FRANCIS OSCAR WYMAN

Los Angeles County

Biographies

FRANCIS OSCAR WYMAN

WYMAN, FRANCIS OSCAR, Manufacturer, Los Angeles, California, was born near Macedonia, in Summit County, Ohio, May 3, 1839. His father was Albert Wyman and his mother Miranda (Everest) Wyman. He has been twice married, his first wife having been Mary E. Stephens, whom he married at Green Spring, Ohio, August 25, 1868. There was one son born, Charles Elliott Wyman (deceased). Mrs. Wyman died on June 19, 1874. Mr. Wyman’s second marriage occurred at Circleville, Ohio, July 25, 1875, his wife being Emma Bailey. Of this union there have been born three children, Elliott B., Florence E. and Julia M. Wyman.

Mr. Wyman is descended of Anglo-Saxon stock. The original members of the family in America were among the early settlers of Woburn, Mass., and were important figures in the history of the town. For many years afterwards John Wyman was one of its leading citizens.

Francis O. Wyman, who has been an important factor in the commercial life of the country for many years, spent the early part of his life in Ohio. He received his preliminary education in the common schools of Macedonia and during the term of 1853-54 was a student at the Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio. Later (1857-58) he took a special course in higher mathematics in a school at Genoa, Ottawa County, Ohio.

In 1855, following the conclusion of his studies, Mr. Wyman engaged in timber operations in the densely wooded country around the town of Genoa, but in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, abandoned his work and answered President Lincoln’s call for volunteers. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of the enlistment period, re-enlisted to serve until the close of the war. He participated in many of the most important battles of the war, including Shiloh and Chickamauga.

At the Battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863, his commander, Colonel Kingsbury, introduced him to General Brandon during the progress of the battle with the remark: “General, here is a man who will do anything you want him to.” General Brandon ordered him to call for volunteers, which he did, and taking about 32 men went under orders to the front to investigate and report on what was doing. In performing this duty, Mr. Wyman encountered Longstreet’s corps which had just captured a portion of the Ninth Indiana Battery, and recaptured it. For this service, Captain Swollow, of the Ninth Indiana Battery, gave him a note, which stated, “Such bravery deserves a promotion.”

Prior to the charge at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864, Mr. Wyman had been assigned to the post of acting First Lieutenant. This was just before going into action and he was ordered to take command of his company in case the necessity arose during battle.

At the first volley from the rebels the Captain was mortally wounded and Mr. Wyman took command and his brigade captured the breastworks and held them. As a result orders were issued and read before all companies at the time, which stated that this charge, capture and retaining of the breastworks was the only positively successful charge of the kind during the Atlanta campaign. A copy of his order is among the prized possessions of Mr. Wyman.

Immediately after the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., Mr. Wyman was made Sergeant and was in command of his company most of the time until the end of the war.

The Quartermaster General of Ohio, whom Mr. Wyman met while in Cleveland, saw the note given Mr. Wyman by Captain Swollow on the battlefield of Chickamauga and asked if he could take it to the Governor of Ohio. This he did and as a result, an order from the Adjutant General of Ohio was sent to Mr. Wyman, ordering him to report to his office, at Columbus, Ohio, as a commission of First Lieutenant would be given him. The letter containing this order miscarried, and did not reach Mr. Wyman until June, 1864; too late for assignment to the one-year regiment then forming at that time and Mr. Wyman remained with his regiment. On July 21, 1865 Mr. Wyman was mustered out of service as Sergeant.

At the close of the war Mr. Wyman returned to his home near Genoa, O., and engaged in the lime business.

In 1866 he organized the firm of F. O. Wyman & Co., and has been in the lime business since, a period of 47 years. He operated his first plant at Genoa, O., and devoted himself to it exclusively until 1870, when he added a mercantile store, in partnership with L. D. Gregg. As Wyman and Gregg they were associated for 24 years.

In 1887, Mr. Wyman went to California and entered the lime business, having associated with him a number of the leading business men and bankers of California. He secured control of the principal lime manufacturing and selling establishments and pushed them to the highest degree of organization perfection. Since 1902 he has been the controlling force in the lime business of the State of California. He is President, Summit Lime Co.: President, Union Lime Co.; President, Golden State Portland Cement Co., and Vice President, Los Angeles Lime Co.

Mr. Wyman is deeply interested in public affairs and has been a life long Republican. In 1872, upon the incorporation of the town of Genoa, Ohio, he was chosen first City Clerk of the town by unanimous vote and while serving in that office drew up various ordinances which remain a part of the town’s laws. He later served on the Genoa School Board and was a member of the Genoa City Council for many years. Since locating in California, he was at one time a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission. He is a member of Elliott Wyman Post, G. A. R., of Genoa, O.

Transcribed by Bill Simpkins.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 847, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.

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