In July, 1863, Mr. Lemaire made his way to Virginia City, Nevada, and on the 23d of August of that year went to Golconda, whence in 1864 he arrived on the present site of Winnemucca, but at that time a town had not been thought of. In company with his two cousins he bought a ranch now within the present city limits, the purchase price being seventy dollars. They immediately began the erection of a toll bridge across the Humboldt river at that place, which was completed in the winter of 1864-5, and it was given the name of French bridge. They had received the contract to construct the Humboldt Canal, extending from Golconda to Mill City, to supply a quartz mill there, and while building and tending the bridge Mr. Lemaire conducted a small store at Winnemucca. On the 28th of January, 1866, becoming dissatisfied with his interests there, he returned to California, spending two weeks at San Francisco, after which he went to Barbacoas, Colombia, at the time of the mining excitement there, but in this he was also unsuccessful. Returning thence to North Bloomfield, he took a contract to saw blocks for the North Bloomfield Mining Company, the blocks to be sawed by hand. He also worked for a ditch company, and a short time later embarked in business in North Bloomfield, where he conducted a small hotel and saloon with good success for four years, on the expiration of which period he sold his interests there and removed to Golconda, this being in the year 1875, and he was there employed by the Lay brothers.

In the spring of 1876 he came to Battle Mountain, erected a residence and opened a small saloon, which he conducted with success for a number of years. In 1880 he purchased his present large store building of J. W. McWilliams, which is a two-story brick, twenty-five by eighty-three feet, and in this building he has since conducted a large and successful business, dealing in all kinds of general merchandise. He is one of the oldest as well as leading merchants in the city. On the main street he has also erected three other brick business buildings, seven dwelling houses, and has a soda water manufactory, from which he ships his product to different points in the state. In addition to these numerous interests Mr. Lemaire is also the proprietor of a lumber yard, where he carries all kinds of building materials, is engaged in the stock business, both in sheep and cattle, and in all his varied enterprises has met with a gratifying degree of success.

In June, 1869, Mr. Lemaire was married to Miss Marie Louise Lucas, a native of Louisiana, and their union has been blessed with five children, namely: Louis A., August C., Henry R., all born in California, and Ernest H. and Adaline Marie, natives of Battle Mountain. All of the sons are connected with their father in business in this city, and the eldest, Louis A., is also interested in the sheep buiness with other parties. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, is also past grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state of Nevada, and for five years has served as a county commissioner of Lander county. All of the sons are members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and all are married and have homes of their own. The third son, Henry R., is also a county commissioner of Lander county.

In Politics Mr. Lemaire is a Democrat, while fraternally he is a Mason, having become connected with that organization in Battle Mountain in 1883, and for the past twenty years has served as secretary of the local lodge. In 1870 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in California and was one of its organizers in this city, being a charter member of Battle Mountain Lodge and its first noble grand. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is now serving as master of exchequer, and has filled all of its offices, and affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The children of Mr. Lemaire are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. After a long and happy married life, Mrs. Lemaire was called to the home beyond. She had been a faithful wife and mother, a kind and loving friend, and her loss was deeply felt by the citizens of Battle Mountain.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904