ELMER FLOYD LOVEJOY.

Elmer Floyd Lovejoy
   The great west with its boundless opportunities is continually calling to young men of enterprise and ability to utilize her resources and aid in her development and upbuilding. Elmer Floyd Lovejoy was a youth of twelve years when he came with his father to Wyoming, since which time he has made his home in Laramie, where he is now proprietor of the Lovejoy Novelty Works, distributing agents for the southern half of Wyoming for the Franklin cars. Since 1912, Mr. Lovejoy has been sole owner of the Lovejoy Novelty Works, which in addition to the automobile and kindred lines, includes the manufacture and marketing of the Lovejoy Automatic Door Opener, of which Mr. Lovejoy is patentee and sole owner. This device is the only thing of its kind in the country, patented July 30, 1917, and for some time has been in use, leaving no question as to its being thoroughly practical. In these connections Mr. Lovejoy has developed a business of large and gratifying proportions, showing that he has made wise use of his time and talents.
    He was born in Lake county, Illinois, February 2, 1872, a son of George W. Lovejoy, who was also born in Illinois and is now a resident of Laramie, where he took up his abode in 1884, casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers. For a number of years he was engaged in the draying business and while in Illinois he followed the occupation of farming, but is now living retired. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Candace Amanda Winters, was also born in Illinois and passed away in the summer of 1872.
    Elmer F. Lovejoy, their only child, began his education in the district schools of his native county and completed his studies in the public schools of Laramie and in the University of Wyoming. He was a youth of seventeen when he started out to provide for his own support and since that time has depended entirely upon his own resources for whatever he has achieved and enjoyed. He entered the employ of Cook & Callahan, pioneer contractors and planing mill owners of Laramie, under whose direction he learned the carpenter's trade and also became acquainted with mill work. He followed that line of activity for a number of years or until 1893, when he entered the government mail service, in which he spent one year, carrying the mail under Postmaster Thomas J. Dayton and Postmaster Richard Butler. While thus engaged he also established a general bicycle repair business, which later developed into his present business. He began in a small way and with limited capacity, but from a humble start has developed the largest automobile and general novelty business in Laramie, located at Nos. 412 and 414 South Second street. The plant covers a floor space one hundred and thirty-two by fifty feet and has a storage room of sixty by one hundred and thirty-two feet. The company employs on an average of six people and the business has now reached gratifying proportions and is steadily growing.
    Mr. Lovejoy was married in Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 27, 1895, to Miss Nellie Oakley, a native of Harrison county, Iowa, and a daughter of Peter and Hester (Prater) Oakley, who were early settlers of Harrison county and are still living, both having reached an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy have one son, Orell, who was born in Laramie, December 23, 1898. Mr. Lovejoy exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and was formerly a member of the city council of Laramie, in which position he served from 1910 until 1914, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many well defined plans and measures for the public good. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he belongs to the Laramie Chamber of Commerce. His life record is indicative of what may be accomplished through determined purpose intelligently directed. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins. Centuries ago an old Greek philosopher said: "Earn thy reward: the gods give nought to sloth." This truth has been verified through all the ages which have run their course to the present time, and with industry that never flags, Elmer Floyd Lovejoy has worked his way upward until in the development of his present business he has won for himself a place among the most progressive representatives of commercial activity in Laramie.


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