Lehman, Samuel (1848-1920)

Newton-Evening Kansan obituary: 1920 Oct 7 p. 1

Birth date: 1848

Text of obituary:

SAMUEL LEHMAN DIED LAST NIGHT

Death of Honored Citizen Takes One of Oldest Residents

CAME HERE IN 1871

Staunch Pioneer Was Veteran Kansas Dealer in Hardware

The many friends of S. Lehman whose home was at 130 East Broadway, received a shock last evening when the news of his sudden death became known. He had been greeted on the streets Wednesday afternoon and had waited on customers at the Lehman Hardware store, apparently as usual, and it is hard to realize that the face so familiar to a host of citizens of this county will be seen no more in the business which he had established in Newton almost fifty years ago.

Mr. Lehman's death was due to a clot of blood in the muscles of the heart. He had not been feeling well since Sunday but his methodical habits and desire to be of service had prompted him to be at the store during the week. While at the table last evening, he remarked that he did not feel able to eat his dinner and decided to go to his room. A few minutes later a groan was heard, and when his son-in-law, Dr. Kalbfleisch hurried to him, he had just expired.

Mr. Lehman was a veteran hardware merchant of Kansas. For almost half century he has been actively identified with the growth of his business from the time it was located in a frame building 24x60 feet to the present time when, it having been enlarged from time to time, now occupies the spacious building at 604 Main with plumbing and tin shops at 112 and 114 East Sixth.

Mr. Lehman had been identified with the growth of this community since the days when as a young man of 23 years he made the trip through Kansas, settling on a claim southwest of Newton which later became known as the Barnhisel farm. He was associated with all that tended to the building up of community life and in the making of a city from the little hamlet of Newton which he had found here. No one will ever be able to estimate the value of the quiet, forceful citizen in his life of usefulness, or realize how potent a factor he has been in the commercial progress of the city. His interest was like-wise centered in good schools and churches and he was a staunch member of the Presbyterian church.

Two years ago last January the wife and mother was laid to rest and those in the family circle who have this second great sorrow, is the son, Glenn Lehman, his wife and their son, Sam Jr., of Eugene, Oregon , and daughter, Mrs. E. L. Kalbfleisch and Dr. Kalbfleisch of Newton. His second grandchild is baby Neva Louise Kalbfleisch. Another, whose life has been in close contact with Mr. Lehman, is his nephew Clayton Lehman who has been associated with him in the hardware business for many years and who had known him as a father since the age of sixteen.

A message from Glenn Lehman stated that he would be here Sunday. Arrangements will be announced later. The Kansan will also publish an obituary which will tell more of the useful life of Mr. Lehman.

Funeral services will be conducted at the late home, 130 East Broadway, Monday forenoon at 10:30 o'clock.

---

Evening Kansan-Republican news note: 1920 Oct 9 p. 2

Miss Jessie Lehman, who is a student at the state agricultural college at Manhattan, is here to remain over Monday with home folk and to attend the funeral of her uncle, S. Lehman.

---

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1920 Oct 12 p. 5

Text of obituary:

Samuel Lehman

The funeral service of Samuel Lehman who passed from this life on Wednesday evening October 6, was held at the family home at 130 East Broadway Monday morning at 10:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. A. H. Morrison pastor of the First Presbyterian church. "Lead Kindly Light" and "Rock of Ages" were hymns sung by Mrs. Amos Graybill, Miss Alma Williamson, Henry Cook and W. I. Plumb, and "Crossing the Bar", by Mr. Plumb, with Miss Kathryn Thomas, accompanist. The men chosen for pall bearers were pioneer friends and church and bank associates of Mr. Lehman. Those who carried the casket were Dr. J. T. Axtell, W. E. Francis, D. McGowan jr. J. D. Nicholson, F. S. Steinkirchner and Ezra Branine. The honorary pall bearers were Col. P. M. Hoisington, John Reese, C. F. Claassen, J. B. Dickey, H. E. Suderman and J. W. Bramblett.

Among the large number of friends present, to reverence the memory of the splendid citizen, were many of his first acquaintances and the early customers of his hardware store who had come from all parts of the county. A silent attest of sympathy for those in sorrow was manifested in the countless numbers of beautiful floral tributes.

Obituary

Samuel Lehman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lehman was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 8, 1848. He was the youngest of a family of five consisting of three brothers and two sisters.

His boyhood and youth were spent in the county of his birth and his education was obtained in the common schools. He learned the tinners trade in Seville, Ohio, and when he was twenty-one years of age, (or in 1869) he cast his lot for Kansas coming to Topeka.

In June of 1871 he came to Newton and homesteaded on what is now known as the Barnhisel place west of Newton. The railroad had not been completed as far as Newton and he hauled the lumber for a frame store building from Florence and erected a hardware store on the site of the present building. His store was the first hardware store in Harvey County.

In February of 1872 he was married to Miss Louisa Glendening, who passed away in January 1918. Their early married life was spent on the home stead, later coming to Newton to make their residence, occupying the present home on East Broadway for many years.

To this union were born two children: Glenn Edward Lehman, now of Eugene, Oregon and Neva Lehman, who is now Mrs. E. L. Kalbfleisch and lives in the family home.

Mr. Lehman has one sister, Mrs. Kate Hurting of Roxane, Ill., the only one of his father's family to survive him. Two nephews, Clayton and Edward Lehman have been associated with him in business and have looked upon him as they would their father. A niece, Mrs. Ida Schott is now living in Iowa.

Mr. Lehman's later life was deepened and enriched by the coming of a grandson, Sam Lehman Jr., in whose training and education he was deeply interested. The closing chapter of his life was illumined by his joy in his grand daughter, Neva Louise Kalbfleisch, and he is associated in the minds of even the most casual acquaintance with the baby girl as it was his habit and his joy to keep her much in God's out-of-doors during the summer months just closing.

In addition to his hardware business he helped to organize the First National Bank of Newton and was its first president holding that office for thirty three years. It was his belief that every young man should make an early start in business and he was especially helpful to the early settlers of Harvey County in extending credit freely so that they might start a farm home on the almost trackless prairies.

He was a regular attendant at the Presbyterian church where his presence will be so greatly missed. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternities, belong to Newton Lodge 142 A. F. A. M. and to the Consistory at Wichita.

While he was quiet and unassuming in his tastes, his impress on the community in which he spent nearly a half century was deep and his presence will be sorely missed.