USA > Missouri > Centennial history of Missouri, vol. 2 > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Genial, appreciative, diversified and interesting, original, clean and unper- verted in thought, enthusiastic but equable, never proud or eoneeited because of sueeess, nor pessimistic because of reverses, association with this man was to all a delight and a profit.
Gabriel Woerner was a man universal. His sympathy for humanity was so broad that it extended to all who came in contact with him, and he understood the good in each. This is most curiously manifested by the fact, still proven time and again these many years after his death by the uneonseious testimony of persons who knew him, that Gabriel Woerner made upon each individual whose life he touched the lasting impression that he had understood that par- tieular person more truly than had anyone else. And this, too, by people possessed respectively of the most opposite temperaments and tendencies and living in most widely different stations in life and education.
To those in mental distress and trouble his mere presence, the faet that he knew about it, exerted a feeling of soothing restfulness or healing consolation. Often, without assuming the implied superiority always lurking in direct ade viee, his subtle guidance and influence helped those in need, without their con- seious knowledge, and by methods unseen. His words, his smile, his letters, his acts, were a world of comfort to the diseonsolate and stricken.
His natural insight into human nature was keen-and sharpened to some extent no doubt by the varied experiences of his rise through his own might
602
3. Gabriel Woerner
from lowly station. His sympathetic nature was quick to respond where help or kindly offiees were needed. Large as was his mind, his heart was larger. His sensitive nature abhorred ostentation, and his charity was of the kind that did good by stealth-far more and in many more ways than will ever be known. There was in this man a rare combination of powerful intellect, indomitable vigor and true nobility on the one hand, and a modesty, kindliness, geniality and gentleness on the other, that is most seldom found.
In 1852 Mr. Woerner married Emilie Plass, a most pure-minded and estima- ble woman, these two living together in most happy union for over forty-six years, until Mrs. Woerner's death on December 28, 1898-a blow from which he never really recovered in the short time that intervened before he followed. Four children, the first-born having died in infancy, survive them, all mar- ried, namely : Rose, wife of Benjamin W. MeIlvaine; Gabrielle, widow of Charles Gildehans; William F. Woerner; and Alice, wife of Sylvester C. Judge; and a number of grandchildren.
In the late summer of 1899 Judge Woerner was stricken in the nature of a paralytie stroke, from which he never recovered, and hardly a year after his wife had gone, he too, on January 20, 1900, ended his well ronnded and noble life, then not quite seventy-four years of age.
The death of this gifted and lovable man was monrned as sincerely by high and humble as ever falls to the lot of any man. His story is that of God-given ability directed into the channels of a pure and honorable life. Until the last is called will he live in the grateful memory of those who knew him; after that will he live in the influences that flow from his life, and in the works which are his perpetual monument.
No man ever more conscientiously performed his whole duty in life than J. Gabriel Woerner. Yet as a last tribute to his high plane of thought is in- seribed upon his tomb in beautiful Bellefontaine the modest epitaph (the only line to which his assent could be secured) :
"He tried to do his duty."
A biography of J. Gabriel Woerner, written and published in 1912 by his son, William F. Woerner, eloses with the following lines in memory of his father :
THY LIFE.
O noble life ! Methinks 'tmust be When God from clay thy soul set free, Ile smiled with pride that even He Could fashion such a man as thee.
Thy lesson's soul-compelling might E'er shines as Pole-star in the night. To point with elear and steady light The path to Duty and the Right.
603
3. Gabriel Woerner
A boundless Love, like Christ's refined, Went out from thee to human-kind. 'Twas God's own Soul that you divined, At one with His was thine aligned.
The wond'rous goal thy heart enshrined Was Inf'nite Truth. Yea, this to find Is End Supreme of human mind, Last destiny of all Mankind.
Aneestral Star! O guiding gleam ! So pure, so Christ-like and serene, To thy descendants dost thou seem Like Star of Bethlehem-God's Beam.
Jules Winncan.
John Harris Duncan, M. D.
N a history of the medieal profession of St. Louis it is impera- I tive that mention be made of Dr. John Harris Duncan, who was largely an ideal follower of the profession, his forceful and resultant efforts being not only the outcome of broad scientifie knowledge and attainments but of the kindliest humanitarian spirit. He was born August 16, 1852, in Colum- bia, Missouri, and had therefore attained the age of sixty- seven years when he passed away on the 22d of June, 1919. Hle acquired his early education in private schools and afterward attended the William Jewell College, which conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1872. Hav- ing determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he then matrice- ulated in the Missouri State University at Columbia and completed his medical course in 1874. The following year was devoted to study in the Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College of New York. He then returned to Missouri, where he entered upon the general practice of medicine at Columbia in connection with his father, Dr. William H. Duncan. The association was maintained until the fall of that year, when the son was appointed to the chair of physiology in the University of Missouri. From that time on through many years he was closely associated with the educational interests of the state in the line of his pro- fession. In 1883 he was appointed professor of dermatology and physiology in the University Medical College of Kansas City, where he continued for a decade and was then called to the faculty of the Physicians and Surgeons College of St. Louis. In 1900 he was appointed to the staff of the Marion-Sims Beaumont Medieal College, oeeupying the chair of dermatology for several years, and then entered upon the private practice of medicine, in which he continued until ealled to his final rest. In 1904 his alma mater conferred upon him the LL. D. degree.
In 1881 Dr. Dunean was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Dulany, of Hannibal, Missouri, who survives him. He found his greatest happiness in the companionship of his wife and they greatly enjoyed extending the hospitality of their home to their many friends. All who knew Dr. Duncan entertained for him the warmest regard and he was highly esteemed by his fellow members of the profession. IIe had membership in the St. Louis Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association and in the state organization served at different periods as assistant seeretary, as vice president and as president. The weekly bulletin of the St. Louis Medical Society at the time of his death, writing of his professional life, said: "Many of us who had the fortunate privilege know how thoroughly and graciously he accomplished tasks of this kind. To be so generally and highly esteemed amongst his coworkers is the lot of very few men. Practical service in the line of his profession was unquestionably the gauge by which he regulated his life's work ;
607
608
John Darris Duncan, O. D.
all who habitually came in contact with him were ever aware of the fact. Than this no higher tribute can be written to the memory of mortal man." Dr. Dun- can lives enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and his high pro- fessional standards, his broad humanitarian spirit and the nature of the service which he rendered to his fellowmen have caused his memory to be revered, while his record serves as an inspiration to many with whom he came in contact.
Jonas H. Or
Isaac Henry Orr
SAAC HENRY ORR, vice president of the St. Louis Union . Trust Company and identified with various other important corporations which figure prominently in the business circles of the Missouri metropolis, was born at Louisiana, Pike county, this state, February 14, 1862, his parents being Judge William Campbell and Eliza (Jordan) Orr. After graduation from the Louisiana high school he attended Washington University, being graduated from the law department with the degree of LL. B., with the class of 1883. While pursuing his studies at the law school Mr. Orr was librarian of the St. Louis Law Library Association, which at that time was one of the largest law libraries in the country. He was subsequently elected a director of the association and remained on its board for fifteen years. He began the practice of law in the office of Garland Pollard and in 1885 entered into part- nership with Harvey L. Christie under the firm name of Orr & Christie. That connection remained unehanged for eleven years, when they were joined by Charles W. Bates under the firm name of Orr, Christie & Bates, so eontinning in practice from 1896 until 1900. Mr. Orr at that time retired from general prac- tiee in order to devote his entire attention to the management of the trust department of the St. Louis Union Trust Company. He was the first per- son in the state to assume the title of trust offieer, which position he held for about fifteen years before becoming vice president. He has also served as a director of the American Auto Insurance Company, Income Leasehold Company, Blanke-Wenneker Candy Company, Hamilton Brown Shoe Com- pany, Evans & Howard Fire Brick Company and other business eorpora- tions. ITis thorough understanding of legal principles and sound business judgment have materially contributed to the sueeess of any enterprise with which he has been connected. I
Mr. Orr has been from early youth an active Presbyterian and, ever diligent in the service of his church, he has been likewise greatly honored by it. At dif- ferent times he filled the various offices in the local congregation with which he was eonneeted and more than once was sent by the Presbytery of St. Louis as a commissioner to the general assembly. He served as a member of the Board of Missions and Church Erection and also was on the Assembly's Executive Commission.
On the 19th of July, 1893, Mr. Orr was married to Miss Jennie Pitman, of San Jose, California, with whom he lived happily until February 25, 1915, the date of her death. No children were born of this marriage. In January, 1920, Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Ann Marshall, of Oak Park, Illinois.
Ile belongs to the Noonday, City, University and St. Louis Country Clubs, which connections establish his social position, and he is also identified with the
611
612
Isaac Henry Der
Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis. He is likewise a member of the American Bankers Association and has served on the executive committee of the trust company section. He is now the president of the St. Louis Trust Officers Asso- ciation and there is perhaps no citizen in St. Louis more familiar with trust company business than is Mr. Orr. He remains an honored member of the St. Louis, Missouri and American Bar Associations.
Nicholas m Bell
Richolas Montgomery Bell
3PON the postal system of the country, upon the excise laws, U upon the activities of the democratic party in Missouri and upon the mercantile and commercial development of St. Louis, Nicholas Montgomery Bell has left the impress of his individ- uality and ability. When he starts for a given point he is sure to arrive. The call of opportunity has ever been to him the call to action and his ready response has resulted in the accomplishment of many a purpose whereby the interests of community, com- monwealth and country have been greatly advanced.
Nicholas Montgomery Bell has now reached the age of seventy-eight years ---- a long life span, crowned with honor and respect. He was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, in 1842, and is of Scotch-Irish descent, the family having been founded in America by William Bell, who emigrated to the new world in 1710 and took up his abode on the Upper Pacstary river in what is now Bucks county, Pennsylvania. From the king of England he received a concession of land twelve miles square and he served as an officer in the Colonial wars, while four of his grandsons, William, John, Thomas and Montgomery Bell, were patriots of the Revolutionary war under General Washington. Major William Bell, the son of William and of the third generation of the family in this coun- try, removed to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, in 1800 and participated in the War of 1812 under General William Henry Harrison. Montgomery Bell be- came a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, where he engaged in the iron foundry business, and during the second war with England he executed government contracts for the manufacture of cannon balls for the army in the western country. The molds and processes of his foundry were exhibited by the state of Tennessee at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. The paternal grandfather of Nicholas Montgomery Bell served under General Har- rison in the War of 1812 and was a member of the general assembly of Missouri from 1828 until 1838. Almost a half century later the grandson was called by publie vote to become a factor in framing the laws of the commonwealth and won distinguished honors in connection with his legislative service.
William A. Bell, the father, was a native of Kentucky and was brought to Missouri in his youth, thus becoming one of the pioneer settlers of the state. After reaching adult age he wedded Caroline Page Harvey, who was born in Virginia, but also came to Missouri with her parents during the frontier epoch in the history of the state. She was a graduate of Linwood College at St. Charles, Missouri, of the class of 1838.
The youthful experiences of Nicholas M. Bell were those of the farm bred boy and his early education was afforded by the common school system of the state. IIe was ambitious to advance along intellectual lines, however, and
615
616
Dicholas Montgomery Bell
afterward pursued an academie course. Later he took up his abode in St. Louis and secured a situation in the office of Barr, Duncan & Company, predecessors of the present famous Barr Dry Goods Company, with which he continued until 1864, when he went to Boise, Idaho, and for a year was connected with mining and merchandising in the far northwest. Ile then went to Salem, Oregon, where in 1865 he beeame a partner in the firm of J. C. & N. M. Bell for the purpose of conducting a mereantile business. He soon made for himself a ereditable position in commercial eireles and was also a recognized leader of the demoeratie party in that section of the state and did much to shape publie thought and action. In 1868 Oregon made him a delegate to the democratie national eon- vention, where he supported Horatio L. Seymour and Francis P. Blair for the nominations of president and vice president respectively.
A little later Mr. Bell returned to St. Louis and engaged in the commission business as senior partner in the firm of Bell & MeCreery. His business affairs were most carefully managed, promptness, enterprise and initiative bringing to him a substantial measure of success. To a man of his qualities, however, it is almost impossible to keep out of publie life and his fellow eitizens demanded his service as a member of the state legislature. While Missouri was still under republiean rule he was elected to represent his district in the twenty-sixth gen- eral assembly, defeating Stilson Hutchins for the nomination and Joseph Pulitzer at the polls. IIe was elected to that office in 1870 and two years later was reelected to the position by an increased majority. He is remembered as one of the foreeful factors of the legislative assembly of that period. He closely studied all the vital questions which were brought before the house and at all times he made partisanship subservient to the general good and personal ag- grandizement a minor factor in connection with the welfare of the state. During his ineumbeney in the office an aet was introduced for the creation of what was called the Crafton commission for the adjudication of the war claims of Mis- souri-a measure which would have made it possible to impose upon the state the payment of a large amount of manufactured and unproved bills. To guard against such a wrong Mr. Bell's amendment to the original motion was inserted, deelaring that the "state of Missouri should in no way be held responsible, directly or indirectly, for the payment of any claim so adjudicated until the amount of such claim should have been collected from the United States and paid into the state treasury." The scandal that grew out of the methods of the commission amply demonstrated the wisdom of this amendment. Another point in Mr. Bell's legislative record worthy of consideration and indicating the character of the man is found in the fact that in both the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh general assemblies he supported not only in eaueus but in the house General Frank P. Blair for United States senator. During his first term in the legislature Mr. Bell was instrumental in introducing the bill ereating Forest Park. This bill passed the legislature but was later killed by the supreme court through the opposition of the realty holders of St. Louis. Subsequently, however, Colonel Bell got Tom Skinker and Mr. Forsythe, the two landowners most affected, to meet him and through a compromise with them agreed to eut the park to one-half its proposed size, thereby leaving a portion of their hold- ings intact, an agreement being signed by them to favor the bill when it again eame up for consideration. Mr. Bell then had the bill resurrected and passed
617
nicholas Montgomery Tell
by the succeeding legislative assembly. He therefore became one of the real promoters of Forest Park.
In the meantime Mr. Bell was becoming widely recognized as a national leader in democratie cireles and when the convention of his party was held in St. Louis in 1876 he was chosen secretary of the convention and the manner in which he discharged his duties won for him the highest approval. Possessing a voice of rare compass and power, his clear enunciation enabled him to be heard throughout the great convention hall and the facility and readiness with which he announeed the result of roll calls attracted general attention and eaused him to be regarded as an ideal convention secretary. He was therefore called to fill the position again in 1880, when Hancock and English were the nominees of the party for the presidency and vice presidency, and once more, in 1884, he served as secretary in Chicago, where he announced to the conven- tion that the balloting had placed the names of Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendrieks at the head of the national ticket. Ile was secretary of the committee which notified these candidates of their nomination and in 1892 he once more served as secretary of the national convention which placed Mr. Cleveland in nomination for the third time. In 1885 President Cleveland appointed him superintendent of foreign mails, a position which entailed upon him important responsibilities and which he filled in a most capable manner to the time of the inauguration of President Harrison, when he resigned. He accomplished great good while acting in that position. He was the author of and was instrumental in negotiating various important postal treaties with foreign countries, had charge of all the correspondence of the department with foreign governments, of the transportation of foreign mails and of the auditing and adjusting of accounts resulting from such transportation. Hle negotiated the first parcel post treaties between the United States and foreign countries and the conventional agreements between the United States and Mexico and Canada, which resulted in making the entire North American continent practically one postal territory. Another result of this treaty was the abolition of various annoyances to trade and its value found tangible proof in the fact that during the first year in which the treaties were in operation the commerce of the United States increased nearly forty-two million dollars. Recognizing the fact that saving of time is a most essential element in the transportation and dis- tribution of mails, Mr. Bell began investigations that resulted in the establish- ment of a system of reports, giving the actual time of mails in transit between the postoffice of origin and the postoffice of destination. From these reports he gathered the information that determined the letting of the contracts, which were given to the steamer showing the greatest speed and quickest delivery without regard to its registry or flag. In this manner the delivery of foreign mail was expedited from one to two days and the course which Mr. Bell inau- gurated won such favor and approval from the merchants and exporters of this country that they petitioned the postmaster general to use his influence to induce foreign countries to inaugurate a similar system. The feasibility of the plan was recognized abroad and the London Times in a two-column editorial urged upon parliament the adoption of the system promoted in America by Mr. Bell.
Mr. Bell's promotion of the first parcel post in the western hemisphere came about through his effort to send to a friend in Chihuahua, Mexico, a five
618
icholas Montgomery Bell
dollar Stetson hat. Going to Washington and speaking of the matter to his friend, Senor Romero, the Mexican minister, Mr. Bell was informed that to send a hat from Washington to Chihuahua would cost twenty dollars, including transportation charges, consuls' fees, customs duties, etc. The injustice of such a charge at once aroused him and he said to Minister Romero: "I will prepare a parcel post convention for submission to the two governments and sweep out of the way this barrier to trade between our countries." He prepared the paper after two months of labor, in which he necessarily had to study most carefully the customs laws of both countries. He then presented the treaty to Postmaster General William F. Vilas, who paid little attention to it until one day when the two were dining with President Cleveland, when Mr. Bell found opportunity to present the matter to the president, who gave his endorsement to the measure, while President Diaz of Mexico was urged by Minister Romero to follow the same course and did so, the final ratifications being exchanged and the treaty put into effect on the 4th of April, 1887, thus opening the markets of the United States to mail order trade with the citizens of Mexico, which has meant one million dollars yearly to St. Louis.
Upon his retirement from the position of superintendent of foreign mails Mr. Bell returned to St. Louis and became the active manager of the tobacco com- mission and storage business of the Peper Tobacco Warehouse Company, of which he was vice president and one of the large stockholders. He has always displayed the keenest discernment in his business interests and the ability to discriminate readily between the essential and nonessential in all commercial affairs. After a few years, however, he was once more called to public life, being in 1893 appointed the first excise commissioner of St. Louis, the office having been created a short time before through legislative enactment for the purpose of insuring a more thorough enforcement of the laws taxing the liquor traffic and the collection of a larger proportion of the excise taxes due. Mr. Bell at once undertook the work of the office, which he discharged most impartially, showing no discrimination in favor of anyone. He had been appointed to collect the public dues and enforce the law and this he did with such thorough- ness that during his first year in office one hundred and thirty-five violators of the excise laws were arrested and convicted. Others, recognizing the fact that they could not continue as law breakers, ceased their dishonest conduct and during the last year of his term but ten were apprehended. During the three years in which he served as excise commissioner the receipts of his office were increased in the aggregate six hundred and twenty-three thousand, nine hundred and forty-three dollars, while the average yearly increase was approxi- mately one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, although there was no increase in the rate of taxation. Mr. Bell resigned the position February 1, 1897, and has since taken no active part in politics, but was in 1896 a delegate to the democratic national convention which named William Jennings Bryan as the presidential candidate. Since then Mr. Bell has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the supervision of his business interests and investments, the active management, however, being left to others, while he is enjoying a well carned rest.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.