Fergus County Democrat., 1911-03-21
CHAS. Lehman
BURIED TODAY
Pioneer Merchant of Lewistown and
the Judith Basin Passes Away
After Long Illness.
REACHED RIPE old Age
Decedent Almost Eighty Three Years
on Earth-Stores Close During
Hours of Funeral.

Hours of Funeral.
Charles Lehman, pioneer of at
least four western states and, for
over twenty years, one OF the leading
merchants of Lewistown, passed away
at his home on west Main street Sun
day morning at Ais o'clock, death
following a general breakdown which
started two or three years ago and
reached an acute stage some six
weeks since The funeral services
were held this afternoon at o'clock
from the residence, the Rev. Ernest
Wright of the Presbyterian church,
assisted by the Rev. Pfaus, conduct
ing the services. A large crowd of
friends were present at the residence
and yet larger concoursc followed
the remains to their last resting
place in the City cemetery The pail
bearers were J. d. Waite, William
Blackford, John b. Rauch, George w.
Cook, M. l.. Woodman and David
Higer, these old friends having been
chosen by Mr.. Lehman for that SER
vice short while before he passed
away.
AS remark Of respect to this old
time citizen Of the county, all stores
and business houses of the city were
closed during the hours of the fune-
| ral
Biographical Sketch.
| Charles Lehman was born near
'Magdeburg, Germany, August Is,
1929, being therefore within but few
months of eighty-three years Of age
at the time of his death. He immi-
grated to New York in 1850 and a
short while later, moved to Ringold,
Georgia, where he was engaged in the
contracting business. From Georgia
he went to St. Joseph, Missouri,
which was then small frontier town,
and where he served as the first
street commissioner. He followed
the contracting business there until
he was seized with the gold fever
which carried him to ST. Louis and
thence across the plains to Denver,
where he conducted store and bak-
cry.
From Colorado young Lehman
went to California, arriving there in
1850 After spending some time in
that state, he went to the Boise mines,
located near the present city of Boise,
Idaho. From Idaho, he came up in-
to Montana, locating at Virginia City
in 1864 The next year he and his
brother, Fred, formed the firm of
Lehman & Brother, and for nearly
fifty years his name has been iden-
tilted with the mercantile interests OF
first the territory and later the state
OF Montana.
Comes to Judith Basin.
In 1885, Mr. Lehman started
store at Cottonwood in this county
and this was, for many years, the
principal trading point i'll the Judith
basin. He started store in Utica
in 1890 and moved his family to that
place two years later. In 1893 he
sold his Utica store to George J.
Bach. In 1892 he built his present
store in Lewistown, the building be-
ing occupied in September Of that
year. For the past nineteen years,
he has been devoting his entire atten-
ton to his business here, which,
through his excellent business judg-
ment and industry, became one of the
leading mercantile institutions of
central Montana
Some six or seven years ago Mr..
Lehman rclinquishcd the active man
agement of his large interests here
, to his sons, although until within
few weeks Of his death he was about
the store more or less and ever man
ifested a keen interest in all passing
events. Mr.. Lehman was married in
1860 to Miss Caroline Bach, who SUR
wives him The children who were
born to mourn the passing of de-
voted father are Mrs A. w. War;,
! Alex B., Louis J., Oswald s., Walter
B. and Arthur B. Lehman, all of
Lcwistown. and the Rev. Gustav A.
Lehman OF Pueblo, Colorado. There
is also living a brother. Fred in Los
Angeles, California, and one brother
and one sister in Germany
Thus records in brief the simple
story of a long life we'll and usefully
spent His was an .unbeaten path
into land where real men and loyal
women dared the dangers OF dawn
ing era. His fortune it was to sur
vive until savagery succumbed to civ
ilization. the torch of which he and
his kind carried. He lived beyond
his time and type and his passing
breaks but another link which binds
this day with an heroic past. The
tears of touching tribute which fall
today from eyes of young and old
alike tell more truly than piled up
monuments OF marble the story of
fond affection in which our friend was
held When life is lived in such
way, Death dares in vain its terrors
to inspire and the final dissolution is
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