USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri (the center state) one hundred years in the Union, 1820-1921, Volume V > Part 8
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COLONEL BENJAMIN G. BRINKMAN
Vol. V-5
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the president. He has a wide acquaintance in St. Louis, where he is highly esteemed as a representative and progressive financier and as a well known and popular clubman.
THOMAS W. WHINNERY.
Thomas W. Whinnery, attorney at law of St. Louis, was born April 9, 1871, at Newry, Ireland, a son of William and Anna M. Whinnery. The father was a news- paper man of Ireland and came to the United States in 1890, settling in Chicago, where he became an employe of the Michigan Central Railroad, with which he remained until a recent date when he was to retire upon a pension. Both he and his wife are still living in Chicago, and celebrated their golden wedding, the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, in that city on the 14th of July, 1920, the event being a news item in all of the Chicago papers. There were ten children in the family, and theirs is a notable record as all are yet living.
Thomas W. Whinnery, the eldest of the family, attended the schools of his native country, and after the emigration of the family to the new world became a high school pupil in Chicago, being graduated on the completion of his course. In 1910 he came to St. Louis and was made manager of the Barnes-Crosby company of this city. Thinking to win more rapid advancement in other connections he then attended the Benton Law School of St. Louis from which he was graduated in 1914 with the degree of LL. B. He at once entered upon the practice of law in this city and in 1918 was made attorney for the American Security Credit company, since which time he has looked after the legal affairs of this corporation. He be- longs to the St. Louis Bar Association and his fellow members of the profession recognize in him one thoroughly capable of handling the interests now in his charge,
Mr. Whinnery was married in Chicago, December 31, 1895, to Miss Grace Edna Evory, a daughter of Henry and Mary Evory, who had removed from New York city to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Whinnery have three children: Cecil H., who is twenty-two years of age, and who is a contractor and huilder of St. Louis; William W. and Edward H., respectively eleven and nine years of age, both in school. The family residence is at No. 4235 Holly avenue, where they enjoy the quiet and comfort of the country and have all of the advantages of city life.
Mr. Whinnery is a democrat in his political belief and has always faithfully supported the principles of the party but has never sought nor desired office. In his business career he has been actuated by a laudable ambition and has made substantial progress. In social life he displays qualities which cause those who know him to wish to meet him again.
HUBERT S. MERRELL, JE.
Hubert S. Merrell, secretary of the J. S. Merrell Drug company of St. Louis, was born in Madison county, Illinois, September 28, 1885, and is a son of H. S. and Georgia (Crenshaw) Merrell, the latter a representative of one of the old American families. They were married in Madison county, Illinois, in 1880. The father was at one time a well known figure in commercial circles in St. Louis being vice president of the J. S. Merrell Drug company, from 1885 until 1911 when death called him to his final home. He, too, was a representative of ancestry long connected with American interests. To him and his wife were born two children, a son and daughter: Hattie, the wife of Frank H. Coult, who is secretary of the firm of Charles F. Meier & company, engineers, with offices in the Times building, and H. S., Jr., of this review.
The latter pursued his education in Smith Academy of St. Louis, and in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of Ph. B. In 1908 he acquired the degree of Ph. C. He became connected with the J. S. Merrell Drug company as chemist and continued to fill that position until December, 1911, at which time he was made secretary. He has since occupied the position, bending his efforts to administrative direction and execu-
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tive control in connection with a business that ranks with the foremost representa- tives of the drug trade of the city.
In Collinsville, Illinois, on the 12th of January, 1910, Mr. Merrell was united in marriage to Miss Madge Krafft, a daughter of C. H. and Olive (Johnson) Krafft. They have become the parents of two children: Dorothy, born December 9, 1911; and Hubert S., who was born on the 6th of May, 1915. The family resi- dence is at No. 5071 Westminster place in St. Louis. During the war period Mr. Merrell subscribed liberally to all war activities and spent much time in the work of promoting the Liberty loan drives and the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A.
drives. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, of Collinsville, Illinois, having been raised in May, 1917, and has since become a Scottish Rite Mason, connected with Missouri Consistory, No. 1, and belongs to Moolah Temple of the Mystic Shrine of St. Louis. He is likewise a member of the Chamber of Commerce, of the Advertising Ciub, the Algonquin Club, and the St. Louis Drug & Chemical Club. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, and his belief in Con- gregational doctrines is manifest in his membership in the First Congregational Church of St. Louis. In his life he has been an exponent of high and honorable principles, endorsed by the various organizations with which he is connected, and in business affairs he has been actuated by a laudable ambition that has prompted him to put forth that close application and thorough reliability which constitute the basis of advancement and success.
EDWIN T. STANARD.
While at the beginning of his business career Edwin T. Stanard entered upon connection with a business long associated with the name of Stanard, he came to the initial polnt in his commercial experience well trained for the duties that he was to undertake. It has been said that opportunity never presents itself to one who is not prepared for it and therefore upon individual action rests failure or success according as each opportunity is neglected or utilized. Well qualified for the work which he undertook Edwin T. Stanard has made steady progress in his chosen field of labor and is today vice president and general manager of the Stanard-Tilton Milling company, Inc., of St. Louis. A native of this city, he was born April 15, 1886, a son of William K. Stanard and a grandson of Edwin O. Stanard, at one time governor of Missouri. The father is the president of the Stanard-Tilton Milling company and one of the prominent and representative busi- ness men of the city.
Edwin T. Stanard pursued his early education in the public schools of St. Louis and in Smith Academy, while in 1900 he completed a course in the Culver Military Academy and in 1903 was graduated from Smith College with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He next entered Princeton University and spent three years in pursuing a civil engineering course, winning the C. E. degree. He was also much interested in college athletics and was a member of the football team at Princeton. He like- wise studied for a time in Brown's Business College and then entered the Columbus laboratory where he pursued a course in milling technology and baking. Ali this was done with a view to entering upon his present business connection. When his textbooks were put aside he went to Dallas, Texas, where he managed one of the flour mills of the Stanard-Tilton company for a year. He then returned to St. Louis and became secretary of the Stanard-Tilton Milling company, Inc. Through the intervening period he has bent his energies toward constructive effort and executive control and is now the vice president and general manager of this mammoth business concern which owns mills at Aiton, Illinois, with a capacity of three thousand bar- rels; a mill at Dallas, Texas, with a capacity of two thousand barrels daily; a ware- house and blending plant in St. Louis; elevators at Rockford and Jerseyville, Illinois; and main offices in the Pierce building in St. Louis. Mastering every phase of the business Mr. Stanard became splendidly qualified to assume directive control and under his guidance the interests of the company have been enlarged and extended.
In 1913 Mr. Stanard was married to Miss Edna Griesedieck, a daughter of Benjamin G. Griesedieck, a prominent brewer of St. Louis. They have one child,
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William K. (II). Mr. Stanard turns to golf for recreation. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is well known in the club circles of St. Louis, having membership in the Missouri Athletic, Rotary, St. Louis, Country, University, Racquet, Sunset, Grain, Mills and other clubs and also in the College Club of Princeton University. He is a man of fine physique and when one enters his presence he feels the dynamic force that has made him a power in the commercial, industrial and financial circles of his native city.
FRANK N. K. ORFF.
Frank N. K. Orff, who has long been prominently known as a publisher and who makes his home in St. Louis, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 17, 1869, a son of Christian and Martha E. Orff. The father was a banker and pioneer merchant of Fort Wayne, where he conducted business from 1837 until 1885. He it was who secured the right of way for the Pennsylvania Railroad from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Chicago, and he drove the golden spike when the Wabash Railroad entered Fort Wayne. He also sold the first government bond sold west of Buffalo, New York, after the Civil war. He became a very successful merchant establishing a large store at Savannah, Georgia, where he formed a partnership with James F. Watkins and William R. Nelson of Kansas City, but formerly of Nelsonville, Indiana, the firm operating under the name of Orff, Watkins & Nelson, at Nos. 113 to 119 Congress street in Savannah, Georgia, and widely known. Mr. Orff wedded a daughter of Peter Heller, a prominent family in whose honor Hellers Corners, a postoffice of Indiana was named. Her father was a miller and merchant and owned a very large farm in that community. In Lincoln county, Maine, there was also a place called Orff's Postoffice, named in honor of the Orff family, this being the place of early settlement of the ancestors, who came from Germany and founded the family in the new world, Mr. Orff's father coming from Dusseldorf, Germany, in the early days of emigration to the new world.
Frank N. K. Orff was the only son in a family of three children. He was educated in the public schools of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in the Germania Col- lege of that place, while still later he attended Charlier Institute at Fifty-ninth street in New York, a school for young men. After completing his preliminary training, he entered Cornell University from which he was graduated in 1887. He afterward pursued a law course with a view to practicing, but after acquiring a broad knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence he decided that the news- paper field was more alluring. His first experience as a publisher began when he was in the public schools of Fort Wayne, at the early age of thirteen years, at which time he acted as editor of a funny paper, called the Neighborhood News. His experience and success in that enterprise was proof of his natural ability and ten- dency, and after his school days were over he became associated with Fred Wen- dell Publishing Company, handling patent insides for small town newspapers. The business was carried on at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and after some time Mr. Orff removed to Chicago, and became one of the active writers on the Times staff. He made a trip around the world for that paper and wrote articles, which were illustrated, concerning all of the important places which he visited in his travels. At a later date he settled in Omaha, Nebraska, where he established the Omaha Daily News, also the Topics Weekly, a society paper. He likewise organized the Frank Orff Directory Company, and engaged in the publication of city directories in Nebraska and Iowa. On the expiration of that period he came to St. Louis and was here married to Annie L. Y. Swart, who was also well known in publishing circles, being engaged in the publication of The Little Red Book, a railway guide. Following their marriage they jointly published the Chaperone Magazine, the American Woman's Review and , Orff's Farm Review. Mr. Orff afterward established the Sterling Magazine, which he later removed to New York city, and then purchased the Hampton Magazine, also the Columbia Magazine of New York, which he later consolidated under the name of the Hampton-Columbian Magazine, giving the world at that time the best and great- est monthly magazine, with a circulation of five hundred and fifty thousand copies. He was president and manager of the company and continued to reside in New York
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for a time, but like many of those who have lived in St. Louis, he returned to the city, maintaining a branch office of his business here.
In 1914 Mr. Orff was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was a daughter of Mrs. Mary Hart, the latter a sister of William and James Hart, the famous artist, and she, herself, possessed much artistic skill and ability, many of her fine paintings being still in existence.
Mr. Orff is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, also belongs to the Million Population Club of St. Louis, and is identified with other organizations which have to do with the upbuilding and progress of the city. His political belief is that of the republican party, and he was president of the Missouri League Republican Club, also president of the Republican Club of St. Louis. He assisted in the organization of the Rough Riders Club during Roosevelt's time and has been prominently connected with the republican party in many ways yet has never sought nor desired office. He is a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of St. Louis. His life has ever dis- played a spirit of devotion to those things which are of cultural value and tend to promote the uplift of the individual and advance the welfare of the community at large .- Patriotism has ever been one of his marked characteristics, and he has never faltered in any opportunity to serve his city nor his country, his efforts at many times being resultant factors in promoting public progress.
FRANK LEWIS NEWMAN.
Frank Lewis Newman, proprietor of the finest motion picture theatre in Missouri, known as the Newman theatre of Kansas City, was born in Newark, New Jersey, January 2, 1884, his parents being Nathan and Mollie Newman, the former a clothing manufacturer of St. Louis for many years. In his later life, however, he retired from business and his last days were spent in San Francisco.
Frank L. Newman of this review pursued his education in the public schools of Cairo, Illinois, and of St. Louis, Missouri, and after his textbooks were put aside engaged in the manufacture of ladies' underwear to the age of twenty-two years in St. Louis. He then became interested in the moving picture business, in which he was engaged in St. Louis from 1907 until 1913. In the latter year he removed to Kansas City and has recently opened the finest motion picture theatre in Missouri, known as the Newman theatre. This was completed and opened for business on the 5th of June, 1919. He has a splendid orchestra numbering thirty-five musicians and he also features grand opera singers from time to time.
In 1903 Mr. Newman was married to Miss Fannie Bierman and to them have been born two children: Manuel F. Newman, sixteen years of age; and Viola V., thirteen years of age. Mr. Newman is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and he also belongs to the Kansas City Athletic Club,. the Progress Club, the Cooperative Association, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masonic fraternity. In the last named he has taken high rank and has become a member of Ararat Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. The major part of his attention, however, is concentrated upon his business affairs and as the result of his close application, able management and progressive spirit he is today the owner of three of the finest picture houses in the west-the New Royal, the New Twelfth Street and the Newman theatres, all of which are proving profitable investments, bringing to him a most gratifying financial return.
EDGAR LACKLAND TAYLOR.
Edgar Lackland Taylor is the vice president and one of the directors of the Boat- men's Bank of St. Louis and has risen to his present position of prominence in financial circles through indefatigable energy and close application, for he entered the bank in a minor clerkship from which point he has advanced until he occupies the second execu- tive office in the institution. A native son of St. Louis, he was born on the 30th of August, 1870, his father being Theodore T. Taylor, a native of Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, and a representative of one of the old families of that state, his lineage being
FRANK L. NEWMAN
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traced back to John Taylor, a native of England, who became the founder of the family in America in 1698 and settled in Bucks county. Following his graduation from the University, of Pennsylvania, Theodore T. Taylor removed westward to Missouri in 1859, settling at Springfield. He was a civil engineer and removed to the west to become one of the builders of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. At the outbreak of the Civil war he entered the Confederate army at Springfield as a private and at the close of hostilities was serving as captain on the staff of General Magruder, from whom he received the following letter:
To Capt. T. T. Taylor,
Captain:
The time having arrived when we must part, I avail myself of the occasion to tender to you my thanks for the many services you have rendered me, not only as a staff officer when I was in command, but also as a friend, when I ceased to possess power. You have served with gallantry, ability and devotion to the last, and in retiring to private life, you bear with you my best wishes for your success and happiness.
Believe me, Captain, Your obedient servant,
J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER.
Monterey, Mexico, July 5th, 1865.
When the war was over he was obliged to leave the United States, together with Governor Marmaduke and Senator Vest. They went to Mexico and remained in that country until things had quieted down, after which Mr. Taylor returned to Missouri, taking up his abode in St. Louis. Here he entered the employ of John McCune & Company, pioneer coal merchants, who operated the first tug on the Mississippi river in 1868. Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Frances Lackland, a daughter of Rufus J. Lackland, who at that time and for many years was president of the Boatmen's Bank. Following his marriage Mr. Taylor again took up the business of contracting which he followed successfully until his death, which occurred at St. Louis in 1896 when he was sixty-six years of age. He was a stanch democrat and was very active in political affairs and in the promotion of civic interests. His wife survived him for a decade, passing away in St. Louis in 1906, at the age of sixty-six years. She had a family of three sons and a daughter: Rufus L., a resident of St. Louis; Edgar L .; Mary Susanna; and William B., all living in St. Louis.
Reared in his native city Edgar L. Taylor attended the old Central high school and when twenty years of age made his initial step in the business world in a humble clerkship in the Boatmen's Bank. Applying himself with thoroughness he mastered every task assigned him and his developing powers fitted him for larger responsibilities and more onerous duties. Thus gradually he was advanced until he is now bending his efforts to executive control and administration as vice president and one of the direc- tors of the bank.
In St. Louis, on the 20th of January, 1902, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Mary Carr, a daughter of the late Charles Bent and Louise (Atchison) Carr, the latter a direct descendant of Laclede and the Chouteau and Papin families of St. Louis. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born three children: Marie, Dorcas Carr, and Edgar, Jr.
In his political views Mr. Taylor is a democat, having stanchly supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. During the World war he served as a member of the Home Guard. Fraternally he is connected with Tuscan Lodge, No. 360, A. F. & A. M., and the nature of his interests is further indicated in the fact that he holds membership in the Bellerive Club and in the Episcopal church. He has ever made quick response to the call of opportunity and is possessed of the progressive spirit of the age, which never stops short of the achievement of a purpose.
WILLIAM TROLL.
William Troll, serving as chief deputy of the sprinkling department of St. Louis. in which city he was born December 10, 1868, is a son of the late Henry Troll, who was a native of Germany but came to America with his parents in 1847, when but eleven years of age. He was born November 26, 1835, at Edenkoben, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, a son of Jacob and Margueritta (Weisgerber) Troll. After coming to the new world he continued his education in the public schools of St. Louis and in
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young manhood learned the cooper's trade. During the Civil war he manifested his loyalty to his adopted country by early enlisting in defense of the Union cause. He served through the three months' term as a member of the Fourth Regiment of Missouri Infantry and then reenlisted at the call for three years' men, going into the field with the Second Regiment of Missouri Light Artillery. He was promoted to a first lieutenancy in 1863 and served with that rank until mustered out in October, 1864, returning to his home with a most creditable military record by reason of the valor and loyalty which he had displayed upon southern battle- fields, having participated in many of the most hotly contested engagements of the war. Following his return to St. Louis he was frequently called upon for public service of an important character. In 1868 he was made a member of the board of trustees having in charge the Mullanphy Emigrant Relief Fund and for four years filled that position. In 1887 he was elected a member of the board of educa- tion of St. Louis and for seven years so served, taking most active and helpful part in advancing the interests of the public schools. In 1894 he was elected sheriff of the city and in 1896 was reelected to that position, serving most capably, his duties being discharged without fear or favor. He was a stalwart advocate of republican principles, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and success of the party, and through an extended period was a leading figure in political circles and in connection with civic affairs in St. Louis. At the time of his death he was clerk of the circuit court, having served for three years and three months in that position when his life's labors were ended on the 1st of March, 1903, at the age of sixty- seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Fisher, was a native of Missouri and was a representative of one of the old families of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Troll were born seven sons and two daughters, of whom William was the fourth son. The mother departed this life in 1873.
William Troll was educated in the public schools of St. Louis and in the Jones Commercial College, thus qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. When sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade, which he afterward followed as a journeyman for five years. Later he was appointed city jailer by Mayor Frederick Kreismann and filled the position for four years. In September, 1916, he was appointed to his present position-that of chief deputy in the sprinkling department of the city government-and has continuously and ably discharged the duties of the office since that time. From 1907 until 1911 he was clerk in the office of justice of the peace in the second district and at all times has discharged his duties with a sense of conscientious obligation that has made his record as a citizen and an official a most commendable one. Like his father he has always been a stanch republican in politics and for the past fourteen years has served as republican committeeman from the ninth ward.
On the 21st of December, 1901, Mr. Troll was married in St. Louis to Miss Emma Bieber, a native of this city and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pius Bieber. They have become parents of eight children: Edna, Myrtle, Elvia, Lawrence, Harry, William, Charles and Melvin, all born in St. Louis.
Fraternally Mr. Troll is connected with the Woodmen of the World, belonging to Magnolia Camp. He is also a member of the Jolly Time Fishing Club, which Indicates something of the nature of his recreation when his official duties permit of leisure and diversion. The name of Troll has long figured prominently in con- nection with official service in St. Louis and has ever been a synonym for fidelity and capability.
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