USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri (the center state) one hundred years in the Union, 1820-1921, Volume V > Part 36
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EDWARD L. MARTIN.
Edward L. Martin, deceased, who for many years was prominently associated with financial interests in Missouri, was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1842 and passed away in Kansas City, December 17, 1912. He obtained a public school education and started out in the business world in connection with the wholesale grocery firm of Ike Nelson & Company. In the early '60s, however, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became connected with the firm of Dunlap & Company, wholesale grocers, with whom he remained for six years. In 1868 he arrived in Kansas City and here engaged in the wholesale liquor business under the style of Newell & Company and later as senior partner in the firm of E. L. Martin & Com- pany. They huilt a large distillery and conducted a growing and profitable busi- ness. Mr. Martin was also one of the builders of the Kansas City Belt Line and likewise of the Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad, which is now the property of the Kan- sas City Southern Railroad Company. Of both companies he was the president and through his railroad operations contributed largely to the development of various sections of the country. He was also one of the organizers of the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Trust Company, which became one of the strongest finan- cial institutions of Kansas City, and when this corporation became the Guardian Trust Company he was made one of the original directors and the vice president. Moreover, he was connected with several other important banking and financial interests, being one of the organizers and officers of the Kansas City Savings Asso- ciation, which was the parent organization of what is now known as the National Bank of Commerce.
Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Ricketts, a native of
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Maysville, Kentucky, who is still living, and they became the parents of two children, Edward R. and Mrs. Lulu M. Gaines.
In his political views Mr. Martin was a democrat and was very active in the councils of his party. He served as chairman of the state central committee and was a delegate at large to the convention which nominated Grover Cleveland for the presidency. He was elected judge of the county court and was serving for the second term upon the bench at the time of his death. He had the distinction of serving for twenty-two consecutive years as treasurer of the Kansas City school board and in 1874 was elected mayor on an independent ticket, giving to the city an administration characterized by reform, improvement and progress. He pos- sessed a very benevolent and kindly nature and made liberal contribution to the churches and to organized charities.
EDMOND SPENCER FAUTH.
One of De Soto's most prominent citizens is Edmond Spencer Fauth, superintendent of the International Shoe Company of that place. Like many enterprising men he is one of Missouri's sons by adoption, born on the 30th of October, 1881, at La Fayette, Indiana, a son of Maurice G. and Harriet Sibyl (Dailey) Fauth. Maurice G. Fauth, the father, is now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is manager of a sewing machine office. Mr. Fauth, Sr., was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1850 and in 1864 came to the United States with his parents who first settled in Philadelphia. About 1868 they removed to La Fayette, Indiana, where he was married. The father of M. G. Fauth was John Fauth, also a native of Germany, descended from the Free Staters engaged in the revolution against the German empire in 1848. Due to these activities the family were banished from the court of Germany, royal engagements broken and the family estates confiscated. After being in exile for some time the grandparents took up their residence in America. Maurice G. Fauth became a naturalized American citizen and fought in the Indian wars under "Buffalo Bill" Cody as scout. The mother of Edmond Spencer Fauth, Harriet Sibyl (Dailey) Fauth, was born in 1851, in Ripley county, Indiana, a daughter of John E. and Alice Dailey. She was descended from the early French settlers in the lower Mississippi valley and her father, John E. Dailey, was killed while serving in the Union army in the Civil war about the year 1864.
The early education of Edmond Spencer Fauth was received in the common schools of La Fayette, Indiana, and Chicago, the family having removed to Chicago when he was seven years of age. Here he resumed his studies and was graduated from the Northwest Division high school with the class of 1899, later taking a post-graduate course in advanced mathematics and science. This education was made possible for him by working all hours of the night and in his spare time at such work as could be found, from newsboy to housework and factory work, making odd shoe parts at home and often sleeping in the streets to secure early morning newspapers for sale before school. In 1899 he went to Dixon, Illinois, where he was employed in the cutting department of the C. M. Henderson Shoe Company, later being sent to the Amboy fac- tory of the same company, where he remained until the company sold out. Following this Mr. Fauth accepted a position with the Barker & Brown Shoe Company of Hunting- ton, Indiana, with whom he remained for two years, spending time between seasons in the Hillsdale, Michigan, factory of the Scowden & Blanchard Shoe Company as general operator. In 1903 he removed to St. Louis to take a position with the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company's "union" factory as foreman. For seven years he was in their employ, being foreman of the several different departments and rising to the position of assistant superintendent. In 1909 he resigned from the factory to become connected with the Peters Shoe Company to open up a new factory at St. Louis to be known as the Full- Value Plant. Mr. Fauth's work with this concern was in the capacity of assistant man- ager and general foreman. In 1911 this company merged with the company of Roberts, Johnson & Rand and became known as the International Shoe Company. Under the general reorganization Mr. Fauth was assigned to the De Soto factory as superintendent, in which position he is still serving. The De Soto factory is one of the many similar factories of the company, and employs about three hundred and fifty people, making an average of twenty-five hundred pairs of shoes a day.
On the 28th of May, 1903, Mr. Fauth was united in marriage to Miss Lona B. Shoe-
EDMOND S. FAUTH
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maker, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Shoemaker, a cement contractor of Hunting- ton, Indiana. Henry A. Shoemaker, the father, was born on his father's farm near Hunt- ington in 1859, his father having passed away when he was but four years of age. The father of Henry Shoemaker, David Shoemaker, was a German Baptist minister who came from Ohio and settled on the farm near Huntington, Indiana, where Henry A. was born. The mother of Mrs. Edmond S. Fauth was Elsie J. Rose, the daughter of William Rose, a carpenter and butcher of Huntington county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Edmond S. Fauth have been born six children: Lorraine B., who died in infancy; Stanley L., whose death was caused by an accident during his early childhood; Milton S., who is attending school in De Soto; Geraldine, also attending the De Soto schools; and Marian E. and Edmond S., Jr., the latter two being under school age.
Mr. Fauth has always maintained an independent course in politics and although actively engaged in civic matters as president of the De Soto Commercial Club he has never desired to hold public office, having refused many nominations to positions of public trust opened to him, including that of mayor. Fraternally he is a Mason, having membership in De Soto Lodge, No. 119, A. F. & A. M .; Copestone Chapter, R. A. M .; and De Soto Commandery, No. 56, K. T. He is likewise an Elk, holding membership in De Soto Lodge No. 689, of which he is past exalted ruler and he is likewise a member of the grand lodge. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the activities of which organization they take a prominent part. Mr. Fauth is a member of the board of stewards and has taught the Bible class in the Sunday school for the past five or six years, while Mrs. Fauth is president of the Ladies Aid and Missionary Societies. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fauth are members of the Eastern Star.
During the World war Mr. Fauth was active in Liberty loan campaigns and other national needs, having organized the Red Cross society throughout the county and served as county chairman of the Jefferson county chapter for four years.
Although Mr. Fauth is of a mechanical turn of mind and has written many articles along that line for trade journals and other periodicals he has contributed to other magazines and newspapers short stories and fiction. Mrs. Fauth's tendencies are those of the housewife and mother, although she possesses musical accomplishments. Mr. Fauth is in every sense of the word a self-made man and in his present position of prominence in the community possesses the confidence of the townspeople, due to his own industry and close application to business interests. He devotes much time to the advancement of young men of the city through interest in their future by encourag- ing their moral uplift and directing their energies against adversity towards a definite goal of success.
JUDGE GUSTAVUS A. WURDEMAN.
Judge Gustavus A. Wurdeman, who since 1909 has occupied the bench of the thirteenth circuit, Division No. 2, at Clayton, St. Louis county, was born in Swedesboro, New Jersey, in 1857, a son of Gustavus and Susan (Keyser) Wurdeman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father was connected with the United States coast survey for many years and died in the service. The mother was directly descended from Dirk Keyser who came from Holland and settled in Philadelphia in 1687. The parents died in Philadelphia and at the age of six years Gustavus A. Wurdeman came with relatives to St. Louis where he acquired his educa- tion in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and thus laying the foundation which qualified him to enter upon the study of law in Washington University. On the completion of the law course he passed the examination required for admission to the bar and has since been a well known representative of the legal profession, advancing steadily toward prominence in judicial circles. He continued active in the practice of law for a number of years, winning a clientage of considerable extent and importance and in 1898 was called to judicial position, being made probate judge of St. Louis county in which capacity he continued to serve until July, 1909, when he resigned to accept the appointment of circuit judge of the thirteenth circuit. He was elected to the office at the regular election of Novembr, 1910, and was reelected in 1916 for a succeeding term of six years, so that his present incumbency will continue until 1922. His capability as a judge, the impartiality of his decisions
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and his high sense of justice and right are indicated in the fact that he has twice been elected to the office following an appointment to the bench.
In 1893 Judge Wurdeman was united in marriage to Miss Lena Hospes, of Webster Groves where they have resided for thirty-six years. They have an adopted daughter, Eleanor, now sixteen years of age.
Judge Wurdeman has always given his political allegiance to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and is known as one of the law- makers of the state, for in 1890 he was elected representative to the legislature and endorsement of his service in that connection came to him in an election to the state senate in 1892. He has thus been almost continuously in public office for a period of three decades. He belongs to the State Bar Association and his social nature has found expression in his membership in the Webster Groves Lodge of Masons and in the City Club of St. Louis. Moreover, he is keenly interested in the principles and projects for which these organizations stand and his cooperation can at all times be counted upon for any movement that tends to bring about the best interests of human- kind and the benefit of the community at large.
BROTHER GERALD, S. M.
Brother Gerald, S. M., principal of Kenrick Catholic Boys high school situated at Jefferson and Stoddard streets in St. Louis, is a native of New York City. He was born August 21, 1870, and is a son of John G. and Adelaide ( Widerman) Gerald, both of whom were natives of Germany, but came to the United States in young man- hood and young womanhood. Brother Gerald was educated in the New York Grammar school and in St. John the Baptist Parochial school of the Society of Mary. Subse- quently he attended St. Mary's College at Dayton, Ohio, where he pursued his collegiate work and at a later period went to France where he took his University course at the College Stanislaus in Paris. There he specialized in mathematics and science and was graduated with the class of 1894, receiving the degrees of B. S. and M. S. Later he accepted a position in the Normal College of the S. M. at Dayton, Ohio, and was later called to the principalship of the Spalding Institute at Peoria, Illinois, when that institution was founded in 1899. He remained at that important post for ten years and then came to St. Louis where he was made principal of the old SS. Peter and Paul high school on Eighth and Allen streets. Later this school was supplanted by the present free diocesan Kenrick high school over which he has since presided as principal. The school gives instruction in the regular high school course and is largely attended by the sons of Catholic parents.
Brother Gerald is the secretary of the board of inspectors of the Catholic parochial system of St. Louis. He is a most able educator, with high ideals concerning his worth and he inspires teachers and pupils under him with much of his own zeal and interest in the school work.
JOHN J. DAVIS.
The force, character, enterprise and adaptability which are so necessary to success in business found expression in the life record of John J. Davis, now deceased. He was the vice president and general manager of the Peter Hauptman Cigar Company of St. Louis.
He was born in this city September 14, 1866, and was the son of John and Anna (Meise) Davis, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood. They became residents of St. Louis where they were subsequently married and John Davis devoted his attention to the retail grocery business in order to provide for the support of his family.
His son, John J. Davis, pursued his education in SS. Peter and Paul grammar school and at the Bryant and Stratton Business College. Following the completion of his studies he secured a position in the office of the Griesedieck Brewing Company and was identified with that concern for three years, after which he became a member of the office force of the Cherokee Brewery and worked for Peter Hauptman at the
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same time. When the Cherokee Brewery sold out to the syndicate Mr. Davis continued with Mr. Hauptman as cashier of the Peter Hauptman Tobacco Company and in 1907, upon the death of Mr. Hauptman, he was made vice president of the company and following the demise of Mr. Harmes the duties of general manager were also assigned to him. He continued in the dual capacity of vice president and general manager until his death, which occurred September 11th, 1920, his burial occurring on the fifty-fourth anniversary of his birth. His record in business had been marked by steady advancement and his energy and industry constituted the basis. on which he placed his success.
In 1890 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Anna C. Becker, daughter of Michael Becker. now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of two children, Garcia B. and George B., both at home. Mrs. Davis and her children are communicants of the Catholic church, of which Mr. Davis was also a devoted member, guiding his life according to the teachings of the church. He belonged also to St. Vincent de Paul Society, taking an active part in the benevolent and charitable work of that organiza- tion. His membership extended to the Missouri Athletic Club and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was interested in many of those agencies which work for the betterment of mankind and for the alleviation of hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and by reason of this spirit he was continually extending a helping hand to a fellow traveler on life's journey.
DWIGHT BRADFORD BLOSSOM.
Dwight Bradford Blossom, president and treasurer of the Electric Garage & Service Company of St. Louis, was here born on the 13th of June, 1879. His father, Howard A. Blossom was prominent in insurance circles in St. Louis for many years. He married Ada E. Bradford who was born in this city, a daughter of Alfred and Mary Bradford, the former engaged in the fur and furnishing business.
Dwight B. Blossom was educated in private schools attending the Manual Training School of St. Louis and also Princeton University, thus qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. He afterward engaged in the insurance business with his father following the completion of his school course and still later became connected with the Webb Motor Fire Apparatus Company. He was treasurer of the firm until the business was removed from St. Louis. In November, 1913, Mr. Blossom located at Clarenden and Delmar avenues, opening an agency for the Detroit Electric cars, the Buffalo Trucks and General Electric Trucks. In 1917 he was instrumental in having erected the building at No. 1651 South Grand avenue, which he now occupies as the president and treasurer of the Electric Garage & Service Company. In this connection he has developed a business of substantial proportions and is widely known by reason thereof.
Mr. Blossom was corporal in the St. Louis Home Guards as a member of the Second Regiment, Company L. His political views are in accord with the democratic prin- ciples and he attends Christ church cathedral being largely in sympathy with the work of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Tuscan Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and has also become identified with Ascalon Commandery, K. T. and has taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while of Moolah Temple of the Mystic Shrine he is a member, having crossed the sands of the desert.
JOSEPH R. GANT.
Joseph R. Gant, president of the Centropolis Bank of Kansas City and prominent and honored in financial circles of western Missouri, was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, September 10, 1876, a son of Jared C. Gant who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was a lad of but ten or eleven years when in 1887 he came to Missouri. After completing a public school course he attended business college and then became a student in the Kansas City School of Law from which he was graduated in 1898. He has practiced law from the business standpoint only, but his knowledge of the prin- ciples of jurisprudence has been of great value to him in the conduct of important
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affairs. After completing his course he engaged with his father in the insurance busi- ness, conducting a general agency for the Home Life Insurance Company of New York in charge of the Kansas City district. In 1912 he organized and founded the state bank of Sugar Creek of which he became the president, and in 1919 he organized and became president of the Centropolis Bank of Kansas City, which has on its directory some of the strongest men financially in this city. The bank has enjoyed a substantial growth and has ever been conducted with a recognition of the fact that the bank which most carefully safeguards its depositors is the one most worthy of support. Accordingly he has tempered progressiveness by a wise conservatism and is making the Centropolis Bank one of the financial bulwarks of western Missouri.
In 1907 Mr. Gant was married to Miss Mildred Stites, a daughter of John Stites, president of the Louisville Trust Company of Louisville, Kentucky, and a very promi- nent and well known business man of that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Gant have been born two children, Eliabeth Lee and John Stites. The religious faith of the parents is that of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Gant is very prominent in church and social circles. Along various lines of activity Mr. Gant has put forth his efforts with splendid results and is most loyal in his advocacy of any cause with which he becomes allied. He votes with the democratic party, is a member of the Kansas City Club, the Kansas City Athletic Club, the Midday Club, the City Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He was one of the prime movers and organizers of the Blue Valley Manufacturing and Business Men's Club which was formed in the industrial district in the eastern part of Kansas City. He was also prominent in founding the Blue Valley Community House, and was one of the leaders on the executive committee in the building of the Young Men's Christian Association home at Twelfth and Bennington streets. He took an active part in all war campaigning and drives and assisted in organizing the Seventh Missouri Regiment, the Business Men's Regiment of Home Guards, and became a lieutenant in Company I. He is the treasurer and one of the stewards of the Troost Avenue Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in everything that pertains to the intellectual and moral progress of the community and the uplift of the individual. He has closely studied many of the economic and sociological problems of the country and his deep interest in bettering conditions has led to his active work in behalf of community center interests.
REUBEN MARCUS HAMMON.
Reuben Marcus Hammon, a capable and successful business man of St. Louis, who could count upon the friendship and regard of all with whom he came in con- tact because of the sterling worth of his character and because of the friendly feel- ing which he always entertained for others, was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of August, 1845, his parents being Marcus and Eliza (Power) Hammon, both of whom were members of pioneer families of that place.
Reuben M. Hammon was reared to manhood in his native town and was there united in marriage to Miss Jennie McCarty in the year 1868. Her father was Florence McCarty, a well known nurseryman of Le Roy, New York, now deceased, passing away at the notable age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Hammon was visiting a brother in Conneautville when she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Hammon, who sought her hand in marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Hammon were born two sons and two daughters, of whom one daughter, Florence, alone survives. She is a most talented young woman and conducts a school of music in the city of St. Louis, residing with her mother.
While working in his cousin's dry goods store in Conneautville in early man- hood Mr. Hammon began writing insurance and met with success in this under- taking. About 1873 he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he became asso- ciated with the Travelers' Insurance Company, coming a year later to St. Louis as its representative, and for forty-six years was one of the prominent insurance men of this city. He was the first man to write railroad instalment insurance and for many years handled the insurance of the employes of the Missouri Pacific, the Wabash, and the Texas Pacific Railway Companies. He was a close personal friend of John L. Way, vice president of the Travelers' Insurance Company, and numbered among his other friends many of the prominent men of St. Louis.
REUBEN MARCUS HAMMON
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Mr. Hammon was an active member of the Mercantile Club and took the keen- est interest in its work and the accomplishment of its objects. While never an aspirant for public office, he took a great interest in civic and public affairs and gave his stalwart support to the republican party. He was devoted to the wel- . fare and interests of his home and family and when not attending to his business duties was to be found customarily at his own fireside. However, he and his wife were capable and active members of the Ascension Episcopal church for four- teen years. Later he accepted the teachings of the Christian Science church, which he attended with his daughter Olive, who had become a member of that denomina- tion prior to her passing on May 27, 1915. Mr. Hammon passed away very sud- denly May 3, 1920, his death being the occasion of deep regret to his many friends. The stability of his character was acknowledged by all who knew him, and all who were associated with him in any connection recognized those distinctive traits which in every land and clime awaken confidence, respect and regard.
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