St. Louis Missouri

Biography of George Paul Burleigh

George Paul Burleigh is an attorney at law of St. Louis who is engaged in the general practice of law, specializing in trademark practice, to which he has given his attention for twenty-two years. He has the distinction of having served as the youngest member of the Missouri legislature in 1899 and has long been active in all those interests which have to do with the welfare and progress of city and state. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, June 29, 1873, his parents being James E. and Mary (Johnson) Burleigh. The father was a native of Paisley, Scotland, … Read more

Biography of Thomas Harper Cobbs

Thomas Harper Cobbs, lawyer and senior member of the firm of Cobbs & Logan, 1111-1116 Third National Bank building, St. Louis, Missouri, was born August 26, 1868, on a farm in Fairview township, Lafayette county, about six miles southeast of Napoleon, Missouri. His father, Thomas T. Cobbs, was a native of Tennessee. His grandfather, Thomas Cobbs, was a native of Virginia and a descendant of EnglishWelsh parents. His grandfather was among the pioneer settlers of Lafayette county, having come to that county in 1830, and having built the first gristmill in that section. After his grandfather’s death, his father operated … Read more

Biography of Barney W. Frauenthal

Barney W. Frauenthal, general traffic agent of the United Railways Company of St. Louis, was born in White Haven, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1869. He attended the public schools at White Haven and completed his education at the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. In May, 1883, Mr. Frauenthal entered the service of the Union Depot Company in the telegraph department of the old Union depot at Twelfth and Poplar streets, where he was steadily promoted to higher responsibilities in the telegraph and ticket departments. In 1893 he accepted a position with the Wabash Western Railway Company in a … Read more

Biography of Eugene R. Van Meter, M. D.

Dr. Eugene R. Van Meter, one of the medical graduates of Washington university, who since 1905 has engaged in practice, is now specializing in diseases of the ear, nose and throat and has developed a high degree of proficiency in that field. A native of Illinois, he was born in Elkhart, Logan county, September 19, 1884. His father, the late William H. Van Meter, was also born in Illinois and came of Dutch ancestry, the family having been founded in America by Just Jans Van Meteren, who came to the new world in 1662 and settled in Ulster county, New … Read more

Biography of Otto E. Janzow

Among those men who confine their activities to the real estate field and have won success in handling and managing property interests is Otto E. Janzow, of St. Louis, who was born in Lewiston, Minnesota, February 22, 1877. His father, Charles L. Janzow, now deceased, came to the new world from Usedom, Pomerania, Germany, when but five years of age. He entered the ministry of the Lutheran church and was engaged in pastoral work from 1883 until 1911. He married Wilhelmina Miller in St. Louis and they became the parents of three sons and four daughters, Otto E. being the … Read more

Biography of Edward Hirth

Edward Hirth, who is connected with municipal government as one of the city aldermen of St. Louis, was born May 10, 1883, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Robert and Minnie (Jander) Hirth. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and when a young man came to St. Louis, where for many years he engaged in the teaming business, passing away in 1890. It was in St. Louis that he married Minnie Jander, who was born in Alton, Illinois, and they became the parents of three sons and four daughters. Edward Hirth, who was the … Read more

Biography of Arthur J. Brauer

Thorough understanding of every problem connected with his life’s business and, careful direction of every phase of the trade has made the Brauer Brothers Manufacturing Company, of which Arthur J. Brauer is the president, one of the productive industries of St. Louis, a contributing element to the material growth of his native city, for Mr. Brauer was here born on the 6th of July, 1876. His father, the late Theodore J. Brauer, was a native of New Orleans and of German descent, the family having been founded in America by John Brauer, who came to America about 1830, settling in … 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 Louis W. Grosse, M.D.

Dr. Louis W. Grosse, a physician and surgeon of St. Louis, was born October 13, 1884, in Collinsville, Madison county, Illinois, and was the sixth in order of birth in a family of five sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living, the parents being Herman G. and Marie M. (Neidenberger) Grosse. The father was a native of Illinois, born in Collinsville, and was a representative of one of the old families of that state of German descent. He became a pharmacist following his graduation from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and devoted his life to that calling, … Read more

Biography of Harvey S. McKay, M. D.

Thorough study in the leading medical centers of America and of Europe has well qualified Dr. Harvey S. McKay for successful practice and he has won particular prominence in the field of surgery, being identified as surgeon with several of the leading hospitals of St. Louis, while his private practice is extensive and important. Dr. McKay is numbered among Missouri’s native sons, his birth occurring in Troy, Lincoln county, October 1, 1878. His father, Dr. Solomon R. McKay, also a native of Missouri, is of Scotch descent. He is well known as a physician and surgeon, having long practiced following … Read more

Biography of Thomas Tanner

THOMAS TANNER. – A representative and enterprising agriculturist of Union county, the subject of this sketch stands high in the estimation of his fellows and has won, by his straightforwardness and upright life the confidence and esteem of all, while in his business career he has displayed energy and wisdom and a staunchness of purpose and thoroughness of execution that are praiseworthy and have brought their sure rewards in a competence of this world’s goods. Like so many of our thrifty and substantial citizens, Mr. Tanner was a native of England, being born on August 9, 1831, in Newbury, Berkshire … Read more

Biography of Oswald P. J. Falk, M. D.

Dr. Oswald P. J. Falk, internist and diagnostician, with offices in the University Club building, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, June 12, 1894, and has spent his entire life here, being one of the younger representatives of the medical profession in the city. His father, John C. Falk, was born in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, and is now engaged in the practice of medicine in St. Louis. The grandfather in the paternal line served in the Civil war as a private in an infantry regiment of the Union army from Missouri and was wounded on the field of battle. The … Read more

Biography of Samuel Sondheimer

Samuel Sondheimer is a well known and prominent figure in mercantile circles of Muskogee as a partner in the firm of Joseph Sondheimer’s sons. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 21st of January, 1871, a son of Joseph Sondheimer who passed away July 10, 1913, at the age of seventy-three years, and who was the first merchant of Muskogee. At the time of his demise the Muskogee Times Democrat published the following interesting review of his life. “Joseph Sondheimer, the oldest citizen of Muskogee in point of years of residence and the pioneer merchant of this city, … Read more

Biography of William Waltke

William Waltke (1824–1916) was a prominent soap manufacturer in St. Louis, Missouri, and founder of William Waltke & Company. Born in Germany, Waltke emigrated to the United States in 1849 following military service in the 1848 German war. Settling in St. Louis, he initially worked for Becker & Brand, a soap manufacturer, before establishing his own soap business around 1860. His company grew substantially, eventually occupying a large factory on East Grand Avenue and distributing products nationally and internationally. Waltke incorporated the business in 1900 and led it until his death. He was a committed Lutheran and esteemed figure in St. Louis business circles.

Biography of George Brand

It is always a pleasure and a satisfaction to see success come to one whom we feel is, by reason of his own efforts, entitled to it; and so the many people in the City of St. Louis who have observed the career of George Brand, at present and for some years clerk of the probate court of that city, rejoice over the success that has come to him. He is a son of John C. Brand, who was a native of Nassau, Germany, but Dutch descent, his parents having migrated from Holland to Germany when John C. Brand was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edwin H. Conrades

Edwin H. Conrades was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 22, 1861, a son of John H. and Mary C. (Freese) Conrades. He was educated in the schools of St. Louis and on the 11th of October, 1887, was married in this city to Miss. Louise R. Stifel, by whom he has two children, Paul E. and Otto S. Conrades. Mr. Conrades is the president of the Donk Brothers Coal & Coke Company, the St. Louis, Troy & Eastern Railroad Company, the St. Louis & Illinois Belt Railway, the East St. Louis, Columbia & Waterloo Railway, the St. Louis Material … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert Z. Howe

Howe, Albert Z.; contract mgr.; born, Lockport, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1872; son of Albert E. and Olga C. Zallee Howe; educated, public schools, Buffalo, N. Y., and private tutor in mathematics, geometry, and trigonometry; married, St. Louis, Mo., July 31, 1897, Mary Frances Hogue; first business experience, at seven-teen years of age, was in surveying and civil engineering in Buffalo, N. Y., followed by several years of the same class of work in railroad construction in the West and Southwest; later chief draftsman for the St. Louis Water Department, six years, when the sedentary occupation compelled a change; came … 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 William E. Leighton, M.D.

Dr. William E. Leighton, who is devoting his time to the practice of surgery in St. Louis, was born in Portland, Maine, May 9, 1892, a son of the late George W. Leighton, who was a descendant of an old Massachusetts family which was founded in Cohasset in the early part of the seventeenth century by one of the name who came from England. One of the ancestral lines is traced back to the Packard family of Boston. Later descendants participated in the Revolutionary war. George W. Leighton, the Doctor’s father, was in the granite business and during the Civil … Read more