My Genealogy Hound

Jeremiah Guimmey. A remarkable characteristic of western life is the number of young men who are embarked in active business life, and Mr. Guimmey may be mentioned as one of these who has attained a good degree of success in his business. He was born in Tollen County, Conn., October 8, 1854, and is a son of Jeremiah and Julia (McCarty) Guimmey, who were born in Ireland, and came to the United States in 1844 and to Missouri in 1869. They were the parents of six children, Jeremiah being the fourth. He came with his parents to Lawrence County, and for five years assisted his father, who was a railroad contractor. He then began his mercantile experience as a clerk, which he followed for two years, and the following seven months was in the commission business. He went to Girard, Kan., in 1873, and was in the office of the Joplin & Girard Railroad, and was afterward passenger conductor on the road. He then returned to Peirce City, and received the appointment of express agent, holding the office for nearly eight years. In October, 1880, he engaged in the grocery business, and acted as stage agent for E. S. Fisher & Co. until the railroad was built through that place. March 1 he resigned his position as express agent and sold out his stock of groceries, and in October of the same year engaged in the jewelry business. He served as a member of the city council for four years, and held the office of mayor one year. In 1877 he submitted to the city council a proposition to build a system of water works, but it was defeated. August 16, 1887, the proposition was again submitted to the voters of Peirce City, and was carried. In one and a fourth months he laid over four miles of pipe. [Mention of these works are made in another part of this volume.] October 6, 1879, he was married to Bertie M. Felix, who was born in Pettis County, Mo., and by her is the father of two children, Felix E. and May B.