History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 91

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 91

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The Safe Deposit Company of St. Louis was established in 1870, under a charter from the Gen- eral Assembly of the State of Missouri, for the safe- keeping of money, bonds, valuable packages, plate, etc., and for the execution of trusts, absolute security and privacy being guaranteed. The incorporators were J. B. S. Lemoine, Eugene Jaccard, Robert K. Woods, G. A. Hayward, John R. Lionberger, J. H. Britton, James Harrison, John Byrne, Jr., Thomas Howard, and Logan Hunter. In 1870 the safe de- posit building, No. 513 Locust Street, now occupied by the company was erccted. The building is supplied with the latest and most improved fire- and burglar- proof vaults, safes, etc., and everything pertaining to the establishment is furnished with a view to safety

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

and durability. J. B. S. Lemoine was chosen presi- dent in 1870, and continued as such for some years, being succeeded by John R. Lionberger, the present incumbent. The officers for 1882 were John R. Lionberger, president ; Edwin Harrison, vice-presi- dent ; and G. A. Hayward, secretary. The board of directors remains the same as at the incorporation of the company in 1870.

The Bremen Savings-Bank was incorporated Aug. 16, 1868, and began business Oct. 1, 1868. The in- corporators were M. Brotherton, L. L. Ashbrook, Horace Fox, Hermann Obrock, Christopher Crone, August F. Reller, F. W. Prange, Henry Bakewell, Henry Leder, John Maguire, Joseph W. Crooks, Reiner Bueter, Samuel Stannard, and James Green. M. Brotherton, president ; Horace Fox, vice-president ; and C. D. Affleck, cashier, werc the first officers. The original directors were Christopher Crone, James Green, Jacob Bitner, Henry Bakewell, Joseph W. Crooks, Horace Fox, M. Brotherton, F. W. Prange, August F. Reller, Henry Hahne, L. L. Ashbrook, Samuel Stannard, and Nicholas Hatch. The capital stock was originally $100,000 ; of this only $30,000 was paid in, which grew to $125,000. In 1877 the bank suspended for fifteen days, and reopened on the 1st of August with a capital of $35,000. The present capital is $70,000, with a surplus of $12,000. F. W. Prange is president, and C. E. Kircher is cashier. The directors are Samuel Marx, Charles Naber, An- thony Nacke, Hermann Obrock, F. W. Prange, C. H. Spencer, and T. T. Wurmb. The bank occupies the original location, 3618 Broadway.

The Citizens' Savings-Bank was incorporated in September, 1868. The incorporators and first di- rectors were Joseph O'Neil, John Ring, David Nicholson, R. W. Powell, M. H. Phclan, J. B. Ghio, and P. P. Connors. Joseph O'Neil became president ; R. W. Powell, vice-president ; and John Schenk, cashier. The bank was first opened one door from its present location, on the corner of Lo- cust and Third Streets. The capital stock is two hundred thousand dollars. Joseph O'Neill and R. W. Powell have continued as president and vice- president, and P. Gleeson is the present cashier. M. H. Phelan, William Dooly, Daniel Cahill, Joseph O'Neil, P. P. Connors, R. W. Powell, and J. B. Ghio are the directors.

The Mullanphy Savings-Bank was incorporated Jan. 16, 1873, by A. S. Allen, F. W. Buschmann, G. H. Elbrecht, James Garnett, F. Heman, H. Klages, George Lanitz, John P. Mullally, F. G. Niedringhaus, J. H. Rottmann, F. A. Schulenburg, A. Schulherr, and Frederick Schwartz, and was organized with a

paid up capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The incorporators comprised the original board of directors, and the officers were A. Schulherr, president ; Frederick Leser, cashier. The bank has always becn located at the corner of Broadway and Mullanphy Street. The last annual statement, Dec. 1, 1882, showed : Assets, $675,276.72 ; surplus fund, $38,- 089.54. The present officers are John H. Rottman, president ; G. H. Elbrecht, vice-president ; L. G. Kammerer, cashier ; Directors, H. C. Benning, G. H. Elbrecht, C. Kellersmann, William Kerksieck, E. C. Little, Joseph Marks, John P. Mullally, Louis Nolte, James W. Roscbrough, J. H. Rottmann, Charles Schumacher, F. Schwartz, H. Klages.

The Northwestern Savings-Bank, corner of Four- teenth and North Market Streets, was incorporated May 15, 1873. The incorporators were Charles G. Stifel, J. H. Evers, A. Peck, A. Bohn, John J. Hilger, J. F. Heidbreder, B. Israel, H. Kobusch, William Leffmann, Henry Pius, R. W. Remmel- kamp, Fred. Steinkamper, Charles Schulter, and P. Obernier. The original and present officers are Charles G. Stifel, president ; J. H. Evers, vice- president; and P. Obernier, cashier. The original and present directors are the incorporators. The capital stock is fifty thousand dollars, and the surplus is forty-seven thousand dollars. The bank has al- ways been at the corner of Fourteenth and North Market Streets.

Miscellaneous Notes .- In addition to the banks and savings institutions whose history has been nar- rated, many other financial institutions have been established in St. Louis from time to time. Among these are the following :

Mutual Savings Institution, chartered in 1863, com- menced operations Feb. 6, 1854, with a capital of $50,000. Deposits as small as five cents were received. On time deposits six per cent. interest was paid. From the 6th of February up to the 20th of December, 1854, the institution had opened seven hundred and sixty-nine accounts, with deposits aggregating $66,- 484.59.

Central Savings-Bank, organized in 1857 with a capital stock of $50,000, subject to increase not ex- ceeding $750,000. When the Central commenced its career it was managed by the following officers : Henry L. Patterson, president ; John H. Tracy, cashier ; Di- rectors, Henry J. Spaunhorst, John Byrne, Jr., Peter J. Hurck, John F. Slevin, Francis Lepere, Thomas Ferguson, Hugh Boyle, Henry B. Berning, Redmond Cleary.

Owing to imprudent investments the institution collapsed, and on the 17th of July, 1876, the direc-

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BANKS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BANKERS.

tors executed an assignment for the benefit of the cred- itors to E. T. Farish, attorney, and Charles Green, real estate agent. Subsequently a committee was appointed, consisting of Timothy Cavanaugh, Daniel Cavanaugh, J. Dalton, Fusz & Backer, and Thomas McEvilly. Subsequently M. H. Phelan was appointed assignee by the United States Court. When the estate passed into the bankruptcy court the following statement of assets was submitted :

ASSETS.

Notes discounted

$338,381.55

Insurance debts and notes in suit ...

276,969.11

Bonds and stocks ..

56,900.00

Notes discounted No. 2

151,573.39

Overdrafts.

12,595.55

Due from banks and bankers.

6,075.00

Cash on hand July 6, 1876.

12,683.45

Real estate.

213,488.27

Total

$1,066,666.32

There were 1228 creditors, representing a total indebtedness of $844,673.07. The deposits consisted of small amounts, chiefly ranging from $200 to $1000. Assignec Phelan succeeded in six years in paying off twenty per cent. of this indebtedness in three divi- dends, ten, five, and five per cent. each, which ex- hausted the collected assets of the bank, amounting to $160,000. The value of the assets shrunk to insignificant figures, owing to the worthless nature of some of the real estate securities.

The City Bank of St. Louis ; books for subscrip- tion to stock opened at the counting-room of Lucas & Simonds, March 18, 1857 ; incorporators, D. A. January, William M. Morrison, Henry L. Patterson, Charles D. Drake, John Simonds.

People's Savings Institution; subscribers notificd that ten per cent. of the amount subscribed was to be paid on or before Tuesday, March 10, 1857, to Isidor Bush, corner of Park and Carondelet Avenues, or to Emil Ulrici, No. 53 Carondelet Avenue, between Barry and Marion Streets ; commissioners to receive the first installments, John How, Waldemar Fischer, Isidor Bush, Matthias Steitz, John Hogan, Henry Pilkington, Emil Ulrici, Charles Taussig.

First Ward Savings Association ; books for sub- scriptions opened March 14, 1857, at the office of Thomas Allen, Decatur Street, and at J. P. Mack's drug store; Commissioners, Thomas Allen, John C. Rust, Stephen D. Barlow, Benjamin A. Soulard, Réné Bouvais, James G. Stewart, Heber Livermore, E. A. Burt, Patrick E. Burke.

St. Louis Building and Savings Association ; sub- scription-books opened at the rooms of the Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Exchange, on Chestnut Street between Third and Fourth, March 9, 1857; incor- porators and commissioners, Asa Wilgus, Clark J.

Morton, Peter A. Ladue, John F. Darby, William Hassinger, George H. Moore, William M. Maurice, Josiah G. McClellan.

United States Savings Association, organized in 1857, went out of business in Junc, 1879. The di- rectors of the institution, which was then located at Second and Market Streets, decided in that month to close up the affairs of the bank, and to transfer its accounts to the Mechanics' Bank, southwest corner of Second and Pine Strects. This decision was caused by the fact that the business was no longer profitable. The officers at the time were Jacob Tamm, presi- dent ; Theodore Sessinghaus, vice-president ; Charles Kern, cashier. The directors were Jacob Tamm, Theodore Sessinghaus, G. Wetzel, Charles Hegel, Charles Kern, Henry Wiebusch, August Eichele, H. D. Meyer, Herman Morell, Nicholas Guerdan, and Otto Lademann.1

Accommodation Bank, organized about 1864, was located at first on Chestnut Street ncar Fourth, but afterwards removed to the northeast corner of Chest- nut and Third Streets. For some years the bank transacted a flourishing business both as a savings and discount association. Its president was Hon. Erastus Wells, and the cashier William D. Henry. The board of directors in 1867 was composed of Erastus Wells, G. W. Dreyer, Col. Cavender, John E. Liggett, of Liggett & Dausman, and Thomas V. Strude, of Strude, Ruby & Co.

Real Estate Saving Institution, organized in April, 1867, was located at 72 North Third Street, above Olive. Seven per cent. interest was paid on deposits, and sums as low as one dollar were received. The officers were : President, George K. Budd ; Treasurer, Francis Whitney ; Legal Counselor, John M. Krum ; Trustees, William M. Morrison, John S. McCune, John M. Krum, Thomas E. Tutt, Henry Whitmore, Morris Collins, Charles A. Pope, Oliver A. Hart, R. M. Funkhouser, George K. Budd, Edward Harcn, Sr., John B. Johnson.

Home Savings-Bank, established in May, 1867, " for the accommodation of citizens at the northern end of the city." The officers were E. D. Jones, president ; James Hodgman, vice-president ; H. C. Pierce, cashier, and E. D. Jones, James Hodgman, D. P. Green, E. G. Obear, A. C. Osborn, A. H. Weber, J. O. Coding, G. W. Alexander, H. L. Parker, J. P. Colby, John Crangle, W. L. Barker, and T. Sessing-

1 Augustus Beneke, cashier of the United States Savings In- stitution, died suddenly in March, 1871. He had been a resi- dent of St. Louis for twenty-two years, and was widely and favorably known.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

haus, directors. The building was located at the cor- ner of Broadway and Jefferson Street.

Butchers' and Drovers' Bank, organized in June, 1867, with B. M. Chambers as president, and P. S. Langton, cashier, was located at the corner of Fifth and Morgan Strects, opposite the Union Market. Its business grew to enormous proportions, and during the great panic of 1873 it paid all checks as pre- sented, but on the 14th of July, 1877, it ceased operations. "The only reason," says a newspaper announcement of the action of the bank officers, " as given to us for the close was the imperative provision of the new statute, which takes effect at the end of the month, and which provides ' that when the capital stock shall have become impaired to the extent of twenty-five per cent. thereof by reason of bad loans or otherwise, such corporation shall cease to do busi- ness unless the stock shall have been made good by assessment within sixty days.'

" The stock of the bank as subscribed is two hun- dred and sixty-one thousand dollars, of which one hundred and thirty thousand five hundred dollars is paid in. Interpreting that the capital stock paid in must be treated as the sum by which must be tested the solvency of the bank, Mr. Chambers saw but two alternatives for compliance with the law, either to cease to do business or to call on stockholders, which last within sixty day's would not be possible.

" The Butchers' and Drovers' Bank was organized in 1867 with a nominal capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, of which thirty per cent. was paid in. From time to time dividends were declared, and were credited to stock on the books until fifty per cent. was paid up, making a working capital of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The bank did a flourishing business from the start, and, in addition to a heavy list of large depositors, became popular with small depositors, of which it had a host. This gave the bank such a prestige that two years ago, when only forty per cent. of the stock was paid up, shares were selling at from seventy to seventy-two per cent., or a little over seventy-five per cent. pre- mium."

American Bank, established in November, 1867 ; officers : President, E. Miltenberger; Cashier, Wash Barrow ; Assistant Cashier, F. Siebenmann ; Directors, E. Miltenberger, Wash Barrow, Henry B. Berning, William Druhe, J. F. Schiefer, John F. Tolle, Joseph Uhrig, Jacob Blattner, Clingan Scott, C. F. Orth- weim, L. W. Burris, J. O. Banks, R. D. Lancaster.

German Bank, organized in 1869, was located on Market Street, between Second and Third, but re- moved to Fifth and Market Streets. It transacted a

large business, having at one time deposits amounting to one million six hundred thousand dollars, and in December, 1869, established a branch office in “ Hie- menz's new building, at the northeast corner of Caron- delet Avenue and Carroll Street." On the 10th of July, 1877, the directors made an assignment of all the assets of the bank to Charles G. Stifel for the benefit of the creditors.

Broadway Savings Bank, established March 4, 1869. Officers : L. S. Bargen, president ; J. P. Krieger, Sr., vice-president; J. P. Krieger, Jr., cashier. For some years the bank transacted a flour- ishing business, but on the 21st of May, 1879, it was compelled to suspend, owing to the sudden crippling of its resources. Less than two years later (Jan. 17, 1881) its founder, J. Phil. Krieger, Jr., committed suicide at the Western Hotel, corner of Carr Street and Broadway. The cause of the act is indicated by the Republican as follows :

"The bank had a good run of business and did fairly well, although it is said to have experienced at least two financial storms, both of which it weathered under the guidance of Krieger, Jr., its cashier. On the afternoon of May 21, 1879, the bank closed its doors. The directors had discovered a slight impairment, and decided it was the wiser plan to suspend, though Krieger, Jr., was in favor of making efforts to tide over the difficulty. At this date the liabilities of the bank were about seven hundred thousand dollars, and its assets were then figured at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. John Dierberger first, and afterwards Mr. John Lionberger became assignee. Public feeling over the matter of the failure ran very high, especially as there was a widespread opinion that Krieger, Jr., and one Mayer Goldsoll had conspired together to help themselves in their own speculations by using the money of the bank. The grand jury after a grand jural investigation indicted Krieger, Sr., the president of the bank, Krieger, Jr., its cashier, and Mayer Goldsoll, a beneficiary of the institution."

North St. Louis Savings Association, established April 2, 1860, the directors being A. E. Erfurt, François Cornet, H. W. Winmann, John F. Wittee, Caspar Stolle, C. L. Holthous, Julias Thamer, and John C. Vogel. In 1864 the association reorganized under a new charter, and commenced operations on the 1st of February of the same year. Louis Espen- schied was elected president, and John G. Hermann secretary. In 1866 the real estate at the southeast corner of Fourth and Morgan Streets, part of which was occupied by the building where the association transacted its business, was sold at auction, and the association having a fair surplus of profits, concluded to purchase it, with a view to building a banking- house on one of the two lots. The corner-stone of the building was laid on the 3d of June, 1869. On the 16th of July, 1877, the bank was compelled to suspend and go into liquidation. At the time of the suspension the officers were A. C. Erfurt, president ;

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BANKS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BANKERS.

E. F. W. Meier, vice-president ; H. H. Wernse, cashier; J. H. Dickmann, assistant cashier ; Di- rectors, F. Barklage, Theodore Becker, Henry Cor- net, A. C. Erfurt, Joseph Kilpatrick, E. F. W. Meier, Frederick Schiereck, J. W. Schloemann, A. W. Schulenberg, William Hake, F. A. Witte.

The cause of the suspension was the depression in the real estate market.

Traders' and Mechanics' Bank, established in Oc- tober, 1872, suspended in February, 1876. C. L. Kraft was president at the time, and was subsequently appointed assignee.

S. B. Bullock, for twenty-seven years a resident of St. Louis, and for fifteen years a banker, died Aug. 7, 1863.

Among the prominent bankers of St. Louis was Capt. Mark Leavenworth, who died on Feb. 17, 1866, aged forty-one years. He was for a number of years widely known as a river commander and pilot, and for several years prior to his death was a member of the banking firm of Gaylord, Leavenworth & Co., of Olive Street.

The house of Donaldson & Fraley, brokers and bankers, was established in 1868, at the corner of Third and Olive Streets, where the firm has conducted a general brokerage and exchange business ever since. The house was established by John W. Donaldson and Moses Fraley, both of whom are active members of the firm. A branch house in New York is com- poscd of Moses Fraley and Philip J. Goodhart, and transacts business under the firm-name of Fraley & Goodhart.

The Old Banking-House of James H. Lucas & Co .- In 1851, James H. Lucas established a banking-house in St. Louis, and in the following ycar associated with him John Simonds, the firm-name being Lucas & Simonds. Mr. Simonds was born on the 13th of March, 1800, in Windsor County, Vt. His father removed to St. Louis in 1817, and for several years filled the post of harbor-master, dying in 1839. John Simonds received a common school education, and in 1819 was appointed deputy constable. Two years later he was made deputy sheriff, and in 1825 was appointed United States marshal, but owing to his opposition to Gen. Jackson was removed in 1828. He then became a steamboat captain, and between the years 1828 and 1835 acted as commander of various steamers on the Mississippi. In 1835 he established a large commission house in St. Louis, and successfully pursued this business until 1852, when he entered the banking-house of James H. Lucas as a partner. In 1857 he retired from the firm and established the banking-house of Simonds & Taylor. Capt. Simonds'

first wife was Miss Teresa Geyer, sister of Hon. Henry S. Geyer, whom he married March 4, 1824, and his second wife was Miss Susan M. Kennett, whom he married May 5, 1852. For many years Capt. Simonds was president of the Citizens' Insurance Company, and for a considerable period president of the Board of Underwriters.

In the autumn of 1852 the firm determined to establish a branch banking-house in San Francisco, and for that purpose selected as their agent on the Pacific slope Maj. Henry S. Turner, assistant treas- urer of the United States at St. Louis, the name de- termined upon for the branch establishment being that of Lucas, Turner & Co. A short time previous to this decision, Capt. William T. Sherman, who after- wards became so famous as a general in the Union army, had been stationed at St. Louis as commissary of subsistence, but in September of that year was transferred to New Orleans. About Christmas of the same year Maj. Turner laid before him the details of the plan for the establishment of the branch house in San Francisco, and proposed that he should become a partner in the firm.1

1 Henry S. Turner was born on the 1st of April, 1811, in King George's County, Va. In 1830 he was admitted as a cadet at West Point, and in June, 1834, gradnated from that institution. He was at once appointed brevet second lieutenant in the First Regiment of Dragoons, then a new arm in the United States service. He served with his regiment on the frontier, his quarters being at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. He became seeond lieutenant in August, 1835, and was appointed adjutant at the regimental headquarters in July, 1836. He served in this capacity until November, 1838 (he became first lieutenant on the 3d of March, 1837), when he was appointed as aide-de-camp to Gen. Atkinson, and served as such until July, 1839, when he was sent by the War Department with two colleagues to the cavalry school of Saumur, France, to study cavalry tactics and prepare a manual of instruction for that arm of the service in the army of the United States.

On returning to the United States, two years later, he was married to Miss Julia M. Hunt, daughter of Theodore Hunt and Anne Lucas Hunt, and granddaughter of John B. C. Lucas.

After his marriage he was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, and served as adjutant of his regiment until June, 1846. In the interval between these dates he was on duty at Fort Gibson, at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, as well as Fort Leavenworth, as acting assistant adjutant-general of the Third Military De- partment from July, 1844, to September, 1846, during which time he was detailed on an expedition through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. When the Mexican war broke out Gen. Atkinson had died, and Col. Stephen W. Kearney, who had been appointed brigadier-general, was placed in command of the Army of the West, on an expedition to New Mexico and California. Maj. Turner, who had become captain of the First Dragoons in April, 1846, was the acting assistant adjutant - general of the army, and his services in the arduous campaign on which it immediately entered were brilliant and highly ap- preciated by his gallant commander. At San Pasqual, Cal., on the 6th of December, 1846, a fierce attack was made in the early

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

James H. Lucas, the senior partner, subsequently had an interview with Capt. Sherman, and also pre- sented for his consideration the particulars of the California project, desiring him to accept the position of resident partner and manager in San Francisco. The enterprise struck Capt. Sherman so favorably that he obtained a leave of absence and visited San Francisco. After carefully surveying the field, he

morning on a portion of the United States forces by a swarm of mounted Mexican lancers, and in the combat which ensued Capt. Turner received a painful flesh-wound from a lance; but none of his comrades knew of his mishap until the enemy had been routed. He was in the saddle at the skirmish at San Bernardo on the following day, and participated in that action. The passage of the San Gabriel River was effected on the 8th of January, 1847. The skirmish on the plains of Mesa followed on the 9th of the same month, and for his gallant and meri- torious services in these engagements he was breveted major, to date from the first of them.

The Army of the West returned to the United States by the way of El Paso, in the summer of 1847, too late to engage in the operations under Gen. Scott near the city of Mexico. That place was captured in September, 1847. Maj. Turner, who was an essential witness at the trial by court-martial of Col. Fre- mont, was detained in attendance on that court at Washington City until the treaty of peace in 1848. In July of that year he resigned his commission and devoted himself to civil life. He cultivated a farm about nine miles from the city of St. Louis, and in 1850 was appointed assistant treasurer of the United States in this city. He performed the duties of his office until 1852, when he embarked in the business of banking, in part- nership with the late James H. Lucas and Gen. W. T. Sherman. This partnership lasted until 1857. During part of this interval Maj. Turner, together with Gen. (then Capt.) Sherman, resided in San Francisco, where was established a branch of the bank of Lucas, Turner & Co.

The firm was dissolved in 1857, and Maj. Turner returned to his farm. In 1863 he was elected president of the Union Na- tional Bank, and served in that capacity until 1869, when he accepted the presidency of the Lucas Bank, which he held until 1874, when he insisted upon resigning the office and devoting his whole time to the care of his large property. In 1858 he had been elected to the House of Representatives of the State, and served most acceptably for two years, declining a re-election. In 1874, when a general uprising against municipal misrule brought about the active participation in city affairs of men who ordinarily refuse political duties, he was induced to be- come a candidate for a scat in the Common Council, and was elected by his fellow-citizens without distinction of party. The duties of this office he performed not perfunctorily but con- scientiously and laboriously for two years, but then insisted on a discharge from further public service. Besides these public duties, he was repeatedly selected as the depository of the most important private trusts. Some of the largest estates that had ever been administered in St. Louis passed through his hands as executor. In every instance the performance of his duties was above all challenge.

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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 91

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