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LYNN HUMMEL. The late Lynn Hummel was for many years one of the best-known lumber dealers in southern Missouri and had extensive interests in this line, and was one of Springfield's most progressive men of affairs, a citizen worthy of conspicuous mention in a volume of the nature of the one in hand. He placed true values on men and events, so that he was essentially democratic and unassuming and showed the intrinsic strength and loyalty of his character. His benevolences were large and were ever unostentatious and admirably placed. He knew the spring of human motive and action, so that he was kindly and tolerant in his judgment and ever ready to lend a helping hand to any worthy movement.
Mr. Hummel was born in Pennsylvania, August 28, 1852, and was a son of David and Ellen Hummel, both also natives of the Keystone state where they spent their earlier years, were married and established their home, but finally came to Jasper county, Missouri, after living awhile at Freeport, Illinois. It was in the early seventies that they located in Missouri. David Hummel devoted his life to general farming. Politically, he was a Republican. His death occurred about 1899, and the death of his widow occurred in September, 1901. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Alpheus is the oldest; Emma, deceased; Lynn, of this review; Perry is deceased; Mrs. Eliza Shaffer, Nelson, and Ellis are the three youngest.
Lynn Hummel was about seventeen years of age when the family removed from Pennsylvania to Freeport, Illinois. He received a good education in the schools of Freeport, Illinois, and Carthage, Missouri; was especially apt in mathematics, an excellent bookkeeper and a splendid musician. He cultivated his decided natural taste for music, and when he began life for himself he went into the piano and organ business at Carthage, Missouri, in which he remained a year, then became expert accountant for S. A. Brown & Company of that city, lumber dealers, and our subject spent his time as auditor at the various yards of the firm. In February, 1884, he located at Springfield, Missouri, and here spent the rest of his life. He was placed in charge of the general office here of the Home Lumber Company of Carthage. He was auditor of a chain of yards of that company for about five years, then went into business with W. R. Pickering, now of Kansas City, Missouri, and they established in Springfield the Hummel Lumber Company, with large yards on Mill street, and in 1901 built the extensive yards on Olive street, the first lumber yards to be located uptown, and about five years later our subject bought out his partner, remaining the sole owner until his death. This business grew to large proportions under his able management and wise foresight and became one of the largest of its kind in southern Missouri, in fact, was not equaled by any of its competitors either in magnitude or business, and it was he who blazed the trail in many new innovations for the arrangement of lumber yards and was a pioneer of many new ideas of advertising, etc., which are universally used today. Mr. Hummell handled great consignments of lumber of all kinds annually, shipping to all parts of the country, doing a wholesale business and at different times was largely interested in mills in the South. At the time of his death he was the oldest lumber man in the Queen City. He thoroughly understood every phase of this line of business and, being both a student and close observer, kept fully abreast of the times in his vocation. By close application, honest dealings and the exercise of sound judgment he accumulated a handsome competence and was one of the substantial men financially of Greene county, and yet he remained a plain, modest, retiring gentleman who was admired and trusted implicitly by everybody.
Mr. Hummel was married July 25, 1883, to Emma C. Stevenson, who was born in Boone county, Indiana, and when three months old her parents removed with her to Wisconsin. Her father was a mechanic. Soon after the close of the Civil war the Stevenson family moved to Missouri. Mrs. Hummel's parents were Elijah C. and Caroline (Farlin) Stevenson, the father born in Ohio in 1832, and the mother's birth occurred in New York in 1836. They lived to advanced ages, the father dying in April, 1910, and the mother in July, 1908. Mr. Stevenson was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting from Monroe county, Wisconsin, in Company D, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at the second call of President Lincoln for volunteers. He made a faithful and gallant soldier, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to sergeant. During his service of three years he was in a number of important engagements, including the battle of Bull Run Cumberland Gap and others. He was mustered out at Madison, Wisconsin, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1865, and soon thereafter moved to Carthage, Missouri, where he continued working at his trade at which he was highly skilled. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he was a Republican. His family consisted of seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: Charles, is deceased; Emma, who married Mr. Hummel, of this sketch; Colbert is living; May is deceased; Rue, George, and the youngest, Clement, reside in Springfield. Mrs. Hummel received a common school education in Jasper county, Missouri, after which she taught school for a period of seven years. She was a most successful teacher and her services were in great demand. She taught two terms in Wisconsin, and she continued her profession until her marriage and has done newspaper work to some extent. She is a lady 6f education, culture and many praiseworthy characteristics. The union of our subject and wife was without issue.
Politically, Mr. Hummel was a Republican, but never a seeker of political office, being a home man and preferring a quiet life. He was a worthy member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian church, to which church Mrs. Hummel belongs. Fraternally, he belonged to the Woodmen of the World, and was a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Florence Lodge of Springfield. He was actively interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, and always paid the membership of at least one deserving boy, a plan which Mrs. Hummel has continued to pursue.
Mr. Hummel was a strong advocate of temperance and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union always received his willing support.
The death of Lynn Hummel occurred May 18, 1908, at the age of fifty-six years. He was buried in Park cemetery, Carthage, Missouri, the family burying grounds. He left behind him the record of a life well spent, a record against which no one could say one word of blame, and his memory will long be kept green by his hosts of warm friends wherever he was known.
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