Jacob Friedrich Gmelich
1905-1909

Jacob F. Gmelich (Republican), the twenty-first state treasurer, was born at Wurtemberg, Germany on July 23, 1839 and came to the United States in 1852, settling at Peru, Illinois.  He was educated in the public schools of his native land and in a private school at Peru.  He was apprenticed to a watchmaker for four years and moved to Chicago in 1856, where he worked at that trade.  In 1858 he moved to St. Louis where he worked for two years before establishing a jewelry house in Boonville in 1860.  He served several times on the city council and as a member of the board of education.  For many years he was president of the Commercial Bank of Boonville and was mayor of Boonville eight times.  In 1904 he was nominated by the Republican State Convention for state treasurer and was elected.  His salary was $3,000 per year and he employed five persons, adding a janitor to his staff.  Upon becoming state treasurer, he purchased property and became a resident of the Capitol City.  In 1908 he was elected lieutenant governor and served four years.  Afterwards he returned to Boonville and operated a watch repair business with a son-in-law.  He was married in St. Louis on May 8, 1861, to Dorris Mueller.  He and Mrs. Gmelich had a new home under construction at the time of his death on February 21, 1914.