Amador
County
Biographies
FRED B. LeMOIN
Fred B. LeMoin, a resident of
Drytown, has spent his entire life in California, and the fact that he is
serving as county supervisor indicates that he is numbered among the leading
residents of his community. He was born
on the 14th of March, 1862, and his ancestors were French
Canadians. His father, E. D. LeMoin, was
born in East Paw Paw and married Miss S. J. Marble, a
native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. With
his young wife he started across the plains to California, and on the way their
first child was born. They came with
oxen and cows, the latter helping to draw the wagons as well as furnish the
milk supply. They had no trouble with
the Indians and there was no sickness in the company, so after a pleasant
journey they settled at Brownsville, in El Dorado County, where the father
engaged in placer mining, while the mother conducted a boarding house. Their combined efforts brought to them a very
comfortable competence. Four children
graced their union after their arrival in California, and in 1864 they were
deprived by death of the father, who died in the thirty-fifth year of his
age. Our subject was then only about two
and a half years old. He and his brother
George are now the only surviving children of the family, but the mother is
still living in her sixty-seventh year.
She is a Presbyterian in religious faith. Mr. LeMoin had served as tax collector of
Drytown for a number of years and was a detective. Through his duties throwing him in close
contact with the Chinese he had learned their language and had a Chinese deputy
for his assistant. He was prominent in
the early days in this section of the state and was widely and favorably known.
After the death of her first husband
Mrs. LeMoin was again married, and the step-father would not allow our subject
to attend school, so that at the age of thirteen years he left home,
determining to rely upon his efforts and resources for a living. He obtained such employment as a boy of his
age was capable of performing, waiting on the table in a hotel and doing other
odd jobs, and in this manner he obtained money with which to buy books and
secure an education. Subsequently he
worked at the butcher’s trade for six months, but not finding that to his taste
he became an apprentice at the blacksmith’s trade, which he followed for
seventeen years in Drytown, becoming an industrious, honest and expert
workman. His ability won for him a
liberal patronage and his reliability gained him the confidence of all with
whom he came in contact. An accident,
however, occurred which forced him to retire from business. He was struck in the eye by a piece of steel,
and the sight was thus destroyed. After
that he turned his attention to the manufacture of grave railings, in which
business he has since engaged. He has
leased his blacksmith shop, but still continues to make his home in Drytown,
where he has a good residence. In many
other enterprises he has become financially interested, his investments
bringing to him good returns.
On attaining his majority Mr. LeMoin
gave his political support to the Republican Party, casting his first
presidential vote for Hon. James G. Blaine.
He has since been a steadfast advocate of its principles and on its
ticket he was chosen to the office of county supervisor, which position he is
now creditably filling. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the sublime degree of a Master Mason
in Drytown Lodge, in April, 1898. The
following December he was elected its secretary and in the craft he enjoys the
high regard of his brethren. He is also
a member of the Eastern Star and of the Knights of the Maccabees, having two
thousand dollars life insurance in the latter order. He is likewise a member of the order of
Native Sons of the Golden West, was president of his parlor for two years, its
secretary for three years and was the installing officer of the district of
Amador, which included five parlors. He has
been a delegate to the grand parlor and is very prominent in the order.
In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr.
LeMoin and Miss C. McWayne, a native of Toledo, Ohio, and they have to adopted
children, Esther and Harold, who were left orphans at a very early age. They receive tender care, consideration and
love from their foster parents, who are giving to them good educational
privileges and thus fitting them for the practical and responsible duties of
life. Mr. and Mrs. LeMoin are deservedly
popular in Drytown and enjoy the warm regard of a very extensive circle of
friends. He is a man of strong character
and earnest purpose, and the resolution with which he conquered his obstacles
in early life, securing an education and working his way upward, indicates his
sterling worth. A quarter of a century
ago he was a poor boy, and today he is one of the substantial citizens of
Drytown. He has certainly won the proud
American title of a self-made man and his success is most creditable.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 721-723. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies