USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri (the center state) one hundred years in the Union, 1820-1921, Volume V > Part 53
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CARLTON GUTHRIE HAIZLIP.
Carlton Guthrie Haizlip, organizer of the Crescent Insurance Company of St. Louis and one of the best known insurance men of the state, was born in Vandalia, Illinois, July 13, 1871. He is a brother of Professor E. E. Rush, of Kansas City, Missouri, but in his infancy was adopted by William D. and Agnes Haizlip, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. His father, Mr. Haizlip, served for five years and ten days with the Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, covering the period of the Civil war.
Reared in Vandalia, Illinois, Carlton Guthrie Haizlip attended the grammar schools there until 1887. He started out in the business world by working with the night shift in a paper mill at Vandalia and also in early life was employed in a brickyard, one of the old-time hand yards where three bricks were made at a time. He afterward took up the study of shorthand, which he pursued at home, and in 1889 made his way to St. Louis in search of a position. This he secured in the office of the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, and that he proved capable and faithful is indicated by the fact that he remained with the house for five years. He also spent one year in the employ of the Adam Roth Grocery Company and was then appointed official reporter in the coroner's office. He occupied that position for six years, during which period occurred the great street railway strike in St. Louis in 1900, the riot cases resulting in producing the largest transcript of testimony ever taken since the establishment of the office in 1854. From 1900 until 1905 Mr. Haizlip engaged in three enterprises. He was official reporter, was publisher of the American Home Magazine and was manager of a mail order insurance company, the Western Funeral Benefit Association. In the latter connection he put Missouri on the map in the mail order insurance line as the Western Association had established a busi- ness throughout forty-five states of the Union and also in Canada. In 1918 Mr. Haizlip organized the Crescent Insurance Company, handling both life and accident Insurance. This was financed by Missouri capital for the purpose of keeping premiums for accident insurance in Missouri. The present company handles insurance by mail and has an established business in twenty-two different states. Back of the under- taking has been from the beginning the enterprise, sound judgment and business Initiative of Mr. Haizlip, whose efforts have been crowned with substantial success.
At Vandalia, Illinois, January 18, 1899, Mr. Haizlip was married to Miss Nellie Auinbauh, daughter of John Auinbauh, a compositor on the Republic for forty years. Mrs. Haizlip was born on the present site of the Union station in St. Louis. She has become the mother of two daughters, Dorothy and Mabel, both students in the Washington University, where Dorothy is pursuing the law course.
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CARLTON G. HAIZLIP
Vol. V-31
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Mr. Haizlip's military record covers service with the militia of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. He is serving as a member of the school board of Webster Groves at the present time and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. In politics he is a republican and was a delegate from Missouri in 1912 to the national convention in Chicago that nominated Colonel Theodore Roosevelt for president on the progressive ticket. He has taken all of the degrees in York Rite Masonry and is identified with a large number of fraternal orders. He is likewise president of the Civic League of Webster Groves and in this connection is doing important service for that attractive city, his aid and influence being always on the side of progress and improvement.
RALPH O. STAUBER.
Ralph O. Stauber, a well known and prominent legal practitioner and corporation law adviser of St. Joseph, is a native of Virginia, born at Martinsburg, now West Virginia, June 2, 1859, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri when an infant of two years. He is now and has been for several years regarded as one of the foremost and successful lawyers in his part of the state, enjoying an ex- tensive practice.
Mr. Stauber is a son of the Rev. T. J. and Margaret A. (Burwell) Stauber, the former a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. The latter was a member of one of the old Virginia families, the old Burwell plantation on the James river dating back to the earliest settlement of Virginia. Rev. T. J. Stauber at the outbreak of the Civil war left the ministry, went to Troy, Missouri, and for a short period edited the Troy Citizen, a paper conducted in the interests of the maintenance of the Union. He assisted in organizing the Forty-second Missouri Light Infantry, of which he was commissioned colonel, and commanded this regiment until the close of the war. On the termination of hostilities between the states he returned to Troy, where he spent the remainder of his life, having the goodwill and esteem of the citizens of that place. During his active life he served in various public positions of trust, acquitting him- self to the satisfaction of those whose interests he served.
Ralph O. Stauber was educated in the common schools of Linn county, Missouri, and at St. Louis College at Glasgow, that state, receiving his degree of A. B. in the class of 1881, and in 1883 or 1884 he received his M. A. degree from the same college. Subsequently he decided to study for law and took a law course in the University of Michigan. While attending college he received private instruction during his sum- mer vacations from Dr. J. B. Finley, the noted Presbyterian divine and the founder of Brookfield College. Mr. Stauber, speaking of this period of his life, says that no instruction or schooling had so marked an effect on his later life as had that received under Dr. Finley's guidance.
Mr. Stauber, having completed his law course, was admitted to the Missouri state bar in 1883, and has been in continuous practice in St. Joseph ever since, specializing in legal work for corporations, and is generally regarded as one of the most experienced lawyers in this part of the state, held in esteem by his legal brethren and by the citizens at large. In the practice of his profession and in whatever public work he does, he moves quietly and modestly along but none the less effectively. His door is always open to any needing his advice or counsel, much of which is given without fee or reward. He has always taken a deep and abiding interest in educational affairs and keeps in close touch with the public schools of his home, city and state. There is a widespread belief that he has written more wills during the past twenty-five years than most practitioners in St. Joseph, demonstrating the confidence that his clients repose in him. Mr. Stauber has never been an aspirant for public preferment but has held many appointments of public trust, from which he has derived no emoluments. He is at present in charge of the Roosevelt memorial fund and has given his aid to many similar projects.
Mr. Stauber is an ardent republican and for many years has been a prominent and effective worker for his party in this state. He has never held nor sought political office, although he has served his party in every conceivable position. He has been a delegate to a number of national conventions and has a very wide acquaintance among republicans of national prominence. His friends say he takes more pleasure
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in serving them than in seeking public honors for himself. He is a man who lives for his family, and his greatest wish is to have the respect and confidence of his friends.
On June 20, 1888, Mr. Stauber was united in marriage to Miss Anna Stuart Carter, daughter of William M. Carter, one of the early settlers of St. Joseph, the present post- office building standing on the site of the old Carter home. Mrs. Stauber's mother was Anna Stuart, a niece of Robert M. Stuart, who was governor of Missouri from 1856 to 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Stauber are the parents of four children, named as follows: Anna Carter, Emily Dowe, Mary Louise and Ralph O., Jr.
Mr. Stauher is a member of the Episcopal church and is an active participant in all church work. He is well known in Masonic circles, being a Thirty-second degree Mason and Shriner and is warmly interested in the well being of that popular organi- zation. He holds membership in St. Joseph Lodge, No. 40, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in Charity Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is also a member of the Country Club and of the Commerce Club of St. Joseph.
RALPH TILDEN FINLEY.
While Ralph Tilden Finley entered upon the practice of law sixteen years ago he has been associated with the St. Louis har for only three years and is now con- nected with the law firm of Fauntleroy, Cullen & Hay. He was born in Greenfield, Missouri, July 3, 1881, and is a son of Harry H. and Virginia O. Finley, who were residents of Greenfield but were representatives of old southern families. The ancestors came from Tennessee and Kentucky and were of Scotch-Irish descent.
Ralph Tilden Finley was graduated from the Greenfield high school with the class of 1899. He afterward spent three years as a student in the arts and science department of the University of Missouri, covering the period to 1901 inclusive, and then entered the law department of the State University, from which he was graduated with the LL. B. degree in 1904. In the following year he opened a law office at Colum- bia, Missouri, where he practiced successfully for ahout fourteen years, gaining a large clientage that brought him wide experience in the work of the courts. In 1918 he removed from Columbia to St. Louis, where he has since remained, and again his pro- fessional ability is winning him wide and favorable recognition. He is associated with the law firm of Abbott, Fauntleroy, Cullen & Edwards and is also title attorney . for the Federal Land Bank of St. Louis.
On the 7th of September, 1904, Mr. Finley was married to Miss Eleanor Kimber, a daughter of E. M. Kimber, of Greenfield, this state, and their children are Virginia Belle and Eleanor Anne. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Finley is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery, to the Red Cross of Constantine, to the council and to the Scottish Rite. He is a democrat in politics, stanch in support of the party yet never an aspirant for public office. For years he was in the University Cadets Battalion and for one year was a member of the Missouri National Guard.
EDMUND W. BEIMS.
Edmund W. Beims, president of the Claes & Lehnbeuter Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, is a self-made man who, starting out in the business world at the age of fourteen years, has since heen dependent upon his own resources and step by step has advanced through industry, determination and ability until he has now reached a most creditable place in the business circles of his adopted city. He was born in Washington, Missouri, August 13, 1862, and is a son of Christian and Johanna (Stork) Beims. The parents were natives of Germany and came to America when quite young. The father settled in Washington, Missouri, and was there engaged in merchandising for many years. He passed away in 1863 while his widow long survived, her death occurring in 1909. They were the parents of a son and daughter who reached adult age, while two children of the family died in infancy.
Edmund W. Beims was educated in the public schools of Washington, Missouri, and when a youth of fourteen went to Chicago where he remained for two years. He then
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RALPH T. FINLEY
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returned to Missouri, settling in St. Louis and occupied various positions in the early part of his business career. Later he became connected with the Hirschl & Bendheim Cigar & Tobacco Company which he represented on the road as a traveling salesman for eleven years. In 1892 he became associated with the firm of Claes & Lehnbeuter Manufacturing Company as treasurer and in 1910 was elected to the presidency, since which time he has been the chief executive of the concern, largely directing its policies and promoting its development. An extensive trade has been built up and the success of the business through the past decade is attributable in large measures to the efforts, sound judgment and progressive methods of the president. Mr. Beims is also connected with various other important business interests and is especially widely known in real estate circles for he is the president of the Sylvester Realty Company, president of the Orville Heights Realty Company and president of the Paragon Cement Company, while of the St. Louis Cash Register Company and the Remmert Manufacturing Com- pany he is a director. During the war period the plant of the Claes & Lehnbeuter Manufacturing Company was largely used for the manufacture of refrigerators for the camps in the United States and overseas.
On the 27th of April, 1887, Mr. Beims was united in marriage to Miss Ida F. An- heuser, a daughter of William Anheuser, a prominent brewer of St. Louis. They have become parents of two children: Alice A., now the wife of Waldo W. Moore; and Edmund A. Mr. Beims finds diversion from his active business affairs in St. Louis in outdoor sports and in farming. He is also very fond of literature and many of his happiest hours are spent in association with the master minds of all ages in his own library. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never sought nor desired office. He belongs to the Sunset Hill Country Club of which he became a charter member. He is also a member of the Missouri Athletic Association and has a life membership in the Elks Lodge of St. Louis, No. 9. His friends, and they are many, find him a social, genial gentleman and those who have had business rela- tions with him recognize his progressiveness, his activity and persistency of purpose -qualities which are always essential to the attainment of success.
ELMER JOHN KEITEL.
Elmer John Keitel, president of the Columbia Oil Company, was born in St. Louis, July 6, 1891, and has continued a lifelong resident of the city. His father, Frederick Keitel, was a native of Westphalia, Germany, born June 17, 1851. He came to America when sixteen years of age and here learned the furniture business. Subsequently he organized the St. Louis Furniture Workers Association and was widely known among furniture manufacturers of the state. In 1880 he turned his attention to the oil busi- ness, selling oil for different firms in St. Louis. In 1904 he organized the Columbia Oil Company of which he became the president. He was one of the pioneer oil men of the state and covered his territory in an open topped buggy soliciting patronage through Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois when railroads had not been constructed in the perfect network of transportation which is found today. He continued in busi- ness to the time of his death which occurred May 28, 1920. He married Miss Caroline Brinkmeyer, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents in 1860. Their marriage was celebrated in St. Louis and they became the parents of five sons and a daughter: F. W. and Arie, who are residents of Denver, Colorado; Alvin, liv- ing in Kansas City; E. J., whose name introduces this review; and Waldemar, who is a musician. The daughter, Ella, died in September, 1912.
Elmer J. Keitel of this review is the youngest of the family. He was educated in the public schools of St. Louis and in 1910 became associated with his father in the oil business. He made it his purpose thoroughly to acquaint himself with every phase of the trade and in 1916 was made vice president of the company, while upon his father's death in 1920 he succeeded to the presidency and is now in charge of the business.
On the 20th of October, 1920, Mr. Keitel was united in marriage to Miss Edna Marguerite Keller, a daughter of John Keller, a prominent grocer of St. Louis. They are well known socially and the hospitallty of many of the attractive homes of St. Louis is freely accorded them. Mr. Keitel is a republican in his political views and fraternally is a Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite
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and with the nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He is also the secretary of the St. Louis Petroleum Men's Association and a member of the Asis Canoe Club, and Missouri Athletic Association. His religious faith is indi- cated in his membership in the St. Paul Methodist church and for several years he has been secretary of the Sunday school, taking an active part in all branches of the church work,
EMIL LECOUTOUR.
Emil Lecoutour, president of the Lecoutour Brothers Stair Manufacturing Com- pany of St. Louis, was born in this city, October 2, 1879. His father, Hepolite Lecou- tour, was born in Cherbourg, France, and came to America in 1859, settling in the colony at St. Louis known as Cheltenham. He there engaged in cabinet work and became founder of the present business in 1878. He continued in active connection with this undertaking to the time of his death, which occurred November 27, 1884, at which time his son succeeded him in the ownership and control of the enterprise. His wife bore the maiden name of Letitia Sarot and was born in Paris, France, whence she came to America, settling in the French community in St. Louis with her parents. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lecoutour was celebrated in St. Louis and they became the parents of three sons and three daughters.
Emil Lecoutour, the youngest child, was educated in the public schools of St. Louis and also attended the Perkins & Herpel Business College. He began learning the cab- inet and stair building trade when but fourteen years of age and continued to follow that line of industrial activity until the organization of the Lecoutour Brothers Stair Manufacturing Company in 1900, of which he was made vice president. This office he continued to fill until the retirement of his brother, Charles, who had been president and whom he succeeded in that office in 1912. The company manufactures a general line of high grade interior work, making a specialty of post office and government work, in which connection they have secured contracts throughout the United States. Their business is now one of extensive and gratifying proportions and as directing head thereof Emil Lecoutour has displayed marked business ability and enterprise.
On the 20th of August, 1902, Mr. Lecoutour was married in St. Louis to Miss Bertha V. Haas, a daughter of Casper Haas. They have one child, Audrey. Mr. Le- coutour is a member of the Association of Government Contractors and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but does nor seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. He concentrates his attention upon his business affairs and has made steady progress, his close application, his energy and capability having been potent elements in winning for the firm many im- portant contracts.
JOSEPH J. HOUWINK, M. D.
Dr. Joseph' J. Houwink, a physician who limited his practice to cutaneous dis- eases and who was prominently known in art circles as well as in professional circles in St. Louis, was born in Sneek, Holland, June 8, 1868. His father, the late Jan Hou- wink, was a chemist who spent his entire life in Holland, his death there occurring February 6, 1907, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Petronella Johanna Peeters, was likewise a native of Holland and there died in 1918, at the age of eighty-one years. She had become the mother of six children, five sons and a daughter, of whom Dr. Houwink was the fourth in order of birth.
Dr. Joseph J. Houwink was educated in the public schools of his native land, pur- suing a high school course and later attending the gymnasium and the University of Amsterdam, from which he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy, while in 1901 he gained the M. D. degree, having completed his medical course in the same university. He also was a student in universities of Germany and Aus- tria, thus gaining intimate knowledge of the most advanced and scientific methods of
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medical and surgical practice as followed by the eminent representatives of the pro- fession in the medical centers of the old world. He came to America in 1902, arriving on the 11th of March, traveled over this country for a brief period and in the sum- mer of that year arrived in St. Louis. Here in the summer of 1904 he entered upon the private practice of his profession and continued as one of its active representatives to the time of his death with the exception of the year 1907 when he visited various universities of Europe. He made a specialty of diseases of the skin and became rec- ognized as an expert in this field. Moreover, he was well known through his various contributions to the literature of the profession and for eight years occupied a pro- fessorship in the St. Louis University. He was a member of the St. Louis Medical So- ciety, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. From 1906 until his death he was visiting physician to the municipal hospitals of St. Louis. The American Medical Association issued a special certificate of honor in 1910 as a reward for the Doctor's researches in skin diseases.
In Rotterdam, Holland, on the 20th of February, 1903, Dr. Houwink was married to Miss Caroline Heyermans, a native of Holland and a daughter of Herman Heyer- mans. They became parents of two children: Eda Henrietta, horn in 1904; and Fred- erick Stoddard, born in 1905.
Dr. Houwink had two years of military training in the army of Holland and was commissioned a lieutenant. During the World war he was a major in the Missouri State Guards. He was made consul to the Netherlands for the states of Missouri, Ar- kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee on the 1st of January, 1914, and continued to act in that capacity until his life's labors were ended, December 22, 1920. In politics he main- tained an independent course. He was well known in club circles, helonging to the Sunset Inn Country Club. He was also a member of the Artists Guild, very active in the affairs of that organization and was an art collector of note. He took delight in all those things which have educational and cultural value and was a welcome addi- tion to the professional and art circles of St. Louis.
HORACE LEVI DYER.
Horace Levi Dyer, a member of the St. Louis har, bears a name that has been identified with the legal profession in Missouri for sixty-two years, for he is a son of Judge David Patterson Dyer, a distinguished lawyer and jurist, who served for thir- teen years as judge of the United States district court for the eastern district of Missouri. Judge Dyer was born in Henry county, Virginia, February 12, 1838, a son of David and Nancy R. Dyer, who came with their family to Missouri in 1841, so that Judge Dyer was educated in the public schools of this state, while later he attended St. Charles College. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work he was ad- mitted to the bar at Bowling Green, Missouri, in 1859, and followed his profession in Pike and adjoining counties until 1875. In the meantime he had become a recog- nized leader in political circles and in 1869 was elected to represent his district in con- gress, serving for the two years term. In 1875, with his appointment to the position of United States attorney, he removed to St. Louis and while filling the office pros- ecuted the famous "whisky ring." In 1880 he was made a candidate of the republican party for governor and in 1888 he was delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago and again represented the state in the National Conven- tion at Philadelphia in 1902. He received appointment to the position of United States attorney for the eastern district of Missouri and filled the office from 1902 until 1907 and on the 1st of April, 1907, was made judge of the United States district court. His course on the bench was in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer, dis- tinguished hy the utmost fidelity to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. He is a member of the American Bar Association, belongs also to the Loyal Legion and to the Masonic fraternity.
On the 15th of November, 1860, Judge Dyer was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Chambers Hunt of Pike county, Missouri, and to them were born the following named: Ezra Hunt; Emma Grace, wife of Edgar W. Hunting; David P .; Elizabeth; Horace L .; and Louise, the wife of Frank Fay.
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