St. Louis Missouri

Slave Narrative of Berry Smith

Interviewer: W. B. Allen Person Interviewed: Berry Smith Location: Forest, Mississippi Place of Birth: Sumpter County, Alabama “Uncle Berry” Smith is five feet two or three inches tall. He is scrupulously neat. He is very independent for his age, which is calculated at one hundred and sixteen years. He believes the figure to be correct. His mind is amazingly clear. “I was born an’ bred in Sumpter County, Alabama, in de prairie lan’, six miles from Gainesville. Dat’s where I hauled cotton. It was close to Livingston, Alabama, where we lived. “I was twelve years old when de stars fell. … Read more

Biography of Charles Kurlander

Charles Kurlander is the president of the firm of Kurlander Brothers & Harfield, manufacturers of cloaks, suits and dresses at St. Louis and in this connection has built up a business of most satisfactory proportions. He was born in the province of Ponewiecz, state of Kovno, Russia, December 14, 1873, and is a son of the late Joseph Kurlander, who was also a native of that country and a successful clothing manufacturer. The father died in his native land in 1887, at the age of eighty-five years, nd the mother came with her son Charles to America in 1890. By … Read more

Biography of August G. Tonnies

August G. Tonnies, president of the Colorprint Label Company of St. Louis, was born January 13, 1844, in Welsede, in the Province of Hanover, Germany, a son of Christian and Susanna (Hovenkohl) Tonnies. The father was a forester and spent his entire life in his native land. Both he and his wife were born in Duingen, Germany, and in 1850 removed to Dissen, Germany. August G. Tonnies was educated in the public schools of Duingen, Aschendorf and Rothenfelde and also the high school at Dissen, and while a student in the last named institution specialized in the study of foreign … Read more

Biography of Ernest T. Damon

A modern philosopher has said “opportunity is not local, it is universal; success does not depend upon a map but upon a time table.” It has been through the wide use which he has made of his time and opportunity that Ernest T. Damon has reached his present creditable and enviable position as manager of and attorney for the George E. Keith Company, manufacturers of and wholesale dealers in walk-over shoes. Starting out in the business world in a humble capacity he has advanced step by step, thoroughly mastering every task that has devolved upon him until he has attained … Read more

Biography of Sol. E. Waggoner

Sol. E. Waggoner, president of the Masonic Home of St. Louis, has long been a recognized leader in the Masonic fraternity of Missouri and has contributed much to the growth and success of the order in the state. A native of Ohio he was born March 8, 1851, and is justly proud to trace his descent from General Waggoner of Revolutionary war fame who was a resident of Virginia. His father, William Waggoner, lived for some time in Ohio and in 1858 established his home in Macon, Missouri. He was one of only eight in the entire county who supported … Read more

Biography of Francis Eugene Nipher, LL. D.

Francis Eugene Nipher, physicist of world-wide reputation, educator and author in the field of his chosen science, was born at Port Byron, New York, December 10, 1847, his parents being Peter and Roxalana P. (Tilden) Nipher. In the paternal line he is descended from Michael Niver, who came from the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1756 and settled on Livingston Manor in New York. On his mother’s side he traces his ancestry to Nathaniel Tilden, who came from Truterden, Kent, England, in 1634 and settled in Plymouth colony. His collegiate course was pursued in the State University of Iowa, from … Read more

Biography of Oliver W. Dorr

Oliver W. Dorr, secretary of the Dorr & Zeller Catering Company of St. Louis, is a native of the city in which he makes his home, his birth having here occurred February 10, 1890. His parents are Lawrence E. and Rose (Stein) Dorr. The father was born in Germany in 1867 and came to this country in 1882. He established the business conducted under the name of the Dorr & Zeller Catering Company, beginning in a small way and gradually developing the enterprise until he is now at the head of one of the prominent catering interests of the city … Read more

Biography of Samuel Hadlock

SAMUEL HADLOCK. – The people of the Pacific coast at present belong to that time in the history of their states and society when they do the things that the after-time lovers to look back upon and scrutinize. They are full of restless energy, and experience all that falls to the lot of man. The old free days, when the country was new and towns were built, will ever be regarded by the populous and crowded future as the golden days of our history, – mixed with severe toil and deprivation alternating with abundance. Samuel Hadlock, who founded Port Hadlock, … Read more

Biography of Rev. Patrick Joseph Kane

Rev. Patrick Joseph Kane, who for a third of a century has been pastor of the Church of Our Holy Redeemer at Webster Groves, is a native of Ireland but during his childhood days was brought by his parents to the United States and became a pupil in the public schools of Bloomington, Illinois, where the family home was established. He afterward attended a local business college and later became a student in the Christian Brothers College at St. Louis. Having determined to enter the priesthood he subsequently pursued his theological studies in St. Mary’s Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland, and … Read more

Biography of Selden Spencer, M. D.

Dr. Selden Spencer, surgeon and laryngologist enjoying an extensive and important practice in St. Louis as a professional associate of Dr. Richard Johnson Payne, was born in this city March 23, 1873, and is a son of Dr. H. N. Spencer, a distinguished physician who passed away in August, 1915. The son was educated in the public and manual training schools of St. Louis and in St. Paul’s School at Concord, New Hampshire, before entering Princeton College, where he won his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1897. He then took up the study of medicine in Washington University and gained … Read more

Biography of Richard Johnson Payne, M. D.

Making his advent into professional circles in St. Louis in 1913 as an interne in Bethesda Hospital, Dr. Richard Johnson Payne has continuously engaged in practice in this city save for the period of his service in charge of the ear, nose and throat department of Base Hospital, No. 20, in France during the World war. Thorough study, earnest purpose and close adherence to the highest standards of the profession have gained for him a creditable place and large practice. Missouri numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Fayette on the 14th of April, 1888. He is … Read more

Biography of Gray C. Briggs, M.D.

Dr. Gray C. Briggs, a well known Roentgenologist, was born in Burlington, Iowa. June 30, 1882, a son of Dr. Waldo Briggs, who became a noted surgeon of St. Louis. He was born at Bowling Green, Kentucky, July 3, 1856, his parents being William Thompson and Anna (Stubbins) Briggs. He won his professional degree on the completion of a course in the medical department of the University of Nashville, at Nashville, Tennessee, and in 1877 began practice in St. Louis. From 1895 until 1898 he was professor of surgery in Beaumont Medical College and in the latter year accepted the … Read more

Treaty of June 2, 1825

Articles of a treaty made and concluded at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, between William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Commissioner on the part of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs, Head-Men, and Warriors, of the Great and Little Osage Tribes of Indians, duly authorized and empowered by their respective Tribes or Nations. In order more effectually to extend to said Tribes that protection of the Government so much desired by them, it is agreed as follows: Article I. The Great and Little Osage Tribes or Nations do, hereby, cede and relinquish to the United States, all … Read more

Biography of Hon. Frederick Dozier Gardner

Hon. Frederick Dozier Gardner, who in 1921 retired from the office of governor of Missouri after a four years’ term spent as chief executive of the state, was born in Hickman, Kentucky, November 6, 1869, a son of William H. and Mary Ellen (Dozier) Gardner. The father, a native of Weakley county, Tennessee, became a Confederate soldier in the Civil war and while the war was still in progress he wedded Mary Ellen Dozier of Mississippi. They established their home at Hickman, Kentucky, where they became parents of five children. The mother was one of the victims of the yellow … Read more

Biography of William Divine Davis, M.D.

Dr. William Divine Davis, who has engaged in the practice of medicine in St. Louis since his graduation from the medical department of Washington University in 1909, save for the period of his service in the World war, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, August 29, 1887, a son of Thomas Winfield and Mary (Divine) Davis. The father was born August 26, 1859, his parents being William G. and Jane (Thomas) Davis, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, who in 1868 emigrated to the new world, settling in Terre Haute, Indiana. The father comes of a musical family that for years sang throughout … Read more

Biography of Christopher W. Johnson

Christopher W. Johnson, who in a steady competitive way has accumulated a most substantial fortune, is now president of the St. Louis Basket & Box Company, with which he became connected as an operative in the factory upon starting out in the business world almost four decades ago. Step by step he has advanced until he is thoroughly familiar with the minutest detail of the business and his success is attributable to his intimate knowledge of every phase of the work, combined with his genius in the management of men and his executive ability. Mr. Johnson is a native of … Read more

Biography of Samuel R. Parkinson

The name of this gentleman is so inseparably connected with the history of Franklin, its up-building and its progress along commercial, educational and church lines, that no history of the southeastern section of the state would be complete without the record of his useful career. He was one of the first to locate in Franklin and is numbered among its honored pioneers. A native of England, he was born in Barrowford, Lancastershire, April 12, 1831, a son of William and Charlotte (Rose) Parkinson, who were likewise natives of that country. He was only six months old when his father died, … Read more

Biography of William H. Bean

Rapidly the ranks of those who took active part in the Civil War are thinning. One after another the gray haired veterans are going to join their comrades in a land where bloodshed and suffering are unknown. Few of the defenders of the flag in the sixties are now left who are able to hold their own in the keen struggle of present day commercial life. Physical infirmities, have with few exceptions long since compelled the great majority of the survivors to drop out of the race. Yet here and there are exceptions. Now and then a sturdy old warrior … Read more

Biography of Frank E. Nulsen

Frank E. Nulsen, vice president of the United States Bank of St. Louis, is a native son of the city in which he now makes his home and in which he has gained an enviable place in business circles. He was born on the 12th of August, 1867, his parents being John C. and Albertine (Creuzbauer) Nulsen. The father was born in Germany, May 24, 1824, and came to America in 1842, arriving in Missouri the following year. Here he engaged in the tobacco and wholesale liquor business and in 1881 organized the Missouri Malleable Iron Company, conducting the business … Read more

Biography of George Ashton

George Ashton, for twenty years president of the Ashton-Hancock Brokerage Company of St. Louis, his course marked by that steady and substantial progress which shows nothing of the spectacular but moves continuously forward to its goal has ever merited and enjoyed the confidence, respect and goodwill of his fellowmen He was born in Every street, Manchester, England, September 11, 1860, his parents being Thomas and Emma Ashton. His early education was acquired in the Manchester grammar school, in Brooks Seminary, in Owens College, and Manchester University, all of Manchester, England, and having resolved to become a member of the bar … Read more