Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Lehrer, Michael 1858 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 27, 2014, 1:45 pm

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

MICHAEL LEHRER.

    Among the enterprising, progressive and widely-known citizens of Brown
county is Michael Lehrer, one of her native sons and a scion of an old and
honored family of this locality. He is now living in retirement in his beautiful
home in Springfield, and he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he
has accomplished, which has been in the face of obstacles that would have
crushed men of less grit and ambition. He became one of the leading merchants of
Minnesota.

    Mr. Lehrer was born in New Ulm, Brown county, May 19,1858, a son of Michael
and Anna (Oswald) Lehrer, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where they spent
their earlier years, immigrating to the United States in the early forties. For
a number of years the father worked as a laborer after coming to the new world.
In 1857 he located in New Ulm, Minnesota, and started teaming, hauling freight
at first from New Ulm to St. Paul, later from Mankato to St. Peter, which he
continued until the railroad was built, after which he did local odd jobs of
various kinds until his death in 1895, being killed in a runaway. His widow
survived until 1907. He was one of the defenders of New Ulm during the Indian
raid. His family consisted of three children, namely Joseph, who died on
September 12, 1907; Michael, the subject of this sketch, and Anna, who is now
Sister Hippolyta and has charge of an orphans' home in Chicago, where the poor
children receive educations.

    Michael Lehrer received his education in New Ulm, then spent a year and
one-half in the St. Paul Business College, after which he returned to Brown
county and engaged in ranching in Stateley township for two years, then sold out
and went to Sleepy Eye where he conducted a hotel and saloon for a year and
one-half, and in 1885 he came to Springfield, Minnesota, and engaged in the
hardware and lumber business with William Schmid under the firm name of Schmid &
Lehrer. Later they added plumbing, and in 1905 they incorporated and started a
sash and door factory, remaining in that business until 1909 when Mr. Lehrer
retired from active life, having accumulated a handsome competency for his
declining years, through his sound judgment, industry, rare business ability and
honest dealings. It was due to his efforts that the company adopted a
profit-sharing plan—all the employees sharing in the company's earnings. Every
man working for the firm owns some stock in the company, which is incorporated
for fifty thousand dollars. Although not active in the management of the same
Mr. Lehrer is president of the company and oversees its affairs in a general
way, continuing the prime motive factor in the same. He is also chairman of the
board of directors of the State Bank of Springfield, of which institution he was
president for a period of fifteen years, but on account of being absent from the
city so much, he resigned this position and was elected to the position he now
holds. In 1902 he platted the town of Verona, North Dakota, owning nine thousand
acres there. This was a successful venture, and the town now has a population of
over three hundred. He still holds a large interest in that section.

     Michael Lehrer was married in December, 1882, to Elizabeth Schmid, a
daughter of Clements Schmid and wife. To this union twelve children have been
born, namely: Anna is the wife of Albert Nuessle and they have one child, Elene;
Arthur C. married Georgia Seigert; Veronica, Otto, Elenora, Alfred J., Emma
married Arthur Yaeckel and they have one child living; Agnes, Viola, Carola,
Gertrude and Ida.

     Mr. Lehrer is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus.
His life, though comparatively uneventful, has not been unfruitful of good
results and kind deeds in behalf of his fellow-men. He thoroughly understands
the various phases of the different lines of business to which so many years
have been devoted, and the confidence and respect of the thousands of people
with whom he has had dealings are his in a satisfactory degree.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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