USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II > Part 81
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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
443
FINNEY.
conference he was actively engaged in behalf of its publishing, educational and missionary work. From 1869 to 1872 he edited the "St. Louis Christian Advocate," the organ of his denomination, as agent having previously raised the sum of $75,000 to establish the Southwestern Book and Publishing Com- pany, which corporation became the owner of the paper. The distinction which he gained while filling this position as a clear and able writer, together with his long and close in- timacy with Bishop E. M. Marvin, was the cause of his being subsequently selected to write the life of the bishop, who was one of the most distinguished ministers of the Meth- odist Church, South. In this work he more than maintained the literary reputation he had already gained. The life of Bishop Mar- vin is easily entitled, both for substance and style of composition, to a place among the leading biographies of the church. Dr. Fin- ney was a member of the convention which established Central College at Fayette, Mis- souri, and served as one of its curators for nearly forty years. During all this time he was one of its wisest and safest counselors and gave to it large personal service to insure its stability and promote its prosperity. For eighteen years also he was curator of Belle- vue Collegiate Institute, the "adopted school" of the St. Louis Conference. In 1877, when this institution was overwhelmed with debt, he consented to undertake the task of relieving it of its burden, and by his untiring and persistent energy succeeded in bringing the undertaking to a successful issue. In the summer of the year last mentioned he ac- cepted the presidency of the institute, and labored in that position with characteristic energy and fidelity to -duty for three years. The minutes of the conference of 1858 show that he was at that early period in his career chairman of the committees on finance and on education, and treasurer of the Missionary Society. From 1870 to the close of his life he was president of the conference board of missions and the leading spirit in promot- ing its noble work. Under his wise direction the board assisted in the creation of a large number of stations and the establishment and maintenance of missions in various parts of southeast Missouri, especially in its remote and relatively destitute mountain dis- · most humane and rational methods of help- tricts. His worth as a leader and adviser, sound in judgment and wise in counsel, was
recognized by the church at large as well as by his own conference. He was president of the board of trustees of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South; member of the com- mittee on entertainment of her General Conference, and was for a number of years a member of the General Board of Missions. He served with distinction as a member of the General Conference of his church and was entrusted with some of its most important commissions, among them that which is known among Methodists as the Cape May commission. This commission was composed of five distinguished members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, appointed by the bishops by order of the General Confer- ence to meet a like commission from the Methodist Episcopal Church, this joint com- mittee being entrusted with plenary power to adjust all questions of ecclesiastical status and property rights between these two branches of American Methodism. The im- portance . of this work may be estimated when it is remembered that for thirty-two years there had been no formal fraternity be- tween these two great churches, and that the complicated questions growing out of the separation of 1844 were as yet unsettled. The commission met in 1876 at Cape May, and Dr. Finney and General Clinton B. Fisk were elected secretaries. The wisdom with which it discharged its difficult. and delicate duties won for it the highest commendation, and the action of the commission has had a salu- tary and permanent effect upon the Metho- dist Church in the United States. In all positions of trust and responsibility Dr. Fin- ney displayed the same unswerving fidelity, the same minute attention to details, the same wisdom in planning, and the same en- ergy and courage in executing. Although his interests were so varied and the field of his labors so extensive, he never ceased to be a patriotic St. Louisan, and felt the deepest and most hearty interest in all that pertained to the welfare of his native city. He always felt a lively concern in leading social and eco- nomic problems and in all agencies of help and relief. Few people, perhaps, were so thoroughly acquainted with the condition of the poor in the great cities of our country or so thoroughly studied the workings of the
ing them. During the last eight years of his life he gave his time and thought to this noble
444
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS CITY.
work as manager of the St. Louis Provident Association, the leading charity organiza- tion of the city. He was associated in this work with the president of the association, Mr. R. M. Scruggs, who was his friend of many years' standing, and a gentleman known and honored throughout Missouri for his noble philanthropy. Under their joint direction, the work of the association was greatly extended, and took rank as one of the best equipped and most useful institu- tions of its kind in the world. So long as fidelity and efficiency of service are appre- ciated, the name of Thomas M. Finney will have an honored place in the annals of his native city-which he saw grow from a town of 10,000 to a city of 500,000 people-and of the denomination in whose ministry he spent the best years of his life. Dr. Finney's char- acter was one in which strength and beauty were blended. No personal consideration ever influenced his actions when a mat- ter of principle was involved. He stood for the right as he saw it. On the other hand, his gentleness and courtesy were unfailing, while his sympathies were shown to all who were in trouble, and led him constantly to acts of generous and unostentatious service. Dr. Finney was married twice, first in 1852 to Miss Mary Shackleford, and in 1864 to Miss Lou Edmonston, daughter of Major Edmonston, who served in the Mexican War. Four children were born of the first marriage -Lillie, now Mrs. W. J. S. Mitchell; Mary S., and two sons, William Ormsby and Thom- as, both deceased. Of the second marriage four children were born, John E., Jennie Lou, Clara Beall and Bessee Barrett Finney.
Dr. Finney's long life of service was the realization of a purpose he made for himself at the beginning of his career. He never ceased to plan and think for the good of oth- ers till his heart ceased to beat. A little poem found in his purse after his death defined the kind of life and the close to it he desired for himself :
I ask not,
When shall the day be done, and rest come on ? I pray not
That soon from me the ' curse of toil ' be gone ; I seek not
A sluggard's couch, with drowsy curtain drawn. But give me
Time to fight the battle out as best I may ; And give me
Strength and place to labor till at evening's gray ; Then let me
Sleep as one who toiled a field through all the day.
Fire Department of Kansas City. Kansas City owes much of its growth to the efficiency of its fire department. There never has been a great conflagration there, such as has desolated other cities so that re- building was necessary. The money not wast- ed in restoring has been used in creating new buildings. In the village days of Kansas City fires were subdued by neighborly action, and the bucket brigade subserved its purpose. This was followed by organizations of volun- teer firemen. Companies were organized as clubs for social purposes. T. B. Bullene was foreman of the first fire company, and Col- onel Frank Foster, Matt Foster, S. K. Green, Adam and John Long, Oliver Case, Chris Frank, James Smith and Upton Eby were active members. When a fire occurred every- body turned out to help put it out. No money was appropriated to aid the firemen prior to 1867, when the John Campbell Fire Com- pany, No. I, was organized and a new steam- er was bought and placed in the old market- house. Colonel Frank Foster was chosen chief; W. O. Huckett, engineer, and George Huckett, stoker. Shortly afterward James Brewster became engineer and John Craven, stoker. Foreman Bullene and his sixty asso- ciates of the original hose company at first co-operated heartily with the steamer com- pany, but this company gradually died out. Haight St. Clair organized the McGee Hook and Ladder Truck, No. I, in 1869. A fine truck was built and quarters secured for it at Sixteenth Street and Grand Avenue. Two years afterward two other companies were organized, the Washington Hose, No. 2, and the German Hook and Lad- der Company, No. 3. The Washingtons lived a year, but the Germans were athletic members of the Turn Verein and were excel- lent firemen, the members consisting of such men as Charles Raber, John Strome, Charles Deitch, Fred Helmreich, Jacob Becker, Fred Baum and Samuel Stahl. The Phoenix Hook and Ladder Company, No. 4, of which Michael Burnett was foreman, started well, but with the other volunteer companies was destined to die when a paid fire department should be introduced. These companies could not be effective, and it took a first-class small fire to arouse the city fathers. Fernold's . bakery, at Sixth and Main Streets, took fire and the fire threatened to spread, but was subdued by dint of great effort, so that this
445
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS CITY.
was reduced to a $10,000 fire. The need of better facilities for fighting fires was appar- ent. The John Campbell Company was re- organized and George C. Hale was made its engineer. In 1871 the city council bought a Babcock extinguisher and hired two men, Dick Beedle and Pat Rush, to operate it. A Babcock is valuable only at the incipiency of a fire, hence it must be speedily conveyed to the scene of danger. A pole and rope was attached to it, but no horses. The next year horses and two additional men were pro- vided. The council also provided a new steamer, the "Dr. Lykins," of which Mike Dougherty became engineer and Pat Ferris, stoker. There were now two classes of fire- men, professional and volunteers, and con- flicts would naturally arise. One of the origi- nal volunteers, James McMenamin, a very popular man, was chief, and when he was superseded by J. M. Silvers the volunteers protested, the Germans putting their head- quarters in mourning. The volunteers de- manded the restoration of the old chief and the mayor called a meeting at Turner Hall to conciliate them. While this conference was in progress a fire broke out and the mayor without avail sought the aid of the volunteers. The regular firemen and the citi- zens subdued the fire, and in this way the days of the volunteers came to an end. After a month Silvers was succeeded as chief by Michael Burnett, and he in turn in 1874 by Colonel Frank Foster. In 1877, when the waterworks were completed, the pressure was found to be so great as to render steam en- gines ordinarily useless. Instead of improv- ing the department to the amount thus saved a false economy prevailed, $10,000 a year be- ing a tempting amount to save. But one fine 'March morning in 1881, when a fire destroyed property worth $350,000 because there was an inadequate force to fight it and an insufficiency of water, the council was stimulated to strengthen the fire depart- ment, so that when in 1884 a fire of a similar character began it was extinguished with in- considerable loss. Frank Foster retired in 1882 and recommended George C. Hale, who had been his assistant, as his successor. Mr. Hale continues to be the chief. At the time Mr. Hale became chief the entire force con- sisted of twenty-four men and boys, but a steady policy of improvement set in, so that now the department is noted far and wide for
its great efficiency. The theory that a minute at the beginning of a fire is worth an hour later on, led to improvements in getting to fires expeditiously. By means of swinging harness the time for hitching has been reduced from over a minute to less than two seconds. This feat attracted firemen from abroad, who be- lieved it only upon seeing it done. Visitors took note of it and went home to try to do the same thing. In 1893 a detachment from the Kansas City fire department entered into competition with the leading fire companies of the world at London. Chief Hale had se- lected ten men and a milk-white team of horses. In this firemen's tournament the mod- est blue of the Kansas City fire lads was out- shone. The English outclassed all European companies in speed and skill, and made its hitch and got away in one minute and seven- teen seconds. This seemed marvelous, and the foreigners twitted Chief Hale and wanted to know what he thought of it. Feeling sure of a coming triumph he was undaunted, and when the hour of trial came the Kansas Cityans did the trick in eight and one-half seconds, or one-ninth of the time. This was excelling the best firemen in the world nine to one. A skeleton fire house had been built in London's great Agricultural Hall. There were two floors, just as there are in all Amer- ican enginehouses. The American tactics were astonishingly novel. Chief Hale had invented contrivances for suspending the harness over the position the horses would occupy in hitching. The men went upstairs to bed. When the bell sounded the horses were auto- matically freed from their halters and rushed to their places, dodging their heads under the swinging harness, ready for the men who came dashing down the poles to snap some spring buckles. Thus the hitch was instantly made. Springing from bed into their overalls and boots was the work of a second, and sliding down the brass poles was done in a twinkling. The contrivances by which this feat is performed are the inventions of Chief Hale. No wonder that the Kansas City fire laddies were afterward lionized in London. Illustrated weeklies and magazines told the story of their triumph all over the world. In 1898 another fire tournament was held at the Omaha Exposition, and Kan- sas City again carried off the palm of the fire department.
The force of the fire department at this
446
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ST. LOUIS, PAID.
time, 1899, consists of 177 persons, namely : 18 boys, 154 men, a secretary, a master me- chanic, two assistants and one chief. The equipment is made up of 77 horses, 8 steam fire engines, two combination chemical en- gines and hose carts, five hose wagons, two combination hose wagons with ladders, nine hose carriages, two hose carts, two aerial turn-table trucks with eighty-five-foot ex- tension ladders, three hook and ladder trucks, two water towers, three supply wagons, four chief's buggies ; also a hook and ladder truck and a hose carriage in reserve. There are now 28,000 feet of hose, against 4,000 feet when Chief Hale took charge. The alarms, losses and insurance from April, 1881, to April, 1898, are as follows:
Year.
Alarms.
Losses.
Insurance Involved.
1881
118
$342,310 00
$ 296,400 00
1882.
123
35,205 00
99,800 00
1883.
152
123,705 00
1,412,367 00
1884.
186
255,926 00
1,787,310 00
1885.
208
193,603 00
795,604 00
1886.
268
98,837 00
1,707,554 00
1887
437
227,568 00
1,769,475 00
1888.
463
305,255 00
1,592,359 00
1889.
531
395,280 00
2.693,625 00
1890.
579
262,448 55
2,806,230 00
1591.
560
340,588 50
3,628,323 00
1892.
731
620,718 43
7,711,010 00
1893
729
401,312 15
5,609,518 00
1894
764
672,030 89
7,906,298 00
1895.
645
153,883 84
5,486,475 00
1896.
685
342,541 61
7,154,070 00
1897
817
314,210 73
4,964,371 00
GEO. C. HALE.
Fire Department of St. Louis, Paid .- The steam fire department began operations September 14, 1857. For several years prior the volunteer system then in vogue was becoming daily more demoralized and inefficient on account of the intense rivalry existing among the companies of which it was composed. This gave rise to bitter feuds, which frequently led to disgrace- ful street fights while going to or working at fires, and many times in riot and bloodshed. Rowdyism among a certain class was ram- pant and boldly asserted itself in spite of the efforts of many worthy citizens, who were members of the department, to check it. The municipal authorities and citizens generally viewed with alarm this state of affairs, and several attempts were made to change the system and substitute in its stead a paid steam fire department similar to one then in successful operation in Cincinnati, it hav- ing been adopted there in 1852. That city is
entitled to the credit and honor of establish- ing the first of the kind in the United States. It was in that city, too, that the first success- ful steam fire engine was built. Cincinnati was the home of Abel Shawk, the builder of "Union No. 2," the first steamer ever used in St. Louis, and of Alexander Latta, the builder of the "Latta" engine, which after- ward became famous throughout the coun- try. The two gentlemen were partners in business about 1850, but owing to a disagree- ment about the plans of the experimental engine, separated, and each proceeded to car- ry out his idea alone. The application of steam power to drive the pumps of a fire en- gine was, however, made many years prior to this. Steam fire engines were built by John Braithwaite, of London, England, in 1829. Captain Ericsson made a design for an en- gine similar to the "Braithwaite," and was awarded a medal therefor by the Mechanics' Institute of New York in 1840. But all these attempts were failures because of the great amount of time required to generate steam. It remained for Latta and Shawk, about 1850, to design a boiler by which the engine could be put in operation, raising its own steam from cold water in five minutes. The Shawk boiler had many defects which were over- come by the "Latta." The latter consisted of an outer water shell, serving as a fire box and combustion chamber. Within this shell was placed a sectional coil directly over the fire. A forced circulation was kept up through the coil in jets from a special pump for the pur- pose, the area of these jets being propor- tioned to the extent of the sections of coil it ·supplied and the amount of its heating sur- face. The water was taken from the outer shell and forced through the coil over the fire, absorbing its heat in the transit, and was discharged again into the shell at its highest point, where the steam was given off and the water fell back again into the shell. The Cin- cinnati department was using this style of steamers exclusively, and by their aid and the great courage, energy and perseverance of Miles Greenwood, the first chief engineer, the steam department was a success.
In October, 1854, Mayor John How called the attention of the St. Louis City Council to the state of affairs in the local department, and urged the necessity of change, but with- out result. Mayor Washington King, in May, 1855, also recommended it, with like result.
447
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ST. LOUIS, PAID.
Mayor How, upon his re-election in the spring of 1856, again renewed his efforts, but the matter was delayed until April 4, 1857, when city ordinance No. 3.871 was passed and approved, providing for the organization of a paid steam fire department. The vari- ous efforts to change the system met with failure on account of the power of the old department, whose members used to good effect their immense political influence. The ordinance caused great dissatisfaction among the volunteers, who stubbornly op- posed its enforcement. This opposition, to- gether with the city's financial condition at the time-it being the year of the great panic-placed the authorities at a great dis- advantage, and caused several months' de- lay. In spite of these difficulties, however, the Honorable John M. Wimer, who suc- ceeded Mayor How, proceeded with vigor to enforce the new law. He appointed H. Clay Sexton, of the Mound Fire Company, as chief engineer. The City Council ap- pointed a board of fire engineers, composed of George Kyler and John Sexton, Jr., of the board of aldermen, and Davis Moore and Henry Almstedt, of the house of delegates, who held their first meeting August 24, 1857. George Kyler was elected president, and George W. Tennille secretary. Richard Beggs, of the Franklin, and John W. Bame, of the Phoenix, were appointed assistant engineers. September 14th was decided upon as the date for the new department to begin operations. The chief engineer was directed to publish an order to that effect in the daily press, calling upon the volun- teer companies to comply with the provisions of the ordinance, to make a report of all property in their possession belonging to the city, and to submit a proposition for the sale of their company property to the city. This publication aroused the ire of the volunteers to the highest pitch. As was to be expected, it met with few favorable responses. The Mound Company, No. 9, of which Sexton was president, was the first to comply with the order, and on August 3Ist sold all their property to the city for the sum of
$250. The Franklin and Washington companies followed a few days after. The Phoenix also submitted a proposition to sell, but, being deemed too high, this was rejected. The other companies positively refused to comply with the ordinance or to
dispose of their property. Many of them owned their entire outfit, including houses and lots; others held but a joint interest with the city in the outfit. The Union, No. 2, had disbanded in 1855, but before doing so had bought a steamer built by Abel Shawk, of Cincinnati, which they presented to the city. The members of this company are, therefore, entitled to the credit and honor of taking the first step in the establishment of a steam department. They had viewed with re- gret the rowdyism and demoralization preva- lent in the volunteer ranks, and, becoming disgusted therewith, as early as 1854 they resolved to retire from . active service. They sold all their property, and the steamer was purchased with the proceeds. The con- ditions under which the presentation was made were as follows: "The city to build a house for her reception in the quarter for- merly guarded by us. Second, to employ, at a salary, a sufficient number of men to ren- der her efficient. Third, the engine must bear the name of 'Union, No. 2,' and said name must be perpetuated in the new depart- ment for all time." The city agreed to the terms and made a contract with the com- pany accordingly August 1, 1855. The en- gine arrived in East St. Louis in December, 1855, and, the river being frozen at the time, it was transported across on the ice. The engine weighed over ten tons, and its pas- sage over the river caused much anxiety. It was soon after tested in the presence of a committee composed of prominent citizens and a large crowd of people. The trial proved satisfactory and a very favorable re- port was made by the committee, who recommended its acceptance. This was done by the council, who tendered a vote of thanks to the Union Company for their generous gift. On the date set by the board of engi- neers for the new department to begin ope- rations it had an equipment of one steamer and three hand engines, the Union, Mound, Franklin and Washington, located as follows : Union, on Washington Avenue, between Seventh and Eighth; Mound, on Broadway, between Brooklyn and Mound; Franklin, on Eleventh, between Wash and Carr, and the Washington, on Third, between Elm and Clark Avenue. This meager equipment was officered by H. Clay Sexton, chief; Richard Beggs and J. W. Bame, assistants, and George W. Tennille, secretary. Union, No. 2,
448
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ST. LOUIS, PAID.
was manned by the following crew: Charles Rigdon, captain; Louis Copsey, engineer ; A. K. Hildreth, stoker; J. M. Wirthlin, en- gine driver; James Reynolds, reel driver ; John Beamor, fuel-cart driver; Charles Dolan, John E. Lester and William Sullivan, pipemen, and J. F. Jenkins, watchman. Washington, No. 3, hand engine: Eugene Alcan, captain; George T. Ross, foreman ; Henry Langford, Henry P. Farmer, Conrad Acken and George Bumb, stewards. Mound hand engine: William D. Pallis, captain ; Michael Dressell, foreman; William A. Thomson, James Sloan, William H. Mar- quis and David Carr, stewards. Franklin, hand engine: Richard Beggs, captain and assistant chief; M. Buchanan, foreman; Til Whalen, H. Jackson and Joseph Goos, stew- ards. The hand engines had each twenty privates, or call men. These and the cap- tains were permitted to engage in other pur- suits, but were required to attend fires when called, and were subject to fines for non- attendance. The salaries paid were not ex- travagant, considering the great risks taken, as will be seen. The list is as follows: Chief engineer, $1,000 per annum; assistants, $500 per annum; secretary, $800 per annum; en- gineer, steamer, $1,000 per annum; captain, $800 per annum; captain, hand engine, $200 per annum; stewards, $480 per annum; pri- vates, $100 per annum; the hand engines and hose carriages were fitted with horse poles and shafts; harness and horses were bought, stables built, and all necessary ar- rangements perfected on the day set. The contest of steam versus muscle was thus begun in earnest. The volunteer organiza- tion was composed of the following com- panies: The Central, No. I, Chestnut, be- tween Third and Fourth Streets; St. Louis, No. 4, Third and Locust; Missouri, No. 5, Seventh, between Pine and Olive; Liberty, No. 6, Third and Franklin; Phoenix, No. 7, Broadway and Park; Laclede, No. 10, Mar- ket, near Fifteenth, and the Lafayette Hook and Ladder, No. I, on Seventh, near Olive. These were under the command of J. E. D. Couzins, chief engineer, and of A. C. Hull, George N. Stevens and Ambrose Sprague, assistant engineers. It was no easy task to overthrow the old system, which had be- come a power, and which had many worthy citizens for its ardent supporters, who were endeared to it through long years of mem-
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.