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 his native country and sailed for America, making his way direct to St. Louis, where he engaged in the brick business. He married Minnie Kolkmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1858, and on coming to America settled in St. Louis, their marriage being celebrated in the first Lutheran church which was established in this city and which then stood at Eighth and Barry streets, but has since removed to Eighth and Lafayette avenue. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pralle, Sr., are yet living.
The subject of this review, William Pralle, Jr., was educated in the Charles public school of St. Louis, from which he was graduated after having previously attended the Protestant Lutheran school. He began learning the bakery business when a lad of fourteen years and was thus employed until 1910 when he established a business of his own at Fair and Florissant avenues. Later he sold his bakery there and organized the Pralle Bakery Company at 4159 Union boulevard. Of this business he has since been the president. He started with almost nothing and has built up one of the largest enterprises of this kind in the city. The result achieved is the outcome of close application and hard work. He has always held to the highest standards in the manufacture of bakery goods and his reasonable prices and straightforward dealing have also been strong elements in his continued success. He is likewise a director of the Mound City Trust Company.
In St. Louis on the 16th of December, 1914, Mr. Pralle was married to Miss Florence Isenmann, who was a daughter of Charles Isenmann, likewise engaged in the bakery business in St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Pralle have one son, William Pralle, III, who is now in his second year. The parents are members of the Grace Evangelical church of Wellston, Missouri, and they.take an active interest in its work, doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. Politically Mr. Pralle is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is well known in the city in which his entire life has been passed and those who have watched his career recognize the fact that it is through capable management that he has steadily advanced toward the goal of prosperity. Centuries ago an old Greek philosopher said: “Earn thy reward: the gods give naught to sloth.” This truth has been verified through all the countless ages which have run their course to the present time and it was a truth which Mr. Pralle recognized from the beginning of his career. He therefore closely applied himself to his work, gained intimate and accurate knowledge of every phase of the business and by wise management of his affairs has become one of the prominent bakers of his native city.