926.²⁰

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.^47,48
     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.²²
     Edwin and Min moved to New Orleans, LouisianaG, for a time about 1935, with her nephew Edwin. While there he married a girl from New Orleans.^49,50
      They all returned to Peoria by 1940, with young Edwin and his wife living with them until the elder Edwin's death in 1941.⁵¹
     Edwin and Min appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 202 Doubet Ct. G, 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.⁵²
     Edwin died on 29 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IllinoisG, at age 72.³ He was buried on 31 Mar 1941 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IllinoisG.³