USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri, vol. 2 > Part 26
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Several years before he attained his majority James Campbell hegan carrying the chain with surveying parties and studied engineering by practice, remaining in the field until twenty-five years of age, by which time he had become chief of an engineering corps. He aided in the preliminary survey work of considerable sections of the Frisco and of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroads, and while thus engaged he picked up much valuable information concerning the natural resources of the state and its possibilities of development. His earnings were therefore wisely invested in Missouri land in advance of immigration, and with the settlement of the state his property was sold at a profitable figure and he was the possessor of a fortune of nearly one hundred thousand dollars when he took up his abode in St. Louis in 1876, his last railroad position having
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been that of chief engineer of what was known as the Kansas City & Mobile Railway.
In St. Louis Mr. Campbell turned his attention to the bond and stock brokerage business, making investment in bonds, which through the financial depression of 1873 had become ahost seemingly worthless, seventy-four counties of the state defaulting in interest on county and township bonds during that period of widespread financial depression. Mr. Campbell, however, believed that these bonds would reach par value with better times and bought some of these securities as low as ten cents on the dollar and made it a rule not to go beyond a quarter of a dollar. He became known as an expert on such bonds and when he had invested all of his ready capital in that way he persuaded bankers that such bonds would ultimately be redeemed, borrowed money on those he held as collateral and bought still more. The policy which he pursued proved the wisdom of his judgment and sagaeity, as he lived to realize in substantial meas- ure upon these commercial papers which he held. All this time Mr. Campbell was studying conditions in St. Louis with a view to making investment. He was appointed receiver of a little street railroad, the motive power of which was mules and which had been built into North St. Louis before the population needed such transit facilities. After a time Mr. Campbell acquired the owner- ship of the little road and from time to time he inereased his street railway holdings and in connection with John Seullin adopted a transfer system whereby one might ride on the carline for two or three hours for a single nickel. With the improvement of street railway systems he was associated with Mr. Seullin in the electrification of the St. Louis line. Throughout his life it was his custom to study into every business situation and problem and his work in the electri- fieation of the railroad led him to learn much of the power and value of elec- tricity for lighting purposes. A contemporary writer >aid of him in this con- nection : "He forecast the future, when electrie utilities in St. Louis were in their infancy. He invested in plant after plant-lighting and power-until his holdings enabled him to bring about developments and economies to the point of profitable operation. 'It pays to hold the hand of an infant venture until it ean stand alone,' he onee said. His comprehensiveness in business is notable and following his engineering investigations he became much interested in the use of natural water power for supplying heat, power and light, especially in the western mining regions, where coal had been used before. Large invest- ments have followed faith in this dircetion until Mr. Campbell became one of the principal promoters of this use of water power for the creation of high tension electric currents and the application of them to reduce the cost of mining. In the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Mr. Campbell as a director and member of the executive committee was a forceful factor. He gave his time and his thought unsparingly and with a measure of public spirit not generally known. When Festus Wade laid the foundation of the Mercantile Trust Company, James Campbell was one of the men who backed and encouraged the enterprise until it has reached its present great proportions. Never losing his first love for the railroads, Mr. Campbell has steadily increased his investments in stock and bonds of systems which have grown with the great southwest. Sitting in many boards of directors, he was known as the silent member, waiting for sentiment to crystallize and usually forming one of the great majority. He was not stubborn
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in his individual opinions. Ile used to say : 'No man can go contrary to the direction in which his fellow beings are moving and be a success. Pull in the same direction with the other fellow, but pull longer and stronger.'"
On the 5th of November, 1887, Mr. Campbell was married to Florence A. Van Platner, a daughter of llon. George W. Van Platner, who for years was one of the foremost lawyers of New York city. He was a graduate of Harvard and of Heidelberg University and was a noted sebolar and linguist, speaking ten languages. He married Lois Schellond, who became a notable figure in literary circles, writing under her maiden name, and she, too, was a lingnist of renown. Mrs. Campbell has inherited not a little of her parents' intellectual ability, speaks four languages, is a broad reader and a woman of inherent refine- ment and culture. She owns a country estate, known as Mullrick, at Meads Point, Greenwich, Connecticut, and one of the finest residences in St. Louis, located at No. 2 Westmoreland place, also a magnificent residence in Pasadena, California. She spends about three months each year in New York city, at her country home at Meads Point, in St. Louis and in Pasadena. She owns a private railway car, a new steel ear, which was given to her by her husband shortly before his death, which occurred June 12, 1914. They have only one surviving child, Lois, now the wife of E. G. Burkham, of St. Louis. A daughter, Lois, died at the age of four and one-half years and a son, James Campbell, Jr., passed away at the age of two. The companionship between Mr. and Mrs. Campbell was of the closest nature. He remained a lover from his marriage until his death and found his greatest happiness at his own fireside. Ile would never go anywhere without being accompanied by his wife, their interests being one in everything, each one's happiness being augmented only when the other shared it. Mr. and Mrs. Burkham have two children.
Mr. Campbell belonged to the St. Louis, Noonday and Country Chibs and was one of the earliest promoters of the University Club. He prized true friend- ship highly and genuine worth could always win his regard. Unlike many men who attain wealth, he never forgot the friends of his youth. At the time of his demise his holdings were estimated at from forty to sixty millions, his interests ineluding holdings in banks, railroads, trust companies, public utility corpora- tions, mines and real estate, and he was a director of thirty-five different cor- porations. The estate was left in trust for a period of twenty-one years after the death of the wife and daughter and then bequeathed in its entirety to the St. Louis University for the advancement of the sciences of medieine and surgery and for the building of a hospital for sick and injured persons, said to be the largest donation ever given for a single purpose by any one man.
Sohn a Hamisoy
Judge John A. Harrison
INCE his admission to the bar in early manhood Judge John A. S Harrison has remained an active representative of the pro- fession and one who throughout his entire career has held to the highest professional ethies and standards. This is due to the great moral principles which constitute the basic elements of his well spent life, guiding him in every relation with his fellowmen. Judge Harrison is a native son of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Lexington, November 9, 1850, his parents being the Rev. John A. and Emma (Mauro) Harrison. The aneestral line is traeed baek to Virginia and in the year 1635 representatives of the name landed at JJames- town. The Rev. John A. Harrison was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, and his wife was born in Washington, D. C. Her father, Philip Mauro, resided in St. Louis in 1837 and continued to make his home in this eity until his death many years later.
John A. Harrison was but a young lad when his parents removed from Mis- souri to Tennessee. IFis youthful days were therefore passed in Jackson, and in 1869 he was graduated from the West Tennessee College of that place, receiving the Master of Arts degree. Soon afterwards he returned to Missouri and entered upon the study of law in St. Louis under the direction of his unele, Charles G Mauro, then a distinguished member of the bar of this city. After being admit- ted to practice Judge Harrison at once took up the active work of the profession and in 1892-3 he served an ad interim term upon the circuit bench by appoint- ment of Hon. D. R. Franeis, then governor of Missouri. Prior to his appoint- ment as judge he had in 1882 entered into partnership relations with Mason G. Smith under the firm style of Smith & Harrison and with the exeeption of the period of Judge Harrison's term upon the bench this relation was continued uninterruptedly until the death of the senior partner. A contemporary biogra- pher has said in this connection: "For fifteen years they were not only closely associated in the praetiee of law but in the stronger ties of warm and enduring friendship that in its elose and saered relation partook of the nature of brother- hood. Their natures were congenial and each showed for the ability and eharac- teristics of the other appreciation which indieated a broad-minded man. The death of Mr. Smith, therefore, was almost an unbearable blow to Judge Harri- son, as it always is when the ties of a remarkably strong friendship are thus severed."
In 1881 Judge Harrison was united in marriage to Miss Metta F. Ilall, of St. Louis, and they became the parents of seven daughters and two sons, of whom one daughter, Emma Mauro, became the wife of Oliver D. Jones and passed away in Mareh, 1916, at the age of thirty-one years.
Judge Harrison is a director of Josephine Hospital. His interests are broad
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and varied. He is a high churchman, belonging to Trinity Episcopal church, and is a firm believer in the teachings of that denomination. He is most devoted to his family and finds the greatest happiness in the companionship of his wife and children, their home life being largely ideal. Judge Harrison is excep- tionally well read, possesses an excellent memory, and an evening spent in his company is not only one of pleasure but one of instruction as well. His literary interests aside from his profession seem to be along historical and political lines, yet he is also well acquainted with the works of most of the prominent writers. He seems particularly well versed in historical matters pertaining to St. Louis and the state of Missouri and his many anecdotes of prominent men of this section of the country are always most interesting and illuminating. He is a very entertaining speaker, whether upon the public platform or in the discussion of any question in private or drawing-room conversation. He pos- sesses a fine voice, with splendid command of the English language, and his pure diction, combined with his earnestness, never fails to impress his auditors most favorably. He was at one time president of the St. Louis Board of Education, entering upon the duties of that position in 1899 for a period of six years. His attitude during the World war was Spartan-like. He advocated a declaration of war against Germany long before the actual declaration took place. His son volunteered very soon after the United States took up arms and was in the signal service of the Thirty-fifth Division and was wounded on the 26th of September, 1918, in the Argonne forest, being unable thereafter to arise from his bed for many months. Each member of the family was a steady worker in the Red Cross and other war activities and Judge Harrison did everything in his power to advance the interests of the country in its relation to the allies and in support of its splendid soldiery. He is a man of very strong character and of most genial and lovable nature to those who know him intimately. The family resides at "Keith Inch" Creve Coeur line, St. Louis county.
eff Wallace Handy
J JEFF WALLACE HANDY is one who has taken advantage of the rapid development of the automobile trade and has found in this connection a profitable field of business, his interests being conducted at Kansas City under the name of the HIandy- Warne Company. Mr. Handy is a western man by birth, train- ing and preference and the spirit of western enterprise and progress finds expression in his record. He was born near Independence, in Chautauqua county, Kansas, April 22, 1880, and is a son of Orin W. and Alice (Booth) Handy, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Kentucky. The father removed with his parents to Kansas, the family home being established near Iola, and later he was engaged for many years in mereantile pursuits at Caney, Kansas.
It was there that Jeff Wallace Handy pursued a public school education and later he attended the Baker University at Baldwin, Kansas. In 1898, when eighteen years of age, he started out in the business world by securing em- ployment in a bank at Caney and in 1900 he became interested in the Handy- Booth Mercantile Company in connection with his maternal grandfather. While there residing he was also actively interested in the publie welfare and did much for the eivie upbuilding and progress of the city.
In 1909 Mr. Handy removed to Kansas City and became associated with the Rock Island Implement Company, with which he remained for four years. In 1913 he beeame associated with the Ford Motor Company here and was soon transferred to Wichita, Kansas, as assistant manager. He next went to Au- gusta, Kansas, as a dealer in Ford ears and in 1919 he became associated with the Warne Motor Company of Kansas City as dealers in Ford ears and tractors, and the firm name was changed to Handy-Warne Company. They are steadily building up a very substantial trade. Mr. Handy is a member of the Automo- bile Association and is greatly interested in the question of good roads, working earnestly to improve the public highways.
In 1899 Mr. Handy was married to Miss Jeanette E. Louthan, of Findlay, Ohio, a daughter of IIenry Louthan, who was clerk of the court at Findlay, Ohio, and very prominent in public affairs there. IIe gave his political alle- giance to the democratic party and was active in molding thought and opinion along civic lines. In 1908 he removed to Caney, Kansas, where he has farming and grain interests. To Mr. and Mrs. Handy has been born one child, Marion Winifred. Mr. Handy belongs to the Hillerest Country Club and is a Mason, belonging to Ivanhoe Lodge and to other Masonic bodies, which have enabled him to reach the Mystic Shrine.
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Tr Dulany
William Henry Dulany
3ILLIAM HENRY DULANY is the vice president and treasurer W of the St. Louis Lumber Company and throughout his entire business career has been identified with the lumber industry, with every phase of which he is thoroughly familiar, while his progressive spirit, powers of organization and initiative have been contributing factors to the successful conduct of every enterprise with which he has been associated. He was born at Salisbury, Chariton county, Missouri, June 16, 1874. His father, Thomas G. Dulany, is a native of Middlegrove, Monroe county, Missouri, his natal day being July 9, 1841. He joined the Confederate army at the time of the Civil war, serving as corporal during the first two years of hostilities. He was then sent home owing to the fact that he had contracted army measles, which had so impaired his health that he was unfit for field duty. He then engaged in the Inmber business at Salisbury, Missouri, from 1868 until 1888, when he removed to Hannibal, Missouri, where he has since continned in the same line. While there residing he became a warm personal friend of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, and their personal resemblance was such that they were quite frequently mistaken for each other. Thomas G. Dulany was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dulany, a daughter of William H. Dulany, who was a prominent lumber merchant of Hannibal. He was born in Howard county, January 9, 1818, while Missouri was still a territory, and he resided continuously in the state until his death at the ripe old age of ninety- six years. He was a very charitable man, especially generous in his support of church and sehool work. He was numbered among the pioneers of the lum- her industry in Missouri and throughout all the intervening period the family name has been associated with the lumber trade. Mrs. Thomas G. Dulany passed away in 1918. She had beeome the wife of Thomas G. Dulany in Ran- dolph county, Missouri, in 1868 and had she lived a few months longer they would have completed fifty years of wedloek. Three children survive: William Henry ; Mrs. T. R. Schofield of Hannibal, Missouri; and Mrs. Tom Murphy of St. Louis.
William Henry Dulany, whose name introduees this review, was educated in the publie schools of Salisbury and of Hannibal and spent two years in the Missouri Military Academy of Mexico, Missouri, where he was graduated. He also attended the University of Virginia and the University of Missouri at Columbia, and thus liberal educational advantages well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. Sinee leaving school he has been engaged in the lumber business at Hannibal, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, Everett, Washington, and St. Louis, and is now a representative of the St. Louis Lumber Company, holding the dual position of viee president and treasurer. He is like-
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wise a director of the Mound City Trust Company and is regarded as a man of most sound business ability and keen discrimination.
Politically Mr. Dulany is an independent democrat, for while he usually supports the party, he does not hesitate to cast an independent ballot if his judgment so dictates. Ile belongs to the Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity. His membership relations also extend to the Missouri Athletic Association, the Glen Echo Country Club and the Sunset Hill Country Club. At the time of the World war he was captain of the supply company in the Home Guards of St. Louis and he also solicited the sale of Liberty bonds and lent assistance to the Red Cross and various other drives. He is a member of the Union Avenue Christian church, serving on its official board, and he is keenly interested in all those forces which take recognition of the higher and holier duties of life. As a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Missouri he is well known. From an early period in the colonization of the new world the Dulany family was represented in Virginia and afterward in Kentucky, whence a removal brought representatives of the name to Missouri, here to become prominent as factors in the upbuilding of the state. They aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the commonwealth and throughout all the intervening years they have maintained a most creditable place in business circles and a most enviable social position.
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Ino RHYarkus
John R. Darkins
OHIN R. HARKINS, president of the John R. Harkins Insurance Ageney, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 3, 1871. Ilis father, John A. Harkins, was a native of Philadelphia and of Irish descent. Removing to the middle west, he became super- intendent in the office of the St. Louis Cotton Mills and dur- ing the Civil war he took active part as a soldier at the front. lle wedded Mary J. Williams, who was of English lineage, their marriage being celebrated in St. Lonis. They became the parents of three sons and a daughter, of whom John R. was the second in order of birth. lis elder brother, James W., is sales manager for the Dearborn Chemical Company and he married Lucy Walsh. His younger brother, Thomas G., is in the insur- anee business in St. Louis, being a member of the firm of Harkins & Tontrup. The daughter Franees became the wife of Frank H. Fain, who is state agent in Oklahoma for the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company. J
John R. Harkins was educated in the Peabody public school of St. Louis and when thirteen years of age secured a position as office boy with General J. S. Fullerton and Truman A. Post, attorneys, with whom he remained until he reached the age of seventeen. He then started in the insurance business as a clerk for Charles L. Crane of St. Louis, with whom he continued until he reached the age of thirty-one, and in the intervening time he had risen to the position of manager. Ile then started in business for himself and established the John R. Harkins Insurance Ageney of which he is the president. He has operated continuously and successfully to the present time and is now condnet- ing a large general insurance business. He is also a director of the Chippewa Bank of St. Louis and is recognized as a man of sound business judgment and unfaltering enterprise.
On the 2d of September, 1896, in St. Louis, Mr. Harkins was married to Miss Esther C. Hodges, a daughter of Captain W. R. llodges, who served through the Civil war as a captain in the Union army. He is now recorder for the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and he was formerly auditor of St. Louis and a member of the city council. His wife bore the maiden name of Emma Jean Ward. To Mr. and Mrs. Harkins have been born four children, three sons and a daughter. Ward R., who is engaged in the automobile business and who married Doris Crites; John Sterling, seventeen years of age and now a student in the State University at Columbia, Missouri: Thomas H., a lad of fifteen, who is also attending the Soldan high school : and Ruth Esther, the wife of Lieutenant C. E. Morrison, U. S. A., who during the World war was stationed at Camp Stotsenburgh in the Philippine Islands, being in command of a com- pany in the Ninth Cavalry.
In polities Mr. Harkins is an independent republiean, voting according to
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the dictates of his judgment rather than according to party ties. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Credit Men's Association. During the period of the war he was most active in support of all those drives and interests which led to financing the army and promoting the welfare of the soldiers in this country and overseas. He belongs to the Midland Valley Country Club, of which he is the secretary and a member of the board of governors. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, his membership being in the Delmar Baptist church at Washington and Skinker road, St. Louis. Ile is widely known and the sterling traits of his character have established him firmly in the warm regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
a Schlueter
Julius A. Schlueter
CLIUS A. SCHLUETER was numbered among those men who were promoters and builders of the commercial development and greatness of St. Louis. IIe was the founder of the Schlue- ter Manufacturing Company, which was established in 1902 and with which he was actively connected as the directing head until his demise. Born in Germany, on the 17th of September, 1857, he came to the United States when eleven years of age in company with his parents, who settled in St. Louis. Ile was educated in the public schools of this city and when fifteen or sixteen years of age became a wage earner as an employe in a can manufacturing concern, with which he remained for twelve years, winning gradual advancement through intermediate positions to that of foreman with this firm. In 1885 he resigned to become superintendent of the Standard Stamping Company and served in that im- portant capacity continuously for seventeen years. His sons were at that time growing into manhood and with a view of providing a future for them he gave up his position with the Standard Stamping Company to engage in business on his own account with the idea of preparing a place for his sons in the business world.
Julius A. Schlueter's first factory was at Ninth and Branch streets and with the growth of the business he sought more commodious quarters, erecting the present modern building at Nos. 4616-4630 North Broadway. This was erected and occupied in 1907. The business at that time was owned independently by Mr. Schlueter but as his trade relations expanded and his business became one of greater volume he admitted his sons to a partnership, their interest being incorporated in January, 1915, the stock, however, all being held by the fam- ily. Mr. Schlueter became the president of the corporation, with Walter II. Schlueter as vice president and treasurer and Albert J. as secretary. The business has enjoyed a continuous growth and remains as a monument to the enterprise, progressive spirit and devotion of the father to the welfare of his sons. On the 24th of December, 1916, Mr. Schlueter passed away and was succeeded in the presidency by his son Walter H., while Albert J. became the vice president, Herbert C. Schlueter was made treasurer, and Clifford A. became the secretary of the company. In these various official capacities the four sons are now serving and under their control the business is developing with rapidity, having become one of the important commercial interests of the city.
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