I didn't want Labor Day 2012 to pass without taking a moment to honor my paternal grandfather and my personal hero, Winfield Scott Limes, who worked so hard to keep Ohio's labor movement going during its early days at the dawn of the Twentieth Century.
I devoted about three months researching the work history of my grandfather's life and learned so much more than I ever imagined about his role in the creation of the Wood, Wire & Metal Lathers' Union in Columbus, Ohio and during his later years living in Lorain, Ohio. He was a 50+ year card carrying union member at his death. He fought for better working conditions and a living wage for those in the lathing trade.
I devoted about three months researching the work history of my grandfather's life and learned so much more than I ever imagined about his role in the creation of the Wood, Wire & Metal Lathers' Union in Columbus, Ohio and during his later years living in Lorain, Ohio. He was a 50+ year card carrying union member at his death. He fought for better working conditions and a living wage for those in the lathing trade.
He was the business agent for Local #171 in Lorain County at the time of his death in 1959. In his obituary, he is quoted as saying: "From the beginning of his union membership 57 years ago Limes 'always knew the labor movement would amount to something.' He had been a lather for 60 years, starting in Columbus at age 17 to assist his father, a plasterer."
I hope you enjoy reading about the life of my grandfather, Winfield Scott Limes. I know if he were here today, he would feel that his comments made so long ago were right on the mark; that the labor movement did, indeed, "amount to something.".
