Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Crisman, L. T. 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 9:11 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher L. T. CRISMAN. L. T. Crisman is a worthy exponent of business enterprise in Wapello county, where he is today well known as secretary, treasurer and manager of the L. T. Crisman Company, engaged in the contracting, building and manufacturing business. Success tauntingly plays before the dreamer but yields its fruits to the man of resolute, determined purpose and such is L. T. Crisman known to be. He was born in Morgan county, Illinois, June 28, 1866. His father, also a native of that state, made farming his principal business but was a butcher by trade. He married Katherine Scott, and both have now passed away, the father's death occurring July 31, 1872, and the mother's January 7, 1897. In their family were five children: Mrs. Mary A. Brant, Ara A. Ball, L. T. Crisman, Ella C. Stroud and Susan F. Thorne. L. T. Crisman, reared in his native state, remained a resident of Illinois until about twenty years of age, when, on the 15th of February, 1886, he came to Ottumwa and engaged in prospecting for coal for the Hawk Eye Coal Company. Later in the spring he turned his attention to carpenter work in the employ of H. N. McCoy. On January 1, 1889, he began contracting and a few months later formed a partnership with James Clifton, a contractor of Sigourney. This partnership continued for a period of two years, after which time he continued alone until 1897 when he formed a partnership with Robert McMaster, having an office at 116 East Second street, and later in 1899 purchasing the planing mill at 314 West Main street, now known as the Ottumwa Mill & Construction Company. This company was known as L. T. Crisman & Company for a period of two years, after which they incorporated and took in W. E. Cook as a third partner, incorporating under the name of L. T. Crisman Company. He was president and manager of that concern until March 24, 1905, when he sold his interest and went into the company known as the Ottumwa Brewing & Ice Company, and was president and manager of that concern for a period of about one year and six months, during which time he built and equipped the brewery. One month before handing in his resignation he had been elected president and manager for the third time. His resignation was accepted November 10, 1906. January 1, 1907, he started in the contracting and building business again, taking in as partners W. S. Wells and John H. Meier. Later in the season they purchased an interest in the Middle West Planing Mill and incorporated July 1, 1907, under the name of L. T. Crisman Company, which business has been conducted at 138-140 Church street ever since. L. T. Crisman was the president and manager of the above company for two years after which they changed the board of directors and made August Diehn, president, and L. T. Crisman, secretary, treasurer and manager. The corporation has continued until the present time under this management. This company is engaged in the manufacture of all classes of odd mill work, store fixtures, bank fixtures, etc. Mr. Crisman is, also, a director of the Ottumwa Supply & Construction Company, and his activity and success place him among the leading representatives of industrial activity in this city. On the 8th of January, 1893, Mr. Crisman was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kiefer, who was born in Van Buren county, a daughter of Adam and Anna Kiefer, who are now living in Ottumwa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crisman have been born three children: Vern B., deceased; Charles Ancil; and Claudine Doris. Mr. Crisman is a democrat and in the latter part of 1910 was appointed a member of the city council. He belongs to No. 16, A. F. & A. M. and No. 347, B. P. O. E. and is a member of the Commercial Association, of which he is a director. He is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of the latter organization, which seeks to upbuild and benefit the city along business lines. He is well known, for his industrial activity has gained him a place among the representative men of Ottumwa. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/photos/bios/crisman857gbs.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb