History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 168

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 168

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Up to the breaking out of the war the order flour- ished in St. Louis, and among its promoters were John F. Grandy (now dead), who became Grand See- retary and Grand Worthy Chief Templar ; John Libby (now dead), who became Grand Secretary, and who at one time edited a temperanee paper ; John Campbell, now of Moberly Mound, who also became Grand Worthy Chief Templar ; C. S. Barrett, a lumber mer- ehant of Carondelet ; R. R. Seott, still living, and for several years one of the most energetie Grand Seere- taries the Grand Lodge ever had ; and Timothy Par- sons, an active member of several other temperanee societies.

When the war broke out the Good Templars had nearly five hundred lodges in Missouri, but that eon- test nearly broke the order up, and when the first Grand Lodge met after the war only about twenty- five lodges responded to the eall. In St. Louis, how- ever, the order did not greatly suffer, as the lodges were recruited from the numerous bodies of soldiers in the eity, and one of the most flourishing lodges was the one in connection with the eamp at the Fair Grounds. The Good Templars reached their greatest prosperity in St. Louis after the war, when, under R. R. Seott's Grand Seeretaryship, there were eleven lodges in the eity, with about twelve hundred mem- bers. There are now eight lodges in St. Louis, as follows :

Anchor, No. 1; Lily of the Valley, No. 5; Resolute, No. 216; Our Neighbors, No. 233; Hope, No. 963; Western Star, No. 58; North Star, No. 904; Lone Star, No. 44; Meramec, No. 46.

The present officers of the Grand Lodge are as follows :

G. W. C. T., W. F. Switzler, Columbia, Mo .; G. W. C., J. Y. Nesbit, Paris, Mo .; G. W. V. T., Mrs. Mary J. Alexander, St. Louis; G. W. Sec., W. D. Crandall, Brookfield, Mo .; G. W. Treas., Mrs. Ann W. Broughton, Paris, Mo .; G. W. Chap., T. J. Hutchinson, Springfield, Mo .; G. M., R. Brookes, Frederick- town, Mo .; Supt. of Juvenile Templars, Mrs. Jane P. Moon, St. Louis.

Several attempts have been made to organize lodges among the colored people of St. Louis, but without mueh sueeess.

The order has not been beneficial, but in 1881 the Grand Lodge authorized the organization of a Mutual Benefit Association, and in May, 1882, the " Good Templars' Mutual Benefit Association of America" was reported organized, with headquarters at Colum- bia, Mo. It embraces insurance for one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, and five thousand dollars.

The Shamrock Society .- In the summer of

1768

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

1854 a riot occurred in St. Louis, continuing three days, and among the vietims were many Irishmen. While engaged in caring for their injured country- men, some of the leading Irislimen of that period pro- jeeted the establishment of a permanent society to relicve the wants of their distressed compatriots, and in September, 1854, the Shamrock Society was or- ganized. The meeting was held at the house of Pat- riek Moran, Eighth and Biddle Streets, and among those participating were M. J. Dolan, William Hughes, William Delehunt, Patrick O'Neill, Edward Lester, Martin Keary, and several others. Edward Lester was the first president. The object of the society was declared to be beneficial, embracing siek benefits of five dollars per weck, and an assessment of one dollar per member in ease of death. The society flourished up to the war, and at one time had nearly three hundred members. During the war it suffered from political divisions, but since that period has had a prosperous but unostentatious career, and now num- bers about two hundred and twenty-five members. It is not a secret society. While exclusively a St. Louis organization, it is in correspondence with the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, and traveling mem- bers receive help if needed. Safeguards, however, are provided for the protection of the society against fraud. The present officers are-

President, Patrick Monahan ; Vice-President, Richard Reddy ; Recording Secretary, Thomas Cullinane; Financial Secretary, John Walsh ; Treasurer, John Hall.

Chapter of Temperance and Wisdom .- On Sept. 5, 1859, some young men who had been mem- bers of a temperance order for young people in Buffalo, N. Y., organized Mount Vernon Chapter of Temper- anee and Wisdom of St. Louis. The charter members werc D. R. Mason, H. D. Moore, C. F. Parsons, M. Dole, David Daniels, M. D. Degge, Charles C. Laeey, Franklin Lacey, A. J. Fox, Henry Fox, and D. R. Mason was the first presiding officer (or king). In 1860 the Grand Chapter of Missouri was organized, the Grand King being Timothy Parsons. This ehap- ter assumed supreme functions, and issued charters for chapters in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Springfield, Mo., besides organizing several chapters in St. Louis,- Perseverance Chapter, in 1870; North Star Chapter, in 1872; and Silver Star Chapter, in 1873. All these chapters were very successful for a season, and had at one time five hundred members in the aggre- gate, but eventually all died except onc, which has about one hundred members. The order was specially designed for the young, and the ritual was showy and attractive. The existing chapter has the following officers :

Grand King, H. D. Moore; Grand Queen, Emma R. Barnes; Grand Marshal, J. W. Barnes ; Grand Recorder, J. J. Garver ; Grand Treasurer, Alexander McAllister.

The Catholic Knights of America, organized at Nashville, Tenn., about the year 1874, for mutual aid and support, is a beneficiary order, paying two thousand dollars death benefits, and siek benefits at the option of the subordinate branch. In St. Louis the first branch of the order was organized Sept. 4, 1879, by J. W. Mertz, J. W. Rooney, P. O'Brien, James Mullen, A. R. Rivet, Robert Parkinson, F. W. Stephens, J. P. Kane, and Daniel Gray. Among other prominent promoters of the order in St. Louis are J. St. Cyr, J. W. O'Connell, J. Guig- non, P. Monahan, Dr. F. Lutz, M. J: Brennan, A. Finney, John J. O'Neill, J. Moran, M. Haughey, F. A. Rogers, Henry McCabe, M. W. Hogan, and others. There are thirteen branches in St. Louis, with about nine hundred members. The membership in Mis- souri is about fourteen hundred. The State Council was organized April 12, 1882, with the following officers :

Spiritual Director, Rev. W. H. Brantner, St. Louis; Presi- dent, John J. Thompson, St. Louis; Vice-President, H. B. Denker, St. Charles ; Secretary, P. O'Brien, St. Louis; Treas- urer, James Glass, Sedalia.

The Band of Hope .- The Chapter of Temperance and Wisdom may justly be regarded as the parent of an important and useful organization among the young known as " Bands of Hope." To these youth of both sexes are admitted, and the pledge enjoins absti- nence from tobacco, profanity, and intoxicating liquors. The first band was organized April 14, 1861, and the chief promoter was H. D. Moore, who had been a prominent worker in all the temperanec orders of the period. Five small boys were all that could be mustered for charter members. One of them was chosen president, but soon Mr. Moore was elected to that position, and has occupied it continuously until the present. The society grew rapidly, and at intervals has had five hundred members, and for the past ten years has averaged three hundred. It has assisted in the organization of numerous societics of a similar character, many of which flourished for a season and finally died, but several still live and are doing well.

The band was organized at the corner of Wash- ington Avenue and Fourth Street, over what was then Tiehnor's clothing-store; it met here a year, and subsequently for six years at Dr. Post's church, Tentli and Locust Streets; it then made several changes, and occupied the "old Ebenezer Church," Seventh Street and Washington Avenue, where it was

1769

RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL, SECRET, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

burned out. After one or two more removals it located in " Avenue Hall," northeast corner of Wash- ington Avenue and Ninth Streets, in a building ereeted by Mr. Moore himself, but the Lindell Hotel having been destroyed by fire, and Washington Avenue greatly impaired for business purposes, Mr. Moore's invest- ment proved a poor one, and the society had to abandon the hall and returned to Dr. Post's ehureh, which it has oeeupied for ten or twelve years.

The society is elaimed to have accomplished an im- mense amount of good. It is asserted that fully one- half ofthe members of the adult temperanee societies are graduates from the Band of Hope. More than sixty of the female teachers in the St. Louis publie sehools were members of the band, and the boys who have graduated from the same organization are now num- bered among the best of St. Louis' young business men, and are prominent in temperanee and church work in the eity, and in this and neighboring States.

The list of those who, as superintendents, have as- sisted Mr. Moore embraces the names of John Libby, a well-known eitizen, now dead ; Mrs. S. S. Gannett, a lady noted for her philanthropy ; the Rev. Mr. Cof- land; Dr. T. H. Hammond; H. Eberly, a promi- nent real estate broker, and J. W. Barnes, a well- known builder, the last of whom has been superin- tendent for several years.

In addition to Mount Vernon Band, which is the pioneer, there are five bands in various parts of the eity. The full list is as follows :

Name and Number. Where Located. Membership.

Mount Vernon, No. 1 .....

Central St. Louis 300 Fairmount, No. 2

.Salisbury St., North St. Louis ... 600 Anchor, No. 3 .. St. Louis Avenue and 18th St .... 400

Central, No. 4 Twenty-fourth and Morgan ...... 300

Washington, No. 5 .... North St. Louis .. 450

Western Star, No. 6 ...

.. Elleardsville, West St. Louis .....

250

Total. 2300

Anchor Band of Hope is composed largely of youth of German parentage. Its superintendent is Charles Goessling, a young German.

Father Mathew Young Men's Total Absti- nence and Benevolent Society .- The object of this association is to inculcate and encourage temper- anee, and provide a fund for the families of deceased members, etc. Members are pledged to total absti- nence. It is named after Father Mathew, the distin- guished Irish temperanee apostle, who visited St. Louis in the spring of 1850, and its members are of Irish lineage. This society was instituted in St. Louis in 1870, and among the eharter members were Thomas Fox, Edward Devoy, Jamcs Hagerty, John D. Hagerty, James McGraw, James J. MeGeary, Francis Lacey, Charles F. Irving, and Martin Duddy.

It is confined to St. Louis, and there is but one eoun- eil of the order in the eity. A benefit of two dollars from each member is paid on the death of a member. In 1873 the couneil was most prosperous, having thirteen hundred members; the membership now is about three hundred and fifty. The present officers are-

President, Jeremiah Sheehan ; First Vice-President, Matthew Bond; Second Vice-President, James Hennessy ; Recording Secretary, S. M. Ryan ; Financial Secretary, James Hagerty ; Treasurer, Patrick Cassidy.

United Hebrew Relief Association .- This as- sociation of the Hebrews of St. Louis originated in 1871, when the great fire in Chicago seattered thou- sands of the Jews of that city. Hundreds of them sought shelter in St. Louis. They found the He- brews of the city totally unprepared to meet the un- expected draft upon their energies. Nevertheless a number of young unmarried Hebrews hastily organ- ized a temporary relief committee, with Augustus Binswanger as chairman, and among the other mem- bers the names of Lewis Hutzler, Nathaniel Myers, and Simon Popper have been recorded. A call for a meeting to organize permanently to relieve the distressed Hebrews from Chicago was seeonded by Abraham Kramer, president of Congregation Shaare Emeth ; Adolph Isaae, president of United Hebrew Congregation ; and L. R. Straub, president of Con- gregation B'nai El. Pursuant thereto a meeting was held Oet. 17, 1871, at the synagogue, then at the corner of St. Charles and Sixth Streets, and the United Hebrew Relief Association was organized. The officers were as follows :

President, B. Singer; Vice-President, A. Jacobs; Treasurer, William Goldstein; Secretary, Augustus Binswanger; Corre- sponding Secretary, Nathaniel Myers; Directors, William Keiler, Isaac Baer, Moses Fraley, Lewis Hutzler, Simon Popper, Joseph Baum.

The association pushed forward with great energy the work of relieving the needs of the Chicago suf- ferers, and took its place as one of the established and permanent Jewish institutions of the eity, its province being to eare for indigent Hebrews, whether transient or resident. It has also established and maintained an employment bureau, which has proved of great benefit. For the ten years from 1871 (when it was organized) until 1881 the association disbursed thirty- eight thousand one hundred and ninety dollars and thirty-five cents for relief, besides laying aside seven thousand two hundred dollars for a Home for Aged and Infirm Israelites.

During the winter of 1881-82 the association un- dertook the work of earing for such Hebrew refugees,

1770

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

the victims of Russian persecution, as might be sent thither, and afforded relief and found situations for a large number of immigrants.

The present officers of the association are-

President, B. Hysinger; Vice-President, L. M. Hellman ; Secretary, Augustus Binswanger; Treasurer, M. Levy ; Direc- tors, B. Eisemann, A. Fisher, George Lewis, B. Cohen, A. Rosen- thal, Rev. Dr. Rosenthal, Rev. Dr. M. Spitz, Rev. H. J. Mes- sing, R. Weil; Superintendent, L. Wolfner; Medical Staff, Dr. Bernard Block, Dr. M. J. Epstein, Dr. J. Friedman, Dr. H. Tu- holske, Dr. Moritz Block, Dr. W. E. Fischel, Dr. F. Kolben- heyer, Dr. S. Pollitzer.

Knights of Father Mathew .- This order was instituted on Ascension Thursday, May 9, 1872, under the title of "Knights of Father Mathew, St. Louis, Mo.," with Thomas Fox as president ; Thomas E. Phelan, vice-president ; John Rohlf, corresponding secretary ; John McGrath, financial secretary ; and John B. Haggerty, treasurer. Total abstinence was the corner-stone of the organization. All members were required to appear in uniform on public occa- sions, and to be thoroughly drilled. The organization continued in its original form for some nine years, with an average membership of about one hundred. On the 18th of July, 1881, the order was incorpo- rated under the title of " Knights of Father Mathew of Missouri," with the following charter members : Rev. P. F. O'Reilly, Thomas Fox, Patrick Long, Daniel O'C. Tracy, John B. Haggerty, James Hagerty, Michael Larisey, Patrick Mulcahy, Michael J. Ratch- ford, James Walsh, John H. Gamble, James Meegan, James Hardy, Festus J. Wade. An insurance fea- ture of two thousand dollars was added to the provi- sions requiring members to be Catholics and to prac- tice total abstinence. The " new departure" proved immensely popular. Within a year the membership was increased to nearly one thousand, and but one death had occurred.

There are twelve councils in St. Louis, as follows :

St. Louis, No. 1; St. John's, No. 2; Annunciation, No. 3; St. Patrick's, No. 4; St. Lawrence O'Toole's, No. 5; St. Mala- chy's, No. 6; St. Teresa's, No. 7; St. Bridget's, No. 8; St. Mary and St. Joseph's, No. 9; Emerald, No. 10; Immaculate Conception, No. 11; Cathedral, No. 12.

Connected with the order is a literary and debating society, which holds frequent debates and other exercises. D. O'C. Tracy is its president. There is a ritual appropriate and special to the order. While the society is in no sense a secret one, as commonly understood, it claims and exercises the right of legitimate privacy in all its affairs. Father John O'Neil, S.J., of the St. Louis University, was the first spiritual director. His successors were Father E. A. Noonan and Rev. Father P. F. O'Reilly. The

following are the officers and members of the Supreme Council :

Supreme Chief Sir Knight, Rev. P. F. O'Reilly ; Deputy Su- preme Chief Sir Knight, Patrick Mulcahy ; Supreme Recorder, Charles C. Concannon ; Supreme Banker, John B. Haggerty ; Supreme Financial Recorder, Thomas Morris; Supreme Medi- cal Examiner, Dr. E. L. Feehan; Supreme Sentinel, Thomas Fox. Members of Executive Board, Daniel O'Connell Tracy, John Clark, James Hennessy, Richard T. Sheehy. Members of Supreme Council, Festus J. Wade, Thomas P. Culkin, James Hardy, James Meegan, M. J. Ratchford, Michael Larisey, Dennis Dunn, Thomas Carroll, John H. Gamble, James Hag- gerty, James Walsh, J. B. Hagerty, John W. O'Connell, John Marriner, Patrick Long, John Hunt, Thomas F. Doyle, John Coughlin, James K. Grace, P. J. Harris, Thomas Horan.

The Central St. Louis Unterstuetzungs Verein is a secret benevolent society of German ladies, organ- ized Jan. 28, 1878, and with one hundred and twenty- five members. The officers are-

President, Katrine Zilek; Vice-President, Marie Vindel ; Secretary, Mrs. Sophia Krage; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Ka- trine Roesner; Treasurer, Mrs. Sophia Brown.

The Spiritual Association was incorporated in November, 1882, by John B. Crocker, president ; C. H. Crocker, vice-president ; E. M. Moore, secretary ; and S. T. De Wolf, treasurer ; Miss May Bangs, C. Burrows, E. E. Weber, August Wobe, and William F. Burrows. The objects of the association are to ameliorate all conditions of suffering and distress by establishing retreats for the infirm, and hygienic in- stitutions for the prevention as well as cure of all physical diseases and moral disturbances, " to afford material aid and protection in the exercise of those spiritual gifts and mediumistic qualities with which its members may be endowed, and to guarantee the rights of private judgment, liberty of conscience, and uni- versal toleration in matters of opinion." The Spiritu- alists established themselves in St. Louis in 1860. Their meetings are held at the Mercantile Library Hall. Charles Tuckett is the president.

The Liberal League was incorporated in 1871. The meetings are held in a hall on the corner of Eleventh and Olive Streets. The membership num- bers about three hundred. Charles Kershaw is presi- dent ; Mrs. Jackson, secretary ; and Jolin Pembling, treasurer.

The Turnverein .- As stated elsewhere, the failure of the German revolution of 1848 and the vehement persecution of the men engaged in it drove to this country thousands of the most advanced thinkers and most energetic spirits of Germany. Most of them had been schooled in the celebrated gymnasium (or turnschulen) of " Father Jahn," and they at once procecded to establish that system of training in their adopted country.

1771

RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL, SECRET, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

On the 12th of May, 1850, Carl Speck, F. Roeser, L. Barthels, Carl B. Dieckride, Johann Bolland, Theodor Hildebrandt, Wilhelm Meyer, Willibald Moll, and Wilhelm Grahl met and organized a gym- nastic society (or turnverein), and called it Bestrebung (or Endeavor), but soon afterwards they gave it the name of St. Louis Turnverein. For two or three years the young society had modest quarters at or near Collins and Cherry Streets, but being cramped for room the leasehold of a lot on Tenth Strect near Market was secured, a stock company was organized, and on the 12th of November, 1855, the corner-stone of the present Central Turnhalle was laid. In Novem- ber, 1858, the building, a spacious one for those days and considering the size of the society, was dedi- catcd.

In 1852 the Verein was divided, and the Missouri and Germania Associations were successively organ- ized; but they werc short-lived, and many of the seceders returned to the mother organization, which went into the new building with one hundred and fifty members.

When the war broke out five hundred names were enrolled, but on the first call for troops many of the members enlisted, and as the conflict progressed hardly enough Turners were left to keep the society in existence. The first Turner platform obligated every member to oppose slavery in every form with all his power, and it was thereforc natural that the Turner should heartily espouse the cause of the Union. Long before hostilities were declared, their hall was a gathering-place where the members prepared for the contest which many felt was imminent, and their stanch advocacy of Union principles in those early days, as well as their readiness to go forth and fight for them, first directed general attention to the Turners and their system, and caused them to be re- garded with much greater interest than had hitherto been the case. Whole companies of volunteers, and almost whole regiments, were composed of Turners, and among the most gallant of them was the famous Seventeenth Missouri, or the "Western Turners' Regiment."

When the war was over the Turnbund was organ- ized. The St. Louis Verein again prospered, its only losses being the depletions it has sustained from the formation of six additional organizations.

This union has four hundred and sixteen members and a school of two hundred and fifty pupils. Its hall is valued at twenty-five thousand seven hundred dollars, and is clear of debt; and it has a library of two thousand one hundred and thirty-two volunies, and a song section of twenty-two voices.

The verein pays sick benefits of five dollars per week and funeral benefits of one hundred dollars.

The present officers arc : President, C. A. Stifel, who has been a member since the second ycar ; Vice- President, Henry Braun ; Recording Secretary, Louis Kaufman ; Corresponding Secretary, Herman Um- rath ; First Cashier, George Klein ; Second Cashier, William Muegge ; Librarian, Hugo Gollmer.

South St. Louis Turnverein. - In 1865 the verein established a turn-school in South St. Louis. During that year, through the exertions of Messrs. A. Krieckhaus, C. A. Stifel, and Charles Speck, money was raised to build a turnhalle, and in the fall the edifice was ready. It was located at the corner of Ninth and Julia Strects. For four years it served as the train- ing-place for the youth of the St. Louis Turnverein. On Sunday, Sept. 12, 1869, some members of the parent verein assembled at the hall and formed a new turnverein, the second organized in this city. The number of members was fifty-one, and the first officers were: President, F. P. Becker ; Vice-Presi- dent, Jacob von Gerichten; Treasurer, F. Dietz ; Recording Secretary, F. C. P. Tiedeman ; Corre- sponding Secretary, John Mohrstadt. Of the original fifty-one only the following remain with the union : T. Faust, Henry Rauth, George Loebs, Theodore Rassieur, Jacob von Gerichten, C. H. Vortriede, F. P. Becker, and F. C. P. Tiedemann.

The society rapidly grew, and proved a great con- venience to Turners, whom distance prevented fromn frequently visiting the Central Turnhalle. Eventually the need of a larger hall was felt, and finally a lot was bought at Tenth and Carroll Streets, and on May 15, 1881, the corner-stone of a new building was laid, and on May 6, 1882, the new hall was dedicated with appropriate exercises, most of the German societies in the city participating. The building is a stately one, and is one hundred and seventeen by eighty-four feet, two stories in front and four in the rear, has a large hall thirty feet high, with dressing-rooms, a bil- liard-room, etc., and cost twenty-one thousand dollars. It was built by stock subscription, and there is a debt of eight thousand dollars on the property.

The verein has two hundred and seventy-seven members and a school of three hundred and fifty-seven pupils. It maintains a fund for sick and distressed members.

The present officers are Francis P. Becker, presi- dent ; Francis P. Troll, vice-president; F. C. P. Tiede- mann, secretary ; William Merkens, treasurer.

Socialer Turnverein .- On the 8th of October, 1872, a dozen Turners organized the Socialer Turn- verein, the first president being Charles Wedig. For

1772

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

some years the society met at Sixteenth and Montgom- ery Streets, but had a struggling life until it gained prominence by the occupaney of Sturgeon Market Hall. On the 8th of September, 1878, it laid the corner- stone of a new hall at Thirteenth and Monroe Streets, and on Jan. 8, 1879, the building was dedicated. This is regarded as in some respects the finest build- ing of the kind in the city. Its dimensions are eighty by one hundred and twelve feet, and its gymnasium and dance hall are noteworthy for being free from pillars and resting entirely on the walls, supported by trusses. The hall was built by a stoek association. It cost about eighteen thousand dollars, and is free of debt. The society has also personal property amounting to nearly three thousand dollars. The membership numbers 217; scholars, 239; library, 240 volumes. It also has an excellent song section of some thirty voices. The society levies one dollar per member in ease of death for the benefit of the heirs of the deceased.

The present officers are : President, Henry Over- sehelp; Vice-President, Mr. Lammersick ; Record- ing Secretary, Mr. Knoch ; Corresponding Secretary, Odo Stifel; Cashier, F. W. Wiesehahn; Second Cashier, Charles Link.

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 168

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358