L. A. Schirmer, an enterprising merchant of Osage City, Cole County, was born in Cole County January 22, 1866. He is a son of Lawrence and Caroline (Ohnemueller) Schirmer, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter born in Missouri. Lawrence Schirmer immigrated to America in 1850 with his parents, Mathew and Elizabeth Schirmer, both of whom died in 1862. Lawrence learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed some time, but is now a steamboat engineer on the Osage River. Mrs. Caroline Schirmer is a daughter of Adam and Barbara (Rice) Schirmer, natives, respectively, of Germany and America, and both now living at an advanced age. Lawrence and Caroline Schirmer had two children, our subject and Emma B. L. A. Schirmer was employed in the mercantile business a short time after leaving school, and at the age of sixteen learned telegraphy in the office at Osage City. He then went to Linn, and for two months had charge of the telegraph office there, returning to Osage City in March, 1883, as night operator there. He held the latter position about twenty-two months, when he commenced the study of law, but after one year abandoned his law work and again engaged in telegraphing, having charge of the division office at Chamois; from Chamois he went to Jefferson City, and from there returned to Osage City, again accepting the agency at that place. June 1, 1888, he entered the merchandising business, buying out Mike Kraus, and still devotes his attention to that trade, doing a safe and successful business. Mr. Schirmer is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics his sympathies are with the Republican party.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).