Dallas County, Texas - Bios: EDWARD LEHMAN - Biography ************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Roger Bartlett http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** [From The Encyclopedia of Texas, compiled and edited by Ellis A. Davis and Edwin H. Grobe, published by Texas Development Bureau, Dallas, Texas, no date (ca. 1923), vol. 2, p. 578] EDWARD LEHMAN, pioneer merchant and city builder, came to Dallas in 1874 with Alex Sanger, looked over the then promising little village on the banks of the Trinity, visioned its future and concluded to cast his lot with the other hardy pioneers who had banded together and determined to build a city. Mr. Lehman amassed a considerable fortune and at his death on March 2, 1920, Dallas lost one of her most progressive and forward-looking citizens, a man who had done much to help Dallas attain its commanding position among the cities of the Southwest. Mr. Lehman was born in Saint Louis and received his education there in the public schools and after finishing school began work as an apprentice in a harness making and saddlery establishment. He completed his trade and then went to New York City where he determined to master every detail of the business. He secured employment as shipping clerk in the office of a large saddle and harness company and later went on the road for them. Hearing of Dallas as a promising town, he came here in 1874, looked the situation over carefully, and determined to locate here. He returned to New York and purchased a complete stock of goods and soon opened the Lehman Saddle and Harness Store on Elm Street across the street from Sanger Bros. Store, later moving to 1015 Elm Street. He began business in a small way with only one employee but continued to expand and when he retired in 1907 had twenty-four employees. In 1903 he was honored by the Southwestern Retail Saddle and Harness Makers Association by being made president of the organization. After his retirement Mr. Lehman made an extended tour of Europe and in 1910 witnessed the production of the Passion Play at Oberammergau, Germany. The old Lehman home was at Griffin and Collins Street and later Mr. Lehman erected a lovely home on Junius Street where the family has resided for the past 32 years. Mrs. Lehman has recently built a family mausoleum at Oakland Cemetery. On January 12, 1881, Mr. Lehman was married in Dallas to Miss Emma Hesterberg, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Lehman's parents, Henry H. and Theresa (Meier) Hesterberg, died when she was quite small and she was reared to womanhood by her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nicholas Meier. Mr. Meier was formerly a wealthy furniture manufacturer of Georgia and Louisiana and removed to Dallas in 1874. He was very successful in his real estate investments and Mrs. Meier was a leader in civic and church activities until her death. Mr. Lehman was a member of Tannehill Lodge No. 52 and at the time of his death the oldest Master Mason in Dallas. He also was a member of the Knight Templars. He was a charter member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church South and a member of the board of trustees and the board of stewards of Grace Church. Dallas has had but few men more deeply interested in her welfare than was Mr. Lehman. He was always ready to do his part in any undertaking and worked untiringly for the good of the city as a whole. He aided in building the first water works system Dallas had and was a member of its first volunteer fire department.