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45. John[6] Lumsden (James, 81) (A50). Born, 23 Jul 1824, in Southampton, Hampshire, England[22]. Died, 30 Apr 1898, in St. Louis, MO[22]. Census: 1880, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Census: 1860, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Census: 1870, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Occupation: Tanner.

"Starr Piano Founder"

The 1850 census gave a John "Lumsdy", a merchant born in England, living in a family of the same, including James, a merchant and his wife Elizabeth, M. (probably Lucetta) born in Ohio, George, a merchant and Mary, aged 2. In 1860, he was a tanner with a tax value of $18,000 and $6000; he and Lucetta are listed as born in New York. They were living with their three girls. In the 1870 census, John had a "leather store" and a taxable value of $200,000 and $50,000. He was living with Lucetta, and daughters Callie, Maria, and Alice, and a domestic, Maria McClusky, 24, born in Virginia. In the 1880 census, he was listed as "President of the State Insurance Co." and was living with his wife Lucetta and daughter Maria at 497 S. College St. in Nashville. It also says that he had had a "Nerve" sickness within the last year. They lived in the same house as Henry and Alice Gennett. Also living there were Rebecca Robbins, age 21, white, servant, and Mattie Paskett, 14, mulatto, nurse, both born in Tennessee.

John was christened at St. Mary's, Southampton, 24 June 1824.

Nashville Directory 1859 Lumsden & Co, hides, oils, and findings, 11 South Market Street; John, above firm, S Nashville.860-61 Lumsden, John & Co, leather, oil, shoe findings etc 11 South Market; John above firm, res Edgefield. 1870 Lumsden, John cashier Second National Bank h South College b Franklin & corporation lines; Lumsden J & Co., (JL & George) manufacturers and dealers in hides, oils, and leather etc 22 & 24 S Market. 1871 Lumsden, John, president State Insurance Co., h S College b. Franklin & Corporation Line.

Clarence Gennett (1950): "The various male members of the family, before leaving England, seemed to have received apprentice training or other training in the matter of leather and I can still remember my grandfather speaking of his brother James, as to his expertness in leather work.
"Shortly after their arrival in Nashville, they developed a Tannery which was located on Brown's Creek and the Nolansville Turnpike. This was a toll road in those days.
"We do not find very much on record in reference to this tannery, nor its destruction by fire. A history of Davidson Co., County, of approximately 1870, speaks of this Tannery as a Cincinnati-Nashville Tannery, operated by the Lumsden Brothers.
"It is interesting to note that the planned distribution included some business connections in New Orleans, and that Grandfather was appointed by the Confederacy to lay out the tanneries for the Confederate Government, but because of the continued disaster in the Confederate arms, no tanneries were laid out.
"There is a story that at the time of the blockade of the Mississippi River, there was a shipment consigned to the tannery of three cargoes of Japonic Acid (Catechu), which delivery, they were unable to make owing to the blockade.
"After the war, Grandfather was in Boston, trying to adjust his financial affairs and called at the counting house of the shipper of this material and asked what was his indebtness and was advised that owing to the fact that no delivery could be made, by reason of the blockade, that they considered themselves agents and had sold the Japonic acid, at a profit and gave my grandfather a check for the profit.
"We find in grandfather's individual scrapbook, under a penciled date, in his handwriting of 1870, a list of the principal taxpayers of Nashville, and as a matter of comparison, grandfather was taxed at the rate of $41,700.00 and the Louisville and Nashville R.R. at $103,000. I do not find any of the other members of the Lumsden family included on the list and the smallest figure used is a taxable figure of $10,000.
"The manufacturing plant or tannery was destroyed by fire and Brother Harry tells me it was set on fire by some tramps coming off the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway.
"There seems to have been some very strenuous business differences in the family and I have been unable to clear the situation. It seems like Great Uncle George had something to do with the fire...Uncle George had a warehouse on Market Street, before I left Nashville, which bore the sign - George Lumsden, Leather. Apparently, he did not leave much of an estate and whatever it was, it went to his sisters, Amelia and Edith....At my grandfather's death, there was also a phrase in his will that left to these two sisters, a payment during their life. I have been in their house and apparently, the monthly payment from Grandfather's estate was very acceptable.

The "Nashville Business Directory of 1857 lists Lumsden & Co., dealers in Hides, oils, leather and shoe findings. 11 S. Market St., and Lumsden, J., above firm, res. Edgefield.

"The Presto" (7 Nov 1912): "In connection with this failure [of the bank holding the State school fund]...The school fund, amounting to $1,100,000 at the beginning of the war was changed into silver dollars, and under the guardianship of Mr. John A. Fisher, cashier of the State Bank of Tennessee and a neighbor of the Gennett family, it was packed in nail kegs and for more than four years hauled over the south. At the close of the war, the entire sum was returned without the loss of one dollar.
"John Lumsden...who at this time (1865) was president and founder of the Second National bank of Nashville, strongly advised Governor Brownlow to dispose of the fund by buying United States savings bonds. At this time specie was selling two and a half to three for one in currency and bonds about seventy to eighty in currency. Had his advice been followed, it would have meant a wonderful blessing to the state of Tennessee."

The 1868 directory listed "LUMSDEN JOHN, President Second National Bank, h S. College b S. Franklin and Corp. Line; LUMSDEN J. & CO., (J.L. & Geo. Lumsden Dealers in Hides, Oils and Leather 22 and 24 S. Market.' Also President, State Insurance Co. 1869: "LUMSDEN JOHN Cashier Second National Bank, b S. College b. Franklin and corporation line, same listing as '68 for J. Lumsden & Co. Clayton's "History of Davidson Co., County" states that he was a director of the First National Bank of Nashville, formed Jan 13, 1880, with a cash capital of $300,000. He was president of State Insurance Co. According to St. Louis, the Fourth City, John Lumsden was one of the founders of the Jesse French Piano Company.

A memorandum to an unknown photo, by Clarence Gennett: "The steamer, John Lumsden, taken at the Wharf Boat at Clarksville, Tennessee on the Cumberland River on July 16, 1870. This is one of three steamers owned and operated by the Nashville and Cairo Packet Company." Other memoranda: "From 'Nashville and Her Trade' 1870, by Charles E. Roberts" Full Page Ad: "J. Lumsden & Company/Manufacturer and Dealers/in/Hides, Oil/Leather Findings/and/Curries Tools/#22 S. Market Street/Nashville, Tennessee." Same publication: "Leather and Hides/Four Tanneries in City or Near/J. Lumsden and Co./22-24 S. Market St./Nashville, Tennessee." Same Publication: "State Insurance Company/John Lumsden, President/Joseph W. Nash, Secretary" Same Publication: "River Transportation/ Nashville and Cairo Packet Company/John Lumsden, President//Steamer - 'John Lumsden' (New)/ Tonnage 350 - Value $20,000// Steamer -'Tyrone'/ Tonnage 350 - Value $20,000//Steamer 'Talisman'/ Tonnage 350 - Value $10,000." Clarence also notes from Clayton: "The Nashville Tannery on the Nollensville Turnpike was in operation before the War, giving employment to a large number of men, and embodying a capital of $200,000. Their orders were filled for New York, Charleston, S.C., Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago, Milwaukee Markets. This was then the largest tannery in the southern states.

Kennedy (1994): "...the England-born John Lumsden had extensive land assets and a substantial equity interest in the coal and iron industries.

1895 St. Louis City Directory: John Lumsden was listed as Vice-President of Jesse French Piano and Organ Company, 922 Olive, res. 4038 Westbelle Pl. Jesse French, res. Nashville, TN, was listed as president, and Oscar Field, res 3301 Morgan was secretary.

Testimonial: "In Memory of John Lumsden
"Our first President, John Lumsden, has passed through that change called death. To him it was knowledge that death cannot interfere, in any possible manner, with being; and with faith that, "As ye have sown, so shall ye reap." A man diligent in the affairs of business, but never so busy as to be disturbed b matters outside his work; enjoying his surroundings, planting by example traits of character worthy of emulation, and dealing out to his fellow-men the best at his command in honor and integrity.
"This memorial is inscribed by his co-workers and business associates in The Starr Piano Company, who miss his counsel and leadership, but who endeavor to follow his precepts in the development of the company's affairs along the lines of commercial success that the fairest dealing must and will always win in the end. While business was a great pleasure to him, and his financial success was a source of gratification, he drew much riches from life, seeking truth and information as a student a philosopher. He was a man to shoulder many burdens for others, but never to ask assistance in bearing his own, due to his ability and judgement in handling the affairs of life.
"Mr. Lumsden was born in Southampton, England, July 23, 1824, and died at St. Louis, April 3, 1898. His many business enterprises resulted in success; none, however, did he enjoy more than our own Company, as he often expressed.
"Therefore, be it resolved, that the above memorial be spread upon the minutes of the Company, and a copy thereof furnished to the widow.
"Signed on behalf of the Company, the eleventh day of October, 1899, at Richmond Indiana.
"THE STARR PIANO COMPANY. (signed) Benjamin Starr Secretary.

He is interred in the Bellfountain Cemetery in St. Louis, acc. to E. Conrad.

He married Lucetta Cristman (46) (A51), 17 Feb 1848, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN[53].

Children:

i. Caroline "Callie"[5] Lumsden. Born, 22 May 1851, in TN[56]. Died, 10 Feb 1919, in New Castle, Henry Co., IN[56]. Census: 1860, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Census: 1870, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN,1880. Census: 1900, in St. Louis, MO. She married Jesse French.

ii. John Lumsden II. Born, 22 Aug 1854[22]. Died, 22 Jul 1855[22]. Burial in Mt. Olivet Cem., Davidson Co., TN.

iii. Maria A. Lumsden. Born, Jan 1856, in TN[57]. Died in St. Louis?. Extra 4: 1900, in St. Louis, MO. Census: 1880, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Census: 1860, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. Census: 1870, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. She married Oscar Addison Field, son of Captain Francis Field, 28 Aug 1882[58].

24 iv. Alice Lumsden.