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 188
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in his political life, that in 1838 he was sent to the State Senate, and used his influence in the passage of the bill for the construction of the Iron Mountain Rail- road, and also for the establishment of a workhouse.
In 1839 he was tendered the nomination to Con- gress by the Whig party, when the election was throughout the State at large, and made his canvass with great credit to himself, running far ahead of his party at a time when the whole State was overwhelm- ingly Democratic. In all public measures affecting the improvement, the growth, the interests and pros- perity of the city for forty ycars, Col. Grimsley took an active and conspicuous part. Generous, impulsive, active, and energetic, he was at all times in the front rank, taking a decided part in whatever was calculated to promote the public welfare, whether connected with the mechanical, commercial, or agricultural interest, or conducive to the public improvement and advance- incnt of the State.
As a manufacturer of saddles, Col. Grimsley enjoyed an extensive reputation in the business world. He invented and had patented the military or dragoon saddle, which was universally approved by the officers of the United States army, and did more work at his manufactory for the government at that time than any other factory of the kind in the country.
He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, having been made a Mason in Missouri Lodge, No. 12, and elected Grand Treasurer in October, 1827, and again in 1828.
Col. Grimsley was well informed on all the political questions of the day, having read much and kept pace with the events of forty years. In early life he cs- poused and advocated the principles of the Whig party, and was the stanch friend of Henry Clay. He was also well acquainted with most of the promi- nent statesmen of his day, with many of whom he corresponded and held personal relations and inter- course. No man of his day sacrificed more of his time and money in behalf of the city of St. Louis than did Col. Grimsley. He died Dec. 22, 1861, leav- ing two married daughters,-Mrs. Henry T. Blow and Mrs. George Stansbury, -and a son, John Grimsley.
The Missouri Dragoons were organized by Matthias Steitz, Charles Muller, and others in 1846. On the 1st of December, 1852, a military parade took place. In the line were the Missouri Dragoons, Capt. Brinck- man ; the St. Louis Grays, Capt. George Knapp; the Missouri Jaegers, Capt. Laibold ; the Union Rifle- men, Capt. J. W. Cranc; and the National Guards, Capt. Renick,-the two last companies having been organized during the year. The Union Riflemen were
1860
HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.
officered by Capt. J. W. Crane, First Lieut. James Gordon, Second Lieut. E. E. Allen, Third Lieut. E. Alcon, Fourth Lieut. J. G. Phillips, and Orderly Sergeant N. J. Roff. The National Guards were officered by Capt. R. N. Renick, First Lieut. J. N. Pritchard, Second Lieut. J. H. Tucker, Third Lieut. E. S. Wheaton, Fourth Lieut. J. Obear, First Ser- geant W. G. Savage, Second Sergeant H. J. B. Mc- Kellops, Third Sergeant N. W. Parker, Fourth Ser- geant George W. West, Fifth Sergeant Isaac N. Field.
During 1853-54 the "St. Louis Cadets," composed of the students of the St. Louis University, Capt. William Kenny, and Lieuts. John I. Ainslie, Victor Pujos, and Joseph Bienve ; the "Light Guards," Capt. John C. Smith, Lieuts. Daniel Byrne, S. H. Smith, and Peter R. Cavanaugh ; and the " Washing- ton Guards," Capt. D. M. Frost, Lieuts. P. Deegan, Joseph Kelly, and Francis Burke, were organized.
There appeared on parade on the anniversary of Washington's birthday, 1854, the following com- panies :
Washington Guards, Capt. D. M. Frost. National Guards, Capt. J. N. Pritchard. Light Guards, Capt. J. C. Smith. Continentals, Capt. E. C. Blackburn. Missouri Riflemen, Capt. Bernhard Laibold. Black-Plumed Riflemen, Capt. E. E. Allen.
Missouri Dragoons, Capt. F. Brinckman.
Lancers, Capt. Jackson.
St. Louis Grays, Company A, Capt. Henry Prosser. St. Louis Grays, Company B, Capt. E. O. English. St. Louis Grays, Company C, Capt. D. I. Morrow. Missouri Artillery, Capt. Henry Almstead. Union Riflemen, Capt. Louis Frey.
Mounted Riflemen, Capt. Frederic Walter.
The following were the regimental officers : Col. Renick, Lieut .- Col. George Knapp, Maj. Smith, Adjt. John Knapp.
In 1858 a new act of the Legislature reorganizing the militia was passed, and many of the old companies reorganized under it, and some new ones were formed, among which were the Washington Blues, Capt. Jo- seph Kelley, Lieuts. P. E. Burke, John R. Drew, and C. W. Hogan ; the Washington Guards, Capt. D. M. Frost, and Lieuts. Patrick Gorman, Robert Tucker, and Patrick O'Connor; the Emmet Guards, Capt. J. C. Smith, and Lieuts. Edward Byrne, Philip Coyne, and Edward Mulholland ; the St. Louis Grays, Capt. John Knapp, and Lieuts. Edward Cooper, Augustus Pasquier, and Martin Burke. The City Guard was also organized in this year, with George A. Schaeffer as captain, and A. G. Hequemberg, J. J. Morrison, and B. Davidson, lieutenants; also the Missouri Guards, with George W. West as captain, and Frank H. Tucker, Solomon Scott, and A. C. Bernondy as
lieutenants ; National Guard, B. E. Walker, captain ; L. H. Garnett, John W. Amiss, and Thomas W. Bandon, lieutenants.
In 1860 the militia was ordered to proceed to the Kansas border to suppress Montgomery and his band. The order was received on Friday, November 23d, and everything was in readiness to move within twenty-four hours afterwards.
On Sunday morning, November 25th, the troops left St. Louis, and endured for three weeks all the rigors and hardships of a winter campaign with re- markable resolution and courage. The objects of the expedition were accomplished without bloodshed, but the troops showed such discipline and zeal as proved that they lacked only the name to become " regulars" in fact. The following is a list of the staff officers and the officers of the various companies :
GENERAL STAFF OFFICERS.
Brig .- Gen. D. M. Frost, commanding; Lieut .- Col. J. S. Bowen ; Maj. W. D. Wood, aide-de-camp; Maj. Carey Gratz, quartermaster ; Maj. John J. Anderson, paymaster ; Maj. N. Wall, commissary ; Maj. R. S. Voorhis, judge-advocate-general ; Maj. Florence M. Cornyn, surgeon.
FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY, M. V. M.
Lieut .- Col. John Knapp, commanding.
Regimeutal Staff.
Capt. H. W. Williams, quartermaster ; Capt. Samuel Hatch, commissary ; John R. Drew, Paymaster; Joseph T. Scott, Surgeon.
Corps of Engineers, National Guards.
Lieut. McKellops, commanding,-100 men.
St. Louis Grays, Company A.
Martin Burke, captain; S. O. Coleman, first lieutenant ; R. U. Leonori, second lieutenant,-36 men.
Sarsfield Guards, Company B.
Charles L. Rogers, captain ; Thomas Curley, first lieutenant ; Hugh McDermot, second lieutenant ; Felix A. McDonald, third lieutenant,-45 men.
Washington Guards, Company C.
P. Gorman, captain ; R. Tucker, first licutenant,-60 men.
Emmet Guards, Company D.
William Wade, captain ; E. Byrne, first lieutenant; M. Park, second lieutenant ; Philip Coyne, third lieutenant,-44 men.
Washington Blues, Company E.
P. E. Burke, first lieutenant, commanding ; Patrick Lanigan, second licutenant; L. Phillibert, third lieutenant,-40 men.
Missouri Guard, Company G.
G. W. West, captain; Sol. Scott, Jr., second lieutenant,-42 inen.
City Guard, Company I.
J. J. Morrison, captain ; H. W. Sandford, second lieutenant,- 40 men.
Montgomery Guards, Company K.
Patrick Naughton, captain ; John R. Carroll, second licuten- ant; C. A. Ghio, third lieutenant,-30 men.
1861
MILITARY.
Independent Guards.
George A. Schaffer, captain ; Charles H. Fredericks, first lieu- tenant,-36 men.
Squadron of Cavalry.
Maj. Schaffer, commanding; Lieut. W. Jackson, adjutant; A. Jaeger, sergeant-major,-40 mnen.
Missouri Light Infantry.
William Jackson, commandant; G. Reinhardt, first lieuten- ant; Henry Betz, second lieutenant; Joseph Snyder, third lieutenant,-36 men.
After the war there were various independent militia companies and some recognized by the State, but it was not until the labor riots of 1877 that the necessity for a well-organized militia force was popu- larly recognized. When danger threatened at that time, a mayor's guard, police reserves, and other vol- unteer forces were speedily organized, Maj .- Gen. A. J. Smith commanding. This force, co-operating with a brigade of Illinois militia, Gen. E. N. Bates com- manding, and stationed at East St. Louis, succeeded in preventing further disorder. There was no bloodshed, but much threatening, and on a hot Sunday afternoon the Illinois militia, led by a vol- unteer aid to Gen. Bates, Capt. J. H. C. Irwin (since a St. Louis journalist), captured seventy-nine railroad strikers who were ringleaders of a mob of thousands endeavoring to prevent the departure of the first trains.
After the riots the call for an effective militia force in St. Louis was so urgent that Gen. Squires and Col. J. L. Torrey, his chief of staff, met with much en- couragement in their work of organization and disci- pline. So well sustained were they and others, that the present force has become a credit to the city and State.
The construction of a new armory at the corner of Pine and Seventeenth Streets was commenced in Au- gust, 1881, and in May, 1882, it was formally opened by a grand encampment arranged by the Ladies' Mili- tary Association. The building fronts two hundred feet on Pine Street, with a depth of one hundred and nine feet. There is a large arcna, seventy-four by one hundred and thirty-five feet, designed for cavalry and artillery drill. The building is three stories high, and is admirably arranged for all its purposes. On the third floor is an immense hall, one hundred and four feet by one hundred and ninety-four feet, with a height at the side walls of twenty-three, and over sixty feet clear in the centre to the arched roof. In No- vember, 1881, the First Regiment Police Reserves, which had been in existence about four years, under the command of Col. J. G. Butler, was mustered into the service of the State, and became the Third Regi- ment, National Guard of Missouri.
The following is a carefully corrected roster of the general, field, staff, and line officers of the St. Louis militia :
Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, commander-in-chief.
Brig .- Gen. John B. Waddill, adjutant-general.
Governor's Staff in St. Louis .- Brig .- Gen. L. T. Pim, surgeon- general ; Brig .- Gen. R. Graham Frost, judge-advocate-general ; Col. Leigh O. Knapp, inspector-general; Lieut .- Col. Fergus McRee, aide-de-camp.
Eastern Military District of Missouri, Brig .- Gen. Charles W. Squires, commanding.
Brigade Staff .- Lieut .- Col. Jay L. Torrey, assistant adjutant- general and chief of staff; Lieut .- Col. Thomas E. Holland, M.D., medical director ; Maj. Edgar C. Lackland, quartermaster ; Maj. Samuel Cupples, commissary ; Maj. Rohert Buchanan, assistant inspector-general ; Capt. Jacob D. Goldman, aide-de-camp.
FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY, N. G. M .- Col. George J. Chap- man, commanding; major, Leland F. Prince.
Staff .- Maj. Joseph H. Leslie, M.D., surgeon ; Capt. A. L. Shapleigh, adjutant; Capt. William C. Marshall, judge-advo- cate ; Capt. James F. Coyle, quartermaster; Capt. W. G. Smyth, commissary ; Capt. Ed. Batdof, ordnance officer.
Company A, Capt. William P. Hazard, First Lieut. D. Prince, Second Lieut. W. H. Scott.
Company C, Capt. E. W. Duncan, First Lieut. T. S. Slaughter, Company D, First Lieut. William H. Gregg, Jr., commanding ; Second Lieut. Walter Graham.
Company E, Capt. Jacob S. Beck, First Lieut. George A. Simnınons.
Company F (at St. Charles, Mo.), Capt. Joseph W. Ruenzi, First Lieut. T. S. Cunningham, Second Lieut. J. B. Martin.
Company G, Capt. F. S. Lawrence, First Lieut. R. R. Tilley, Second Lieut. W. J. Marshall.
Company K, Capt. George H. Platt, First Lieut. Charles M. Munroe, Second Lieut. T. J. Brown.
ST. LOUIS LIGHT ARTILLERY, BATTERY A .- Capt. Samuel D. Winter, First Lieut. P. H. Skipwith, First Lieut. R. E. Williams, Second Lieut. R. D. Saunders.
THIRD REGIMENT INFANTRY, N. G. M .- Col. James G. Butler, commanding; Lieut .- Col. Edward D. Meier.
Staff .- Maj. W. A. McCandless, M.D., surgeon ; Capt. George C. Betts, chaplain ; Capt. Pierre Chouteau, adjutant; Capt. Charles E. Slayhack, commissary and quartermaster.
Company A (Lafayette Guard), Capt. Shepard Barclay, First Lieut. F. J. McMaster, Second Lieut. Frank Lowery.
Company B, Capt. Daniel C. Bordley, First Lieut. C. B. Bordley, Second Lieut. John G. Meara.
Company D, Capt. C. P. Walbridge, First Lieut. Charles D. Comfort, Second Lieut. L. M. Hall.
Company E (Mayor's Guard), Capt. William Bull, First Lieut. Walter Johnson, Second Lieut. L. C. Brandon.
Company F ( Allen Guard), Capt. Fitz W. Guerin, First Lieut. Walter H. Martin.
Company G (Branch Guards), First Lieut. M. Fritz.
Company H (West End Guards), Capt. Huntington Smith, First Lieut. N. G. Edwards, Second Lieut. John S. J. Mil- ler.
ST. LOUIS LIGHT GUARDS .- Frank Halliday, first lieutenant, commanding ; Theodore Hunt, second lieutenant.
BAIN ZOUAVES .- Capt. Robert E. M. Bain, First Lieut. T. R. Roe, Second Lieut. Charles B. Gaunt.
ATTUCK GUARDS (Colored) .- Capt. W. H. Berzey, First Lieut. Louis Phillips, Second Lieut. Theodore Williams.
SUMNER GUARD (Colored) .- Capt. James G. Horton, Second Lieut. Peyton W. Randolph.
118
1862
HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.
There are also two independent companies of Irish- American extraction, the Emmet and Montgomery Guards, and the aggregate of rank and file in the St. Louis district is thus brought up to about one thousand seven hundred and fifty, with promise of speedily filling the regiments and companies to the full legal limit.
Gen. George Poole Dorriss was born in Robinson County, Tenn., Oct. 16, 1807. His father was a well- to-do merchant, but the family being large, young Dorriss was soon taught the importance of making his own way in the world. He enjoyed the advantages of a course at Cumberland College, and while still a young man, being affected by the excitement which resulted from the discovery of the lead-mines at Ga- lena, Ill., determined, with others, to try his luck at mining. His father having offered him a farm if he would cultivate it, he turned his attention to agricul- ture, but being late in getting in his crop, an early frost ruined it, and, disheartened, he concluded farm- ing was not his forte. Soon after an opportunity offered for engaging in the mercantile business in Frankfort, Southern Illinois, and having obtained a stock of goods on credit in St. Louis, and at Louis- ville, Ky., he established himself in that town. In 1831, while engaged in business at Frankfort, he married Miss Sarah Henderson, in Todd County, Ky. Mr. Dorriss remained about two years in Frankfort, where his business was not very successful owing to the expensive stock of goods which he insisted on carrying. About that time the famous " Platte pur- chase" occurred, and Gen. Dorriss having pre-empted a valuable tract of land, removed with his wife and effects to Missouri, settling in Martinsville, now known as Platte City. He was among the first to locate there, and built the first briek house, which was con- sidered at that time an important venture. Mr. Dor- riss found full scope in the new country for his ex- cellent business qualities. His indomitable energy and enterprise, combined with a sound judgment and keen foresight, won him a prominent place in the community, in which he was regarded as a leader. Being of an ambitious temperament, he took an ac- tive interest in public affairs, especially in politics, and was elected to the General Assembly, once as a mcm- ber of the Lower House, and again to the State Senate.
Aside from his mercantile ventures he engaged in speculative enterprises, and invested largely in real estate, at one time owning thousands of acres. In- cluded in the property he acquired was a large planta- tion, cultivated by hundreds of slavcs. When the gold fever in California broke out, Mr. Dorriss fitted up a train of forty wagons and started overland for
the Pacific slope. For two years he traded in the mining region near Sacramento, and was very suc- cessful, realizing handsome profits. He was among the first to ship goods to California via Cape Horn.
At the expiration of the period named he returned to Platte, where he remained until after the civil war broke out, and then removed to St. Louis. In 1863, Mr. Dorriss engaged in business in Montana Territory, and for four years was located at Helena. He con- ducted a highly lucrative trade with the miners, and made several business ventures which yielded hand- some returns. After concluding his transactions in Montana he resumed his residence in St. Louis, re- tiring from active business pursuits, and devoting most of his time and attention to his real estate interests.
Eight years ago he purchased some fifty acres of fine land on the Olive Street road and King's High- way, upon which he erected the large dwelling that he and his family occupied. The Dorriss mansion is an imposing structure, and is considered one of the most palatial residences in or near St. Louis. The interior appointments arc luxurious in the extreme, and the surroundings are in keeping. Beautiful drives and artistically laid out walks lead in every direction over the extensive and well-kept grounds, and the entire premises, with the lovely lawn in front, wooded knoll at the rear, and massive iron gates and porter's lodge, are a model of elegant taste and picturesque beauty.
Gen. Dorriss had in all five children, of whom three were living at the time of his death-Mrs. Halder- man, Mrs. Whisker, and Thomas Dorriss,-and seven grandchildren. Mrs. Whisker has since died, Jan. 17, 1883.
Gen. Dorriss, while never courting political honors, was several times elected to positions of trust and re- sponsibility, and was a member of the Charleston Con- vention at the time when the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas to the Presidency was strongly urged. So- cially he was very popular, being a pleasant companion and a generous entertainer and friend. In August, 1882, his health began to fail, and he went to Eureka Springs, but was afforded no relief. He was now in a feeble condition, but at his earnest entreaty that he might be permitted to end his days among familiar scenes, he was removed to his home.
His death occurred Nov. 29, 1882, and his remains are buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
His daughter, Mrs. A. B. Halderman, who was the almost constant companion of her father for the last few years of his life, owns and occupies at present the Dorriss mansion. Her children now living are Sallie,
LIBRETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
1863
CARONDELET AND EAST SAINT LOUIS.
born in St. Louis Aug. 7, 1864; Georgie, born in Leavenworth Feb. 3, 1874; and Annie, born in Leavenworth July 26, 1875.
CARONDELET AND EAST ST. LOUIS.
Owing to the fact that they have been identified with the history of St. Louis from an early period, the towns of Carondelet, or South St. Louis, and Illi- noistown, or East St. Louis, are entitled to brief men- tion in this work.
The settlement of Carondelet1 dates from 1767, in which year a Clement Delor de Treget, a native of Quercy, near Cahors, ancient province of Guicnne and Perigord, France, of an old family of position, and an officer in the service of France, came up from Ste. Genevieve to establish himself near St. Louis, and selecting the location hereinafter described, built a stone house for his residence. The high limestone bluffs, commencing at a short distance below the arsenal grounds, bordering the western shore of the Mississippi for a couple of miles in a southwest direc- tion, at an elevation of sonie two hundred feet above the river, terminate in an almost abrupt descent to the low grounds south, at a distance of five and one- half miles from the court-house. At this point the river in its southern course changes its direction to nearly due south, and the land along its shores is nearly level, with a very slight descent to the mouth of the River des Peres, which at this day is the southern extremity of the city of St. Louis, about seven miles from Market Street, the city's centre. Here, at the south foot of this rocky bluff, at the northern commencement of this level, Delor built his house, which became in time the nucleus of the little village, at first called the village of Catalan's Prairic, which slowly and gradually grew up around him, numbering not over twenty families in a period of the same number of years, and at the date of the transfer to the United States (1804), as we learn from Stoddard, containing some fifty houses and a population of about two hundred and fifty. The whole country along the water-courses being in its primitive state, heavily covered with timber, the few prairie spots on this side being back from the rivers, the first settlers had to clear their lots and lands for their habitations. The only street, or rather road, in the place for many years was the Main Street, run- ning north and south, parallel to the river, at about a hundred yards' distance from it, it being the road from St. Louis to the country south. The houses
were scattered along this road, most of them on the east side near the river, but a few on the west side.
As the little village grew in size and population it extended a few blocks farther south along the Main Street, and west. Towards the upper end of the hamlet a ravine crossed the road, down which the water from the high grounds emptied into the river.
The original village consisted of about a dozen blocks, from the present E or Elwood Street on the north to about L or Lafayette Street on the south, embracing the present blocks Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, lying east of Main Street, between it and the river, and blocks Nos. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40, west side of the road, between it and Second Street. There were no houses south of L Strect, north of E Street, nor west of Second Street for many years, and to this day the surface of the ground remains un- changed, no grading having ever been done in this primitive portion of the village, except the grading of the descent of the road from St. Louis down to the Main Street, which was only done after the incorpora- tion of the town to avoid, as in the olden day, the cir- cuitous descent to the village around by Second Street. Elwood Street, the former north line of the village, ascends a gradual plane from Main to Fourth Street. Second Street descends gradually from Elwood, going south to where G Street is marked down on the town plat, between blocks Nos. 38 and 39, where the sur- face-water drains to the river, this being the lowest cross street of the old village. Second then rises abruptly to Illinois Street. Blocks Nos. 34 and 35 were originally very high ground when purchased and built on by Louis G. Picot after 1850, but have been cut down some twenty-five to thirty fcet to the grade of Main Street by the Iron Mountain Railroad Com- pany, which needed the earth elsewhere. These two blocks are the only places where the natural soil has bcen disturbed in the old portion of the village. There is no G cross street, the ground not having been left for it, but where it appears on the plat the water drains to the river through a culvert under the Main Street. The land west of Second Street, in this hollow, commences to rise again very abruptly west and south to the high ground at Illinois and Third Streets, the site of the present brick Catholic Church, built about 1860, on block No. 57, where stood the first of upright timbers built in 1835. On block No. 58, next south between Kansas and Lafayette Streets, stands the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph, estab- lished in the same year as the erection of the first log church (1835).
For many years after the first settlement of the village, the road down the hill on the north, owing
1 The accompanying sketch of Carondelet was mainly pre- pared by Frederic L. Billon.
1864
HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.
to the abrupt termination of the limestone bluffs at the present Dover Street, made a circuit around by Second Street, coming again into Main at Elwood.
In the year 1817 a few persons commenced making improvements on this high ground north of the vil- lage, then thickly covered with timber, on both sides of this old road down the hill, which was then aban- doned, and a new one of easier descent was made west of the old one, which intersected the Second or back street of the village at the brow of the hill.
After the incorporation of the town in 1832, it was surveyed for the first time, and the lines of the streets and blocks established. In laying off the plat of this north part from Dover Street, the then northern end of the village, Main Street was prolonged nearly on the line of the old road, which had been aban- doned in 1817, running parallel with the river, at about eighty yards distant from it, and Second, Third, and Fourth Streets parallel to the First or Main Street, making the blocks three hundred French feet square, as they were in the old original village. This survey cut diagonally through the few places then newly made on this north hill, which had been set- tled on without other title than the taking possession, as had been the custom in the early Spanish days.
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