USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri (the center state) one hundred years in the Union, 1820-1921, Volume V > Part 39
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George T. Riddle was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, passing through consecutive grades to the high school at Fifteenth and Olive. Dur- ing the latter part of the Civil war he served as a clerk in the office of the provost marshal and afterward became connected with the lumber trade in 1865 as a clerk in the employ of James and William Patrick. On the 8th of February, 1870, he became secretary of the Mississippi Planing Mill and continued with that enterprise until 1878, when the company was succeeded by the Riddle-Rehbein Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Riddle is now principal owner. He has thus long been associated with the lumber trade and has won substantial success in this connection. On the 15th of March, 1911, following the death of G. W. Garrels, president of the Franklin Bank, Mr. Riddle was elected to the presidency
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and remains as the head of that institution. In all business affairs he has dis- played unremitting energy and ability and his progress in the business world is the direct outcome of his ability.
During the war Mr. Riddle was a member of the executive committee of the Red Cross of St. Louis. He belongs to the St. Louis Club, to the Missouri Athletic Association and to the First Presbyterian church-associations that indicate much of the nature of his interests, his recreation and the rules that govern his conduct. His political endorsement is given to the republican party.
FRANK J. WIGET.
Frank J. Wiget, vice president and trust officer of the Farmers & Merchants Trust Company is a well known figure in the financial circles of St. Louis, having filled his present position for a period of more than thirteen years. He was born in this city May 21, 1882, his parents being Xavier and Amanda (Nadig) Wiget both of whom were natives of Switzerland, the former born in 1848 and the latter in 1843. Mrs. Wiget came to America with her parents in 1848, the family home being established in St. Louis and here in 1878 she gave her hand in marriage to Xavier Wiget. They were the parents of four sons. Mr. Wiget had crossed the Atlantic in 1871 and he, too, became a resident of St. Louis.
Frank J. Wiget was a pupil in the public and parochial schools of his native city and also attended business college before entering the Benton College of Law from which he was graduated in 1904 with the LL. B. degree. He then entered at once upon active practice and continued to follow the profession from 1904 until October, 1919, when he was elected trust officer of the Farmers & Merchants Trust Company and has since largely given his attention to the duties of this office. He is also the president of the South St. Louis Investment Company, secretary and treasurer of the Prospect Investment Company, secretary and treasurer of the General Investment Com- pany and director of the Gravois Bank of St. Louis county. He has thus hecome extensively and actively interested in investment projects many of which have led to the development and upbuilding of St. Louis and his name is also a most honored one in banking circles in this part of the state.
On the 26th of November, 1907, Mr. Wiget was married to Miss Ottilia Laux, a daughter of Anton and Adelheide (Korman) Laux. Three children have been born to them: Marcella, Lester and Francis. Mr. Wiget is a republican in his political views and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his attention and his activities upon his business affairs which have been most carefully and wisely directed and have brought him a substantial measure of success.
WILLIAM J. ROMER.
William J. Romer, a merchant tailor of St. Louis conducting business as a partner in the firm of Koller & Romer in the Carleton building, was born in Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1868. His father, Joseph Romer, was born in Alsace Lorraine and came to America in 1848. He engaged in the hotel business in Ohio and during the progress of the Civil war, saw active service with the Union army. He married Wil- helmina Laba, who was born in Colmar, Alsace Lorraine, and they became the parents of ten children of whom William J. is the youngest. Three daughters of the family are living: Anna, who married Henry Fruch, and resides in Lima, Ohio; Bertha, who became the wife of Charley Losee, also of Lima; and Emma, the wife of John L. O'Connor, likewise a resident of Lima.
William J. Romer obtained his early education in the public schools of Lima, Ohio, and afterward attended St. Xavier College in Cincinnati, Ohio, for three years and studied the tailoring business at night. In 1889 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he studied medicine with Dr. Lee and Dr. Rebert for about a year, but in 1891 he withdrew from active connection with the medical profession and through the succeeding years followed the profession of tailoring. In 1894 he came to St. Louis
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where he managed the Humphrys Clothing Company's business. In 1901 he formed a partnership with Mr. Kohler, organizing the firm of Kohler & Romer for the conduct of a merchaut tailoring business. Their success has steadily grown and developed through the intervening years and their trade is now extensive and important. They confine their activities to the making of high grade clothing and maintain an attrac- tive and well appointed shop in the Carleton building. Their establishment is well known for the high standards maintained and they draw their patronage from among the best people of St. Louis and also from Maine to California.
In Lima, Ohio, in October, 1897, Mr. Romer was married to Miss Winnifred Sulli- van, a daughter of Thomas Sullivan, who resides in Ohio, where he was engaged in railroad service as traffic manager for the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Rail- road. To Mr. and Mrs. Romer have been born two children: Rosamond, the wife of Herbert H. Hope who is engaged in the real estate business in Philadelphia; and William S., who was graduated from the Philadelphia Technical College in 1920.
Mr. Romer received a medal from the treasury department of the United States government in recognition of his work done in behalf of the Liberty loan during the World war. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and politically he main- tains an independent course. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in all that pertains to the city's progress and upbuilding. He is also connected with the Civic League and with the City Club and belongs to the Triple A Athletic Asso- ciation. In his business he has made steady progress for he started out in life empty handed and has gained a substantial measure of success, while at the same time a social disposition and genuine personal worth have gained for him the warm regard and friendship of many with whom he has been brought into contact.
ISRAEL M. SIMON.
Israel M. Simon, banker and broker of St. Louis. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 3, 1849, a son of Mark and Lottie (Thurnauer) Simon. He obtained a public school education in Cincinnati and was graduated from the Woodward high school. He attended the Harvard Law School from which he was graduated in 1871 with the LL. B. degree and entered upon law practice in Cincinnati as a member of the firm of Christy, Wright & Simon. In 1880 he organized the brokerage firm of Simon & Huseman which later became I. M. Simon & Company. Under this business . associa- tion he engaged in the banking and brokerage business and in 1887 organized the Equitable National Bank of Cincinnati, of which he became a director.
Mr. Simon dates his residence in St. Louis from 1900 and here succeeded.to the business of Kohn & Company, bankers and brokers, which in 1906 was succeeded by the firm of Simon, Brookmire & Clifford and was thus associated until the organization of the firm of I. M. Simon & Company in 1915. He has been a member of the New York Stock Exchange since 1892.
On the 15th of June, 1880, Mr. Simon was married to Miss Alice Kolin of St. Louis. Mr. Simon is a member of several clubs and is prominent socially.
FREDERICK M. SIMON.
Frederick M. Simon, a representative of the younger generation connected with the financial interests of St. Louis, is a member of the firm of I. M. Simon & Company, bankers and brokers with offices in the Security building. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 24, 1886, and is a son of Israel M. and Alice K. Simon.
Frederick M. Simon, the second of the family, was educated under private tutors and in the Milton Academy of Massachusetts before entering Harvard University from which he was graduated in 1909 with the Bachelor of Arts degree, specializing in political economy. He then entered the stock and bond business with the firm of Simon, Brookmire & Clifford and maintained that association until 1915 when the firm of I. M. Simon & Company became successors to the former business organization. The present firm has memberships on both the New York and St. Louis Stock Ex- changes.
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Politically Frederick M. Simon is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but is not ambitious to hold office. He belongs to the Sunset Hill, Columbian, Westwood and Harvard Clubs and is well known socially in the city, while in financial circles he has made a most creditable name and place.
CHARLES A. CLARK.
Charles A. Clark, president of the Egyptian Tie & Timber Company, was born in Wayne county, Illinois, December 25, 1873, a son of Elias and Ulissa Jane (Leach) Clark. The father was a native of Wisconsin and belonged to one of the old pioneer families of that state of English descent. He removed with his parents to Wabash county, Illinois, prior to the Civil war, and in that state engaged in farming and stock raising for many years but when the country needed his aid in defense of the Union he became a private in an Illinois regiment and served on various battle fields of the south until the final victory was won. He then resumed his agricultural and stock raising interests in Illinois where he is now living retired. His wife was born in Edwards county, that state, where her parents had lived from any early day. The Leach family also came of English ancestry. Mrs. Clark departed this life in 1910 at the age of sixty years. By her marriage she had become the mother of six sons and a daughter.
Charles A. Clark of this review was educated in the country schools of Wayne county, Illinois, and spent his youthful days on the home farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. At the age of twenty-seven years, however, he left the farm and entered the employ of the firm of L. D. Leach & Company, dealers in timber, with whom he continued for ten years and during that period he acquainted himself with all branches of the business. He then resigned his position and in 1911 organized the Egyptian Tie & Timber Com- pany of St. Louis of which he has since been the president. This company operates in Illinois and Missouri and in addition to dealing in timber products they also engage in the manufacture of lumber. The business has been steadily developed to exten- sive proportions and is the tangible expression of the ability, enterprise and determined purpose of Charles A. Clark. In addition to his activities of this character he is the president of the Egyptian Gravel Company and a substantial business has been built up in that line.
On the 7th of October, 1900, in Wayne county, Illinois, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Beatrice Barnett, a native of Wabash county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Brown) Barnett who were representatives of old and well known families of Wabash county. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have become parents of two children, Freda, born in Wayne county, Illinois, and Lena. The family now resides at No. 5361 Persh- ing avenue in St. Louis. Mr. Clark gives his political support to the republican party while fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his family is identified with the Methodist church. Mr. Clark started out in life as a poor boy. His first earnings on a farm were but twenty-five cents per day and from that humble beginning he has steadily advanced, his success being due entirely to his industry and perseverance. He attacks with contagious enthusiasm anything he undertakes and his unfaltering purpose and industry have enabled him to sur- mount all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and climb steadily to the goal of prosperity.
CHARLES C. LEE.
Charles C. Lee, of the Lee & Cooper Motor Company of Kansas City, was born in Newman, Illinois, March 27, 1884, his parents, John T. and Mary (Poulter) Lee, being also natives of that state. The father was a farmer by occupation, and has always lived a quiet, retired life now making his home in Florida, having put aside the affairs of active business to enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
Charles C. Lee attended the schools of Charleston, Illinois, also a commercial col- lege at Indianapolis, Indiana, from which he was graduated. He started out in the
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business world as an employe of the Atlas Engine Works, a big concern with which he gained much valuable business experience.
The year 1908 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Lee in Kansas City at which time he obtained a position with the Weber Engine Company, and worked with all subsidiary companies in the purchasing and accounting departments. In 1910 he became asso- ciated with the Kansas City branch of the Ford Motor Company as a representative of the purchasing department and as chief clerk in the wholesale department. In 1919 he became one of the organizers of the Lee Cooper Motor Company, handling Ford cars and tractors. His previous experience in connection with the automobile trade stood him in good stead in organizing and promoting the new enterprise which has already become one of the substantial business interests of this character in Kan- sas City.
In 1912 Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lyddon, who was horn in Wichita, Kansas, and a daughter of G. D. and Coit (Major) Lyddon, the former a newspaper man. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have three children: Martha Jane; Charles Lyddon; and John Dana. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee are well known in Kansas City where they have gained many warm friends who esteem them highly because of their sterling worth. Mr. Lee is recognized as a representative young business man and is actuated in all that he does by a progressive spirit that accomplishes desired results.
GEORGE S. DRAKE.
St. Louis was just entering upon the second quarter of the nineteenth century when George S. Drake became a resident of the town and when the period of his boy- hood and youth passed he entered upon a business career that made him one of the foremost citizens. In tracing the ancestral line from which he was descended it is learned that through many centuries the Drake family has figured conspicuously in connection with the affairs of Great Britain. As early as 1272 John Drake held lands by grant of King Edward I and in 1313 John Drake had permission of Edward II "to go beyond the sea." Many distinguished clerygmen, martyrs, authors and navigators have borne the name and among the most noted of the last mentioned class was Sir Francis Drake, prominent during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In the year 1552 Richard Drake, the ancestor of the branch of the family to which George S. Drake belonged, was high sheriff of Dublin, Ireland. This family was also represented by Robert Drake, minister of Thundersly, in Essex England, who died a martyr at Smith- field during the reign of Queen Mary. When exhorted by Bishop Bonner to renounce his "heresy" he made this remarkable and courageous reply: "As for your Church of Rome, I utterly deny and defy it, with all the works thereof, as I deny the devil and all his works." In the year 1630 John Drake, of Devon, England, crossed the Atlantic and established his home in Connecticut, ten years after a landing was first made by the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock on the completion of the first voyage of the May- flower. In 1637 he took up his permanent abode at East Windsor, Connecticut, and to that place the ancestral line of the various branches of the family in America is traced. The name has long been a most honored one in various sections of the country for representatives of the family have been recognized as people of strong intellectual attainments and of marked ability in various lines.
It was on the 11th of October, 1825, that George S. Drake was born at Hartford, Connecticut, his parents being Silas and Elizabeth (Warburton) Drake, who in 1827 removed westward to Missouri and established their home in St. Louis, at which time George S. Drake was but two years of age. He continued a resident of this city to the time of his death and after attending the private schools to some extent he con- tinued his education at Kemper College and when sixteen years of age made his initial step in the business world by securing a clerkship in the dry goods house of Warburton & King, one of the oldest established commercial houses of the city. His fidelity to the interests of his employers, his reliability and his diligence hrought him steady promotion and after six years he was admitted to a partnership when but twenty-two years of age, under the firm style of Warburton, Rossiter & Drake. His association with the house was continued until 1852 when he withdrew and became a member of the firm of Manny, Drake & Company, dealers in boots and shoes. Thirteen years later
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he withdrew permanently from mercantile circles to devote his attention entirely to the management of his invested interests, but according to the statement of a con- temporary biographer, "these did not take Mr. Drake out of constant and active rela- · tion with the business interests of St. Louis. The value of his opinion in matters of finance and investment was recognized by all who had business relations with him and there were few men-if indeed there were any-who were more minutely familiar with the course of business, banking and money in St. Louis for the last half century than George S. Drake; and there were none who excelled him in legal habit of mind and quick discernment of the equities of questions. It was not strange, therefore, that his services should have been claimed and his counsel desired by institutions with which he was connected. He was one of the men whose long relations with the Boatmen's Bank were so fortunate to that institution-a connection which began in 1859 and continued almost unbroken to the time of his death." For twelve years Mr. Drake served on the directorate of the Boatmen's Bank, after which he became vice president and occupied that position for twenty-four years. He resigned in 1895 but in 1897 was again elected a director and continued to serve in that connection through- out his remaining days. He was also vice president of the Bellefontaine Cemetery Association for many years and did much to make the cemetery a most beautiful place of burial.
Mr. Drake was twice married and was the father of two children-a son, George S. Drake, Jr., and a daughter, Mrs. Henry C. Scott, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
When his country needed him Mr. Drake at once responded and served through the Civil war as a member of the Lyon Guards who successfully defended the state against the invasion of Price's army. He was also a member of the board of control in charge of Confederate prisoners. He had a wide acquaintance among men of promi- nence as the years passed and was a close personal friend of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition into the northwest. He held membership with the Masonic fraternity, was a devoted member of the Second Presbyterian church, served as an elder thereof and was active in all charitable work. He was made a member of the advisory board of the Home of the Friendless and was a most liberal contributor to the support of that institution. He was likewise a member of the advisory board of the Protestant Orphans' Asylum, was a member of the Provident Association and be- longed to the St. Louis Club, the St. Louis Country Club and the Mercantile Club. His interests were of a comprehensive character and his activities were at all times such as contributed to the welfare and advancement of the community in which he lived. He passed away July 27, 1908, after a residence of eighty-one years in St. Louis. To him had come "the blest accompaniments of age-honor, riches, troops of friends," and the name of George S. Drake is still revered and his memory cherished by all with whom he was associated throughout the long period of an exceedingly active and useful life.
GEORGE S. DRAKE, JR., M. D.
Dr. George S. Drake, Jr., an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University of Balti- more, has since 1905 been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in St. Louis and his pronounced ability has brought him to a position of prominence in professional circles. He was born June 5, 1875, in St. Louis, and is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of this city, his parents being George S. and Bertha (Molloy) Drake. The father was brought to St. Louis in 1827 when but two years of age, so that Dr. Drake is of the first generation of the family here. He was sent east for educational training, attending St. Paul's School at Concord, New Hampshire, while later he matriculated in Yale University and was graduated with the class of 1897. Subsequently he entered the Johns Hopkins University of Balti- more, Maryland, from which he received his professional degree in 1901. After com- pleting his course there he served for four years as house surgeon at the Union Protes- tant Infirmary in Baltimore and in 1905 returned to St. Louis, where he was made associate attending surgeon to the St. Louis Free Skin & Cancer Hospital and also associate attending surgeon to the St. Louis Children's Hospital. He was associated with the former institution for five years and for two years with the latter. During
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the past fifteen years he has built up an extensive private practice and ranks high among the surgeons of the city, confining his attention solely to surgical practice. He keeps in touch with the most advanced methods and is thoroughly familiar with the latest scientific researches and discoveries having to do with the practice of sur- gery. He belongs to the St. Louis Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Drake enlisted for service in the Euro- pean war and was assigned to duty at Camp Logan, Texas, in the Base Hospital. Later he was transferred to Jefferson Barracks and afterwards to the Base Hospital at Camp Zachary Taylor, in Kentucky, being mustered out on the 19th of May, 1919, with the rank of captain.
On the 3d of June, 1911, Dr. Drake was married to Miss Myrtle Clark of St. Louis, a daughter of Henry Clark of Montgomery, Missouri, who was chairman of the convention that first nominated Champ Clark for congress. Dr. Drake is a member of the University Club, the Racquet Club, the St. Louis Country Club, the Bellerive Country Club, the Florissant Valley Club and of other social organizations in which he is prominent and popular. His political support is given to the republican party and he and his wife are of the Episcopal faith, attending St. Peter's church. He be- longs not only to one of the old and prominent St. Louis families but is a represen- tative of one of the old and distinguished American families descended from a notable English ancestry that can be traced back through many generations. The nobility of character manifest in his forebears finds expression in his own career. Nature endowed him with strong intellectual force which he has wisely directed along the lines of usefulness to his fellowmen and his position is today an enviable one and his name an honored one in the annals of St. Louis.
WILLIAM HENRY GRABE.
William Henry Grabe, secretary and treasurer of the Glancy-Watson Hotel Company, proprietors of the Marquette Hotel at St. Louis, was born January 12, 1862, in Enger, Germany. His father, Henry Grabe, was also a native of that place and came to St. Louis with his family in May, 1864. Loyal to his adopted land he promptly enlisted in the Union army, but too late to see active service. He became a stock raiser and farmer, a pursuit which his father had previously followed, and in fact the family had for many generations given their attention to agricultural pursuits near Enger. The death of Henry Grabe occurred in 1891, after a residence of more than a quarter of a century in Missouri. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Katherine Niehaus, was also born in Enger, Germany, and passed away in 1884. Her father, as well as her brother William Niehaus, was a cabinetmaker, doing the finest and most artistic work of that char- acter, both father and son ranking as experts in the business.
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