USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > History of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. : from the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1915 biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 27
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The St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, which was organized by Capt. F. M. Posegate and others in 1870, and which went out of existence in February of 1892, was, in its earlier days, the best equipped, most extensive and most prosperous printing establish- ment between St. Louis and San Francisco.
The starch works are yet within easy memory. They were built in the summer of 1872 by O'Neill Bailey, who came here from Madi- son, Ind., and were operated for about four years. The works were located on a tract of ten acres, south of Messanie and east of Twenty-second street, and were both modern and pretentious, giv- ing employment to a large number of people. The starch was made of corn, and the residue was fed to cattle. The lack of water pre- vented the possibility of operating the work with profit. Many wells were sunk, but with no satisfactory result, and the enterprise finally succumbed.
Among the other manufacturing enterprises that have gone out of existence Posegate's city directory for 1875 shows the follow- ing carriage and wagon makers: Gideon Miles, Edward Dutton, McBain & Fox, Ferdinand Schoen, W. E. Williams & Son, D. D. Streeter, Wm. Pape, Prawitz & Hagelin and Wiedmaier & Wild- berger. Peter Habig operated a pottery at Main and Faraon streets in those days. There was also a glue factory, south of the city lim- its. Boellert & Schroers manufactured plows at the southeast cor- ner of Sixth and Charles streets. C. Eichler & Co., T. H. Hail & Co., succeeded by C. M. Kingsbury, the Steam Printing Company, Swick, Wells & Co. and Woolworth & Colt were job printers. The Great Western Soap Works, L. Huggins & Co., proprietors, also existed. Wm. Gernandt operated a tannery on Frederick avenue, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets. There were two ax-
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handle factories, one operated by Wm. Duesler on Buchanan ave- nue, and another by Henry C. Middleton on Howard street. Ald- rich & Scott manufactured whips at Second and Felix streets. There were also two rope factories, one operated by John Helme, on South Eleventh street, between Maple and Oak streets, and an- other by J. Main on Frederick avenue, near Twentieth street.
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The St. Joseph Sugar Refining Company was formed in June, 1880, by A. M. Saxton, J. B. Hundley, W. W. McFarland and others for the purpose of producing glucose. John L. Motter was general manager and W. Y. Selleck chemist. The building formerly occu- pied by the E. O. Smith Packing Company, southeast of Calvary cemetery, was converted into a factory. It was in operation until 1889, the last manager being Van Whittaker. The building no longer exists.
In July of 1886 the St. Joseph Natatorium Association was formed by A. M. Saxton, John Demond, J. W. Hinkston, W. H. Gordon, L. C. Burnes, Joseph Andriano and E. LindJsay. The capi- tal stock was $12,000. A building was erected at the southwest corner of Fifth and Jule streets. A natatorium was operated for several seasons. Subsequently the building was converted into a theater and called the "Bijou." This was partially destroyed by fire, and then, in the spring of 1893, remodeled throughout. It is now known as the Lyceum theater.
In 1886 Edward W. Mitchell came from Ohio and, with the assistance of local capital, built a stove foundry on the ground north of the Burlington shops, later occupied by the gas works built by the St. Joseph Light and Fuel Company. The plant was in opera- tion for about three years, and then failed.
In 1887 the Sam Reid Tobacco Company was organized with a capital stock of $50,000, held by Sam Reid, who moved a plant here from Louisiana, Mo., and W. G. Fairleigh, John Townsend, J. D. Richardson, F. L. Sommer, M. A. Reed, G. J. Englehart, T. J. Bur- gess and Albert Roecker. It was a prosperous institution for three years, occupying the building owned by Daniel J. Lysaght, west of the city hall. Chewing and smoking tobacco were manufactured. In 1890 it was purchased by the tobacco trust and moved to New York.
The St. Joseph steel car plant was an institution that flourished for several months in 1889. H. D. Perkey, an eastern promoter, owned the patent of a steel car. It was cylindrical in shape and its construction was supposed to be such as to prevent it from being wrecked in collisions. Mr. Perkey had an elegant passenger coach
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as a sample. A stock company was formed in 1888 and the enter- prise was backed by the Brookdale Land Company, which agreed to donate $50,000, the proceeds of the sale of lots. The Steel Car Company agreed to build shops and maintain them for five years. About $35,000 was paid and a building 80x900 feet was erected, equipped with machinery and set in operation during the early part of 1889. The New Era Exposition was coupled with this enterprise and a portion of the works constituted the main hall. On the night of September 15, 1889, this building was destroyed by fire. The steel passenger coach and a number of cars under construction were burned and the enterprise was fatally crippled.
Of the other prominent manufacturing enterprises that have gone out of existence were the following: August Vegely's candy factory, established in 1862; Sanders & McDonald's tinware manu- factory, established 1863; Schultz, Hosea & Co., tinware manufac- tory, established 1863; John L. Motter's cracker factory, the first in the city, located on Main street, north of Jule; Koenig & Co.'s cracker factory, established 1874; Riley Bros.' cracker factory, located in the building now occupied by the Van Natta-Lynds Drug Co., at Third and Charles streets ; Smith, Frazer & Co.'s, and Moor- by & Fink's shoe factories.
The first hotel of prominence in St. Joseph was the Edgar House, a three-story building erected at the northeast corner of Main and Francis streets in 1845. It was afterward called the Planters' House. The building is still in a good state of preserva- tion and forms a part of the Tremont House. In the following year William Fowler built the City Hotel, at the northeast corner of Main and Jule streets. This has been for many years called the Occidental, and is yet known as such. Albrecht & Huber began business as jewelers in the City Hotel in 1851. Until it dissolution a few years ago it was the oldest firm in St. Joseph. The Mansion House, which occupied the site of the Francis street depot grounds, facing Main street, was also a leading hotel in those days.
The Patee House, at Twelfth and Penn streets, was built in 1856-58, and was one of the largest and best equipped hotels in the United States in its first days. It was first kept by G. W. Allen of Philadelphia, who failed before completing his first year, and was succeeded by Colonel Minor of Chicago, who remained about a year. Major Espey was the next landlord. After keeping the house for two years he was killed by falling from one of the windows. Elijah Patee and Dougherty & Worden succeeded in turn as prioprietors. During the war the provost marshal's headquarters were located in the building and the general offices of the Missouri Valley Railroad Company were also located there in those days. At about this time Mr. Patee placed the house into a lottery. He drew it himself. In September of 1865 Rev. James H. Robinson of the M. E. Church, South, instituted a female college in the building, which existed
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until January, 1869. James H. Bagwell then opened the hotel, the Pacific House, of which he was landlord, having burned. In 1877 a second female academy was instituted by Rev. E. S. Dulin, a Baptist minister. This continued for four years. In the summer of 1881 Dr. S. A. Richmond leased the building. He opened what he called the "World's Epileptic Sanitarium" in a part of the building and leased the remainder to a New York firm, who for a short time conducted the "World's Hotel." The property at that time belonged to Robert W. Donnell, whose home was then in New York. After the failure of the "World's Hotel," Mr. Donnell offered the house to the city to be permanently used and maintained by the taxpayers as a female seminary ; but he received no encouragement. In 1885 he sold the property to R. L. McDonald & Co., who converted the build- ing in a factory for the production of overalls, shirts, etc.
The Pacific House was built in 1859-60 and was called the Lounsbury House, after W. B. Lounsbury, who owned it. Shackle- ford & Hughes were the next proprietors and changed the name to Pacific Hotel. In 1865 William K. Richardson kept the house. He was succeeded by James H. Bagwell, who was in charge when the property was destroyed by fire, December 15, 1868. The house was rebuilt and opened February 14, 1870, by Garth, Gilkey & Abell. Major Garth retired after two years and Rice D. Gilkey and John J. Abell continued the business until December, 1879. The house was their closed for repairs. April 1, 1880, it was reopened under the management of Kitchen Bros. They were succeeded by Col. Ira Wilson, and he by Charles F. Murray. In 1894 Himes & Bowman had the house, and in 1896 C. W. Johnson took charge, continuing until 1901, when the house was remodeled and made the principal part of the Hotel Metropole.
A building at the corner of Third and Jule streets was, in 1860, enlarged and converted into a hotel by E. E. Bacon, and success- fully conducted by him and his family under the name of the Bacon House until 1896, when it was remodeled, converted in the Metro- pole and united with the building which had been called the Pacific House.
The Saunders House was another famous hostelry. It stood at the northeast corner of Third and Faraon streets, upon the site now occupied by Noyes, Norman & Co.'s shoe factory. The life of the hotel was from 1862 up to 1884. It fell from grade to grade until in its last days it was a mere rookery. From 1862 to 1877 it was conducted by Richard and John Saunders, Jr., who retired in favor of J. W. Moore and Cyrus Stahl. In its decadence the hotel had various landlords.
Fotheringham's city directory for 1860 shows the following hotels : Allen House, corner of Fourth and Sylvanie; Avenue House, corner of Frederick avenue and Sixteenth; Baechele House, east side of Eighth street, between Messanie and Locust; Blakemore House, south side of Jule street, between Main and Second; Com- mercial House, corner of Sixth and Angelique; City Hotel, corner of Main and Jule; Eagle Hotel, corner of Second and Sylvanie;
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Huxley House, Eighth street, opposite H. & St. J. passenger depot ; Missouri Hotel, south side of Edmond, west of Third; Kentucky House, east side of Third street, between Felix and Francis ; Frank- lin House, west side of Second street, between Edmond and Charles ; National Hotel, west side of Edmond street, between Fourth and Fifth; Northwestern Hotel, corner of Third and Franklin; Patee House; Pennsylvania House, Frederick avenue, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth; Planters' House, northeast corner of Second and Main streets; Sommers' Hotel, southeast corner of Second and Michel streets ; St. Charles Hotel, east side of Main street, between Robidoux and Isidore ; St. Joseph Hotel, west side of Second street, between Michel and Franklin; Talbott House, corner of Third and Faraon Tolson House, north side of Jule street, between Main and Second streets.
The Allen House, at the corner of Third and Angelique streets, was used as an army hospital during the civil war. It afterward became known as the Griffith House, but since 1884 has been known as the Galt House. The Commercial Hotel is still in existence, the old part having been moved to the rear. The Pennsylvania House was was kept by M. A. Ashbrook, who afterwards called it the Ash- brook House. The history of the City Hotel, Planters' House and Patee House is given. The other hotels enumerated in this list have disappeared.
The Central Hotel, at the northeast corner of Second and Ed- mond streets, was operated for a number of years by Wm. Kollatz. It has not been used as a hotel for over ten years.
The Missouri Valley House was quite a famous hostelry in its day. It was a frame building that stood facing east, at the north- west corner of Eighth and Edmond streets, and was surrounded by beautiful shade trees. It was kept by W. W. Clark, by Capt. O. R. Phelps, and last by Capt. M. I. Couch and S. G. Ford. The house, a large barn and several places of business were burned on the night of October 2, 1878.
Other hotels that have ceased to exist were the Michau House, on the north side of Felix sftreet, between Sixth and Seventh; the old Galt House, that occupied the site of the present general offices of the Burlington railroad; the Highly House, Nineteenth and Frederick avenue, and the Hudnut House, at Third and Felix streets. The Farmers' House, on North Second street, kept for many years by Peter Harnois, was also a noted tavern in its day. The International Hotel. at the northwest corner of Eighth and Olive streets (now Windsor), was built of the material that once constituted the Great Western Hotel at Elwood, a pretentious house that existed before the war, when Elwood had population and pros- pects.
In 1898 a portion of the Center block, at the northeast corner of Sixth and Edmond streets, was converted into a hotel and oper- ated by Frank F. Harl. It was known as the Hotel Donovan, and in
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May, 1904, the enterprise was abandoned. In the fall of 1904 the building was converted into a theater known as the "Lyric."
The St. Charles Hotel, at Sixth and Charles streets, was for- merly conducted by C. Q. Lewis. It was rebuilt in 1902 by Charles Boone, Jr.
The Transit House, a large modern structure at the stock yards, was opened in 1904.
For many years the need of a modern hotel, of sufficient size to accommodate the better class of business, was sorely felt in St. Joseph. A number of local business men of wealth finally organized a company to build the Hotel Robidoux at Fifth and Francis streets. Work began in June, 1907, and the building was completely by the following year. It represents an investment of nearly half a mil- lion dollars and has paid good dividends from the first. The Robi- doux is a nine-story structure, modern in every respect, and the equal of any hotel west of New York.
The St. Francis Hotel, Sixth and Francis streets, was built two years ago.
CHAPTER XXVII.
LODGES, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL AND TRADE ORGANIZA- TIONS-FREE MASONS, ODD FELLOWS, AND OTHERS -THE TURNVEREIN, MAENNERCHOR AND OTHER GERMAN-SPEAKING SOCIETIES-TURNFESTS AND SAENGERFESTS-MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ST. JOSEPH-THE ST. JOSEPH PHILHARMONIA, THE MENDELSSOHN SOCIETY AND OTHER SIMILAR OR- GANIZATIONS-THE RED RIBBON CLUB.
The first fraternal organization in Buchanan County was Sparta lodge No. 46, instituted May 11, 1841, under a dispensation, and originally called Katzeel lodge. It was chartered October 8, 1841. Eli Hubbel was worshipful master, J. Brownson, senior war- den, and J. A. Anthony, junior warden. R. Duncan was treasurer, T. Waymire secretary and G. Selsil tyler. This lodge was merged into DeWitt lodge, organized in St. Joseph under a dispensation in October, 1845. In 1846 the dispensation was surrendered and a charter granted, dated October 14, 1846. The name was changed to St. Joseph Lodge and the number, 78, was affixed by the grand secretary. Sinclair K. Miller was worshipful master, 1845 tc 1850. This lodge is still in existence.
The following are the other Masonic bodies now existing in St. Joseph as they appear in order in the Masonic directory : Zeredetha lodge, No. 189, chartered May 28, 1859; Charity lodge, No. 331, chartered October 13, 1870; King Hill, No. 376, chartered October 13, 1870; St. Joseph chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., chartered May 23, 1849 ; Mitchell chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., chartered October 5, 1876; St. Joseph council, No. 9, R. and S. Masters, chartered October 6, 1871; St. Joseph commandery, No. 4, K. T., chartered October 5, 1875; Hugh de Payens commandery, No. 51, K. T., chartered May 10, 1887; Moila Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., organized December 17, 1887; Moila court, Daughters of Isis, established October 14, 1896; St. Joseph chapter, No. 198, O. E. S., chartered May 5, 1890 ; Radi- ant chapter, No. 88, O. E. S., chartered October 1, 1897 ; King Hill chapter, No. 55, O. E. S., chartered May 20, 1896. There are also Masonic lodges at Saxton, Easton, Agency, DeKalb and Rushville.
The office of grand master of the state has been held by the following residents of St. Joseph: Wm. R. Penick, Joseph S. Browne, James W. Boyd and Harry Keene.
The office of grand high priest of the Royal Arch chapter has been held by Wm. R. Penick, Samuel Russell and Joseph S. Browne. The office of most illustrious grand master of the Council of
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Royal and Select Masters has been held by Joseph S. Browne, Wm. R. Penick, Wm. G. Hall, W. A. Lord, Ulrich Schneider and E. F. Hartzell.
The office of grand commander of the Knights Templar has been held by Wm. G. Hall and Joseph S. Browne.
The office of imperial potentate of A. A. O. N. M. S. of North America has been held by A. P. Clayton.
The Odd Fellows are a close second to the Masons in St. Joseph in point of age. King Hill lodge, No. 19, was instituted on October 15, 1846, at the residence of Joseph Hull, on the west side of Main street, between Francis and Jule streets. The charter members were D. B. Welding, Eli Hewitt, S. L. Leonard, Eli Bowman, C. F. Emery and Dr. J. H. Crane. In 1858 this lodge erected a three- story building, facing west, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Felix streets. The lower floor was for business, the second for lodge rooms and on the third floor was an auditorium. This was for some years the first class theater of the city and, among other notables, Edwin Forest played there. At one time there was a stock company connected with the theater. The hall was also used for social and political gatherings. During the war the property was lost by the provisions of a mortgage and was acquired by J. W. Bailey and Wm. R. Penick. When it was destroyed by fire, as mentioned in a foregoing chapter, in January of 1879, it was occu- bied by J. W. Bailey & Co., with a large dry goods business. In 1880, Mr. Bailey, Isaac Curd, J. B. Brady and Louis Hax built the lock facing Felix street, which extends from Fifth street east to the alley.
Humboldt lodge, No. 130, was instituted April 19, 1859. This lodge works in German. Eclipse lodge, No. 143, was instituted April 18, 1860. Enterprise lodge, No. 232, was instituted April 19, 1870. During the summer of 1898 this lodge purchased the large building at Seventh and Charles streets, which had been erected by the St. Joseph Turnverein and which had been lost by that associa- tion. St. Joseph lodge, No. 432, was instituted in 1883; Invincible lodge, No. 470, in 1893, and the South Park lodge in 1898.
There have been two sessions of the state grand lodge in St. Joseph-the fifty-third session, held in 1890, and the sixtieth ses- sion, held in 1898. The office of grand master of the state was held in 1861 by Col. John Doniphan, who, however, lived at Weston at that time ; in 1869, by R. J. S. Wise, of St. Joseph ; in 1874, by L. T. Minturn, of Amazonia, who held his membership in St. Joseph, and in 1894, by R. M. Abercrombie, of St. Joseph.
There are five Rebekah lodges: Evening Star, No. 5, instituted in 1892; Enterprise, No. 140, 1894; Humboldt, No. 146, 1894; Eclipse, No. 157, 1894; King Hill, No. 219, 1896. There is also a branch of the Patriarchs Militant, Canton St. Joseph, No. 3, insti- tuted in 1879. Of the encampment degrees there are two branches,
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Hesperian encampment, No. 8, and St. Joseph encampment, No. 51. R. M. Abercrombie has held the office of grand patriarch of the state encampment.
The German-Americans have been prominently identified with the history and development of St. Joseph from an early day. The Turnverein, one of the most active agents in this work, was formed May 23, 1855, with Charles Zipf as first speaker, Charles Jessen as second speaker, Charles Albrecht as secretary, A. Althaus as master of property and Peter Walter as treasurer. The cornerstone of the old "Turnhalle" was laid March 29, 1860, and the building was oc- cupied during the following August. When the Civil war broke out the Turners staunchly avowed loyalty to the Union, their hall was dubbed the "cradle of liberty" and the Stars and Stripes boldly flung to the breezes. When the mob that had taken the flag from the postoffice declared that there colors should also be torn from the staff, two Turners, Valentine Moosman and J. H. Schaefer, went upon the roof in the face of danger, guarded by Robert Bradshaw with a drawn pistol and Charles Mast with a rifle, lowered the flag and brought it safely into the building. Moosman then tore down a Confederate flag that had been hoisted on Market square. Among the St. Joseph Turners who served in the war were the following: W. Baumer went to Omaha and was made colonel of the First Ne- braska infantry ; Herman Lund went to Quincy and rose to the rank of captain; Charles F. Ernst and Charles Springer were in the Twelfth Missouri cavalry, the former as captain and the latter as lieutenant. Charles Weideman died from wounds received at the battle of Lexington, while Louis Graffenstein and Charles Ludi were killed at Missouri City.
The St. Joseph Turnverein was affiliated with the St. Louis Turnbezirk until May 1, 1866, when the Kansas Turnbezirk was formed. The first Turnfest of this federation was held in this city October 1-3, 1866. Leavenworth, Kansas City, Atchison, Wyan- dotte, Lawrence, Brunswick, Junction City and Fort Scott were represented.
In 1870 ground was purchased at the northeast corner of Eighth and Sylvanie streets for the purpose of building a new hall, and the cornerstone was laid. The project was abandoned, how- ever, and the ground sold.
A second Turnfest of the Kansas Turnbezirk was held in St. Joseph August 6-9, 1870. In 1885 the Missouri Valley Turnbezirk was formed and the first turnfest of the new federation was held here August 14-17, 1886.
A new hall was built upon the site of the "cradle of liberty" at Seventh and Charles streets, in the summer of 1890. The corner- stone was laid with parade and appropriate ceremonies on Sunday, June, 8, 1890, and the dedication took place October 26, 1890. The new building cost $50,000. In August of 1897 the property was sold under a deed of trust and purchased by the creditors. During the summer of 1898 the property was purchased by Enterprise
Jack Ring, the Life Saver
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lodge of Odd Fellows, and is now known as the Odd Fellow build- ing. The Turnverein was without a home of its own for some time, but in 1903 the western part of the building was purchased from the Odd Fellows for $15,000.
Since the earliest times there has been a tendency in St. Joseph toward high-class music. Rosenblatt's brass band, which was formed by Herman Rosenblatt in 1854, was welcomed and given all possible encouragement by the people of those days, and for many years this organization was famous throughout the West. Put the brass band was not commensurate. There were many excellent voices and much latent musical talent, which craved development and expansion. In 1857 Prof. Otto Behr was induced to come to St. Joseph. To this gentleman is due the credit of erecting and main- taining a standard of excellence which will be regarded with ad- miration and reverence for years to come. Professor Behr was born in Germany and educated at Leipsic. He located in New York some years before coming to St. Joseph. In the summer of 1893 he returned to his old home, almost blind and light in purse, after spending the best part of his life here. He had met with financial reverses before his eyes began to dim. But he is none the less es- teemed and revered in St. Joseph, where he wrought so nobly and so successfully for his art.
In 1866 the St. Joseph Philharmonia was organized and placed under the direction of Professor Behr. This society embraced the best instrumental and vocal talent of the city, and there was also a large list of honorary and contributing members. Five or six grand concerts were generally given each season. The Philhar- monia existed for about ten years.
The St. Joseph Maennerchor was another successful musical society. It was organized May 22, 1868, and the membership was mostly German-American. This society was affiliated with the Pioneer Saengerbund, and two of the annual song festivals of the federation were held in St. Joseph. The first "Saengerfest" began on April 30, 1873, continuing several days, and formed a part of the general festal program in honor of the completion of the bridge. The second was held in June of 1883. Maennerchor hall was on the third floor of the Mclaughlin building, at Third and Felix streets. Among those who served as musical directors were Prof. Felix B. Canfield, Professor Kaiser and Prof. Wm. Plato. The Maennerchor was merged into the Turnverein in 1888.
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