illiam Lehr, founder of the Redlands Shoe Store, comes naturally by his occupation, for his father was a shoemaker and he was taught the trade early in life. Born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1848, he lived in that section until the close of the war, when the family removed to Iowa. There they engaged in farming and stock-raising. Their first residence was in Linn county, but, in the spring of 1880, he removed to Hubbard, Harden county. There Mr. Lehr resided until he came to California and to Redlands in 1890. He was married June 13, 1880, to Miss Etta Boyd, a native of Alleghany county, Pennsylvania.

After spending a few months at Redlands, getting acquainted with the new country, Mr. Lehr formed a partnership with Henry Schultz and erected the building now occupied by Bush's bakery, which, for a long time, stood alone, with vacant lots on both sides of it, now occupied by substantial business structures. After a few months Mr. Lehr exchanged his interest in this establishment for real estate. The same year he purchased ten acres of land in the Barton tract, which he caused to be set to navel oranges, making a grove now just coming nicely into bearing. Mr. Lehr has since superintended the care of this, in addition to his other work.

In June, 1891, Mr. Lehr opened the Redlands Shoe Store in the Truesdell block, where he has since been in business. He has built up a reputation for honesty and fair dealing and has received a very liberal patronage from the people of Redlands. Mr. Lehr is one of the business men who have been longest continuously in business in this city.

(Source: Illustrated Redlands, 1897, p. 83)