USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri (the center state) one hundred years in the Union, 1820-1921, Volume V > Part 74
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On the 16th of November, 1904, Mr. Calfee was married in Kansas City, Missouri, to Miss Nellie A. Beedy and they have become the parents of two children: Creighton Beedy, horn January 25, 1908; and Arthur Davidson, May 17, 1911.
In his political views Mr. Calfee is an independent democrat, nor has he ever heen ambitious to hold office. His religious faith is indicated by his connection with St. John's Methodist Episcopal church, South. He belongs to the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution, to Tuscan Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is well known in club circles of the city, having membership in the St. Louis Club, Missouri Athletic Association, the Bellerive Country Club and the Sunset Hill Country Club. He is recognized as a man who is loyal to every trust and responsibility that has devolved upon him. His progress in banking circles has made him known as one of the leading financiers of the Mississippi valley, and in every relation of life he is recognized as a man of unswerving integrity and honor.
WELLFORD E. DUGGER.
Wellford E. Dugger, president of the Cotto Waxo Company of St. Louis, manu- facturers of sweeping compound, was born in Danville, Virginia, in 1882 .. His parents were Daniel and Addie G. (Bailey) Dugger, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father was a dealer in tobacco and also engaged in merchandising at Danville, Virginia, but passed away in 1888. The mother, who was born in Sussex county, Virginia, is still living and makes her home at Chatham, Virginia.
Wellford E. Dugger obtained a public school education and then entered the Dan- ville Military Institute in his native city. He started out in the business world as a clerk in a wholesale grocery house of his brother at Danville and in 1903 came to St. Louis where he was employed In connection with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in the mining and metallurgy department under Dr. J. A. Holmes, having charge of receiving and checking out all items in exhibit. After the close of the fair he took a trip to California but was called back to assist in the same department in making up its statistical records and reports. When this task was concluded he returner to Danville, Virginia, where he remained for a year and during that period was again associated with his brother in the wholesale grocery business. In 1906 he again came to St. Louis where he took up the work of prospecting and developing the oil fields of Illinois. In 1909 he went to Chicago as ticket agent for the Chicago
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& Northwestern Railroad, with which he continued for a year, after which he once more made his way to St. Louis and was here engaged in the oil business from 1910 until 1916. During this period he was manager for the Superior Manufacturing & Supply Company. In 1916 he purchased the business of the Cotto Waxo Com- pany, which he reorganized, becoming president thereof. This company engages in the manufacture of sweeping compound, sanitary and poultry house supplies. During the war period they supplied the government with its cleaning and sanitary prep- arations and the company still enjoys a considerable trade from the same source. Their business is one of substantial proportions and Mr. Dugger, as head of the com- pany, is most carefully and wisely directing its affairs and therefore meeting with creditable success.
In 1909, in Lebanon, Illinois, Mr. Dugger was united in marriage to Miss Elva Whittaker who was a granddaughter of Judge Whittaker, and they have two children, Robert W., and Jane. Mr. Dugger finds his recreation in baseball and tennis, but is of a studious and home loving nature, finding greater happiness at his own fireside than in club organizations. He is a member of the Baptist church and his political belief is that of the democratic party. He also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and heartily cooperates in plans of that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of St. Louis. . He is also a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Missouri Athletic Association.
0. A. JOHNSON, M. D.
Dr. O. A. Johnson has been a representative of the medical profession in Kansas City through two decades and previously had practiced in Indianapolis, Indiana, for a year. Throughout this entire period he has kept abreast with the trend of modern professional thought and progress and now enjoys an extensive practice. He is a native son of Indiana, his birth having occurred at Rushville, July 8, 1872, his parents being Benjamin F. and Stacia Ann (Alexander) Johnson. The father, who devoted his life to farming and the raising of live stock, was also keenly inter- ested in public affairs and his aid and influence were always on the side of progress, yet he never sought nor desired political preferment. His opinions, however, were consulted largely concerning the affairs of the town and county and he took a very active part in all school matters. In fact he was a leader of his community, doing much to shape public thought and opinion.
Dr. O. A. Johnson, who was one of a family of ten children, began his education in the public schools of his native county and afterward attended the Indiana State Normal School, pursuing a special literary course. He later entered upon the study of medicine in the Eclectic College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis where he remained for a year and then became a student in the Eclectic University at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also studied for a year. The succeeding two years were passed as a student in the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the M. D. degree. He afterward entered upon the practice of medicine in Indianapolis where he remained for a year, but thinking to enjoy better opportunities farther west he came to Kansas City in 1900 and has since here been located. That he has continued a resident in this city for twenty years is indicative of the success which has attended his efforts. His practice, both in extent and importance, is scarcely paralleled in this section of the west. He spe- cializes in the treatment of cancers and all chronic diseases and has won well deserved fame in this connection. He does a large amount of research work and has splendid equipment for this. His increasing knowledge along the line of his specialty has made his opinion accepted as authority and he is now regarded as one of the eminent physicians of Missouri.
In August, 1914, in Kansas City, Dr. Johnson was married to Miss Edith B. Henry, of northeastern Missouri, a daughter of Robert and Nancy Henry, the for- mer a retired farmer. The children of this marriage are Helen Pauline and William Henry.
Politically Dr. Johnson is a democrat. He belongs to the Kansas City Club, the Kansas City Athletic Club and the Kansas City Automobile Club. He Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of both the York and
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Scottish Rites, and he is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has member- ship with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to various professional societies, being a member of the National, State and Kansas City Eclectic Societies of Physicians and Surgeons and the Allied Medical Societies. He holds to the highest professional standards and makes all other interests subservient to his professional duties. He has the best equipped laboratory and operating rooms and equipment for his research work in the west and he has made distinct and valuable contribution to the profession as the result of his broad investigation.
HARRY G. GAUS.
Harry G. Gaus, vice president of the H. Gaus & Son Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, was born September 23, 1882, in the city where he still resides, his parents being Henry B. and Emma L. (Bierman) Gaus, who were likewise natives of St. Louis. The father was for many years engaged in manufacturing in his native city, but recently retired from active business and he and his wife are now living in Long Beach, California. They were married in St. Louis and Harry G. Gaus is their only surviving child.
After attending the public schools Mr. Gaus of this review continued his educa- tion in a business college and then started out in the business world as an employe of his father. He thoroughly mastered every phase of their manufacturing interest and advanced step by step until he was made vice president and general manager of the plant and is still occupying the official connection. Under his guidance the business of the house is steadily growing and their output finds continued favor with the purchaser because of the high standard of the product and the reliable business methods maintained.
On the 23d of November, 1904, Mr. Gaus was married to Miss Birdie May Grinter, a daughter of Francis and Nettie Grinter and they have become parents of two chil- dren: Henry Russell and Edna Bell.
Mr. Gaus turns largely to fishing and hunting for recreation and diversion. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having taken the Scottish Rite degrees and has become a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never sought nor desired public office, as his attention is fully claimed by his business affairs and his thoroughness and persistency of purpose in his chosen field of labor are bringing to him continued success.
ALLEN W. CLARK.
Allen W. Clark, president of the American Paint Journal Company, has devoted most of his life to newspaper and trade publications. His career reflects strong character, leadership and organizing ability. He was born near Topeka, Kansas, Decem- ber 28, 1867, and is the son of the Rev. W. A. and Jane Clark (Jordan) Clark. The father was a well known Baptist preacher and editor and the boy's training was such as developed in the youth high ideals and worthy purposes.
Allen W. Clark was reared in Arkansas and Tennessee, where he attended the public schools, afterward continuing his studies in Franklin College of Indlana. Upon leaving college where he won recognition for his literary ability he entered the field of journalism and in 1888 became the editor of the Morning Record, published at Chico, California. He afterward served as manager of the Arkansas Baptist Publishing Company of Little Rock and at a later period was manager of the Arkansas Democrat Company of the same city. He next became identified with the Morning Post of South Bend, Indiana, and later with the New Era of Greensburg, Indiana, while from that city he went to Chicago where he became manager of the National Rural and Farmers Voice. He also served with the press and organization departments of the democratic national committee in the campaigns of 1896 and 1900. In 1895-6 he was the leader
ALLEN W. CLARK
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of the anti-administration democrats in Indiana, who sent an instructed delegation to the national convention at Chicago.
In 1901 Mr. Clark came to St. Louis and was made office manager of the Barnes- Crosby Engraving Company. He afterward served for five or six years as president of the Kinloch Paint Manufacturing Company and in 1908 he established a monthly trade paper, the American Paint & Oil Dealer, and in 1916 the weekly American Paint Journal, both now being published by the American Paint Journal Company, of which he is president. He is the originator of the "clean up and paint up" campaign, which has developed into a nation-wide movement. He is active in the support of all those interests which are devoted to the civic welfare.
On the 9th of June, 1889, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Florence Shuh, of South Whitley, Indiana, who died January 9, 1914, leaving four children: Charles-Allen Clark, vice president of the American Paint Journal Company; Mrs. Warren R. Sprague; Florence June Clark; and Cummings Collins Clark. On the 16th of June, 1917, Mr. Clark wedded Miss Helen Barnett Auchly, of Montgomery City, Missouri.
Mr. Clark is generally democratic in his political views, and he is a Baptist in his religious faith. He is a member of the St. Louis Club and other organizations and is ex-president of St. Louis Trade Press Association and the St. Louis Paint, Oil & Varnish Club.
During the World war he was an active worker in the War Trade Board at Wash- ington and was one of the party of American trade journalists who visited England, France and Belgium in 1918 on the invitation of the governments of those countries. His life has been one of activity and usefulness and close application to whatever responsibilities he has undertaken has been the foundation upon which he has builded.
EDWARD F. GOLTRA.
In a study of business conditions and situations in St. Louis, with a view to developing its trade interests and promoting its growth through its productive indus- tries, it was felt that the city had not kept its iron trade up to a point equal to other lines; and with a realization of this the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce placed the matter before Edward F. Goltra as the one man who could remedy the situation. The result of this was the organization of the Mississippi Valley Iron Company in 1916 and Mr. Goltra has since been its president. Concentrating his attention upon constructive effort, administrative direction and executive control, he is rapidly accomplishing the purpose that he was asked to undertake.
Mr. Goltra was born at Jacksonville, Illinois, December 29, 1862, his parents being Moore Compton and Evelina (Parson) Goltra. The father, who was an engineer and contractor, removed from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, in 1835 and became an active factor in the public affairs of that locality, particularly in connection with educational interests and uplift work. He secured the passage of a bill in the state legislature for the location and construction of the insane asylum and the deaf, dumb and blind institute at Jacksonville and was given the contract for the construction of all the buildings necessary for these institutions. Associated with Professor Turner of Jacksonville, he secured the passage of the bill which granted certain public lands as an endowment to the Agricultural College, known as university lands. He was instrumental in locating the state university at Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, and his deep interest in the welfare of the schools and the promotion of the educational interests of the state continued to the time of his death, which occurred in 1881. His political allegiance was given to the demo- cratic party and he was campaign manager for Stephen A. Douglas and also a mem- ber of the national committee in Tammany Hall that nominted Seymour and Blair.
Edward F. Goltra, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, supple- mented his public school training by study in Whipple Academy at Jacksonville, Illi- nois, and later attended Illinois College at Jacksonville and Princeton College of New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1887 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He is now one of the trustees of Illinois College, thus giving the benefit of his service to the institution in which his early collegiate training was received. From 1887 until 1889 he was a law student in the Northwestern University of Chicago, and while he has never engaged in practice, his knowledge of law has been of immense value to
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him in the conduct of his business affairs. He first became identified with the steel industry in connection with the Hon. Rolla Wells of St. Louis and throughout the intervening period has labored along this line. His business has developed propor- tionately with the growth of the city and the extension of its trade relations, bringing him to a point of leadership in connection with the steel trade of the central Mis- sissippi valley. His cooperation being sought by the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, which desired to make this city a center of the iron trade in 1915, Mr. Goltra in the following year perfected plans toward that end, leading to the organization of the Mississippi Valley Iron Company, of which he is the president. This company took a very active interest in promoting the war work, devoting its plant to doing every- thing possible in rendering assistance in turning out war materials.
On the 31st of May, 1888, at Jacksonville, Illinois, Mr. Goltra was married to Miss Kate Brown, daughter of Judge William Brown, and they now have two sons, E. P. and William Brown. The former volunteered in the navy as a common seaman, was commissioned an ensign and served throughout the period of the World war. William B. entered the Officers' Training Camp at Princeton, New Jersey. The father, Edward F. Goltra, took a most active and helpful interest in the war work, much of this being of a confidential nature between himself and Secretary of War Baker. He was instrumental in conveying a large amount of munition for General Pershing down the Mississippi river to New Orleans, thereby perventing the congestion at east- ern seaports. He had charge of the naval oversea transports department at the League Island navy yard of Philadelphia. He was a pioneer in the work of the rehabilitating of traffic on the Mississippi river by taking over all of the government boats and barges and impressing them into that service for the purpose of combating the fuel situation in the northwestern country, owing to the failure of railways prop- erly to contribute to the needs of the northwest, taking coal to St. Paul from south- ern Illinois and bringing return cargoes of iron ore from the Mesaba range.
In politics Mr. Goltra has always been a democrat and for many years has been and still is a member of the democratic national committee for Missouri. Appreciative of the social amenities of life he has connection with many leading clubs at various points throughout the country, including the University Club of Chicago, the Prince- ton Club, the New York Yacht Club of New York, the Nassau Club of Princeton, New Jersey, and the University, St. Louis, Racquet and Country Clubs, all of St. Louis.
ALBERT LAWRENCE SCHWEITZER.
Albert Lawrence Schweitzer, attorney at law of St. Louis, in which city he was born April 18, 1888, is a son of Joseph and Anna (Kuda) Schweitzer. The father, who passed away in 1894, came of a family of Swiss extraction that was founded in the United States in 1840. He served throughout the entire Civil war as a private of the Union army and was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and in many notable engagements which led up to the final victory that crowned the Union arms. For twenty years he was engaged in merchandising in St. Louis but in the latter part of his life lived retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. In 1880 he was married to Anna Kuda, who was of Bohemian extraction, the wedding being celebrated in St. Louis. They became the parents of six children.
Albert L. Schweitzer, the fifth in order of birth, pursued his education in the public schools of St. Louis until graduated from the high school in January, 1908. He then attended the State University of Missouri and completed his course there on the 7th of June, 1911, at which time the LL. B. degree was conferred upon him. The same year he was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts and has suc- cessfully continued in the work of the profession to the present time. He makes a specialty of negligence law and is pleasantly located in offices in the Title Guaranty building. His practice is now one of considerable volume and his ability is recognized by all who know aught of his professional career. He is also the secretary and one of the directors of the Victory Brass & Manufacturing Company of St. Louis and is the secretary and a director of the St. Louis & Oklahoma Oil Company.
Mr. Schweitzer was married to Eleanor Juliet Covington on August 16, 1920, at the cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Schweitzer is a daughter of Mrs. Oliver Tyson Covington, the famous contralto.
ALBERT L. SCHWEITZER
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During the World war Mr. Schweitzer was a member of the United States navy, serving as third class quartermaster, during which time he was continually on active duty in Cuban and Mexican waters. He went to the officers' training school and would have received a commission but for the signing of the armistice. He is a member of American Legion, Navy Post, No. 294. In politics he is a republican and religiously a Catholic, having membership in St. Agnes church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, also to the Phi Alpha Delta and to the Order of Owls, being counselor for the latter order in the state of Missouri. Mr. Schweitzer is also an active member of the F. O. E., local Aerie No. 41. He is also the second vice president of the Four- teenth Ward Republican Good Government Club. On January 1st, 1921, he became assistant circuit attorney and he is also a member of the American Bar Association. He has been a lifelong resident of St. Louis where he is widely known, and that his life has been well spent is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his hoyhood to the present time.
DAVID CHARAK.
David Charak, president of the Federal Paper Stock Company of St. Louis, has been identified with the commercial interests of this city for a period of about nine years and throughout the entire time has been connected with the paper trade. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 20, 1884, and is a son of Jacob and Rachel Charak, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state. He is indebted to the public school system of his native city for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He came to St. Louis in 1912, when a young man of twenty-eight years and at once entered into active connection with the paper stock business. In 1914 he organized the Federal Paper Stock Company of which he became the president and has so continued through all the years which have since run their course. This company operates two large plants, one at No. 1810 to 1816 North Main street and the other at No. 4810 to 4813 McKissock avenue. The business has become one of extensive proportions. Mr. Charak is familiar with every phase and detail of the trade, as well as with all the principle features of the business and his thoroughness, capability and executive force have always been strong elements in the success of the undertaking.
On the 23d of June, 1908, Mr. Charak was married in Boston, Massachusetts, to Miss Rose I. Koch and they have become parents of two children: Jean Bernard and Selma Ruth. Mr. Charak is a member of the Temple of Israel and also of the United Hebrew Temple. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while in his political faith he is a republican, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day and doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. He is also a member of the City Club and one of the Board of Trustees of the United Hebrew Congregation. He has never felt that he made a mistake in leaving New England and seeking the opportunities of the more rapidly growing middle west, for he found good business chances and conditions and as the years have passed has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity, being today one of the well known paper stock dealers of St. Louis.
THOMAS E. POWE.
Throughout his business career Thomas E. Powe has been connected with the lumber industry and is today conducting important business interests of this char- acter under the name of the Thomas E. Powe Lumber Company of which business he is sole proprietor. He was born in Cheraw, South Carolina, January 5, 1872, and is a son of James Harrington and Josephine E. (Robbins) Powe. His early education was acquired in the public schools and he later attended the Cheraw Academy and afterward became a special student at Harvard University, where he remained from 1889 until 1895.
Mr. Powe started out in the business life as assistant lumber inspector for the
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Powe and Warren Lumber Company of St. Louis, he being thus employed in 1896 and 1897. In the following year he became buyer and inspector for the Little Lumber Company and in 1899 was made manager of the branch office and yard of the company at Memphis, Tennessee. He thus continued until 1901 when he was elected secretary of the Plummer Benedict Lumber Company of St. Louis, and from 1903 until Septem- ber 1, 1909, was vice president and a director of the Plummer Lumber Company. The business was then taken over by the Thomas E. Powe Lumber Company of which Mr. Powe is sole owner. His long experience in connection with the lumber trade has made him thoroughly familiar with every branch of the business and more- over he has been most active in furthering his trade relations along the most pro- gressive business lines. He closely studies market conditions and the trend of the times and his labors have brought very substantial and gratifying results. He is well known in lumber trade circles throughout the country and is a member and twice president of the St. Louis Lumber Exchange and a director of the American Hard- wood Lumber Manufacturing Association of the United States. He likewise belongs to the National Hardwood Lumber Association. As the years have passed he has steadily brought his activities into operation in various sections of the different states and is now president not only of the T. E. Powe Lumber Company but also of. the Van Cleave Saw Mill Company, the Mary Ann Lumber Company, the Powehar Mill & Lumber Company.
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