History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 178

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 178

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).

115

1814

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

C. Hart, Henry T. Blow, and Andrew Harper, assisted by A. L. Lyle.

The fair opened Oct. 13, 1856, and the attendance was very large, notwithstanding the fact that the weather was inclement. At eleven o'clock the Na- tional Guards arrived on the grounds, and were fol- lowed by the Washington Guards and the Grays. Hon. Sterling Price, Governor of Missouri, who was present on horseback, reviewed these organizations, after which there were track exhibitions of horses. T. T. January was superintendent of the fair on the open- ing day, and the committees on awards consisted of gentlemen from different States. The premium list amounted to ten thousand dollars, and the receipts from the gate, entrance fees, and other sources, to twenty- five thousand dollars. The success of the fair was very marked, and as it was in great measure due to the labors of Hon. J. R. Barret, president of the as- sociation, those most interested decided to present him with a testimonial of his services. Accordingly in December following a handsome silver service was purchased and presented to Mr. Barret.

In 1857 the second fair of the association was held, and was even more successful than the first one. The premiums were increased to sixteen thousand dollars, and the receipts amounted to over twenty-eight thou- sand dollars. A handsome Gothic structure, known as the Fine Art Hall, for the exhibition of statuary and paintings, and a gallinarium of wire network, three stories high, and divided into ninety compart- ments, were erected for this exhibition. At the third annual fair, which began on the 7th of September, the attendance was greater than at either of its prede- cessors, and St. Louis was visited by a concourse of strangers greater than it ever witnessed before. From the report of the secretary of the association from its organization to Dec. 1, 1858, it appears that the cap- ital stock was sixty-nine thousand one hundred and fifty dollars, and the sum of sixty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty-five dollars and ninety-six cents had been expended for improvements on the grounds. The contract with Col. O'Fallon gave the association twelve years in which to pay for the land, but as there was a surplus the directors made a payment Nov. 30, 1858, of ten thousand dollars. The dimensions of the buildings then on the ground were: Amphitheatre, diameter, three hundred and five feet ; circumference, nine hundred and fifteen feet; arena within the am- phitheatre, diameter, two hundred and twenty-five feet ; circumference, six hundred and seventy-five feet. Floral Hall, diameter, seventy-six feet ; circumference, two hundred and twenty-eight feet. Art Hall, an oval building, eighty-five feet iu length. Agricul-

tural Department, two hundred by thirty fcet. Me- chanical Department, seventy-nine by thirty-one and a half feet. Machinery Department, two hundred by forty feet. Pagoda, forty-five feet in height, and divided into three stories, the pole around which it was built being onc hundred and fifty feet high.

In addition to these structures there were a num- ber of other buildings, including a large carriage de- partment, a gallinarium, and a handsome Gothic cottage, with reception-rooms for ladies. The amphi- theatre seated twelve thousand persons, and the two promenades, one at the base and the other at the top of the seats, afforded accommodations for twenty-four thousand more.

The exercises at the opening of the fair of 1858 were accompanied as usual by a parade of the military organizations of St. Louis, commanded by Brig .- Gen. D. M. Frost, and including the Light Artillery Bat- talion, Col. Henry Almstedt ; the Mounted Rifle Bat- talion, Maj. Schaeffer ; the First Regiment of In- fantry, commanded by Col. J. M. Pritchard, and composed of six companies, viz. : St. Louis Grays, Capt. John Knapp; Missouri Guard, Capt. George W. West; the Washington Guards, Capt. Patrick Gorman ; the National Guard, Capt. John B. Gray ; the Emmet Guards, Capt. Thomas F. Smith ; and the Washington Blues, Capt. Joseph Kelley ; and the Rifle Battalion, under the command of Maj. John C. Smith, composed of two companies, the Union Rifles, Capt. Kohr, and the Missouri Rifles, Capt. Schultz.

The premium list was enlarged from year to year until, in 1860, it aggregated the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, but the receipts continued to increase, and in that year amounted to forty-five thousand dollars. During the civil war the exhibitions were suspended, but in 1866, through the efforts of the president, A. B. Barret, and others, they were re- sumed

In October of that year a fair was held, and pre- miums amounting to thirty thousand dollars were awarded. Since then the association has continued to grow and prosper until it has now become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, organizations of its kind in the country. One of the characteristic features of the association is that its stock does not, nor was it ever intended to, pay any dividends. The stock amounts to eighty-two thousand and fifty dollars, and is so well distributed (the individual holders numbering one thousand and fifty-seven) that on the average no single holder has more than two shares. The only privilege that stockholders have is that of free admission to the grounds at all times.

RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, SOCIAL, SECRET, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 1815

In this way the association is enabled out of its sur- plus to improve and embellish its grounds and erect the necessary buildings. The amphitheatre, which was first built, was reconstructed in 1870, and devoted to the display of manufactured goods and textile fabrics until 1876, when it was taken down, and a new mechanical hall, one hundred and fifty feet wide and two hundred and fifty fect long, having two spans of forty-five feet each, and a central span of sixty feet, was erccted. These improvements were completed in 1877, when an exposition was combined with" the usual annual fair, and proved a success beyond the expectations of the most sanguine. The building is lighted by large skylights running through the centre. The interior dianieter of the new amphi- theatre, in which stock displays are made, is four hundred and fifty feet. The track is half a mile in length. The .original fifty acres have been increased to eighty-threc and fifty-six-hundredths acres, costing over one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1876 a brick building, covering an area of twenty thousand square feet, was built for the floral department, and a zoological garden was erected at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, in connection with which a school of drawing was established. The grounds of the association, when first purchased, were embellished with fine trees of natural growth, and to their attractions have been added handsome buildings, and all the beauties that can be created by the highest art of the landscape gardener and horti- culturist. The imposing structures and handsome surroundings make up a picture of unusual attrac- tiveness and beauty. The grounds are eligibly located on Grand Avenue, within the city limits, and are easy of access from all quarters.

The association has proved one of the most im- portant of the factors in the industrial growth of St. Louis, and, indeed, in the development of the agri- cultural and mechanical resources of the entire State. During the twenty-six years of its existence it has expanded beyond the most sanguine expectations of its founders, and at the present time enjoys a national reputation.

The money expended on improvements since 1856 amounts to over one million dollars, and the buildings thus erected are the most commodious and the most conveniently arranged structures of their kind to be found in any fair inclosure in the United States, every class of exhibition being located in a separate hall or inclosure especially adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. The Zoological Garden is con- stantly increasing in size and attractiveness, every year witnessing the erection of new buildings for the re-

ception of additions to the collection. The grounds are kept in admirable condition during the entire year, and the spacious drives make them one of the popular resorts of the city, even when not occupied by the annual fair, which occurs in October, lasting six days. The premium list of the Fair Association has always been generous, and is constantly increasing, and the lively competition thus created has raised the standard of stock and productions of all kinds, not only in the State of Missouri, but throughout the entire Missis- sippi valley.

The attendance at the Fair Grounds during fair week averages forty thousand daily, and fifty thousand dol- lars is distributed in premiums.

The chief officers of the society from 1856 to 1875 were-

1856-59. J. Richard Barret, president, and Henry S. Tur- ner, treasurer. G. O. Kalb, the present secretary, has been acting in that capacity since 1856.

1860. A. Harper, president.

1861-65. Charles Todd, president; Benjamin O'Fallon, treas- urer for 1861, and D. G. Taylor from 1862 to 1866.

1866-73. A. B. Barret, president ; with Benjamin Sanford, treasurer for 1867-68, and B. M. Chambers from 1869 to 1873.

1874. Julius S. Walsh, president; E. M. Lackland, treas- urer.

The present officers are-

Charles Green, president ; R. P. Tansey, first vice-president ; E. A. Filley, second vice-president ; Hercules L. Dousman, third vice-president ; John J. Menges, treasurer; and G. O. Kalb, secretary and superintendent. The present directors are A. B. Pendleton, Julius S. Walsh, Charles Green, James C. Ed- wards, R. P. Tansey, Johnston Beggs, M. Fraley, George Bain, David Clarkson, John G. Prather, L. M. Rumsey, John J. Men- ges, Ed. Harrison, D. P. Rowland, Hercules L. Dousman, John Scullin, S. M. Dodd, E. A. Filley, A. B. Ewing, William W. Withnell, and James S. Farrar.

From the secretary's report for the fiscal year be- ginning Dec. 1, 1880, and ending Dec. 1, 1881, it appears that the value of the improvements was $204,897.95, and that of the real estate $135,880.16. Stock had been issued to the amount of $82,050, and bonds to the amount of $160,000. The total assets of the company amounted to $459,768.32.

In 1874, Charles Green became a leading stock- holder in the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and served as director until January, 1880, when he was elected president. He has been re-elected to this position every year since. Under his management the St. Louis Fair has increased in attractiveness, and has taken so strong a hold upon public favor that it is hardly an exaggeration to say that it has become the great yearly festival of the Southwest.

Charles Green was born near Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland, in 1838. His family possessed a

1816

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

large landed estate, including the historically celebrated Green Hills, one of the most beautiful places in the Emerald Isle, and cherished with pardonable family pride the traditions of their ancestral home and of its profuse hospitality. Young Green was sent to school at a neighboring town, and at the age of fifteen entered the college at Galway, making his home with a gentleman named Rochford, a distinguished lawyer of that region. He remained at Galway about two years, and in the intervals of study read law.

When he was seventeen his father died, involving a change in his fortunes. He relinquished the elegant surroundings to which he had been accustomed, and in 1857 emigrated to America, and, in response to an invitation from his brother Thomas, settled in St. Louis, where his brother was established in mercan- tile business. He was placed by Thomas in the St. Louis University, where he finished his education. It was intended that he should study law, but his health failed under the severe course at the univer- sity, and when he left that institution he accepted a position in the post-office under Peter L. Foy. He remained in this capacity about a year, and then for four years filled the position of book-keeper in the State Savings Association. When the Merchants' Union Express Company established itself in St. Louis, he was offered and accepted the position of cashier, but in about a year relinquished it to engage in busi- ness on his own account. In 1866 he established the real estate firm of Green & La Motte, which is still the title of the house, although his partner, F. X. La Motte, a college friend, died in 1868.

Mr. Green's fidelity to all trusts reposed in him, and his prompt and energetic method of transacting busi- ness commended him to the favor of the public, and soon brought him a prosperous and continuously in- creasing patronage. He has, perhaps, been intrusted with the administration of more large cstates than any other citizen. He was commissioner for the Benoist estate, and is now the executor of the estate of John Withnell. In his will Mr. Withnell expressly stipu- lated that Mr. Green should not be required to give bond. These trusts, and many similar ones, he has so managed as to earn the gratitude of those whom he has served.

His clear and exact knowledge of real estate values was recognized by the County Court of St. Louis County in 1873, when he was elected by that body president of the Board of Assessors. In this delicate and responsible position, requiring such nice and care- ful exercise of judgment, and so much firmness, he reduced the business of the office to one of perfect system, and such a spirit of fairness characterized his

administration as to win for him the good will and esteem of the public. The popular estimate of his services appears from the fact that he was unanimously re-elected to the same position for four successive terms.

Mr. Green has also served the public in other important capacities. He was a commissioner for the condemnation of the Forest Park property and of the Northern Park, and was also commissioner to value the property of the Columbia Life Insurance Com- pany. He was appointed receiver of the Central Savings-Bauk, and the next day filed his bond for one hundred thousand dollars, on which occasion the court (Judge Krekel) praised the promptness with which the document had been prepared, and the ex- traordinary high character of the names it bore, and complimented Mr. Green upon the high financial and social standing which enabled him to furnish a bond for so large an amount in so short a time, with such exceptional indorscments.

A similar but even more creditable experience was his when, a year or two since, he was elected assignee of the Keokuk and Northern Line Packet Company. He was notified of his appointment on Saturday, and on the following Monday morning his bond for three hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars was filed and approved. Besides the several interests men- tioned above, Mr. Green has charge of many estates owned by the wealthiest citizens of St. Louis, and the confidence reposed in him is almost unbounded. Not only has he managed the estates of others with suc- cess and to their perfect satisfaction, but he has in- vested his own means in real estate so judiciously that he has gained a fortune.

As a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, Mr. Green occupies a forcmost rank. He was a large subscriber to the company that built the Chamber of Commerce, one of the city's chief ornaments, and has been a director therein since 1875. He has also a large interest in the various street railway companies, and is a director in several of these corporations. He aided prominently in the organization of the Real Estate Exchange, and has been its president since April, 1880. In 1879 he formed one of a syndicate that bought the Carondelet Gas Company, and is the vice-president of the corporation.

In 1868, Mr. Green was married to Miss Henrietta Prenatt, the daughter of a prominent merchant of Madison, Ind., by whom he has had seven children. ·

Mr. Green's personal characteristics are a firm de- termination, keen foresight, a rigid integrity, and a steady judgment. Although born rich, he inherited no fortune, but beginning life as a poor boy, he easily

hasbeen

Ur THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

1817

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

amassed a competence, and at the same time won the honor and respect of his fellow-citizens.

The St. Louis Jockey Club .- Horse-racing was very popular in St. Louis at an early period of the city's history, and to the pony contests of the colonial period succeeded the trials of spced between thor- oughbreds, which attracted large assemblages to the " prairie horsc-track" on the north side of the St. Charles Rock road, immediately opposite the ground on which the Abbey track was subsequently estab- lished by Henry Doyer. One of the famous races on this course was the four-mile heat race in 1848 bc- tween the runners " Doubloon" and " Emily," which was won by the latter, ridden by the well-known jockey Gilpatrick. A jockey club was organized in 1828, and the races of that year commenced on Thursday, October 9th, and continued three days,-first day, three miles and repeat, for a purse of two hundred dollars ; second day, two miles and repeat, for a purse of one hundred and fifty dollars; third day, one mile and repeat, for a purse of one hundred dollars, free for any horse, mare, or gelding. The racing was gov- erned by the rules and regulations of the association, of which Benjamin Ames was the secretary.

On the 23d of September, 1848, a new jockey club was organized at the Prairie House. Among the prominent patrons of the turf about this time were George W. Goodc, Col. D. D. Mitchell, William L. Sublette, Henry Shacklett, Col. A. B. Chambers, of the Republican; Capt. White, of St. Charles, trainer of the race-horse "St. Louis;" Thomas Moore, Benjamin Ames, proprietor of the track ; James Bissell, Benjamin Payne, the importer of " Altorf;" Charles Kcemle, of the Reveille; Gen. Bernard Pratte, Charles L. Hunt, Archibald and William C. Taylor, Matthew Shaffner, Robert O'Blenis, George Marshall, Dr. William Hammond, U.S.A., Maj. R. E. Lee, U.S.A., Thornton Grimsley, B. W. Alexander, Gen. Ruland, Basil Duke, Walter Dorset, Thomas J. Payne, Fer- dinand Kennett, Charles Gilpin, Clay Taylor, Leon- idas Walker, Col. Samuel B. Churchill, Howard Christy, Judge Wash, Uricl Wright, Church Black- burn, Judge James B. Bowlin, and Gen. William Milburn.

A track was laid out in an inclosure of eighty acres, three miles from St. Louis, on the macadamized road to Manchester, and bounded on the south by the Pa- cific Railroad. The races on this track commenced on the 8th of October, 1848.

The present St. Louis Jockey Club Company was organized in 1877, with a capital stock of fifty thou- sand dollars, the charter having been granted on the 27th of August of that year. The incorporators were

Jolın M. Harney, H. L. Dousman, J. B. McCul- lough, Julius S. Walsh, William Patrick, Edwin Harrison, Ellis Wainwright, C. B. Greeley, and Samuel Ecker. About forty-five thousand dollars of the stock was promptly subscribed, and the ground afterwards known as the Côte Brilliante track was purchased and adapted to the purposes of racing, at a cost of seventy thousand dollars. The track was opened to the public on the 4th of June, 1877. Trotting races were given at intervals, but did not prove financially successful, the St. Louis public prc- ferring the running contests. The company was re- organized in February, 1880, and another charter was granted in February, 1882. The club is one of the leading turf organizations of the country, and has done much to elevate the standard of racing in the West. Its membership comprises many representa- tive citizens of St. Louis, and the association is now in a flourishing condition.

Its rooms are located at No. 18 South Fifth Street, and the track is situated on Lucas and Hunt's addition to Côte Brilliante, bounded on the north by the St. Charles Rock road, on the south by Page Avenue, on the west by Union Avenue, and on the east by King's Highway. The grounds are within the city limits, about four and one-half miles west of the court-house. The race-track is a full mile in cir- cumference, and is said to be very fast. The grand stand is capable of seating six thousand persons. The stables are located both inside and outside of the in- closure, and contain stalls for the accommodation of two hundred horses. The grounds and surroundings are very handsome, and are said to surpass any racing grounds in the country. Annual meetings are held, lasting from seven to eight days, in June.

The officers of the association are-

John M. Harney, president ; H. L. Dousman and J. B. Mc- Cullough, vice-presidents; Ellis Wainwright, treasurer; and Lewis A. Clarke, secretary ; Directors, John M. Harney, J. B. Mccullough, H. L. Dousman, Julius S. Walsh, William Pat- rick, Edwin Harrison, Ellis Wainwright, C. B. Greeley, and Samuel Ecker.

CLUBS.

The Harmonie Club is an association of Hebrews, organized in 1857 for the promotion of social inter- course. Among the founders and promoters werc M. Hellman, Julius Klyman, B. Singer, and L. Hell- mann. The original membership numbered about twenty-five, but it comprised the leading men of the race then living in the city, and the club has always been a representative Hebrew society. M. Hellman was the first president, and his successors werc L. Hellmann, L. Steinberger, A. Langsdorf, August

1818

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Frank, and Nathan Frank. August Frank was pres- ident the longest period, six years.

For fifteen years the club had rooms on Market Street, between Fourth and Fifth, and for ten years it has occupied quarters on Fourth Street, between Plum and Myrtle ; but lately the desire for a more central location has led to the purchase of a lot, eighty by one hundred and thirty-five feet on the northeast corner of Eighteenth and Olive Streets, and the club is now erecting a building which is designed, when completed, to be one of the finest structures of the sort in the country outside of New York. It will be a three-story pressed-brick building, with stone cap- pings, will cost nearly fifty thousand dollars, and is intended to be an architectural ornament to the city and a monument of the enterprise and taste of the Hebrews of St. Louis.

The present membership of the club numbers about one hundred and ten. The officers are-

President, Nathan Frank; Vice-President, A. Langsdorf ; Secretary, M. Linz; Treasurer, J. Meyberg; Directors, J. L. Singer, S. Meyer, W. Hernstien, M. Kahn, M. Michels, J. Frank, H. Binswanger.

The Concordia Club .- When the Harmonie Club selected its new location in Western St. Louis, it was seen that the change would inconvenience many of the members living in the southern part of the city ; con- sequently in the spring of 1882 a number of its mem- bers seceded, and on the 26th of May the Concordia Club was organized with some thirty members and the following officers :

President, Leopold Steinberger; Vice-President, Albert Frankenthal; Secretary, Samuel Steiner; Treasurer, L. E. Green ; Directors, Dr. M. Spitz, Frank Block, M. H. Holzman, S. A. River, R. Weil.

The University Club .- In January, 1872, some twenty college-bred men met and organized " The University Club." Among the incorporators were Thomas C. Reynolds, James S. Garland, Charles Branch, Edward Wyman, John W. Noble, S. Water- house, Charles H. Goodman, C. C. Whittlesey, Alex- ander Martin, J. S. Fullerton, Thomas Davidson, Charles A. Todd, John A. Dillon, E. H. Carvier, Frank J. Donovan, D. J. Snider, and George S. Edgell.

The articles of association declare the purpose of the society to be " to promote literature, science, and art, and secure a closer union and co-operation of col- lege and university men and graduates, with a view to a broader and higher culture," etc. At first the idea of a large club, with those concomitants which the word " club" implies, was not suggested, but the organization prospered to such an extent that a build-

ing was soon felt to be an imperative necessity. In like manner it was found expedient to abolishı the restriction making a collegiate education the test of membership. Still the club, while becoming more of a social institution than was perhaps contemplated, has always been under the control of former collegians, and has preserved the traditions of its early life in the high character of its members. It now em- braces in its membership the leading professional and business men of the city. The first officers were : President, Hon. Thomas Allen ; Vice-Presi- dents, Thomas C. Reynolds, Albert Todd, Samuel Treat, Dr. M. M. Pallen, Dr. J. B. Johnson, Lewis B. Parsons; Secretary, James S. Garland ; Treas- urer, M. Dwight Collier ; Directors, Edward Wy- man, Charles H. Goodman, Charles Branch, Newton Crane, Thomas Davidson, J. S. Fullerton, E. T. Merrick, John W. Noble, Sylvester Waterhouse.

Of the above officers, the Hon. Thomas Allen served continuously as president until his death at Washington, March, 1882, while a member of Con- gress, and Mr. Garland has been secretary for the whole period, one year excepted.

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.

History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 178

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