St. Louis Missouri

Biographical Sketch of James Durrett Simms

The subject of this sketch was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, January 6, 1880, his parents being James M. and Mary Durrett Simms. While a child his parents moved to Missouri and his education was received in the schools of that state. In September, 1900, he went to St. Louis, studied shorthand there, accepted a position in a law office in February, 1901, and took up the study of law, attending the lectures of the Benton College of Law at night. In June, 1902, he was admitted to the bar in the city of St. Louis. He resided in St. … Read more

Biography of Charles Leavitt Holman

There are few business enterprises that so closely touch the comfort and welfare as that which has to do with the lighting of homes and business houses, and the man who is active in control of public utilities must be one of broad vision, of thorough understanding of needs and conditions and of marked enterprise that he may keep in touch with the changing times. Possessing all these requisites, Charles Leavitt Holman has steadily advanced since he became connected with the Laclede Gas Light Company of St. Louis in April, 1903. He was advanced through various positions to tile presidency … 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 Edward Watts Saunders, M. D.

Dr. Edward Watts Saunders, who for forty-three years has engaged in the practice of medicine in St. Louis and who is now professor emeritus of pediatrics and clinical obstetrics in the medical department of Washington University, was born in Campbell county, Virginia, on the 15th of October, 1854, a son of Robert C. and Caryetta (Davis) Saunders. His father was a Civil war veteran, serving as captain of Company A of the Eleventh Virginia Infantry of the Confederate army and winning promotion to the rank of major. In the maternal line was Captain Eugene Davis under General J.E.B. Stuart. He … Read more

Biography of J. O. Cooper, M.D.

Dr. J. O. Cooper, engaged In the practice of medicine in Jefferson City, was born March 19, 1884, at Cooper Hill, Osage county, Missouri, the place of his birth having been named in honor of the family of which he is a representative. His parents, Thomas McCuin and Martha Jane (Cox) Cooper, were also natives of Missouri, the former born in Gasconade county and the latter near Cooper Hill in Osage county. Thomas M. Cooper was a farmer throughout his active life and was also prominent in public affairs. He served as notary public for thirty years and was deputy … Read more

Biography of Eli T. Brand, M.D.

Dr. Eli T. Brand, president of the Lindell Hospital at 3766 Lindell boulevard in St. Louis, was born in Bonne Terre, Missouri, December 12. 1883, his parents being George W. and Mattie (Boyd) Brand. The mother died in Bonne Terre in 1913, and the father is still living in that city. For many years he was engaged in stock raising but is now living retired. Both he and his wife were native Missourians. Dr. Brand was one of a family of five sons and four daughters. He attended the schools of his native town and in 1904, having determined upon … Read more

Biography of Frank Hastings Hamilton

For thirty-three years Frank Hastings Hamilton has been identified with railway service and winning consecutive promotion, has since July, 1896, been secretary and treasurer of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company and its successor company, St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company, with offices in St. Louis. He was born in New York city, September 5, 1865, and was accorded liberal educational opportunities, completing his studies in the University of France at Paris, where he won his Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation with the class of 1883. Two years later saw the beginning of his identification with railway interests. … Read more

Biography of John Menown

John Menown, member of the bar and prominently known as a musician, composer and writer of short stories, although now making the practice of law his life work, was born in St. Louis, December 17, 1876, and has always remained a resident of this city. His father, John Menown, was born in Ireland of Scotch parentage but when quite young crossed the Atlantic to the new world and at the time of the Civil war commanded a company of Confederate forces under General Johnston, being a lieutenant in that company. He won prominence in business affairs by establishing the largest … Read more

Memoirs of John Pitchlynn

Peter Perkins Pitchlynn was the Choctaw Principal Chief from 1864-1866

John Pitchlynn, the name of another white man who at an early day cast his lot among the Choctaws, not to be a curse but a true benefactor. He was contemporaneous with the three Folsom’s, Nathaniel, Ebenezer and Edmond; the three Nails, Henry, Adam and Edwin; the two Le Flores Lewis and Mitchel, and Lewis Durant. John Pitchlynn, as the others, married a Choctaw girl and thus become a bona-fide citizen of the Choctaw Nation. He was commissioned by Washington, as United States Interpreter for the Choctaws in 1786, in which capacity he served them long and faithfully. Whether he … Read more

Biography of H. J. Westhues

H. J. Westhues, filling the office of prosecuting attorney of Cole county and a well known resident of Jefferson City, was born in Westphalia, Germany, June 6, 1889, but in 1892, when only four years of age, was brought to America by his parents William and Teresa Westhues, who settled in Howard county. The father was a farmer, living a most active and useful life and becoming recognized as one of the prominent agriculturists of his community. H. J. Westhues obtained his education in the Catholic school of Glasgow and when his textbooks were put aside assisted his father on … Read more

Biography of John Adam Endres

John Adam Endres was one of the notable men of Northeastern Kansas, for nearly thirty years was engaged in business and proved an active exponent of the best civic spirit in the City of Leavenworth, and died at his home there August 11, 1893. No finer class of citizens had ever been incorporated into American nationality than the emigrants from Germany in the decade following the Revolution of 1848. They exemplified the soul of patriotism, adapted themselves with wonderful versatility to the life and conditions of the New World, many of them fought for freedom and union, and in all … 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 William Henry Pralle, Jr.

Thousands of substantial business enterprises combine to make up the growing city of St. Louis. Among the bakery establishments is that of the Pralle Bakery Company, of which William Pralle, Jr., is now the president. Acquainting himself thoroughly with the business he has worked along this line from the age of fourteen years and his progress has been consecutive. He was born in St. Louis, December 10, 1890. His father, William Pralle, Sr., was a native of Hanover, Germany, born December 16, 1852, so that he was sixteen years of age when in 1868 he bade adieu to friends in … Read more

Biography of Rutherford B. H. Gradwohl, M. D.

Dr. Rutherford B. H. Gradwohl, a St. Louis physician who has won prominence as a bacteriologist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 4, 1877, and is a son of Emanuel Gradwohl, a native of Strassburg, Germany, who came to America in 1856. He was a member of the first cavalry regiment organized in the United States in the latter ’50s and later became a Civil war veteran, serving in the First United States Cavalry throughout the entire period of hostilities between the north and the south. He was made a sergeant and rendered valuable aid to his adopted country. He … Read more

Biography of Robert A. Holekamp

Robert A. Holekamp, president of the Holekamp Lumber Company and a dominant factor in the industrial development of St. Louis and the state, was born at Nordstemmen, in the province of Hanover, Germany, May 4, 1848, his parents being the Rev. Frederick F. and Amelia (Koch) Holekamp, who lived and died in Hanover. The father was a Lutheran minister, devoting his entire life to the work of the church. Robert A. Holekamp was reared and educated in his native country, acquiring his early education under his father’s personal instruction. When fourteen years of age he was sent away to Hildesheim … Read more

Agnes Goodrich Todd Nies of St. Louis MO

NIES, Agnes Goodrich Todd8, (Russell7, Chauncey6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Dec. 19, 1876, married June 28, 1901, Henry Nies. They lived in St. Louis, Mo. Children: I. Henry Todd, b. March 30, 1902. II. Frederick Hobart, b. Aug. 25, 1903. III. Harriet McCoun, b. Oct. 4, 1905. IV. Agnes Gertrude, b. Aug. 29, 1907. V. Russell, b. Nov. 13, 1908. VI. Elizabeth, b. March 7, 1913.

Biography of John Davis

John Davis, of Jonesburg, familiarly known as “Uncle John,” is the oldest son of the late Thomas Davis, of Shenandoah Co., Va. John was born October 30, 1791, in Shenandoah County, and is now nearly 85 years of age. When he was about sixteen his parents removed to Bourbon Co., Ky., and when the war of 1812 began, he enlisted in the army and served under Generals Winchester and Payne. He was stationed at Forts Wayne and Laramie, in Ohio, for some time. In 1820 he came to Missouri, and stopped a short time in St. Louis, which then had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward J. Brauer

Edward J. Brauer, secretary of the Brauer Brothers Manufacturing Company, has been active in the development of what is now one of the important productive interests of St. Louis, the firm being engaged in the manufacture of ladies’ fine shoes and leather and textile sporting goods. Mr. Brauer was born in St. Louis, March 3, 1880, and is a brother and partner of Arthur J. Brauer in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work there is given the record of the family. He was educated in the public schools of St. Louis and when twenty-one years of … 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

Biographical Sketch of Gen. Carmi W. Babcock

Gen. Carmi W. Babcock, president of the first free state council of 1857-58, a leading citizen of Lawrence and a prominent contractor in the building of several noted structures of the state, was born in Franklin County, Vermont, April 21, 1830. In 1850, after teaching for a time, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he read law and was admitted to the bar. He arrived at Lawrence in September, 1854, and finding that everything was too unsettled to make the practice of the law reliable he engaged in the real estate business. In 1857 he established a bank, only … Read more