LICHTY, JOSEPH L.

LICHTY, EBERSOLE, PATTERSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/19/2004 at 12:57:02

Biography reproduced from page 362 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Joseph L. Lichty is one of the enterprising and successful merchants of Luverne, where he is engaged in the general merchandise and grocery business, being senior member of the well known firm of Lichty & Ross. Mr. Lichty was born in Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, February 8, 1882, and is a son of C. H. and Alice E. (Ebersole) Lichty, of whom an extended review is published in another portion of this work.

Joseph L. Lichty was reared at home and educated in the Luverne public schools, and after passing through the lower grades he was for one year a pupil in the high school at Toledo. Before entering upon his high-school studies he was engaged in work for a short time in a bakery in Luverne. Immediately following his studies he was engaged as a clerk for Vernon E. Stephenson, in whose employ he remained from September until May of the following year. He then entered the employ of I. P. Harrison as clerk in his store at Luverne and continued in that relation for a period of five years, at the end of which time he was admitted to a partnership in the business. Fourteen months later George Harrison also became a partner in the business. On January 13, 1910, the firm suffered complete loss by fire of its entire stock of merchandise, the store building also being destroyed, and as a result of this misfortune the copartnership was dissolved. On March 11, 1911, Mr. Lichty purchased a small grocery stock in Luverne, to which he later added a complete general stock and associated himself with Mr. Ross. The business has since been conducted under the firm name of Lichty & Ross and is one of the well known and up-to-date business establishments of Luverne.

On June 22, 1911, Mr. Lichty was united in marriage to Miss Lulu E. Patterson, a native of Iowa. He is affiliated with the democratic party and has served as city councilman for the past two years and for the past two years has also filled the office of city treasurer. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge since he was twenty-one years of age and is at present treasurer of the local lodge. He and his wife are both members of the Rebekahs, and they are also members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Lichty is secretary and also a member of the board of trustees. He is a man greatly esteemed by his fellow citizens for his integrity and public spirit and is identified with every movement seeking the advancement and betterment of the people of his county and community.