USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 75
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Christian J. Lenmark, father of our subject, was born in Christiania, Norway, January 9. 1847. He attended the common schools and at the age of fourteen, secured a position as filer in the lumber mills and then learned the trade of millwright and cabinet maker, at which he worked until he became of age. He then emigrated to the United States, locating first in Hudson county, Minnesota, where he was employed for eleven months as a farm hand. He then came to Eau Claire and for four years was in the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company and for seven years was in the furniture store of Mat Harris. On January 1, 1885, the Eau Claire Furniture Company was organized with Ole Ness president, and Mr. Lenmark vice president. At the death of Mr. Ness eighteen months later, Mr. Lenmark became president, and in 1904 he established the firm of Lenmark & Sons, funeral directors and embalmers. continuing in that busi- ness until 1911, when he sold out to his son. Ilis death occurred May 3, 1913.
P. Oscar Lenmark, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of Eau Claire, and after starting out in life on his own resources, his first employment was as delivery boy for a grocery firm in the city. His next position was that or driver for the American Express Company for two years, and three years as express messenger on the railroad. In 1904 he became associated with his father in the undertaking business under the firm name of Lenmark & Son, thus continuing until 1911. when he purchased his father's interest and became sole
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proprietor. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen, a gradu- ate of the Philadelphia training school for embalmers. He is a member of the Civic and Commerce Association, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, Beavers, the I. S. W. A. and Wisconsin Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association. lle is a staunch Republican and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lenmark was married in 1903 to Miss Emma Greene, daughter of James Greene, of Minneapolis, and they are the parents of four children: Voigt, Aaron, Naomi and Pierie Lenmark.
Frederick C. Leonard,* one of the prominent and influential citizens of Eau Claire, is a native of the state of Michigan, and was born June 28, 1853. Frederick was raised in his native town, attended the public schools, remaining under the parental roof until he became twenty years of age. Early in 1874 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and engaged in the lumber business, and in the Fall of the same year, he came to Eau Claire and from that time on until 1903 was continuously and success- fully engaged in the lumber business. After giving up this line of work, Mr. Leonard traveled quite extensively for several years over various sections of the country, engaged in the examination and inspection of timber. He is now living in retirement in the city of Eau Claire, where he has been prominently identified with the business and social circles for forty years. Ile is a member of the Masonic Order. a Knights Templar and a member of the Ean Claire Club.
Mr. Leonard married Miss Julia Ulrich, daughter of William and Adeline (Freemont) Ulrich, who were from Germany and France respectively. To this union have been born four chil- dren : Alma M., William, Clarence and Antonette, all of whom were born in Eau Claire.
William Ulrich, father of Mrs. Leonard, and one of the pio- neer settlers of Eau Claire, where he arrived in 1854, was born in Germany. He married Adeline Freemont, who was born in France, and they were the parents of eleven children : Charles, Carrie, George, William, Julia, Nettie, Frank, Neta, Lucy, Ed- ward and Laura. It is claimed by members of this family that George Ulrich was the first white child born in this county. After his arrival in Eau Claire, Mr. Ulrich followed for a time the occupation of a millwright; he also kept a hotel and con- dueted a baker shop. He died April 14, 1891, and his widow still survives and is living in Altoona, Eau Claire county.
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Henry L. Levy, who died May 26, 1907, in the prime of life, was one of Eau Claire's most successful business men, and also one of its most benevolent citizens. He was born in Milwaukee, in 1864, the son of Louis L. and Flora (Stein) Levy. He came to Eau Claire with his parents at the age of six years, and re- sided here all his life with the exception of a few years spent in Milwaukee, where he was married. He grew up with the city and was known to old and young, and during his business career drew to himself not only the confidence and esteem of all, but the sincere regard of those who were so fortunate as to share his friendship.
After his school days he became associated with his father in the tailoring business in Eau Claire, but in 1888 he became a member of the firm of Docter Brothers & Company, at Milwau- kee, and remained in that company for five years. In 1893 he re- turned to Eau Claire and entered into business with his father under the firm name of Louis Levy & Son, and that house, of which Henry L. Levy was the principal spirit, built up a repu- tation for honorable and straightforward business methods that brought them great success. Mr. Levy was regarded as one of the ablest business men in the Chippewa Valley, and his charm- ing personality added to his popularity. Ile was always regard- ful of the opinion and feelings of others. No man in Eau Claire was more benevolent than he, and he was the best liked man in the city. Many came to him with their troubles and he never was too busy to take time to cheer, advise and assist them. Many were the young men whom he guided and helped to make a start in life, and being a man of the highest integrity, he started them on an honorable path.
His success in his mercantile business, enabled him to take part in other enterprises, and he was a director in the Eau Claire National Bank and the Eau Claire Savings Bank. He was also a large owner of Northern Wisconsin land and held an interest in various corporations. At the time of his death he left an estate of large proportions as well as the impression upon the com- munity of an exemplary life, whose course was illumined with the qualities of integrity, fidelity, justice and charity. He wore the white flower of a blameless life, and his memory remains fresh and green in the city which was his home. His social affiliations were with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Eau Claire Club.
On November 21, 1888, Mr. Levy married Miss Bertha Doeter,
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of Milwaukee. Their children are: Pearl E., now Mrs. Albert Newald, of Milwaukee; Henry J., and Irene.
Louis Levy, for forty-four years a resident of Eau Claire, is a native of Prussia, where he was born Angust 22, 1833. Early in life he came to America and his first business venture, after his arrival, was in the manufacture of caps in New York City. After a short time he went to Montreal, Canada, and was there engaged in the fur manufacturing business. In the spring of 1855 he came to Wisconsin, settling first in Milwaukee, where for thirteen years he was successfully engaged in the grain and provision business, and while there married Miss Flora Stein, to whom six children were born, viz: Pauline, Soloman, Henry, Rosalie, Benjamin and Hattie, all of whom were born in Mil- waukee. Mrs. Levy, whose domestic virtnes and womanly graces made her a center of attraction among her many friends, died February 18, 1909.
On February 19, 1870, Mr. Levy arrived in Eau Claire, where he has since made his home. Soon after his arrival there he, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Max Stein, opened a retail clothing and furnishing goods store, in which business Mr. Levy continned for forty-one years, he in the meantime building the business block where the People's store is now located. As his son, Henry, grew to maturity, he entered into partnership with him, and no firm was more favorably known in the Chippewa Valley for honorable and straightforward dealing, than the firm of Louis Levy & Son. Soon after the death of his son IIenry in 1907, Mr. Levy retired from the retail trade February 15, 1910. He is one of the influential and public spirited citizens of Eau Claire, and holds membership in the Old Settlers' Association, as well as being a charter member of the Odd Fellows, also char- ter member of Morgerstern Lodge, No. 90, of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and charter member of Minerva Temple, No. 12, Knights of Pythias, and the I. O. B. B., of Milwaukee, as well as being connected with several other organizations.
Dexter S. Livermore,* carpenter, and a well known and high- ly respected citizen of Fairchild, was born in Owego, Tioga county, New York, November 13, 1851 ; son of Rufus and Lucinda (Kenyon) Livermore, and is of English and German descent. His parents came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, about 1856, where the father purchased a farm on which he lived until 1865, when he came to Eau Claire county and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Fairchild, cleared and improved a part of it, and died there in 1874, at the age of 78 years. His wife also died there at the
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age of 64. Rufus Livermore was twice married. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Williams, he had four chil- dren, as follows : Jane married William Kenyon; Theodore, Alvira married John Highland, and Frank. All are now deceased, ex- cept Alvira. By his second wife, who was Lucinda Kenyon, his children were: Malvina, married Myron Martin; Emeline, mar- ried John Gilbert; William, Lucinda, married Randall Petty ; Levy, Dexter S., Walker, Adelbert, and Alice, who married Arthur Nobles.
Dexter S. was reared in Wisconsin from five years of age. He received a common school education and came with his parents to Fairchild in 1865. He served a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which vocation he has since followed, and since 1893 has been a resident of the village of Fairchild. He married, June 1, 1879, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Alvira (Kniffin) Handcock, of Altoona, Ean Claire county, and has one son, Ray, who married Dora Rouse and has two sons, Gordon Dexter and Donavon Glenn. Mr. Livermore is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America; has served two years as marshal of the village of Fairchild, and twenty years as assessor.
Charles W. Lockwood is the son of William H. Lockwood, who was born in the city of New York in 1824. The latter re- ceived his education in his native city, and after leaving the common schools graduated from the University of New York, class of 1847, and Union Theological Seminary, class of 1851. His profession was the ministry with the Presbyterian church and his first charge was at Coventryville, New York. For some years he was located at Lowville, in the same state, and in 1864 moved to Eau Claire, Wis., where, as minister in charge of the first Presbyterian church, he was among the prominent leaders in his denomination in that part of Wisconsin. Rev. William Loek- wood was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Ean Claire until 1890, and in that time became very popular and widely be- loved, both in his own church and among all classes. In 1890 occurred his retirement from the active work of the ministry and he lived quietly until his death in 1897. During his years as a resident of Eau Claire he was actively engaged in other work than that of the ministry, and for four years served as county superintendent of schools. Rev. Lockwood voted the Whig ticket, until the dissolution of that party, and then became an ardent supporter of the principles for which the Republicans stood sponsor. He was a strong advocate of anti-slavery prin- ciples and always a fighter, when there was any opportunity.
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In 1857 Rev. William H. Lockwood married Mary Waters, who was born in the state of New York, in 1832, and died in 1904. Two children were born to their marriage. Of these, the older is Charles W. Lockwood, and the younger is Catherine, who became the wife of Lawrence G. Moon.
Charles W. Lockwood was born in Lowville, Lewis county, New York, on the sixteenth of July, 1859. He was only a lad when his father moved to Wisconsin, and his education was chiefly acquired in the schools of Eau Claire. When the course was completed in the public schools his practical experience and training was continued in a position of minor importance with the Bank of Eau Claire. At that time he was eighteen years of age, and by persistent application and industry, worked his way up to the position of cashier. From 1885 until 1897 he was be- hind the cashier's window of the bank ; was considered one of the best men for the place that the bank had ever had, and undoubt- edly had much to do with the prosperity of the institution during these years. In 1897 Mr. Lockwood transferred his interests to the Eau Claire National Bank as director and vice president, and holds both those offices at the present time. In 1906 he was one of the men who organized the Eau Claire Savings Bank, be- coming its vice president, and has acted in that position ever since.
Mr. Lockwood is a member of several fraternal and social orders. His most important affiliation is with Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & A. M., and also with the Knights of Pythias. He is deeply interested in historie matters, and is a life member of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, and also belongs to the Wisconsin Society of Chicago. In politics Mr. Lockwod is a Republican. On the seventh of December, 1891, Mr. Lockwood was married to Fannie W. Carson, a daughter of William and Mary Edmonds (Smith) Carson. Mrs. Lockwood was born in Ean Galle, in Dunn county, Wis. To her marriage with Mr. Lockwood were born three daughters and one son, as follows: Mary, Frances, Virginia and William.
Dwight D. Lockerby,* a member of the Eau Claire city coun- cil, was born in Northfield, Minn., June 24, 1867 ; the son of Oscar and Jeannette (Tanner) Lockerby. The father, a native of New York, and the mother, of Connecticut, and were descendants of Scotch and English ancestry. The parents were pioneers of Minnesota, where the father cleared and improved a farm of 160 acres and earried on general farming, and they are now liv- ing retired at Northfield, that state. They reared a family of
Wy H Lockwoode;
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five children, viz: Lee; Elizabeth married C. A. Davis; Dwight D .; Bert, and Benjamin, who is now deceased.
Mr. Lockerby was reared in Northfield and received his edu- cation in the public schools. He began his business career as an employe for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Com- pany as telegraph operator and cashier, with whom he.remained for six years at Faribault and Northfield, Minn. In 1891 he be- came connected with the Wisconsin Central Railway, now known as the Soo Line, as cashier and bookkeeper at Chippewa Falls, Wis. In 1893 he was transferred to Ean Claire as ticket agent, promoted to general agent in 1899, which responsible position he held until April, 1914, at which time he was elected councilman of Eau Claire for a period of six years, under the new commission form of government, assuming the duties of the office on April 21. He married on June 13, 1893, Miss Ada, daughter of Frank M. and Thursa (Coleman) Buzzell, of Chippewa Falls.
Mr. Lockerby is an active worker for the welfare of the city and is a prominent member of the Episcopal church.
Ernest U. F. Loether, an employee of the State Board of Health, as hotel inspector for the State of Wisconsin, with his residence at Eau Claire, was born in Blackhawk, Sauk county, this state, June 10, 1872, and is one of a family of five children born to Ernest and Elizabeth (Meyerzedt) Loether, natives of Germany and Austria respectively. After serving the regular period of three years in the German army, the father emigrated to America, in the early 50's. Arriving in the new country he came to Wisconsin, and located at Blackhawk, where he obtained 220 acres of wild land, which he cleared and improved and be- came one of the pioneer farmers of that section. There he mar- ried Elizabeth Meyerzedt, and the following children were born : Reynold, Richard H., Ernest U. F., Alfred B. and Lena, who is de- ceased. After a residence of many years in Sank county the father moved to Eau Claire in 1893 and liere made his home until his decease in 1910.
Ernest was reared on the home farm, in Sauk county, and re- ceived his education in the public schools of Spring Green and Sank City, which was supplemented by a thorough course at the Stevens Point Normal School, from which institution he was graduated in 1899. Coming to Eau Claire he engaged in teach- ing, and for several years was principal of the first and sixth ward schools. Ile was then for nine years engaged in the mami- facturing business with the Eau Claire Bedding Company, and later became connected with the Phoenix Furniture Company,
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one of the important manufacturing concerns in the city. Since 1912 Mr. Loether has been identified with the Rusk Farm Com- pany, of Rusk county.
On August 12, 1902, Mr. Loether married Miss Alma R. Miller, daughter of William F. and Margaret (Mosher) Miller, of Alma, Wis. He is a member of the United Commercial Travelers of America, of which he is Grand Counsellor for the jurisdiction of Wisconsin. He is active in Masonic circles, is a member of the Blue Lodge, a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar. He has always taken an active interest in educational matters and served two years as a member of the Eau Claire school board, the second year as president of the board.
Richard H. Loether, president of the Eau Claire Bedding Company, was born at Blackhawk, Sauk county, Wis., April 1, 1861; son of Ernst and Elizabeth (Meyerzedt) Loether, natives of Prussia and Austria respectively. The father served as a sol- dier in the Germany army the regular period of three years and in the early fifties emigrated to the United States, settling at Blackhawk, Wis., where he later married. He was among the pioneer farmers of that section of the state, clearing and improv- ing a farm of 220 acres, which, in later life, he sold and moved to Eau Claire, where he died at the residence of his son, Rich- ard, in 1910, at the age of 76. His children were : Reynold, Rich- ard H., Ernst U. F., Alfred B. and Lena (deceased).
Richard H. was reared on the old homestead in Sauk county, where he attended the district and public schools of Sauk City and Baraboo. At the age of sixteen he began teaching a coun- try school and followed that vocation until 1882, when he came to Eau Claire, where he was variously employed until 1884; at one time he was chief clerk under Stephen Curry, of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, at Altoona, when that city was first started. In 1883 he went to Chippewa Falls, where he acted as clerk in a general store until the Spring of 1884, and in May of that year, embarked in the grocery business in that city continu- ing until September of the same year, when the great flood de- stroyed everything he had and left him practically penniless. He then returned to Eau Claire and followed teaming for sev- eral years, then resumed his former occupation as clerk, work- ing in that capacity until 1890, when he became bookkeeper for John Walter & Company, when that concern started in business, and continued with them until 1905, when his health gave out. After recuperating he engaged in his present business as the head of the Eau Claire Bedding Company, which concern was in-
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corporated in 1902, with a capital of $5,000. The company are manufacturers and jobbers of mattresses, pillows, cushions, iron beds, springs, cots, cribs, go-carts, ete.
In August, 1884, Mr. Loether married Rosa M., daughter of John and Margaret Boemer, and they are the parents of three children : Olga E., a teacher in the public schools of Eau Claire; Ernie J., a graduate of the Agricultural department of the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, is now engaged in farming at HIoleomhe, Wis., and Eda. Mr. Loether is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and was first lieutenant of John Bar Glen's Division, U. R. K. of P., that re- ceived first prize of the world for military drill. He served eight years in the Wisconsin National Guards under Captain Wolf, of Old Abe Eagle Regiment fame, part of the time as a non-com- missioned officer and also as private military secretary to Cap- tain Wolf. For nearly twenty years he served as a member of the Eau Claire school board, twice as president, and is now presi- dent of the Eau Claire county training school board, and is also a member of the Eau Claire Public Library board. He is deeply in- terested in educational and agricultural matters and has the best reference on agricultural matters of any one in Eau Claire county. At the time he first became a member of the school board he was the first one to insist upon and get the first appro- priation to start the kindergarten system in the public sehools of Eau Claire.
Roy L, Lowe,* mail agent, on the Mondovi division of the Chi- cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, residing at Fair- child, was born on a farm in the town of Preston, Trempealeau county, this state, July 24, 1878; a son of William and Mary Jane (Colwell) Lowe, both natives of Dutchess county, New York. His paternal grandfather, Wessel Lowe, eame to Wiscon- sin in the early fifties, first locating in Marquette county, mov- ing from there to Trempealeau county, where, at one time, he owned 240 acres of fine farming land, on which he made most of the improvements and resided until his death. His wife was Hannah Depew, and they had four children, all now deceased, excepting William (father of Roy L.), who cleared and improved a farm of 360 aeres adjoining that of his father, and resided there until 1899, when he retired and moved to Whitehall, where he still resides. His family consisted of eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity : Erva; Fred; Roy L .; Alice, wife of Frank C. Burns ; Hugh ; Earl (deceased) ; Ward, Archie and Jennie.
Roy L. was reared to manhood on the old homestead, and dur-
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ing his boyhood attended the district schools and assisted his father on the farm. He finished his education in the public schools of Whitehall, after which he carried on the home farm for two years, then taught school two years, and since 1903 has been in the United States mail service and since 1906 has been a resident of Fairchild village. In 1900 he married Clara E., daughter of David R. and Juliaetta (Letson) Jones, pioneers of Jackson county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are the parents of four children: Beulah, Sherman, Ruth and Katherine. Mr. Lowe owns a pleasant home in Fairchild, is a member of the Masonic Order and the Beavers, and is clerk of the Fairchild village school board, and an enterprising and public spirited citizen.
Ike Lubinski, a leading and successful Polish farmer, of Eau Claire county, residing in the town of Fairchild, was born in West Prais, German Poland, near Nakel, August 10, 1855; the son of Frank and Anna Lubinski. In 1872 he came to the United States and located at Humbird, Jackson county, Wis., where he remained one year and then removed to Alma Center, where for seven years he was employed as a farm hand. In 1881 he came to Fairchild, Ean Claire county, and rented a farm of 80 aeres, which he carried on for one year, and then rented another farm of 120 acres. In 1884 he purchased a farm of 120 acres, where he now resides, to which he subsequently added by pur- chase, 200 acres adjoining, making in all 320 aeres of the finest farming land in Eau Claire county, all of which he has under a high state of cultivation, and all accomplished by his own in- dustry, thrift and perseverance.
Mr. Lubinski has been married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Muzen in 1881, who died in May, 1895, by whom he had six children as follows: Tillie, Josephine, Plowdy, Raymond, Vera and Ike W. His second marriage was February 11, 1896, to Miss Panline Rosallia Thomas, by whom he has four children : Paul, Christine, Joseph and Rosallia.
Mr. Lubinski is one of the thrifty and progressive farmers of the county and employs modern and up-to-date methods in his farming operations, and takes pride in making his one of the model country homes. He takes a commendable interest in all publie matters and has served four years as a member of the town board of Fairchild, and is prominently identified with the Polish Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. Lubinski is a daughter of Mr. Frank and Frances Thomas, natives of Germany, who were prominent pioneers of Arcadia, Trempealeau county, Wisconsin.
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where they settled on a farm of 160 aeres, which they cleared and improved and on which they still reside.
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