History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 82

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 82

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William Marshall Senter, the able and energetic president of the Cotton Exchange, was born at Lex- ington, Tenn., April 11, 1831, the son of a prosper- ous farmer in that section. His mother was a native of North Carolina, and was of Scotch lineage. Up to the age of about eighteen young Senter assisted his father on the farm, and obtained a good common school education. He then engaged as a clerk in the dry-goods business at Trenton, Tenn., and after a suita- ble apprenticeship went into business for himself at that place. While residing in Trenton he married his present wife, Lucy Jane Wilkins. In 1863 he removed to Columbus, Ky., and remained in business there about a year. His success at both places caused him to seek a larger field for his operations, and in 1864 he removed to St. Louis, where he established himself as a commission merchant. His attention was soon directed to the cotton trade of St. Louis. Owing to the war the city was then handling consid- erable cotton, and Mr. Senter became impressed with the idea that this traffic could be retained. The re- ceipt of fifty-six thousand bales in 1865-66 seemed

to justify this confidence, but in the years immediately following only an average of some twenty-eight thou- sand bales were handled. Nevertheless, Mr. Senter, who had become thoroughly identified with the cotton trade, maintained the correctness of his belief, and labored incessantly through years of discouragement to make his prediction good. He was an influential member of the Cotton Association, which was organ- ized in 1870, and when, as we have seen, the present Cotton Exchange was established in 1873, he was the first vice-president, and is now in his third term as president.

As a result of the labors of Mr. Senter and others the cotton trade of St. Louis began ultimately to assume a shape that promised permanent success. In 1870-71. the receipts were only twenty thousand two hundred and seventy bales, but in 1871-72 no less than thirty-six thousand four hundred and twenty- one bales were handled in St. Louis. The completion of the Iron Mountain Railroad into the rich cotton -. fields of Arkansas and Texas gave the trade a great stimulus; and when in 1873, Col. Paramore settled in St. Louis and laid before the cotton merchants his scheme for a gigantic cotton compress that should afford proper facilities for handling cotton on a large scale and with the utmost economy, in order to attract and provide for the growing trade of the Southwest, he found a willing co-laborer in Mr. Senter. The result of their joint efforts was the organization of the St. Louis Cotton Compress Company, which now has a paid-up capital of one million dollars, and man- ages the largest cotton compress and warehouse in the world. It is a fine monument to the wise forethought and liberal commercial spirit of its projectors. When Col. Paramore retired from the presidency of this corporation in 1881, Mr. Senter, who had been vice- president and one of the directors from the organiza- tion, succeeded to the vacancy.

When the Iron Mountain Railroad was about to pass out of Thomas Allen's hands into those of per- sons having no special interest in St. Louis, Mr. Senter was one of those who at once responded and took stock, to keep the control of the road at St. Louis. He also became a director of the road, and took an active part in the management, a connection which lasted until Jay Gould finally purchased the property.

Mr. Senter has also been an earnest and efficient promoter of Col. Paramore's Texas and St. Louis Railway (the " Cotton Belt Line"), and is the vice- president of the organization.

When the new Cotton Exchange was being erected, the builder became embarrassed and was unable to go

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on with the work, whereupon Mr. Senter stepped to the front and organized a building company and tided the enterprise over the difficulty.

When St. Louis took her place as one of the assured cotton marts of the country, many American and foreign buyers with large capital made the city their headquarters, but the veteran house of Senter & Co. led them all, and has retained its acknowledged supremacy, having handled of late. years over sixty thousand bales annually, representing a value of over five million dollars. Associated in the house of Senter & Co. is Mr. Senter's brother-in-law, W. T. Wilkins, who brought to the concern rare energy and ability.

As a business man of ripe judgment, Mr. Senter is in great request, but outside of the cotton interests his business connections are few. He has, however, been vice-president of the Merchants' Exchange, and is a director in the American Central Fire Insurance · Company of St. Louis.

Personally, Mr. Senter is one of the most modest and unassuming of men, but in action he is energetic and intrepid. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and strives to leaven his business with lıis religious principles. The result is that no house in St. Louis enjoys a higher reputation as an honest, capable, and sound establishment.

Mr. Senter has had four children, three of whom are now living. One, a daughter, is the wife of A. B. Jones, a well-known lawyer of St. Louis.

The St. Louis Board of Trade was organized in the autumn of 1867, and its formal inauguration took place at the Polytechnic building on the evening of October 17th of that year, the address on that occa- sion being delivered by Hon. Henry T. Blow. The board held a meeting at the same place on the 1st of November, 1867, which was called to order by the president, Adolphus Meier, who laid before it the re- port of Messrs. Wayman Crow, Henry T. Blow, and Isidor Busch, “ a special committee appointed to con- sider and report upon a communication from the Bir- mingham, England, Chamber of Commerce, recom- mending the adoption of an international law." The Board of Trade has continued in active and successful operation since then down to this writing, its officers (1882) being C. I. Filley, president ; Joseph A. Wherry, first vice-president ; C. L. Thompson, secre- tary and treasurer ; E. C. Simmons, Joseph O'Neil, E. K. Holton, J. E. Shorb, John Cantwell, E. A. Hitchcock, N. C. Chapman, I. M. Mason, and S. H. Laflin, directors.

Mechanics' Exchange .- In 1839 the leading me- chanics of the city, in order that there might be unity

in their efforts, and that co-operation might be secured among them, called a meeting for the purpose of forming a Mechanics' Exchange. At this meeting Capt. David H. Hill presided, and Louis Dubreuil was appointed secretary. Five persons were chosen to select a committee from the different departments of business, one to be selected from each branch, to draft a constitution, by-laws, etc. The five gentlemen thus chosen were R. N. Moore, J. M. Paulding, Asa Wilgus, William A. Lynch, and John H. Ferguson, who after consultation submitted the following names : Joseph C. Laveille, carpenter ; Daniel D. Page, baker ; Asa Wilgus, painter; Isaac Chadwick, plasterer ; Samuel Gaty, founder; Thomas Andrews, copper- smith ; George Trask, cabinet-maker ; John M. Paul- ding, hatter ; James Barry, chandler ; James Love, blacksmith; Joseph Laiden, chair-maker; Wooster Goodyear, cordwaincr; William Shipp, silversmith ; John Young, saddler ; B. Townsend, wire and sieve manufacturer ; J. Todd, burr millstone manufacturer ; Thomas Gambal, cooper ; Francis Raborg, tanner ;. S. C. Coleman, turner ; N. Paschall, printer ; John G. Shelton, tailor ; B. L. Turnbull, bookbinder ; Charles Coates, stone-cutter; Anthony Bennett, stonc-mason ; David Shepard, bricklayer; I. A. Letcher, brick- maker; William Thomas, ship-builder ; Samuel Haw- kins, gunsmith ; Samuel Sliawk, locksmith ; A. Oak- ford, comb-maker; N. Tiernan, wheelwright; J. B. Gerard, carriage-maker ; Moses Stout, plane-maker ; James Robinson, upholsterer ; and J. Bemis, machin- ist. From this meeting resulted the organization of the mechanics, and ultimately the formation of a Mechanics' Exchange.1

In 1852 a new Exchange was organized, a meeting for that purpose being held at the Criminal Court room on the 23d of February. At this meeting Col. Thornton Grimsley was called to the chair, and Rufus Kayser was appointed secretary, after which Mr. Goodin, chairman of a committee appointed at a previous meeting, reported as follows :

"Your committee, appointed at a primary meeting of the master-mechanics of St. Louis, held on Thursday evening, the 12th instant, to prepare a plan of organization, would report recommendatory, as follows :

" Ist. That we proceed at once to an organization. under the name and style of the Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Exchange and Library Association of St. Louis, by the election 'of the fol- lowing officers : president, vice-president, corresponding secre- tary, recording secretary, treasurer, and a hoard of seven direc- tors, the president of the association to be ex officio chairman of the board of directors.

2d. That any mechanic or manufacturer residing in the county of St. Louis shall, upon the payment of ten dollars, the amount

1 Edwards' Great West, p. 365.

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of annual subscription, be entitled to the full privileges of mem- bership for one year.

" 3d. That the board of directors, as soon as elected, shall be instructed to report to the association for the government of the same a constitution and by-laws.

"THORNTON GRIMSLEY,

" CHARLES H. PECK,

"P. WONDERLY,

" J. C. EDGAR,

" R. KEYSER,

" JOHN GOODIN,

" Committee."

The report was unanimously adopted, and the fol- lowing resolutions were afterwards offered and adopted :

" Resolved, That at the first meeting of the subscribers to the association it be made the special order of business to elect the following : president, vice-president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, and a board of seven directors.

" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed in each ward of the city to obtain subscriptions of members."

The following committees were afterwards appointed, in accordance with the resolution : First Ward, J. Dunn, F. Saler, L. W. Peck; Second Ward, Richard Ivers, Morris Pawley, S. E. Selleck ; Third Ward, J. P. Camp, C. H. Peck, James Luthey ; Fourth Ward, Rufus Keyser, Frank Weston, Mahlon Weber ; Fifth Ward, J. C. Edgar, W. F. Stacy, P. Kings- land; Sixth Ward, J. C. Cochran, Linus Jackson, Archibald Carr.

The present Mechanics' Exchange was organized in 1856 by A. Ittner, Thomas Rich, A. Cook, W. Stamps, James Garvin, C. Lynch, J. Locke, James Luthy, and others. The first president (elected in 1856) was N. M. Ludlow. In 1857-58 the rooms of the association, which was then known as the Me- chanics' and Manufacturers' Exchange, were located at No. 63 Chestnut Strcet, between Third and Fourth Streets. The objects of the association, as stated at the time, were " the encouragement, development, and promotion of the mechanical and manufacturing in- terests of the city, and the arbitration of all errors and misunderstandings between its members and those of the community having business with them." The rooms were kept open on business days from seven o'clock A.M. until six o'clock P.M., the general assem- bling hour being from eleven to twelve o'clock. Each member was entitled to a " communication box," the use of the reading-room, library, stationery, etc., without extra charge. The terms of membership were ten dollars per annum, payable half-yearly in advance.

The officers in 1858 were W. Stamps, president ; N. M. Ludlow, first vice-president ; E. N. Leeds, second vice-president ; R. M. Parks, treasurer ; Henry Weissenfels, secretary. Committee of Arbitration,

John Andrews, William Barron, Philip Wilson, James L. Gage, P. Gregory, John B. Gibson, P. Harvey, Andrew Middleton ; Committee of Appeal, Charles H. Peck, Samuel Robbins, W. F. Cozzens, John Evill, W. G. Clark, L. D. Baker, W. H. Mark- ham.

The avocations of the members at this time were : architects, superintendents, and builders, 110 ; hatters and fur dealers, 4; bricklayers, 60 ; wire manufac- turers, 1; boot and shoe dealers, 3 ; paper-hanging establishments, 2; stationers and booksellers, 3; car- riage- and wagon-makers, 5 ; stone-masons, 9; lumber dealers, 13 ; stone-cutters, 8; tin and stove dealers, 9 ; hardware dealers, 3; wood-turners, 2; galvanized iron-work, 7 ; saw-milling, 15 ; stone-pavers, 4 ; var- nish manufacturers, 1 ; terra-cotta work, 9 ; painters, 8; lime-burners, 6 ; cement dealers, 2 ; gas-fitters, 5 ; plumbers, 10; planing-mills, 5; mastic work, 2; wrought- and cast-iron-work, 17; brick-makers, 20; plasterers, 11; marble dealers, 8; composition-,. metal-, and slate-roofers, 14 ; sundry other kinds of business, 24; total, 401.

Persons, not members, residing in or out of the city, who desired to exhibit models, works of art, etc., had the privilege of using the large hall for that purpose, if acceded to by the secretary or any other officer of the institution.

The present Exchange was chartered in 1875, with an authorized capital stock of two thousand five hun- dred dollars.

On the 12th of February, 1879, the Exchange entered upon the occupation of its new quarters, comprehending the entire fifth floor of the then re- cently completed Hunt building, No. 106 North Fourth Strect, which had been leased to the organiza- tion by Mr. Hunt. The president of the Exchange, W. W. Polk, and the vice-presidents, Thomas F. Hay- den and Francis Hawkins, welcomed the members.

At the present time the membership numbers several hundred. The present board of officers is composed of Anthony Ittner, president ; T. P. Mc- Kelleget, first vice-president; W. J. Thorn, second vice-president ; William Stamps, treasurer; and W. R. Dalton, secretary. Directors, J. Green, P. Mul- cahy, H. Gundaker, J. Methudy, M. Hudson, and W. Adams.

Among the most active and energetic members of the Mechanics' Exchange was Joseph K. Bent, on the occasion of whose death the Exchange adopted resolutions expressive of regret at the loss of an esteemed member, a valued friend, and one of the foremost builders of the city. Mr. Bent was born in Wendell, Mass., Nov. 16, 1816. His

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parents were descended from the old settlers of Massachusetts, and the family was widely and favor- ably known. His uncle, Joseph Kilbourn, was a wealthy cotton broker in Augusta, Ga., and one of his two brothers was a prosperous cotton broker in New Orleans. Joseph K. received a good common- school education, and then learned the trade of a carpenter and builder. His parents went West in the "'30's" for their health, and settled at Liberty, Clay Co., Mo., where, July 3, 1839, Mr. Bent was married to Miss Sabrina Phelps, daughter of William W. Phelps, a well-known and influential gentleman of that region, and a descendant of the famous Phelps family of Western New York, after whom the village of Phelpstown was named. At Liberty, Mr. Bent attempted to practice the profession of an architect, but the field being very limited, he removed to St. Louis, Oct. 25, 1839, and was soon actively engaged in building. During the forty years that followed he transacted a large and flourishing business as con- tractor. Up to the year 1868 he conducted the busi- ness alone, but in that year he admitted his son, Wil- liam E. Bent, as a partner, the firm-name being Joseph K. Bent & Son. Mr. Bent's name is indeli- bly associated with some of the largest and most costly buildings erected in St. Louis. He did the earpenter-work for the new Merchants' Exchange, the immense Barr building at Sixth and Olive Streets, and the First Presbyterian Church on Lucas Place, and had the entire contract for building the Third National Bank, and many large stores on Fourth and Fifth Streets, in the business portion of the town, as well as numerous handsome and costly private resi- dences in various parts of the city. In his day he was one of the largest, as well as one of the best, builders St. Louis possessed. In addition to his building enterprises he for several years managed a planing-mill, manufacturing work for his own build- ings as well as for others.

Mr. Bent died on the 21st of March, 1880, leav- ing a comfortable estate to his widow and children. He was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church, and bore his last illness with Christian forti- tude. He was a member of no secret or other society except the Mechanics' Exchange, in which he took a deep interest. He was thoroughly devoted to his pro- fession, and in the management of his large and ex- aeting business made numerous friends, being emi- nently of a social nature. He was a man of unusual decision of character, and enjoyed the implicit confi- dence and respect of all who knew him.

The St. Louis Real Estate Exchange is located at 212 North Sixth Street, and its officers (1882) are

Charles Green, president; M. A. Wolff, vice-president ; Leon L. Hall, secretary and treasurer ; Charles Green, Theophile Papin, J. S. Farrar, F. L. Haydel, J. L. January, William C. Wilson, and John Maguire, di- rectors.

St. Louis Mining and Stock Exchange .- In 1874 the St. Louis Mining Exchange was established at the southeast corner of Fourth and Elm Streets, by M. S. Mepham & Co., as a headquarters for persons engaged in mining or the sale of mineral lands. A large number of persons interested in minerals rented offiees in the building, all being located at convenient distances apart on the first floor, and separated from each other by neat railings. Cases were fitted up for the display of Missouri minerals, and a complete and handsome collection was secured, together with specimens of fossils, Indian curiosities, and relies of the civil war, the latter presented by Gen. John B. Gray.

The St. Louis Mining and Stock Exchange was organized in the fall of 1880, and held its first meet- ing at its rooms on Third Street, between Olive and Locust, Dec. 2, 1880, on which occasion the Exchange was formally opened for business at eleven o'clock. The officers at the time were: President, James Baker ; Vice-President, Thomas Richeson ; Treasurer, Francis T. Iglehart ; Secretary, Theodore W. Heman ; Direetors, G. W. Chadbourne, Charles F. Orthwein, Francis T. Iglehart, J. W. Paramore, John W. Noble, D. P. Rowland, Thomas Richeson, E. S. Chester, T. W. Beman, W. R. Allen, D. R. Francis, James Baker, John E. Ennis.

The St. Louis Coal Exchange was organized June 1, 1879, for the purpose of developing the eoal trade of the city, and for the mutual protection of dealers and shippers of coal.

The officers of the Exchange are Alexander Hamil- ton, president ; C. E. Gartside, treasurer ; and Wil- liam Lackman, secretary. The Exchange is located at No. 108 North Fourth Street.

Boatmen's Exchange .- In 1868, Charles P. Chou- teau erected a handsome building on the Levee at the corner of Vine Street, for the purposes of a Boatmen's Exchange. The building presented quite a striking appearance, having a front of about sixty feet and a height of ninety feet. The material used in its erec- tion was principally brick, but the front was of Chi- eago stone from the Lemont quarries. The rear faced on Commercial Street, and had also a handsome ex- terior. The style of architecture was Italian. The architects were Messrs. Barnard & Piquenard. The cost of the building was about eighty thousand dollars. St. Louis Furniture Exchange .- In October,

Josehh K Bent

LIBRARY Ot THE 1 :13 .

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1879, there was quite a formidable strike among the furniture-workers of the city, and at the suggestion of George A. Rubelmann, a prominent dealer in cabinet hardware, a meeting of the furniture manufacturers was held, at which the desirability of union in the existing emergency was conceded and the organization of a Furniture Exchange determined. On the 26th of October, 1879, the following officers were elected : President, Daniel Aude; Vice-President, D. S. Horne ; Treasurer, J. H. Koppelman.

The strike soon collapsed, but the organization con- tinued, and now embraces about fifty of the leading manufacturers of the city. The Exchange meets at Sixth and Morgan Streets, where it has convenient rooms and supports a monthly paper, The St. Louis Furniture Manufacturer. The present officers of the Furniture Exchange are : President, Charles Spier ; Vice-President, Frank Prange; Secretary, F. Han- peter; Treasurer, J. H. Koppelman.

The St. Louis Manufacturers' Association was organized on the 27th of March, 1874. The meeting for the purpose, which was held in the directors' room of the Merchants' Exchange, was called to order by Adolphus Meier, who announced that it was an ad- journed meeting, G. B. Allen having been chairman of the previous meeting. At this meeting Mr. Allen had been appointed to draft a constitution, by-laws, and rules of order for the prospective association.

Mr. Allen read the document prepared by him, which, on motion of Giles F. Filley, was adopted as a whole.

The election of officers was then proceeded with by ballot, Gerard B. Allen being elected president, and Thomas Richeson vice-president.

The constitution provided that the secretary and treasurer, which offices should be united in one person, should be appointed by the executive committee, which should be appointed by the president.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics was instituted under an act of the General Assembly of Missouri in March, 1879. The second section of the act establishing the bureau defines its objects. It is " to collect, assort, systematize, and present in annual reports statistical details relating to all departments of labor in the State, especially in relation to the com- mercial, industrial, social, educational, and sanitary condition of the laboring classes, and to the perma- nent prosperity of the productive industries of the State." The general offices are located in St. Louis. The expense of the bureau up to Dec. 31, 1880, was one thousand four hundred and forty-six dollars and thirty cents. H. J. Spaunhorst is the commissioner.

The Missouri State Board of Immigration was

created by an act of the Legislature of Missouri in March, 1879, its object being to advertise tlie resources of the State and invite immigration. The officers appointed when the board was created were Andrew Mckinley, of St. Louis, president ; A. Steinacker, of St. Joseph, auditor; and John M. Richardson, of Car- thage, Mo., secretary. The commissioners were to serve for a term of four years. An appropriation was made by the State for the first two years, of eight thousand dollars, and for the next two years of twenty thousand dollars. The board has issued several papers relating to the agricultural, mining, and manufacturing capa- bilities of the State, sixty thousand copies of the " Hand-Book of Missouri," and fifty thousand copies of a smaller pamphlet and map, which have been dis- tributed in other States and in Europe. The board has conducted in the past and continues to conduct an extensive correspondence with intending immigrants and capitalists. The invitation extended to immi- grants does not come from great land proprietors and speculators, with specious and exaggerated statements, to induce them to take their property at fancy prices, but from the whole people, through their representa- tives in the Legislature of the State. They are in- vited because it is believed that the undeveloped resources, once understood and put in process of development, will enhance the value of every prop- erty in the State ; because every acre put under cultivation, every mine opened and worked, every mill and factory built, and every new industrial enterprise started will benefit the already existing industries, create new markets, and increase the com- merce and material wealth of Missouri.

CHAPTER XXXII.

BANKS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BANKERS.

WHEN the white settlers first occupied the site of St. Louis, the currency in use among the Indians was mainly wampum, or peag, or wampumpeag, as it was variously called. It consisted of dark purple and white beads, made out of shells or stone, and pierced for stringing. The purple beads had twice the value of the white, and when arranged in strings or belts were used as articles of jewelry. As currency, wam- pum was used in strings and valued according to measure, a fathom, or belt, consisting of three hun- dred and sixty bcads. At an early period the settlers, in trading with the Indians for furs and peltries, some-

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times used wampum, but as it was liable to deterioration by wear and use, and became overabundant, besides not being of a character to satisfy foreign debts, it soon ceased to be current and was abolished as a nuisance.

When the early settlers received gold and silver, they hoarded it up to pay for foreign commodities, and to supply its place for making " change" began to use a " barter currency." 1 Beaver-, otter-, raccoon-, pechon-, muskrat-, mink-, gray-squirrel, buffalo-, and deer-skins, beef-hides, bacon, beeswax, country-made sugar, whiskey, and lead constituted the first currency of St. Louis.2

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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 82

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