Oscar L. Duemler, member of the St. Louis bar, who is noted for his ability as a lawyer, particularly in his eloquence before a jury, was born at Springfield, Missouri, February b, 1891. His father, Louis P. Duemler, is a native of Franklin county, this state, and a son of John Henry Duemler, a pioneer settler of that locality and of French Huguenot descent. The grandfather was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1834 and was brought to Missouri in 1836 by his father, who settled in Franklin county, this state. The journey westward was made by boat to Washington, Missouri, thence by ox caravan to Franklin county, where John Henry Duemler has resided continuously since 1836, or for a period of eighty-four years. He served in the First Missouri Regiment under Captain Frank P. Blair in the Civil war and participated in the capture of Camp Jackson. Two of his brothers, August and George, were also in the same command, while another brother, Louis, was killed in the battle of Vicksburg. John Henry Duemler has been a Master Mason for fifty-four years and a most loyal and exemplary follower of the craft. He has followed farming as a life work and has been very successful but is now living retired.
His son, Louis P. Duemler, was reared and educated in Franklin county and followed blacksmithing and wagon making as a life work but is now living retired in St. Louis. He married Nettie Gatts, a native of Ohio and a representative of an old Pennsylvania Dutch family. They have become the parents of five children, four sons and a daughter, of whom Oscar L. is the third.
Educated in the public schools of Union, Springfield and St. Louis, Oscar L. Duemler completed his studies in the Central high school of the last named city. His law course was pursued fit Washington University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1912. During his college days he was much interested in athletics and played football in 1909 as center on the varsity team. While a college student he was also employed in various ways and his earnings provided him the means for his education. He was admitted to practice in June, 1912, and has since been an active representative of the profession, giving his attention to general law practice but being most interested in corporation law. He is recognized as an attorney of ability and a man of sterling honor and integrity, well liked by his fellows of the profession and popular with his many friends throughout the city. He is ever ready for a forensic combat, being always well prepared to meet the attacks of an adversary.
In St. Louis, Mr. Duemler was married on the 19th of October, 1917, to Miss Dorothy Schwarz, a native of St. Louis and a daughter of J. J. and Agnes (Klages) Schwarz. They have one son, John Julius.
Dr. Duemler maintains an independent course in politics, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. Fraternally he is connected with Benjamin Franklin Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also with Alhambra Grotto. He is a lover of music and possesses an excellent baritone voice. He finds much interest in the study of archaeology and the prehistoric life of Missouri and Illinois and is recognized as an authority upon the Indian mounds of this vicinity. His interests are thus broad and varied and at all times he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress.