JOHN J. LENHART, M.D., - late of Bemus Point, Chautauqua County, N.Y., where his death occurred March 26, 1915, was for many years one of the most prominent physicians in these parts and enjoyed a reputation second to none for skill and the high qualities of manhood. He was a native of Westmoreland, Pa., born Sept. 10, 1844, a son of Peter and Catherine Lenhart, old and highly respected residents of that place.

As a lad he attended the public schools of his native region and was there prepared for college. A little later, having made up his mind to become a physician, he matriculated at the Eclectic College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he took the usual medical course and was graduated. He pursued post-graduate study at the Allopathic College of Buffalo, and at the Polyclinic of New York. Upon completing his studies at that institution, he came to Bemus Point, where he opened an office and here remained in continuous practice of his profession until within a few years of his death. During that time he built up a very large practice in Bemus Point and the surrounding region, and was soon recognized as one of the leading physicians of the place. His strong character and cheerful personality were ideal for the sick room and acted with as much potency as his medicines themselves to bring about his cures, especially in the case of patients with nervous and hypochondriac complaints. During the last few years of his life, Dr. Lenhart withdrew from the active practice of medicine and spent his time in well earned leisure. Dr. Lenhart, besides his professional activities, was always keenly interested in the general material welfare of the community, and was prominently connected with the Union Trust Company of Jamestown. He was a Republican in politics, but his duties in other fields prevented him from taking part in a department of the community's life for which his many talents eminently fitted him, although he was without ambition for political preferment of any kind. He was a prominent Free Mason, being affiliated with the Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery. In religious belief he was a Universalist and attended the church of that denomination at Bemus Point.

Dr. Lenhart was united in marriage, April 29, 1875, at Bemus Point, with Dora B. Baldwin, a native of Ellery, N.Y., and a daughter of Philander and Alcina (Copp) Baldwin, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Marcellus, N.Y. One child was born of this union, namely, Charlotte L., born July 25, 1877, at Ellery. She became the wife, June 1, 1912, at Bemus Point, of George Anson Johnston, to whom she has borne three children: Jane Isadora , John Lenhart and George Anson, Jr. In the year 1881, Dr. Lenhart erected a fine hotel building at Bemus Point, which he operated successfully for about ten years, or until it was destroyed by fire in 1891. The following year he rebuilt a still more handsome building, containing fifty-two rooms, for the same purpose. This commodious hotel is filled every June by the rush of trippers to the lake, it being one of the pleasantest places on its shore.

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