History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 179

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 179

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For three years the club occupied quarters at 911 Olive Street. It then removed to 1125 Washington Avenue, where it has had a well-arranged, well- furnished, and very commodious building. For two or three years past there has been a growing feeling that the club was too far " out of town" for the con- venience of the members, and during the winter of 1881-82 these views formally prevailed, and quarters are being prepared in the large building on the north- east corner of Fifth and Olive Streets, on a scale commensurate with the standing and means of the club.

At the annual meeting in January, 1882, Prof. M. S. Snow, secretary of the board of directors, gave an interesting sketch of the history of the club. The beginnings were modest,-ten dollars initiation fee and ten dollars yearly dues disclose the unambitious chiar- acter of the society. Few of the members had any idea of the nature and functions of a club. But in spite of various drawbacks and the constant raising of the fees and dues until they are now about one hun- dred dollars a year, the active and useful membership has constantly increased, and now numbers about three hundred and fifty, with applications constantly being received.

The present officers of the University Club are --

President, Samuel M. Breckinridge; Vice-Presidents, William H. Pulsifer, Charles Speck, Marshall S. Snow, Heber Liver- more, Allan B. Pendleton, Arthur Lee; Secretary, James S. Garland ; Treasurer, Huntington Smith ; Directors, Estill Mc-

1819

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

Henry, John O. F. Delaney, N. S. Chouteau, R. S. Brookings, Joseph S. Fullerton, S. E. Hoffman, D. F. Colville, Newton Crane, Henry S. Potter.

St. Louis Commercial Club .- This club was or- ganized in October, 1880, and was modeled after the Boston Commercial Club, which was the first of its class. Its objects are purely social, the design being to cultivate a feeling of fraternity among all classes of business men, and, by affiliating with similar clubs elsewhere, to promote a feeling of fellowship among the business men of widely-separated sections. The membership is limited to sixty persons, who em- brace the representative men of St. Louis in the various departments of trade and manufactures, and meetings are held monthly, at which, with a banquet, are discussed matters pertaining to the commercial advancement of the city. In October, 1882, the club entertained the Commercial Clubs of Boston, Chicago, and Cincinnati. The following have been the officers of the club from its foundation :

President, Gerard B. Allen ; Vice-President, E. O. Stanard ; Treasurer, Joseph Franklin ; Secretary, Newton Crane ; Execu- tive Committee, Edwin Harrison, E. C. Simmons, S. M. Dodd.

Germania Association .- The Germania Associa- tion was chartered Feb. 16, 1865, by special act of the Legislature, the incorporators being James Taus- sig, Charles F. Meyer, Charles Enslin, Julius Con- rad, Louis Holm, Charles F. Eggers, William D'Ocnch, J. F. Zisemann, William Hunicke, August Waldauer, Charles Balmer, Ignatius A. Day, and Moritz H. Lemcke. The first directors were Julius Conrad, C. F. Meyer, Felix Coste, Charles De Greck, William D'Oench, John L. Fiala, Louis Holm, William J. Romyn, F. W. Rosenthal, James Taussig, and J. F. Zisemann. The first officers were : President, Charles F. Meyer ; Vice-President, Louis Holm ; Secretary, Charles De Greck ; Treasurer, William Hunicke.

Mr. Meyer has been president uninterruptedly up to the present time, and there have been few changes in the rest of the officers, who are now as follows :

President, Charles F. Meyer ; Vice-President, Julius Conrad ; Secretary, Rudolph Fritsch ; Treasurer, E. C. Priber.

In 1865-66 the association built a club-house at the corner of Eighth and Gratiot Street, and furnished it elegantly at a total cost, for building, grounds, etc., of $110,000. The association has always embraced the leading Germans of the city, and in intelligence and refinement has always been recognized as a repre- sentative German institution. Its objects are social recreation and esthetic and scientific culture, and these are prosecuted by singing, lectures, dramatic enter- tainments, dancing, games, etc. In order more satis- factorily to accomplish these objects the association in

1881 was remodeled, the old organization retaining its corporate existence and ownership of the hall, and the new, the Germania Club and Association ( Gesell- schaft), having charge of the social and educational features. The result was immediately seen in a very large increase of membership. There are now about four hundred and twenty members. The officers of the club and association are-

President, Charles Speck ; Secretary, E. C. Priber ; Treasurer, B. T. Eisenhardt; Directors, R. Schulenburg, E. D. Meier, E. C. Priber, Charles Nagel, Dr. Frerichs, I. G. Kappner, Charles Schmieding, L. Methudy, N. Eisenhardt, C. R. Fritsch, R. D'Oench, and W. D. Orthwein.

The Mercantile Club .- During 1881 it began to be apparent that the existing club-houses were not situated at points convenient for the numerous busi- ness men who might otherwise be disposed to patron- ize their facilities, and a " down-town" club was advocated. With this in view the Mercantile Club was organized, the incorporators being A. G. Peterson, T. B. Boyd, C. M. Adams, W. B. Dean, D. M. Houser, William McMillan, W. H. Gardner, Melville Sawyer, O. L. Brigham, S. G. Scarritt, George T. Parker, George B. Thomson, Charles A. Fowle, E. Hayden, A. A. Paton, S. M. Kennard, Jr., J. R. Holmes, and I. R. Trask, well-known and enterprising business men of the city. The officers were-

President, Edwin Hayden ; Vice-President, George B. Thomp- son; Secretary, S. G. Scarritt; Treasurer, A. G. Peterson ; Di- rectors, Edwin Hayden, G. B. Thompson, S. G. Scarritt, T. B. Boyd, S. M. Kennard, William McMillan, C. M. Adams, M. Sawyer, A. G. Peterson.

During the succeeding winter the club secured quarters in the "Sumner Building," on Locust Street, between Seventh and Eighth Strects, and after ex- pending about eighteen thousand dollars in remodeling the edifice and furnishing it, held an informal " open- ing" on the evening of May 12, 1882. The rooms embrace gentlemen's and ladies' parlors, dining-rooms, reading-rooms, a billiard hall, etc., and are decorated and furnished in the most elegant and attractive man- ner. A novel feature of the club is the admission of the wives of members to its privileges,-a departure from the ordinary usage of clubs that has already be- come very popular. Although scarcely six months had elapsed from the organization of the club to the opening of the house, the membership limitation to four hundred residents of St. Louis had been reached, . -a rapidity of growth that has scldom, if ever, been equaled in the history of similar organizations. The officers for 1882-83 are-

President, S. M. Kennard ; Vice-President, George B. Thomp- son ; Secretary, S. G. Scarritt; Treasurer, William McMillan ; Directors, S. M. Kennard, G. B. Thompson, S. G. Scarritt, Wil-

1820

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

liam McMillan, Ewing Hill, W. C. Steigers, E. S. Warner, A. G. Peterson, I. R. Trask.

St. Louis Club .- In 1878 some enterprising young business men of St. Louis conceived the idea of estab- lishing another club, and in the fall of that year or- ganized the St. Louis Club. The first officers were as follows : President, George H. Rae; Vice-Presi- dent, Gen. John W. Noble ; Secretary, A. B. Chever ; Treasurer, Thomas A. Stoddard. The club secured as its quarters the "old Finney mansion," at 1532 Washington Avenue, and fitted up one of the finest elub-houses in the country, the building being spa- eious and conveniently arranged, and the grounds roomy and attractive. The appointments of the house were and continue to be of the most elaborate and elegant character. The establishment was opened Sept. 23, 1879, with a public reception and an ad- dress by the Hon. J. W. Noble. The subsequent career of the elub has been prosperous, and the mem- bership numbers over three hundred. The present officers are as follows :

President, John T. Davis; Vice-President, E. C. Simmons ; Secretary, E. S. Scranton; Treasurer, A. B. Thompson; Di- rectors, John T. Davis, E. C. Simmons, Joseph Franklin, Geo. B. Hopkins, Dwight Tredway, Daniel Catlin, G. J. Plant.

Spanish-American Club .- El Club Comereial Hispano- Americano was organized in February, 1882, the inspiring mind being John F. Cahill, editor of El Comercio del Valle, the Spanish-American paper. Mr. Cahill was the first president, but soon resigned. The officers of the club for 1882 are-

President, Thomas Howard; Secretary, J. L. Corrigan ; Treasurer, E. C. Smith; Executive Committee, Pedro Leon, Frank Trayer, Richard Smith, Emilio Guignon, E. R. Quarles.

The objeets of the club are the promotion of good- fellowship and sociability among those interested in the trade with Mexico, Central America, and other Span- ish-speaking countries of America, and to encourage intercourse with those lands in every legitimate way.

The Century Club is the principal literary associa- tion of St. Louis. Among the prominent members are Hon. Henry L. Rogers, Mrs. Virginia L. Minor, J. R. Meeker, W. G. Eliot, D.D., Albert Todd, A. C. Bernays, M.D., Mrs. E. P. Johnson, Louis C. Haynes, Professor E. L. McDowell, J. C. Learned, D.D., Mrs. N. E. A. Rogers, C. W. Stevens, M.D., Miss Fannie Isabella Sherrick, D. W. Blount, M.D., and Francis Minor. The executive officers for the season of 1882-83 are F. F. Hilder, president ; Miss Ida E. Dyer, vice-president ; Hannibal Loevy, treasurer ; and E. W. Banister, secretary. The board of directors is composed of these officers, and Misses Thekla M. Bernays and Mary E. Thorn, and Messrs. C. M.

Whitney, George W. Lewis, George C. Hackstaff, F. E. Cook, J. M. Jordan, D. F. Hulburt, and F. W. Ruckstuhl. The direct management of the club is en- trusted to the programme committee, which consists of Hannibal Loevy, chairman, in charge of essays and readings, and Miss Julia F. Lynch and F. W. Ruck- stuhl, in charge of music. Among those who have delivered essays before the elub are Hon. Henry L. Rogers, Hon. C. M. Whitney, Rev. John Snyder, Mrs. Virginia L. Minor, Professor John H. Tice, Rev. S. H. Sonneschein, J. M. Jordan, Rev. W. W. Boyd, Rev. P. G. Robert, Mrs. E. P. Johnson, Pro- fessor Denton J. Snider, Hon. Nathaniel Holmes, Professor H. H. Morgan, Rev. C. E. Felton, Pro- fessor B. B. Minor, F. E. Cook, Rev. M. W. Willis, J. R. Meeker, Francis Minor, James Richardson, Dr. Charles O. Curtman, F. F. Hilder, Hon. A. W. Alex- ander, and Professor C. M. Woodward.

Deaf Mute Club .- In the summer of 1882 the Deaf Mute Social Club was organized, with D. A. Simpson, president ; W. E. Guss, vice-president ; J. J. Smith, secretary ; A. H. Kohinetz, treasurer ; J. H. Wolf, sergeant-at-arms. Its rooms are located at 420 Market Street.

CHAPTER XLI.

PROMINENT EVENTS-MOBS AND RIOTS-DUELS- MILITARY-THE TOWNS OF CARONDELET, HER- CULANEUM, AND EAST ST. LOUIS.

IN September, 1806, St. Louis was excited by the return of Lewis and Clark, who had traced the Mis- souri to its source, passed through a defile of the Rocky Mountains, and followed the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. They had been absent two years and a half, and their arrival at St. Louis, on their return to Washington, was an important event. The Indian chiefs who accompanied them were fêted by the chief inhabitants of the city, and so well were Lewis and Clark pleased with the people that they both became residents of St. Louis, and filled high public offices.

The first execution that ever took place in the Ter- ritory of Louisiana was on Sept. 16, 1808, when a young man, was hung for the murder of his stepfather. At that time hanging was very simple. Two posts were planted a short distance apart, with a fork at the uppermost ends, and on the forks a stout bcam rested, over which was swung a rope. The convict was driven to the gallows in a eart, scated in a chair, upon which he stood when the rope was adjusted to his neck. When all was ready the eart was driven away, and the condemned was left to die by strangulation.

1821

PROMINENT EVENTS.

In the Missouri Gazette mention is made of a Fourth of July celebration at St. Charles in 1808. Timothy Kirby was president of the day, and Franeis Saucier vice-president. In the following year (1809) a similar celebration was held at Harrisonville, St. Clair Co., at the house of Capt. Tabor Washburn. Shadrack Bond presided, and Abijah Ward was viee- president. Peter Darling and other citizens fired a salute at daybreak, and at one o'clock " Mr. Murphy sang a hymn and delivered an appropriate prayer," after which Jacob Boyes made an address. A dinner followed with seventeen regular toasts and " a number of volunteer sentiments, beginning with the ladies." Among the latter who were toasted were Mrs. Me- Clure, Miss Jane McClure, Mrs. Coats, and Mrs. Blair. Jabez Warner, afterwards constable of St. Louis, was at this celebration. He lost an arm (pre- sumably by an explosion) on a similar occasion. At St. Louis, in the same year, the Fourth of July was celebrated by a dinner given by Capt. Webster in Lee's orehard (block No. 37), and a ball at night in the Masons' Hall.

1810. The Fourth of July was observed with a dinner at Maj. Christy's tavern. On Monday, the 24th of September, a public dinner was given by the citizens of St. Louis to Governor Howard. There was a ball in the evening at the Assembly Room.

1811. Fourth of July dinner at Christy's tavern, Governor Howard presiding. August 3d, William H. Ashley's presence in Ste. Genevieve is mentioned. On the 19th of September announcement was made of the reappointment of Gen. William Clark as brig- adier-general of the Territorial militia.

On the 14th of December mention is made of the arrival in St. Louis of " Governor Howard and lady in good health." On the following Monday, Decem- ber 16th, St. Louis and the surrounding country were visited by a violent earthquake. The first shock was felt about 2.30 A.M., and lasted about one and three- fourths minutes. Windows, doors, and furniture were in tremulous motion, and there was a distant rumbling noise resembling that made by "a number of carriages passing over a pavement." The sky was obscured by a thiek fog, and there was not a breath of air. The temperature was about thirty-five or forty degrees Fahrenheit. At 2.47 A.M. another shoek occurred, unaccompanied by any rumbling noise and much less violent than the first. It lasted about two minutes. At 3.34 A.M. a third shock, nearly as violent as the first, but without as much noise, was felt. It lasted about fifty seconds, and a slight trembling continued for some time afterwards. There was a fourth shock shortly after daylight, less violent than any of the

others, and lasting nearly one minute, and about eight o'eloek there was a fifth shoek, almost as violent as the first. It was accompanied by the usual noise, and lasted about half a minute. The morning was very hazy, and unusually warm for the season. "The houses and fenees were covered with a white froth, but on examination it was found to be vapor, not pos- sessing the chilling eold of frost. Indeed, the moon was enshrouded in awful gloom." At 11.30 A.M. another slight shoek was observed, and about the same hour on the following day " a smart shoek" oc- curred. No lives were lost, and the houses did not sustain much injury. A few chimneys were thrown down and a few stone houses split. The earthquake appears to have covered an extensive area in South- east Missouri, " seaming the face of the country with yawning gulfs and submerging it with new lakes." The destruction was especially severe at New Madrid. There was a volcanic eruption, and gulfs or fissures from four to ten feet deep, and running north and south parallel with one another, were opened for miles, in some instances for five of them. On the night of Jan. 7, 1812, there was another earthquake, which inflicted much greater damage. Until the 17th of February slight shocks were felt from time to time. On the 17th occurred another terrible convulsion, which exceeded in fury all the previous ones. Gulfs and fissures broader and deeper were opened, "until high land was sunk into hollows, hollows made high land," lakes emptied into the fissures, and where there had previously been dry land " broad, sheeted lakes" created. The residents were panic-stricken, and, abandoning nearly all their cattle and household property, fled from the scene of desolation. " Wreek- ers" flocked to the deserted town and surrounding country, and carrying off the abandoned property in flat-boats, conveyed it to Natehez and New Orleans and sold it. The extent of country visited by the earthquake embraced a eireumference of about one hundred and fifty miles, taking the Indian town of Little Prairie, near Carruthersville, as the centre. The loss of human life was small. A Mrs. Lafont died from fright, and a Mrs. Jarvis was erushed by a falling log. Flat-boats on the river were found wreeked for miles and their eargoes ruined. It is believed that some members of their crews were drowned. There were no indications of any previous earthquake in this seetion, and no tradition of any such visitation existed among the Shawnees, Cherokees, or Dela- wares. Since 1812 there have been no violent shoeks of carthquake, but at intervals slight commo- tions have been experienced.

In May, 1812, the chiefs of the Great and Little

1822

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Osage, the Sacs, Renards, the Shawnees, and Dela- wares met at St. Louis to accompany Gen. William Clark to Washington City.

On the Fourth of July, Capt. McNair's troop of horse and Col. Musick's company of rifles paraded. The Declaration of Independence was read by Ed- ward Hempstead, and an oration was delivered by James T. Hull, after which dinner was served by Maj. Christy. Silas Bent presided, and Bernard Pratte was vice-president.

1813. A Fourth of July celebration took place as usual, but no account of it has been preserved.

1814. June 18th, a large number of citizens of St. Louis assembled at the Missouri Hotel to greet the return of Governor Clark " to the bosom of his friends and family."

1817. February 22d, the first celebration of Washington's birthday took place. A dinner was given at T. Kibby's " new boarding-house," at the south west corner of Main and the present Pine Streets, preceded by a public meeting held at Washington Hall, at which Governor William Clark presided, and Col. Alexander McNair was vice-president. At the dinner a number of appropriate toasts were drunk, and " volunteer sentiments" were proposed by the president and vice-president, Majs. Morgan, Graham, and Dorman, Capts. H. S. Geyer and N. Moore, L. W. Boggs, and Thomas Hanly.

This year was an eventful one for St. Louis. Among the more conspicuous occurrences were two duels be- tween Thomas H. Benton and Charles Lucas. The first meeting took place on the 12th of August, when Lucas was slightly wounded in the neck, and the second on the 27th of September, resulting in the death of Lucas. On the evening of the following day, Sunday, September 28th, an affray occurred in front of Kibby's boarding-house, between William Smith, a prominent merchant, and William Thorp, which resulted in the death of Smith. During the year St. Louis made a sudden advance in improvements. In the old section of the town, on Main Street, four or five brick houses were erected by Dr. Simpson and Messrs. Pratte, Bird, Douglass, and Thomas McKnight. About a dozen frame structures were also built. On the hill, in Chouteau and Lucas' addition, laid off during the previous year, frame dwellings were erected by M. Tesson, James Sawyer, Moses Scott, and Wil- liam Scott, and a small brick building, the first on the hill, for his law-office, by Matthias McGirk, on the west side of Fourth Street, above Walnut. In the same year was commenced the erection of the stone jail at the southeast corner of Sixth and the present Chestnut Streets. William Christy laid off

his addition to the old town, north west of the present Broadway and Christy Avenue, and Lisa, Bates, and Smith their addition along the river north of Biddle Street.

The Fourth of July celebration of this year took place at Mr. Didier's orchard (afterwards Block 54). A dinner, prepared by Mr. Mills, was served, at which Col. Samuel Hammond presided, with Silas Bent, vice-president.

September 13th, return announced of Auguste P. Choutcau, Jules de Mun, Robert McKnight, James Baird, J. Harro, and others, after forty-eight days' imprisonment at Santa Fé.

In the latter part of December two soldiers named Milner and Goodwin were drowned while attempting to cross the Mississippi, which was very rough at the time, in a small boat. A Mr. Criswell, " formerly residing at the mouth of the Missouri," was also drowned about the same time.

1818. On the 9th of February an Irish Emi- grant and Corresponding Society was formed. At the preliminary meeting, held at the house of Jere- miah Conner, Thomas Brady was chairman, and Thomas Hanly secretary. The initiation fee was fixed at five dollars, and Jeremiah Conner, John Mul- lanphy, James McGunnigle, Alcxander Blackwell, and Arthur McGinniss were appointed a committee on resolutions.

On the 1st of April, 1818, the first sale of lots of the town of Hannibal, which had been just laid out, took place in St. Louis. The proprictors of the town were Stephen Rector, Thompson Baird, Thomas Rec- tor, William V. Rector, Richard Gentry, and M. D. Bates. The location was well suited for a town, and Hannibal is now one of the most thriving cities in Northeastern Missouri.

July 4th, the St. Louis Mechanics' Benevolent Society, together with other citizens, celebrated Inde- pendence-day. Joseph Charless presided, and Charles W. Hunter was vice-president. Col. Thomas F. Riddick read the Declaration of Independence. Din- ner was then served by Mr. Horrocks. In the evening, " in honor of the day," Edward Hook's " very celebrated melodrama, called 'Tekeli, or the Siege of Mongatz,'" was performed at the theatre.

1819. June 9th, meeting of citizens at Col. Rid- dick's auction-house to prepare for the reception of President James Monroe, then on a Western tour, and expected to visit St. Louis. After reaching Nashville, Tenn., however, he was recalled to Wash- ington.

Fourth of July celebration in Pierre Didier's orchard. Col. Auguste Chouteau presided at dinner ;

1823

PROMINENT EVENTS.

William C. Carr, Dr. Pryor Quarles, and Col. Miller, vice-presidents. There was a portrait of Washington over the president's chair, surmounted by a live eagle.

Another celebration took place at Lucas' Spring, where dinner was provided. James Loper presided ; David B. Hill, vice-president.

July 28th, William H. Reno and wife were killed by lightning on the Sunday preceding this date, near the house of James Berry, about five miles from St. Louis. They had taken shelter under a tree to avoid the rain.

1820. March 17th, first celebration of St. Patrick's day in St. Louis. There was an elaborate dinner, but no public display.

1825. On the 29th of April, Gen. Lafayette was publicly received by the citizens of St. Louis, on the occasion of his visit to the United States. The an- nouncement of the proposed visit of this distinguished hero to this country was received by the citizens of St. Louis as early as the previous September. On the evening of Friday, the 10th of that month, pur- suant to notice, a number of the inhabitants of the city of St. Louis assembled at the office of the reg- ister " for the purpose of making arrangements for some public demonstration of their feelings upon the arrival in the United States of Gen. Lafayette." Gen. Bernard Pratte was appointed chairman, and Thompson Douglass secretary. It was resolved that Daniel Bissell, William Christy, Auguste Chouteau, Pierre Chouteau, Sr., Bernard Pratte, Stephen Hemp- stead, Sr., Alexander McNair, William Rector, Wil- liam Carr Lane, Henry S. Geyer, and Archibald Gamble " be a committee to superintend and direct all arrangements for the reception and accommodation of Gen. Lafayette should he determine to visit this city, and that they be authorized to call such future meetings as they may deem proper." On the Wed- nesday evening following, “ in pursuance of above resolution, a national salute was .fired, and a display of fireworks and a general illumination took place in the evening." On the 20th of September, 1824, Daniel Bissell, chairman of the committee of arrange- ments, wrote Gen. Lafayette at Philadelphia, ten- dering a welcome on behalf of the citizens, " with an earnest hope that a visit by you to this most western city of the United States will not be incompatible with either your time or your inclination." To this Gen. Lafayette replied from Washington, under date of Feb. 5, 1825 :

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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 179

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