C. F. Lehman

LEHMAN, GEPHART, DERSCHEID

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/8/2010 at 05:29:26

C. F. LEHMAN

C. F. Lehman, residing on section 21, King township, Winnebago county, has spent practically his entire life in Iowa, although he is a native of Wabasha county, Minnesota. He was born in May, 1861, a son of Gottlieb and Annie (Gephart) Lehman, who were natives of Germany and in early life came to the new world, settling in Minnesota. The father purchased land in Wabasha county and there engaged in fanning. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the cause of his adopted country and joined the army, going to the front with the Union troops, with which he served for about a year. He was taken prisoner but was exchanged and was on his way home when a guerrilla attack was inaugurated and they took him to Arkansas, where he contracted yellow fever that terminated his life. He passed away in 1866 and his widow survived until 1909.

It was in 1871 that Mrs. Lehman removed with her family to Webster county, Iowa, so that C. F. Lehman was largely reared and educated in this state. He remained with his mother until he reached the age of seventeen years and then began work as a farm hand, being employed in that way for a decade. He next went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for sixteen years. In 1901 he arrived in Winnebago county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 21, King township. He has since improved this place and has converted it into a valuable farm. He afterward added to his holdings by the purchase of an adjoining eighty acres and he is today the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres which he carefully and systematically cultivates and improves. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and the value of his methods is seen in the excellent crops which he annually gathers. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and in the Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson.

In January, 1886, Mr. Lehman was united in marriage to Miss Katie Derscheid and they have become parents of three children: Fred, at home; Harley, who is a bookkeeper in Winona, Minnesota; and Marvin, also at home.

Mr. Lehman is much interested in community affairs and lends the weight of his influence to progress and improvement along many lines. For fifteen years he has served as president of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. Politically he is a republican and he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought as relating to government affairs in county, state and nation. His religious belief is that of the Methodist church. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, entertain for him high regard, for his entire life has been characterized by high and honorable principles.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 331-332.