USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri, vol. 2 > Part 29
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In 1910 Mr. O'Maley was married to Miss Lucy Evelyn Burke, a daughter of Edward Burke, of Florence, Kentucky, and they have become the parents of four children, Sarah Natalie, George T. (II), Janet Gale and Robert Garth. Mr. O'Maley is a member of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the
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George Thomas D'ealey
Automobile Club and to the Chamber of Commerce, to the Kansas City Club, Kansas City Athletic Club, the Mid-Day Club and the Hillcrest Country Club. He is a golfer and hunter, a man of jovial disposition with a ready laugh, and a most genial companion whose friendship is highly prized by all who know him.
George L. Ayer
EORGE L. DYER, manager of the St. Louis office of the Colum- bian National Life Insurance Company of Boston, Massachu- G setts, and one of the outstanding figures in insurance circles in the state, was born October 16, 1878, in Franklin county, Kansas, and is a son of Martin and Mary Ann (Meade) Dyer. His grandfather came from Ireland to this country in 1834 and the family home was established at Racine, Wis- consin. There the grandfather was engaged in the contracting business, in which he met with substantial success, making a specialty of canal and rail- way construction. His son, Martin Dyer, father of George L. Dyer, was born March 1, 1846, and went from Wisconsin to Kansas with his parents in 1856, where on attaining his majority he became engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, winning substantial prosperity especially in the latter line. He passed away June 5, 1914. His wife was born in Brooklyn, New York, April 9, 1854, and they were married in Kansas in 1877. They became the parents of three sons : George L .; Thomas A., deceased; and Oscar, who follows farming.
George L. Dyer attended St. Marys College at St. Marys, Kansas, from which he was graduated with honors in 1898, and subsequently entered the Kansas State Normal School, at Emporia, Kansas. When twenty-three years of age he embarked in the life insurance business in connection with the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Kansas and was soon afterward promoted to the position of supervisor, continuing with the company until 1905. In that year he accepted the general agency of the Union Central Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Kansas City, where he remained until 1911, when he was requested to undertake the management and reorganization of the Columbian National Life Insurance Company office in St. Louis. The success which has attended his efforts is indicated in the fact that the business has increased far beyond all expectations, Mr. Dyer and his agents having written nearly twenty million dollars of insurance. Ile occupies offices in the La Salle building, utilizing the entire seventh floor. Closely studying every phase of insurance, his increasing powers and ability have brought him prominently to the front and he is today accounted one of the foremost life insurance men of the state. He was formerly president of the Life Underwriters' Association of St. Louis and was secretary of that organization in Kansas City. He was also the secre- tary of the National Life Underwriters' Association and is now a member of the executive committee of the National Life Association, representing life insurance agents. The period of his residence in Missouri covers fifteen years.
On the 20th of December, 1905, Mr. Dyer was married to Miss Katharine Mary Dobson, whose father was a banker of Ottawa, Kansas, for 25 years and there passed away June 30, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer have become parents of
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four children : George L., Jr., Katharine Mary, Frederick Charles and John Martin.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Dyer is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He belongs also to the Elks, to the Zoological Society of St. Louis, to the St. Louis Club, Chamber of Com- merce, the Sunset Hill Country Club and the Algonquin Club. In politics he is a republican but not an active party worker. His military record covers service as captain of Company B of the School Battalion. During the period of the World war he participated most helpfully in all war activities, including the five Liberty bond sales, the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. drives. He was also a member of the insurance committee having in charge the War Savings Stamps sales. He is a supporter of all plans and projects looking to the betterment and upbuilding of the city and his efforts along these lines have been far-reaching and resultant. A friend said of him: "He is a man's man-willing to give of his time and means for those things which help to make this world better."
Joseph youth
Joseph J. Dawit?
ROMPTED by a laudable ambition, Joseph J. Yawitz made his P start in the business world when still a schoolboy, obtaining work during a vacation period. Later he inserted an adver- tisement for a position in one of the St. Louis papers, which led to his entering the employ of the Mound City Chair Com- pany and thus acquiring a knowledge of the line of business in which he is now engaged, for at the present time he is at the head of the National Chair Company and for a number of years in this connection has been controlling an extensive and growing business. He is now but thirty-three years of age and yet he is in control of a business that many a man of twice his years might well envy. He was born June 15, 1887. His father, David Yawitz, came to America in 1893 and here followed the tailoring business, but at the present time is living retired. He married Jennie Holsman, also a representative of a Russian family. They became the parents of seven children, six sons and a daughter, of whom Joseph J. is the fifth in order of birth. The others are: Morris J., who married Clara Silverburg and resides in St. Louis; Samuel, who wedded Jennie Greenblatt and is also living in this city ; Frank, who married Mollie Silverburg and makes his home in St. Louis; Harry, who wedded Clara Morris; Sarah R., the wife of L. O. Tobias ; and Ely E., who mar- ried Sarah Hammerman. All are residents of St. Louis.
Joseph J. Yawitz was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, to which eity he was brought during his early boyhood. When a youth of thirteen years he obtained a position as bundle hoy in a dry goods store, where he was paid a dollar and seventy-five cents per week. He resolved, however, that he would be worth much more than that and when he resigned his last salaried position before engaging in business on his own account he was receiving three thou- sand dollars per year, which was more than any man in St. Louis doing the same work was receiving. During the second vaeation period after starting out in the business world Mr. Yawitz worked for his brother, who was the pro- prietor of a dyeing and cleaning establishment, and when the vacation period was over he had proven himself so useful that his parents consented to allow him to remain at work. He continued with his brother until the following spring, but sought better chances for advancement. For a time he was with the lleller & Hoffman Chair Company of St. Louis as offiee boy. In response to an advertise- ment in a paper he seeured a position with the Mound City Chair Company at the age of fifteen years and continued with them until he reached the age of twenty-three. During that period he rose from the position of office boy to that of treasurer of the concern and had become a stoekholder in the business. He held successively the positions of stenographer, billing elerk, salesman and sales manager. He was very ambitious to go upon the road as a traveling sales-
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man and when he was but sixteen years of age he was sent out by the firm, making his first trip to Belleville, where on the first day he sold two or three bills of goods. On the second day he was sent to Collinsville and Edwards- ville, where his sales exceeded those of the preceding day. He continued to travel, opening up territory for the firm in a dozen states in the small towns, but was ambitious to work the larger cities. Accordingly he was sent to Quiney, Omaha and St. Joseph, Kansas City and Des Moines, finally planned a trip to Denver and eventually began working the cities on the Pacific coast, establishing business connections for the firm in each city he visited. He also made a trip to Honolulu, being the first representative of furniture manufacturers from this section of the country in the Hawaiian islands.
When twenty-three years of age Joseph J. Yawitz sold his interest in the Mound City Chair Company and organized the National Chair Company in 1910. Of this he was elected president and has so continued to the present time. The company has operated successfully and has had largely to increase its quarters in order to meet the demands of the trade. They have an extensive factory at Main street and Clark avenue in St. Louis and do business over the entire country, being the largest distributors and operators in their line in this part of the United States. Mr. Yawitz is constantly developing his interests along the most progressive lines and the results achieved are most gratifying. He is likewise interested financially in the Yawitz Dyeing & Cleaning Company of St. Louis and in the National Film Publicity Corporation. He organized the United States Chair Association with headquarters in Chicago, served as presi- dent in 1918, and is now one of its directors. He is likewise a member of the St. Louis Salesmanship Association, of the Furniture Board of Trade and of the Chamber of Commerce. He belongs to the Rotary Club, City Club, Art League, Automobile Club, and to various organizations which have to do with the development of business conditions. He has never hesitated to take a for- ward step when the way was open and his ambition and energy have led him into important relations.
Mr. Yawitz was married in St. Louis. November 28. 1912. to Miss Dollve Rubenstein, a daughter of Max Rubenstein, and they now have two children: Marvin Allen, born .Inly 12. 1914: and Joseph J., Jr., born June 13, 1916. The family resides at 5598 Waterman avenue.
During the World war Mr. Yawitz was a liberal subscriber to the various drives and assisted in seenring funds for the Jewish War Relief. He is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to St. Louis Lodge, No. 20. A. F. & A. M .: also to Kilwinning Chapter, No. 50. R. A. M .: and to Hiram Council, No. 1. R. & S. M., and Order of the Eastern Star. St. Louis Chapter, No. 357. He has likewise taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite, attaining the thirty-second degree in the Missouri Consistory, No. 1. M. R. S., and he is a member of Moolah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Pacific Lodge, No. 304. Knights of Pythias, to the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and to the Young Men's Hebrew Association, while in polities he is a republican with independent tenden- cies. His religious faith is indicated in his connection with Temple Israel. His life has been well spent. He has made judicious use of his time, his talents and his opportunities. Prompted by a laudable ambition he has steadily advanced. nor has he failed to take note of and utilize every chance that has come to him
Joseph 3. Damit
for legitimate progress in the business world. His life second si : as source of inspiration and encouragement to others. showing what plished when there is the will to dare and to do.
Ci. R. Berkley
2 1
Reb. Edward Fairfax Berkley, D. D.
3N a history of those forces which have contributed most to the I moral progress of the eity, which have done most to amelio- rate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and have taught man to count as of value the things of the spirit rather than those of material worth, Dr. Edward Fairfax Berkley deserves prominent mention. He was not only the teacher and preacher, but a man of the deepest sympathy -- great-hearted, kindly, helpful, who recognized the faet that it is "human to err," and was therefore ever ready to extend a helping hand to guide another safely over the pitfalls of life that he might reach those mountain heights where the air is elearer and the vision broader. He was from 1857 until the time of his death closely connected with the moral progress of St. Louis, and therefore aided in molding the history of the city perhaps more largely than its great merchants, manufacturers or professional men.
Dr. Berkley was born in Washington, D. C., September 20, 1813, his parents being George and Mary (Cross) Berkley who represented old American families, the former being deseended from the old English houses of Fairfax and Berk- ley. Having completed his more specifically literary education in Bristol Col- lege, located on the Delaware river above Philadelphia, he entered upon prepara- tion for the Protestant Episcopal ministry in the theologieal sehool at Lexing- ton, Kentucky, founded by Bishop Smith of that state. The experiences of his early life had developed the moral and sympathetie elements of his nature and his self-relianee and force of character, and these proved an excellent groundwork for his labors in the ministry for which his college training so well prepared him. Owing to the death of his father when Dr. Berkley was yet young, and to the burning of Washington eity by the British, he was forced to earn his living and to contribute to the support of his mother and sisters. While serving an apprenticeship on The National Journal at Washington he delivered the paper to the state, treasury, war and navy departments, taking the daily copy to Henry Clay, then seeretary of state, and the acquaintance which then sprang up between the great Kentucky statesman and the poor boy was renewed when in later years the latter had beeome a famous minister of the gospel. Ile baptized Mr. Clay, prepared him for confirmation and administered the burial rites of the Episcopal church when the great Kentuckian was laid to rest in June, 1852. Dr. Berkley's children cherish a ring which was on the hand of the great statesman when he died and which he had bequeathed to their father as a token of his esteem.
Dr. Berkley was admitted to the order of deaeons and ordained at Christ ehureh at Lexington, Kentneky, in December, 1838, and was immediately called to become rector of that parish, where he entered upon aetive work of the min-
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Captain Lorraine Farquhar Jones
S
3TRONG of purpose, kindly in spirit, holding to high ideals, the life record of Captain Lorraine Farquhar Jones was one which should serve as an inspiration to all who knew him.
His career may be summed up in the single word "Vic- tory." Like the soldier who hears the call of duty, he made straight for his objective and never stopped until he had reached it, whether this objective was the conduct of business interests of importance or the performance of some good deed on behalf of a fellowman. There are many, very many reasons to bless his memory because of his generosity and his benefactions.
As the year was drawing toward its close Captain Jones passed to his re- ward, on the 19th of October, 1920, when he was almost eighty-three years of age, his birth having ocenrred on the 9th of November, 1837, in Charlestown, West Virginia.
His father was the Rev. Alexander Jones, a clergyman of the Episcopal church, of which Captain Jones was always a most devoted and loyal member, and his mother was Ann Northey (Churchill) Jones.
When a young man in the twenties Captain Jones responded to the call of his loved southland and joined the Confederate army, serving under two of its bravest and most distinguished leaders-Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jack- son-names which commanded the respect of the "boys in blue" as well as the "boys in gray." Mr. Jones became captain of the Second Company of the Richmond Howitzers and was ever a courageous commander. He helped to fire the first gun fired in Virginia, at Gloucester Point, and he surrendered with General Lee at Appomattox. In the interim he had participated in forty engage- ments, amongst them the "Bloody Angle," one of the most desperate confliets of the war; he had two horses killed under him and was three times wounded, which indicates the fact that his was never the command of the tyrant to go, but the call of the leader to come. One who served with him throughout the war said of him: "I desire to write a few facts that I deem due to Confederate history; in fact, a just tribute to American valor in its highest sense. } was a private in the third company of Richmond Howitzers, First Virginia Artil- lery, Army of Northern Virginia. On May 10, 1864, my battery was captured in the 'Horseshoe' at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Virginia. Our position was about the center of General Lee's army and was of vital importance to both Generals Robert E. Lee and U. S. Grant. After we were captured, and for quite a time, there was absolutely nothing to oppose the Federal advance through this 'gap' in our lines except Captain Lorraine F. Jones and several members of the Second Company of Richmond Ilowitzers, the company that Captain Jones then commanded. As the horses had all been killed, Captain Jones and a few
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Captain Lorraine Farquhar Jones
of his men removed, by hand, the cannon from the breastworks to an open field in their rear and opened fire on the advancing Federals. The odds against this little band were beyond computing, but they checked the advance long enough for reinforcements to reach and recapture the 'gap' before all was lost. I and others who witnessed this soldierly and gallant act know full well that it saved the day, and I believe that it saved the Army of Northern Virginia from signal defeat at that time. Several of that only partially filled detachment were shot down, and, if memory serves me rightly, Captain Jones and possibly one other were left to load and fire that gun alone before the last shot was fired. The names of those grand men should be emblazoned upon fame's immortal page. I pronounce this the bravest and most timely act of all that I witnessed during the War between the States."
Captain Jones' association with St. Louis dates from 1865, in which year he entered the employ of George R. Robinson, Sr., a commission and bagging merchant, with whom he continued until he started in business on his own ac- count. Not long afterward he formed a company in partnership with Dr. Warren, Anderson Gratz and Benjamin Gratz, under the firm style of Warren, Jones & Gratz, and later became one of the founders of the American Mann- facturing Company, engaged in the manufacture of bagging and cordage. Cap- tain Jones was elected treasurer of the company and his opinion always carried great weight in formulating the policy and shaping the direction of the busi- ness. His associates recognized the soundness of his judgment, the breadth and keenness of his vision and his high standards, which at all times conformed to the most advanced commercial ethics. He also figured prominently in financial circles as president of the State National Bank of St. Louis for three years and was a representative of the directorate of many important business enterprises of St. Louis, including the St. Louis Union Trust Company. He retired from active business in 1908 to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. The most envious could not grudge him his success, so worthily had it been won and so wisely used. IIe was constantly extending a helping hand to a less fortunate traveler on life's journey and his benefactions were almost limitless, but his charity was ever characterized by the most thorough nnostentation.
On the 9th of November, 1870, Captain Jones was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Fontaine Berkley, the third daughter of the Rev. E. F. Berkley, D. D., founder of St. Peter's Episcopal church of St. Louis. This marriage was blessed with four sons and five danghters, Annie Maury and Alexander, who died in childhood; E. F. Berkley, Lorraine F. and F. Maury Jones, all residents of Kirkwood, Missouri; Mrs. John B. Pitman of Long Island, New York; Mrs. Joseph R. Matthews and Mrs. Laurence D. Bridge of Kirkwood, Missouri; and Mrs. Benjamin O'F. Randolph of Millwood, Virginia.
Captain Jones lost his sight June 15, 1911, as the result of a severe illness. For nine years he continued to travel life's journey in the darkness. Notwith- standing this affliction he was heard again and again to say: "God has been wondrous kind to me." During this period he sent out what he called his "little preachers," one hundred and forty-five thousand copies of the New Testament and the Gospel of St. John. In many thousand of them he had printed: "From one who has lost his sight and wants to help others gain light everlasting."
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A lifelong friend wrote of Captain Jones : "I cannot let the opportunity pass without speaking of the nobility of the man whose word was as good as his bond and who was never known to speak unkindly of anyone, whose charity was unbounded. He surely was a Christian and a gentleman and 'we shall not look upon his like again.'"
His home was beautiful in the extreme and largely approached the ideal in the loving companionship of husband and wife, father and children.
A friend referring to his death wrote: "Ever since the news reached me I have been unable to get out of my mind a vision of vietory, for the Captain was a soldier-a beautiful soldier of life in every sense of the word. Bravely he fought all of its battles, yet how so tenderly at alnost every step he stopped by the wayside to lend a helping hand, until at the end of his life's day, in the glory of the sunset, the fullest of its glory, his great Captain called, and the vietory of the everlasting was his."
PH Srockmim
Philip L. Brockman
HILE Philip H. Broekman has won for himself a notable place W in business circles of St. Louis, being now proprietor of the De Luxe Automobile Company and interested in other impor- tant commercial concerns, it would be to give but a partial and one-sided view of his career to speak of him merely in business connections. He has been most active in support of many progressive movements having to do with the upbuilding of St. Louis and his labors have at all times been far-reaching and resultant. He was born April 18, 1881, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Philip and Emma (Rohde) Broekman. The father was born in Germany and on coming to the new world settled in St. Louis. In the course of years he became the head of one of the largest commission firms doing business in the city. He early turned his attention to the grain trade here and was one of the largest handlers of barley in the United States, conducting his activities under the style of the P. Broekman Commission Company. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of Philip II. Broekman of this review were highly re- spected in a social way in St. Louis and the two grandfathers won for themselves a ereditable place in business.
Philip H. Brockman attended the Toensfeldt school, also the Christian Brothers College and the Bryant & Stratton Business College, thus becoming well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. Early in his business career he was identified with banking in Chicago and in 1913 he became a factor in the automobile trade in St. Louis. IIe organized the De Luxe Automobile Company, distributors of the Oldsmobile, and in this connection has built up a business of most gratifying and substantial proportions. In the St. Louis number of The Oldsmobile Pacemaker of February, 1920, issued by the Olds Motor Works, appeared the following article: "In Missouri or Maine or any- where else the predominant reasons for Oldsmobile popularity are to be found in the Oldsmobile itself and in the Oldsmobile reputation for quality-quality which for twenty-two years has set the pace in American motordom. But in various sections of the country there exist special reasons for Oldsmobile popu- larity. In St. Louis and the territory surrounding it one finds that the names Oldsmobile and De Luxe Automobile Company are almost inseparable and that the name De Luxe is widely accepted as a veritable guarantee of fair dealing. To understand and appreciate this it is necessary to know something of the history of this eoneern, of the organization and of the ironelad polieies pursued to maintain the lofty standards established for all business dealings. The business was organized in a small way in 1913 as a partnership in which the present owner, P. H. Brockman, was a partner. Within two years this young eoneern had so fittingly demonstrated its ealibre as to merit the Oldsmobile
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distributing franchise for the very large territory embraced in the eastern half of Missouri, the southern part of Illinois and a small section of Kentucky. Within the year following the organization grew from five to seventy members, and has never ceased growing at a healthy rate. While the reasons 'De Luxe' for Oldsmobile popularity in the St. Louis territory are various, they may be summed up under the single head SERVICE, which with Mr. Broekman is little short of a religion. First, he is concerned with the service the dealers under his supervision render the Oldsmobile owners in their territories. Hence, a wholesale department is maintained at St. Louis under the head of Z. A. Barker; and four capable representatives are kept constantly on the road for the express purpose of cooperating with dealers. In addition, an immense stock of service parts is maintained in St. Louis so that any dealer may be served in almost any of his requirements on a few hours' notice. Because he believes in practicing what he preaches (and by way of setting a one hundred per cent example for those in the outlying territory) he maintains a service department for the city of St. Louis and its environs that is a model of completeness and efficiency. This service station, which is separate from the downtown salesrooms at 3128 Loenst street, is very centrally located at 3807-19 Laclede avenue. It comprises forty-five thousand feet of floor space, and in addition to the equipment usual to a first-class service station, includes a complete machine shop and a fine uphol- stery shop. The handsome service wagons, of which there are four, are always on the job, as St. Louis Oldsmobile owners will testify. As an indication of the esteem in which Mr. Broekman is held in St. Louis automobile and civic circles, it is noteworthy that he is president of the St. Louis Automobile Dealers' and Manufacturers' Association, president of the Anti-Auto-Theft Association, mem- ber of the executive committee of the Million Population Club, and chairman of the city legislation bureau of the Federated Roads Council."
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