St. Louis Missouri

Biography of Frank J. Stanze, M. D.

Dr. Frank J. Stanze, devoting his life to the practice of medicine and surgery in St. Louis, where his birth occurred November 4, 1879, is a son of Henry and Frances (Bertke) St Stanze, the latter a native of St. Louis and a daughter of Henry Bertke, who was born in Germany and became one of the early residents of this city. The father, Henry Stanze, was born in Germany, and arrived in America in the latter part of the ’30s, first settling at New Orleans, and in 1848 becoming a resident of St. Louis, where he resided until his … Read more

Biography of Fred G. Christmann

Fred G. Christmann, president of the Christmann Veneer & Lumber Company of St. Louis, organized the business in 1917 and through the intervening period has built up a trade of very gratifying proportions. He is a young man of determination, energy and ambition, alert and enterprising and he never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose nor have his methods ever been called in question. He builds along constructive lines in the attainment of success and has therefore won a creditable name as well as gratifying prosperity. Born in St. Louis on the 21st of July, 1887, he … Read more

Hall, John – Obituary

His Eternal Rest The Eldorado county (Cal:) Republican of September 27th, contains the following notice of the death of Mr. John Hall, a gentleman who was known by many here, and father of the Hall brothers of Union: “The death of this old and well known resident occurred at his residence in Placerville last Thursday after a long and very severe illness arising from heart disease. A large crowd of his old friends attended the funeral, the interment being in City Cemetery where children of the deceased were entombed years ago. Mr. Hall was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in … Read more

Biography of Fenton M. Slaughter

Fenton M. Slaughter is one of the well-known and prominent men of San Bernardino County. A brief review of his life is one of interest in the annals of Southern California. Mr. Slaughter was born January 10, 1826, a descendant from an old colonial family of Virginia, who emigrated from England in 1616. His father, Robin Lewis Slaughter, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, April 25, 1779, the son of Robin and Ann Slaughter. October 25, 1803, he married Miss Elizabeth Gillem, a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia. He died in 1834, leaving a family of eleven children for his … Read more

Meyer Brothers Drug Company

St. Louis is recognized as one of the leading drug and chemical markets in the United States and also has the distinction of being the home of the largest wholesale drug house in the United States if not in the world. Meyer Brothers Drug Company was founded by Christian F. G. Meyer at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1852. The founder came to this country from Lemforde in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in 1847 and consequently was in this country only a few years before entering the drug business. In 1865 the business had grown to such an extent that … Read more

Biography of Charles C. Finney M. D.

Charles C. Finney, M. D. A native of Atchison and a representative of a pioneer family in that city, Dr. Charles Finney had his introduction to the profession of medicine during an erperience of eight years while he was in the hospital department of the Missouri Pacific Railway under Dr. D. J. Holland. He realized the possibilities of a professional career, was encouraged by his friends to make use of his talents in that direction, and soon entered the Beaumont Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was gradusted M. D. on March 14, 1894. Since his graduation in … Read more

Slave Narrative of William Curtis

Person Interviewed: William Curtis Location: McAlester, Oklahoma Age: 93 “Run Nigger, run, De Patteroll git ye! Run Nigger, run, He’s almost here!” Please Mr. Pateroll, Don’t ketch me! Jest take dat nigger What’s behind dat tree.” Lawsy, I done heard dat song all my life and it warn’t no joke wither. Do Patrol would git ye too if he caught ye off the plantation thout a pass from your Master, and he’d whey ye too. None of we doesn’t save without a pass. We chillen sung lots of songs and me played marbles, mumble pog, my town call. In de … Read more

Biography of James H. Hoskins

James H. Hoskins, dealer in high grade investment securities, is also well known in the business circles of St. Louis as the president of the Al Fresco Advertising Company. He belongs to that class of enterprising, energetic and farsighted business men upon whose activity the development and prosperity of the city has been built through the past quarter of a century or more. Mr. Hoskins was born in Auburn, New York, December 21, 1859, a son of James H. Hoskins, who was a native of New York and a descendant of John Hoskins, who came from England to the new … Read more

Biography of Harry C. Bohrer, M. D.

Dr. Harry C. Bohrer, a St. Louis surgeon, who though among the younger representatives of the profession, has attained a prominence that many an older physician might well envy, was born in Macon, Missouri, October 8, 1890. His father, the late George W. Bohrer, was also a native of this state and a representative of an old Pennsylvania family that was established in Missouri in pioneer times. The grandfather was David Bohrer, who came to Missouri long prior to the Civil war and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits here. George W. Bohrer was reared and educated in Kansas and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Washington Schaffer

The subject of this sketch, George Washington Schaffer, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 4, 1847. His parents removed, during his boyhood, to Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided several years. Returning to St. Louis, Mr. Schaffer engaged in the butcher business, and continued there until the fall of 1868. His next field of operation was Kansas City, where he followed his trade for some time. From Kansas City he went to St. Joseph, where he remained until 1874, and then returned to St. Louis. He lived in St. Louis one year, during which time he had a rib broken while … Read more

Biography of Arthur Leslie Gregory, M. D.

Dr. Arthur Leslie Gregory, engaged in the general practice of medicine at Muskogee but largely specializing in surgery, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1877, his parents being Benjamin and Amy (Muehler) Gregory. The father was a merchant and gave to his son excellent educational opportunities. The latter attended the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. He afterward determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Missouri, in which he completed a course with the class … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Young

Aaron H., and Benjamin Young also came to Missouri. John was a physician, having graduated at the Philadelphia Medical College. He came to Warren County in 1816, and laid off the town of Marthasville, which he named for his first wife, Martha Fuqua. He was married twice; first, to Martha Fuqua, of Virginia, in 1805, who died without children. In 1811 he married Sarah Scott, of Virginia, who also died without children. The Doctor moved to St. Louis in 1827, and died while on a visit to some of his wife’s relations in Alabama, in 1832.

Biography of John C. Settle

John C. Settle, who conducted a contracting and building business under the firm style of John C. Settle & Company, was a resident of St. Louis from 1897 until his death, which occurred April 17, 1921. He was born in Monroe City, this state, October 3, 1865, his parents being John B. and Mildred A. (Bannister) Settle. The Settle family is of English origin and was founded in America in 1770 by three brothers, one of whom took up his abode in New York and nothing is known about his descendants. The second went to North Carolina and was the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank DeVore Gorham, M. D.

Dr. Frank DeVore Gorham, practicing in St. Louis with offices in the Lister building, was born in Cloverdale, Indiana, August 2, 1888. Dr. Gorham was educated in the public schools of Cloverdale, Indiana, and in the University of Indiana, where he was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He thus laid broad and deep the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of his professional knowledge. He prepared for the practice of medicine in Washington University of St. Louis and was graduated in 1912 with the M. D. degree. He later took postgraduate work in New … Read more

Biography of Henry Alexander Hamilton

Henry Alexander Hamilton, now serving as first associate city counselor of St. Louis, has been an active and successful representative of the legal fraternity here during the past twenty-three years and since 1907 has practiced his profession in association with his brother under the firm style of H. A. & C. R. Hamilton. A native son of St. Louis, he was here born on the 1st of February, 1877, his parents being Alexander and Mary (Wiegand) Hamilton. His early education was obtained in the public schools, of St. Louis and in January, 1895, he was graduated from the Central high … Read more

Biography of Robert Alexander Crabb

Robert Alexander Crabb, general attorney for the Laclede Gas Light Company, has been a representative of the St. Louis bar since 1895, and moreover has been a lifelong resident of St. Louis, his birth having here occurred January 31, 1868. His father was Robert McKenzie Crabb who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to America in 1849. After a brief residence in Davenport, Iowa, he removed to St. Louis, and for many years followed the printing business, having learned the trade in early manhood. He wedded Mary L. Mannix, whose father started for California in 1849, but the wagon … Read more

Biography of Jesse Applegate

JESSE APPLEGATE. – The following brief obituary sketch of the late “Uncle” Jesse Applegate was written by General E.L. Applegate, than whom none is better fitted to perform the task, – unwelcome in the occasion of its necessity, yet grateful in the opportunity it offers to pay the well-earned tribute of respect and veneration to the wisdom, the worth and the influence of the “Sage of Yoncalla.” The subject of this sketch was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1810, and died in Yoncalla valley, Oregon, on the 23d of April 1888, being in his seventy-eighth year. He was the youngest … Read more

Biography of John Neu, Jr.

John Neu, Jr., attorney at law of St. Louis, his native city, was born October 21, 1888. His father, John Neu, a native of Belleville, Illinois, was descended from one of the old families of that locality, whose ancestral line in America can be traced back to Phillip Neu, a native of Germany who came to America during the latter ’40s and settled in Belleville, there establishing the Western Brewery, then the largest in the Mississippi valley. In this business he continued throughout his entire life. Later the business was sold and John Neu, father of the subject of this … Read more

Biography of Martin L. Foltz

Martin L. Foltz. His span of years greater than the average lifetime had been spent by Martin L. Foltz as an active citizen and resident of Kansas. He is one of the few survivors of that epoch when the nation’s destiny hung upon the outcome of the conflict in Kansas. He is also one of the survivors of the great Civil war, in which he served almost from the beginning to the end in the Union army. For many years his home had been in Williamsport Township of Shawnee County. Born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1841, he is a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Simon Diggs

Simon Diggs, of Lancaster County, Virginia, had a son named William, who married a Miss Goe, of Middlesex County, Virginia, by whom he had one son, named Christopher. His first wife died, and he was married the second time to Mary Seeton, by whom he had William, Isaac, Simon, John H., Dudley, Rowland, Barbee., Cole, Nancy, Polly, and Elizabeth. John H. married Sarah Hathaway, who lived to the age of 103 years. Their children were Lawson, Christopher Y., John H., Jr., Cynthia, Malinda, Nancy, Elizabeth, and William C. Lawson and John H., Jr., were ship carpenters. The former married Sarah … Read more