NOBLE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: John Lemmax (1887)

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From the The Ohio Biographies Project
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html
a part of The U.S. Biographies Project
http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html

Transcribed by Deb Murray.

---------------

John Lemmax - It is always a pleasure to sketch the career of a prominent
and successful man of business, who has attained his position in life
solely through his own well-directed industry, his persevering efforts and
his unswerving honesty. Such a man is John Lemmax. He was born in
Pittsburgh, Pa., December 30, 1820. His father was of Welsh and his mother
of Irish descent. In the spring of 1821 the family came to Ohio, settling
in the vicinity of Summerfield, whre they remained until 1825. Becoming
dissatisfied with pioneer life, they then returned to Pittsburgh, and
continued to reside there until September, 1830, when they returned to the
farm in what is now Noble County, which was thenceforth their permanent
home. In Pittsburgh, the subject of this notice attended school, and being
an apt scholar, received the rudiments of a sound education in the common
branches. After his removal to the farm, John was put to work, and all of
his attendance at school after he was eleven years of age, amounted to but
fourteen days. Money was scarse, and it was difficult to make ends meet;
therefore the services of our subject were necessary to contribute to the
family's support, there being five children younger than himself. He had no
money except what he earned himself, by working out amoung his neighbors,
and what he could save in this way he devoted to the purchase of books. He
also borrowed and read all the books he could obtain in the neighborhood.
Early in life he became possessed of Brainard's "Life Among the Indians,"
Rollin's "Ancient History" (eight volumes), and the works of Josephus. He
took part in the pioneer debating societies and thus strenthened his
knowledge and acquired experience in public speaking.

In his sixteenth year he began learning the carpenter's trade, returning to
the farm to assist in busy seasons. During the first year at this work he
received $7 per month; the second year he began at $12 per month, and his
wages were increased to $18 for the second month. In this way he continued
to work at his trade receiving from $20 to $28 per month. Afterward he
began taking contracts, hiring a man and working himself. In his nineteenth
year Mr. Lemmax went to Woodsfield and made arrangements to enter the law
office of Edward Archibald as a student. His father hearing of this, and
having a strong prejudice against lawyers, persuaded John to abandon his
intention. This Mr. Lemmax always regretted, and believes that he made a
serious mistake.

Early in life he became a pronounced temperance man, and has ever since
remained a firm advocate of the doctrine of total abstinence. He joined a
temperance society at Summerfield, and soon became prominent among its
workers. At the soliciation of Mr. S.H.. Rownd, president of the society,
he visited different places in Morgan, Washington and Guernsey Counties to
make temperance addresses. On one occasion, in the winter of 1841, he was
sent to a place about eight miles distant to deliver an address. Arriving
there he found the church in which he was to speak so full of people that
it was with difficulty that he forced his way to the pulpit. He became
confused and forgot his subject. A Bible lay upon the pulpit, and opening
it, Mr. Lemmax read the first words that met his eye; "What is man that
thou art mindful of him?" Taking this as a text, and beginning his remarks
with a history of ancient Greece, he talked with ease and freedom for an
hour and three-quarters. On looking at his watch he again became embarra
Mr. Lemmax continued to work at his trade until 1845, and in the meantime
had saved between $600 and $700. He then made arrangements with Charles
Hare, of Summerfield, to start a store in Freedom. Mr. Hare advised him to
invest in tobacco, and he did so. The result was the loss, in the fall of
1846, of $800. Returning from Baltimore to Freedom, he again engaged in
building. He also bought hogs and made some money on them. In 1848, in
partnership with A. Franklin, he bought a small stock of goods in
Zanesville and again embarked in the mercantile business. Two years later
he increased his stock largely, buying in Baltimore, and was soon doing a
successful business. He again began buying tobacco and continued that
business for thirty years with varying success, sometimes gaining and
sometimes losing heavily in his operations. In 1864-5 his losses were about
$23,000. It required thirteen years to recover this amount. He dealt
extensively in hogs and cattle for several years. In 1848 he began buying
and feeding hogs, marketing them at home. Four years later he began
shipping hogs, and this business he continued successfully for twenty-four
years. He began dealing in cattle in 1851, both buying and shipping, and
continued twenty-five years then quit shipping. During this time he handled
 an average of 3,500 hogs and two hundred head of cattle per year, with a
satisfactory profit, and in the meantime gathered up 543 acres of land,
four hundred of which were cleared. His many business interests kept him
too busy to devote much attention to farming, and he used much of his land
for pasturage. In business matters he wasted no words but was always fair
and honorable and never would he take advantage of another's ignorance in
order to secure a profit for himself. For a period of twenty years he
handled about $50,000 work of live stock, tobacco and merchandise per yar,
without failing to meet every obligation promptly. This gave him a prestige
as a buyer that but few have, and a credit that answer Frank in avowing his
sentiments; bokd, fearless and consistent in maintaining them, Mr. Lemmax
laid the foundation of a character of sincerity and honor, which amidst the
vicissitudes, the profits and losses of business transactions, the shocks
of political changes and the scurrility of partisan warfare, has never been
shaken or tainted with insincerity. In the possession of these attributes,
beyond the rach of cavil or question, is to be found the secret of that
inalienable attachment which today exists among the vast body of his
friends and fellow-citizens, and which has followed him throughout his
business career. Here he wishes to offer a grateful tribute of respectto
the names of three of his friends who stood by him in the darkest hour of
his mercantile career; to Morris Danford, who furnished him $3,500; to John
O'Neill, who furnished $2,500; and to "Uncle" Samuel Craig, who furnished
$2,300 at six per cent, payable at his pleasure, on his individual note
without security. These sums were used in the liquidation of his
indebtedness entailed by the losses on tobacco in 1864 and 1865.

Mr. Lemmax was married in 1846 to Margaret, daughter of Alexander Franklin,
one of the early settlers of Marion Township. They have reared four
children - Mary Rose, now the wife of Charles Craig, of Marion Township;
Violet J., Lillie W. and John A., single and residing at home. The family
are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In politics Mr. Lemmax is a firm, uncompromising Republican, and for may
years has taken a deep and intelligent interest in both local and national
politial affairs. Early in life he became an adherent of the Whig party. In
September, 1840, he attended a Democratic mass meeting at Carlisle,
addressed by leading Democratic politicians of Monroe County. After they
had finished, John McMahon took the platform on the Whig side, and made a
telling speech. Hon. Joseph Morris, representative in Congress, who was one
of the speakers present, went home with Mr. Lemmax and spent the night at
his father's home. In conversation with him, the question was asked, "What
would take the place of bank-notes?" Morris replied, "Sub-treasury notes."
On being asked what they were, he admitted that he did not know. "Well, it
is not good policy to destroy the bank-notes unless you have something
better to take their place." Mr. Morris said; "John, I am afraid you won't
make a good Democrat To be one, you must stick to the party, right or
wrong." And John did not become a Democrat. He voted first for Henry Clay,
and acted with the Whig and Free-soil parties until the campaign of John C.
Fremont, since which time he has been a Republican. Mr. Lemmax has been
several times a delegate to State conventions. He was a delegate to the
National Convention of 1876. He was the first delegate to propose Hayes'
nomination, and, in a conference of Ohio delegation, secured the passage of
a resolution pledging a solid vote for him, and that no delegate should
vote otherwise without first conferring with the remainde of the
delegation. Mr. Lemmax held the office of county commissioner one term and
declined a renomination. He was a candidate for representative to the
legislature in 1884, but was defeated by a small majority, owing to the
hostility of the Greenbakc element, who at this time were energetically
preaching the doctrine of "fiat money", claiming it as the "poor man's
money." Mr. Lemmax vigourously opposed this crazof the Noble County
National Bank at Caldwell since its organization. He has held the office of
postmaster, at Freedom (Whigville Postoffice), for twenty-eight years,
without any complaints from patrons or the Department.

History of Noble County, Ohio Published by 
L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Marion