History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 94

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 94

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THE COVENANT MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COM- PANY was organized in 1853, under the General In- surance Act of Missouri. Since its incorporation the company has under careful and judicious management grown steadily in popular favor, and now makes the following showing: Real estate owned, $112,760; loans on bonds and mortgages, $183,638; loans on stocks and bond collaterals, $1100; loans on com- pany's policies, $14,530 ; premium notes, loans, or liens, $100,284.02; stocks and bonds owned, $41,925 ; cash, $25,173.87 ; uncollected premiums, $6552.93 ; all other property, $7813.38; making the total assets $494,277.20.

The officers for 1882 were E. Wilkerson, president ; A. F. Shapleigh, vice-president; and Alfred Carr, secretary ; and the board of directors was composed of the following : Nathan Cole, S. H. Laflin, Isaac M. Veitch, Herman Eisenhardt, E. Wilkerson, J. D. S. Dryden, A. F. Shapleigh, A. G. Braun, Theodore Betts, John W. Luke, M. L. Libby, G. A. Finkeln- berg, Given Campbell, John Wahl, Joseph S. Nanson, and John C. Moore. The general office is located at No. 513 Olive Street.

THE MOUND CITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY was organized in May, 1855, under a charter granted by the Legislature during the pre- ceding month. The original incorporators were Wyl- lys King, Asa Wilgus, J. C. Harns, D. C. Garrison, George S. Drake, R. J. Lockwood, James S. Watson, Rollins Clark, and Robert Holmes. The officers in

1 John Kern died on the 27th of August, 1856, aged forty- two years. He had been a resident of St. Louis for about twenty years, and was one of its leading business men. In April, 1856, he was elected a member of the Board of Alder- men.

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1855 were D. R. Garrison, president ; R. J. Lock- wood, vice-president ; David H. Bishop, secretary ; and John F. Darby, treasurer. The company transaets a general fire insurance business, and issues policies vary- ing in duration from thirty days to six years. The general offices of the company are situated at the southwest corner of Sixth and Olive Streets. The present president, Ellis N. Leeds, was elected in 1867, and has served continuously ever since. He is regarded as being one of the ablest and most thoroughly posted insurance men in the West.

Ellis N. Leeds was born in Burlington County, N. J., Sept. 28, 1814. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, and the boy, after enjoying such school privileges as were to be obtained in the neighborhood, learned the trade of a briek-mason. In 1839, while yet quite a young man, he removed to St. Louis, and continued to work at his trade until 1848, when he engaged in the lumber business, in which he contin- ued until 1869, when he retired. Since then he has not been actively employed in any business. Sinee 1862 he has been a director in the Merchants' Bank, and for some years was a director in the Vulean Iron Company, the St. Louis Gas-Light Company, the St. Louis Railway Supplies Manufacturing Company, and the Cheltenham Fire-Brick Company. As a business man, Mr. Leeds has been signally and uniformly suc- cessful, and the bricklayer who came to St. Louis in 1839 now enjoys a handsome competenee. Of Quaker descent, he avoids all publicity and show, but notwith- standing his unobtrusiveness, he has been associated with many important business enterprises, and has filled with credit a number of responsible positions. Mr. Leeds enjoys the respect of a very large circle of friends, and in his domestie and social relations is re- garded as one of the most amiable and attractive of men.

C. H. Alexander, the present efficient secretary of the Mound City Mutual Fire Insurance Company, first entered the company as a elerk in 1862, and his close application, together with a thorough knowledge of the business, soon gained him the confidenee of the stockholders. In 1875 he was promoted to his present position.

The directors of the company are Ellis N. Leeds, Daniel R. Garrison, William Booth, Matthias Dough- erty, Francis L. Haydel, John Maguire, Charles Hofman, Preston Player, and Joseph T. Donovan.

The company is one of special prominence in St. Louis, from the fact that it has never faltered, its obligations having always been fulfilled to the letter. The total assets are $181,379.94, the total liabilities $116,285.06, and the surplus $65,094.88.

THE HOPE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY was organized in 1857, and began to issue policies early in March of that year. The first office was at Main and Vine Streets, but it soon removed to the basement of the Boatmen's Savings Institution, at the northeast corner of Second and Pine Streets. Its incorporators and first board of directors were Thos. E. Tutt, A. F. Shapleigh, L. D. Baker, R. M. Re- nick, Gerard B. Allen, N. J. Eaton, Alexander Fin- ley, Taylor Blow, Rufus J. Lackland, Edward A. Filley, R. M. Park, W. H. Pritchartt, John A. Brownlee, A. M. Waterman, Isaac S. Smith, W. H. Tillman.

From Second and Pine Streets the office was re- moved to 307 Olive Street, and thenee to 419 Olive Street. Its first and subsequent presidents were Thomas E. Tutt, N. J. Eaton, C. S. Kintzing, and Isaae M. Veitch. The present officers are : President, Isaac M. Veitch ; Secretary, Henry Schmitt ; Diree- tors, A. F. Shapleigh, T. E. Tutt, James M. Carpen- ter, Anthony Ittner, Francis Carter, G. H. Loker, William H. Thompson, W. C. Jamison, M. A. Wolff, and Isaac M. Veitch.

The company has had a very successful career since its organization, and furnishes exceptionally low in- suranee to its members on the mutual plan, its busi- ness being mainly restricted to dwelling-houses and furniture.

WASHINGTON FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY .- This company was chartered on the 23d of Novem- ber, 1857, under the name of the Washington Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the incorporators being C. F. Becker, I. Kurlbaum, William Siever, John H. Marquard, L. Roever, Herman H. Meier, William Seifried, P. Weber, E. Menche, Charles Altinger, Charles W. Gottschalk, John H. Burkhardt, Edward Eggers, and F. Roever. Its first president was Charles W. Gottschalk, who was succeeded by Arthur Olshausen, who continues to hold the office. Charles W. Horn was the first vice- president, and Arthur Olshausen the first secretary. The officers at present are: President, Arthur Olshausen ; Vice- President, Philip Gruner, Jr .; Secretary and Treas- urer, Edward Breitenstein ; Assistant Secretary, Louis J. Behrens. The office is located at the corner of Market and Second Streets.

THE GERMAN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COM- PANY, located at the northeast corner of Second and Market Streets, was organized in 1857, and chartered November 23d of that year. The incorporators were Edward Eggers, Frederick Bergesch, Francis Kren- ning, Adolph Kehr, F. A. H. Schneider, Frederick Hauck, Gottlieb Martin, Charles G. Stifel, Francis

8. W. Leeds

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BEIRAES.

R.M.Jowell

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INSURANCE, TELEGRAPH, POSTAL SERVICE, GAS, AND HOTELS.

Saler, T. Thucmmler, George Gehrke, and Charles W. Horn.1

Its first and subsequent presidents were Charles W. Horn, Theodore Plate, Arthur Olshausen. Its first secretary was Arthur Olshausen. The officers for 1882 were : President, Arthur Olshausen ; Vice- President, Christian A. Stifel ; Aetuary, Isidor Bush ; Secretary, Edward Breitenstein ; Assistant Seeretary, Louis J. Behrens ; Medical Examiners, Drs. Charles F. Hauck and P. J. Lingenfelder ; Agent, S. Kehr- mann.

FRANKLIN INSURANCE COMPANY .- One of the most successful institutions of its kind in the West is the Franklin Mutual Insurance Company of St. Louis, which was incorporated in March, 1859. Scarcely any other fiduciary institution of St. Louis is more closely identified with the interests of the eom- munity or has had a more uniformly successful career. Among its officers at the present time are a number of the prominent business men of the eity. Its office is at No. 400 North Third Street, and the capital stoek amounts to three hundred and twenty- two thousand dollars. Henry Meier is president of the company ; John C. Nulsen, vice- president ; Louis Ducstrow, secretary ; and the directors are Charles F. Meyer, John C. H. D. Block, J. C. Nulsen, H. J. Spaunhorst, Henry Meier, C. Fink, D. J. Blanke, and L. J. Holthaus.

THE LACLEDE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COM- PANY was chartered on the 14th of January, 1860, under the name of the Laclede Mutual Fire and Ma- rine Insurance Company of St. Louis, the incorpora- tors being Isaae Walker, William T. Gay, Levin H. Baker, Joseph O'Neil, Charles H. Peck, Oliver Gar- rison, Dwight Durkee, Louis A. Labeaume, and Rob- ert W. Powell. The office of the company was situ- atcd originally at No. 217 North Third Street, but was afterwards removed to 212 North Third Street, where it is still loeated. The business transaeted is that of mutual fire insurance. R. W. Powell was the first president, William T. Gay the first viee-president, and John Baker the first secretary of the corporation. The officers of the company for 1882 were : President, R. W. Powell ; Vice-President, Joseph O'Neil; Sec-

retary, J. C. Bury, Jr. ; Directors, Joseph O'Neil, Charles H. Turner, Trumbull G. Russell, R. W. Powell, Oliver Garrison, John M. Scllers, G. Conzel- man, Thomas Slevin, and J. B. C. Lucas.

Robert W. Powell, the president of the Laclede Mutual Fire Insurance Company, arrived in St. Louis in October, 1843. He was a tailor by trade, and at once established himself in that business. In 1844 a building was ereeted for him on Fourth Street near Pine, where the Globe-Democrat is now printed, his residence being situated on Market Street near Fourth. He continued the business at Fourth and Pine Streets for some time, and then removed to a store on Seeond Street, where he remained until 1857, when he re- linquished this oceupation to engage in the produee and commission business at No. 4 South Levee. In 1860 he withdrew from this pursuit, and on January 14th of that year, in company with several wealthy and prominent eitizens, obtained a eharter for the La- elede Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was eleeted its first president, and has been annually re- elected ever since. The " Laelede" has long ranked as one of the safest insurance companies in the eity. Mr. Powell was also one of the incorporators of the Citizens' Savings-Bank, was elected a director, and is now a viee-president of that institution.

In the management of his business as a merchant tailor Mr. Powell was very successful. He syste- matieally invested his surplus in real estate, and with such judgment that he soon aequired a generous com- petenee. He is a large owner of valuable real estate in the eentral residence portion of the city, and has improved mueh of it in a substantial and elegant manner. He occupies a handsome residenee at No. 2642 Locust Street.

In religion, Mr. Powell is an Episcopalian. He was present at the organization of St. George's Church, when Dr. E. Carter Hutchison preached his first sermon at the Benton School, on Sixth Street between Loeust and St. Charles, and for a number of years was connected with St. George's congregation, which built a church on Loeust Street near Seventh. Subsequently he became a member of Trinity Church, at Washington Avenue and Eleventh Street, and was vestryman. Having (later) removed to Stoddard's addition, he became one of the incorporators of the parish of the Holy Communion, and was chosen vestryman. When St. George's congregation sold its church on Locust Street and removed to the new church at Locust and Beaumont Streets, he rejoined it, and is still a member. To the various benevolent enterprises of the church he has always contributed his full share.

1 Charles W. Horn, president of the German Life Insurance Company, died suddenly at his residence, 2426 Carr Street, St. Louis, in June, 1872. Mr. Horn had filled a number of impor- tant positions of trust and honor, and was regarded as being one of the representative citizens of St. Louis. He served in the City Council during the sessions of 1856, 1857, and 1858, and was an energetic member of the Board of Health. Mr. Horn was born in the Grand Duchy of Nassau, Germany, emigrated to this country when a young man, and died at the age of about fifty-six years.

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In private life Mr. Powell is retiring and amiable, but in business is outspoken and decided, and liis suc- cess is mainly due to his prompt judgment and celerity of action. His career has been singularly quiet and uneventful, but it has been full of usefulness and marked by uniform success.

THE JEFFERSON INSURANCE COMPANY was organ- ized May 1, 1861, with a capital of $300,000. The total assets are $313,484.71 ; surplus, $125,248.71; net cash received during the last fiscal year for pre- miums and assessments, $52,880.58; aggregate income for the year in cash, $55,457.07 ; net amount outstand- ing risks, $8,163,901.66. The officers are : President, Hermann Eisenhardt ; Vice-President, Charles H. Teichmann ; Secretary and Treasurer, C. R. Fritsch ; Directors, H. Eisenhardt, F. W. Biebinger, Aug. C. Mueller, Charles Wulfing, Charles H. Teichmann, Adam Conrad, C. A. Stifel, George Schlosstein, G. H. Bokenkamp, Francis Cornet, F. E. Schmeiding, and Abraham Kramer. The general offices are located at No. 207 North Third Street.

EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY .- The St. Louis agency of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, one of the largest corporations of its kind in the world, was established in 1862, S. A. Ranlett, since deceased, being the agent. The present office is located in the " Equitable Building," at Sixth and Locust Streets, one of the finest structures in the city. Benjamin May is the manager, and J. S. Kenrick is the cashier for the Southwestern De- partment. James M. Brawner, deceased, was the agent for twelve years. The main office of the Equita- ble was originally at No. 92 Broadway, New York City, but was afterwards moved to the imposing build- ing No. 120 Broadway. Branch offices, located in handsome edifices owned by the company, have been established in Paris (France), Boston, and Chicago, and flourishing agencies exist in all the cities and most of the important towns in the country. The first president of the society was William C. Alexan- der, and the officers for 1882 were : President, Henry B. Hyde; Vice-Presidents, James W. Alexander, Samuel Borrowe; Secretary, William Alexander ; Actuaries, George W. Phillips, J. G. Van Cise ; Medical Examiners, Dr. E. W. Lambert and Dr. Edward Curtis; Superintendent of Agencies, E. W. Scott. The company, which was organized on the 26th of July, 1859, ranked at the outset as No. 19 in the list of insurance societies as to magnitude, but such has been its growth that the outstanding pol- icies on its books are claimed to largely exceed the amount of the outstanding insurances of any other company organized since 1832. It now holds the sec-

ond place in size, but is said to have issued for many years past a larger amount of new insurance than any other company. The only other company whose transactions have approached those of the Equitable during recent years made a showing in 1881 of about $11,500,000 less than the Equitable.

THE NORTH ST. LOUIS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY was incorporated in February, 1864, the incorporators being H. Overstolz, Theodore Koch, and others. Since its organization the office of the com- pany has been situated at the corner of Broadway and Exchange Street. Henry Overstolz has been presi- dent of the company from the beginning. The offi- cers during 1882 were: President, H. Overstolz ; Vice-President, L. Espenschied ; Secretary and Treas- urer, Theodore Koch.

ST. LOUIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY .- The Mound City Life Insurance Company, which after- wards changed its name to that of the St. Louis Life, was organized on the 14th of May, 1868, and its first policy was issued June 10th of that year. Its first president was Capt. James B. Eads, and the offices were located at first at No. 318 North Third Street, between Olive and Locust Streets. At the first an- nual election, held at the office, 319 North Third Street, on the 17th of May, 1869, the following offi- cers were chosen : President, James J. O'Fallon ; Vice-President, Alfred M. Britton ; Secretary, Aylett H. Buckner; Assistant Secretary, S. W. Lomax ; Directors, James J. O'Fallon, James H. Lucas, Alfred M. Britton, Samuel A. Hatch, William C. Sipple, Augustus McDowell, A. M. Wakerman, and A. B. Garrison. The first policy issued bore the date of June 12, 1868. In less than a year nine hundred and sixty-six policies had been issued, and one hun- dred and twenty thousand one hundred and seventy dollars and thirty-three cents received in premiums. In 1872 the capital was increased from one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars, and two years later, in January, 1874, it was again increased to one million dollars, and in February of that year the name was changed from Mound City to St. Louis. The company continued to transact a large and profitable business, and at the beginning of 1876 its assets amounted to seven million four hun- dred and six thousand eight hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty-four cents. Subsequently the cor- poration went out of existence.

The old St. Louis Life Insurance building, at the northwest corner of Sixth and Locust Streets, is one of the handsomest business structures in the city. It is in the renaissance style, constructed after designs by George I. Barnett, architect, and the foundation is of

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INSURANCE, TELEGRAPH, POSTAL SERVICE, GAS, AND HOTELS.

red Missouri granite, and the walls of cream-colored Missouri sandstonc. The floors arc constructed of brick arches supported by girders of iron, and the ceilings of the first floor and corridors are richly frescoed. The structure is fire-proof and supplied with all the modern conveniences.

THE GERMAN MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COM- PANY was incorporated under the general insurance act of Missouri, Oct. 9, 1868, with a capital of $300,000. Its surplus at the present time is $67,055.16, and the income for the past year was $22,381.19. The management from its inception has undergone comparatively few changes. Frederick Hill is president of the company, L. Ottenad is vice- president, and Henry Hiemenz is secretary. The board of directors is as follows : Jacob D. Hiemenz, F. Hill, Louis Ottenad, August Bohn, Jacob Gruen, August Gehner, Claude Juppier, Francis K. Kren- ning, Nicholas Berg, Christian Koeln, Henry Michel, and Charles Stumpf. The offices of the company are at the southeast corner of Market and Fifth Streets.

THE CARONDELET HOME MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY is located at 7005 South Main Street, and its officers during 1882 were John Krauss, president ; R. J. Kilpatrick, vice-president ; Charles W. Hoff- meister, secretary ; and Bernard O'Reilly, treasurer ; Directors, W. C. Plass, Venust Spindler, Daniel Paule, Abraham Herbel, John Krauss, R. J. Kilpatrick, and B. O'Reilly.

THE BOARD OF ST. LOUIS MARINE UNDER- WRITERS, office 314 Chestnut Street, was organized Jan. 1, 1850, and was incorporated by act of Legis- lature on the 14th of January, 1860, the incorpora- tors being James H. Hughes, George K. McGun- negle, John McNeil, W. W. Green, W. D. W. Bar- nard, and B. M. Runyan. The object of the associa- tion is the " better preservation from loss or damage of property wrecked or stranded upon the navigable rivers of the State of Missouri." In the latter part of April, 1861, at the beginning of the civil war, George D. McGunnegle, " president of the Board of Underwriters," announced that the insurance com- panies of St. Louis had adopted a special clause to " cover all future shipments, and to be attached to all cargo policies, as follows :

"Warranted, by the assured, free from elaim or loss or damage arising from civil commotion, or from piraey, seizure, sequestration, or detention and overpowering thieves, or the consequences of any other hostile aet of the government or people, person or persons of any State or States elaiming to have seeeded from this Union."

The companies also decided to eover the war elause by eharg- ing double. rates net.

The officers of the board for 1882 were H. D. Mc-

Lean, president ; J. A. Waterworth, vice-president ; James Barnard, secretary, adjuster, and agent; and Silas Adkins, inspector of hulls.

INSURANCE EXCHANGE. - The Insurance Ex- change building, situated at the southeast corner of Fifth and Olive Streets, was erected during 1869-70, after designs prepared by G. I. Barnett, architect. It is built of Chicago limestone in the Roman style of architecture, is five stories high, and is occupied by stores and offices.

ST. LOUIS BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS .- The present St. Louis Board of Fire Underwriters was established in May, 1872, but previous to that time similar organizations had existed.

On the 28th of September, 1866, a meeting of insurance men was held at the office of the Marine Board of Underwriters for the purpose of organizing a Board of Fire Underwriters. All the agencies and local companies were represented, and a constitution and by-laws werc adopted. A committee consisting of George K. McGunnegle, Samuel E. Mack,1 and George D. Capen, appointed at a previous meeting, reported a tariff of rates which was a considerable ad- vance over the rates previously in force. This action was taken in accordance with similar action on the part of the National Board of Underwriters, then re- cently organized in the city of New York, who asserted that " the experience of the past two years has demon- strated that there has been no profit in the aggregate business of fire underwriting throughout our country."

On the 6th of May, 1872, the present St. Louis Board of Fire Underwriters was organized, and by Sep- tember of that year was in active operation. One of the first acts of the board was the selection of C. T. Aubin, civil engineer, for the purpose of surveying the buildings in the business section of the city, and obtaining the details of their construction,-the thick- ness of the walls, height of parapet walls, etc. Mr. Aubin completed his work in 1874, and presented to the board " a system of fixing adequate rates upon each building according to construction, starting with a moderate basis for standard buildings, and making additional charges for deficiencies and all in- flammable goods contained therein."? The system having received the approval of the St. Louis Board,

1 Samuel Ely Mack was prominently identified with the in- surance interests of St. Louis for many years. Ile was a native of Westfield, Mass., and a son of Gen. Maek, of that State. In 1858, when the Home Insurance Company of New York trans- ferred its general Western agency from Cincinnati to St. Louis, he was sent to St. Louis to supervise the Western and Southern business of that company, and soon took rank among the busi- ness men of the eity. He died in December, 1866.

2 Pietorial St. Louis, p. 95.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

and subsequently of the National Board, went into effect on the 1st of July, 1875. The office of the board is at 508, Chamber of Commerce, and the offi- cers for 1882 were J. A. Waterworth, president ; A. C. Travis, vice-president ; C. T. Aubin, secretary and surveyor ; and William M. Lockwood, treasurer.

TELEGRAPH.

Notwithstanding the many impediments and em- barrassments encountered by the projectors of the telegraph, its extension westward was wonderfully rapid. The first line in actual operation in the United States was established between Baltimore and Washington in 1844. It was completed and messages were transmitted on the 24th of May of that year, and a little over three and a half years later (Dec. 20, 1847) the lines connecting East St. Louis with the Eastern cities were finished. When we take into consideration the fact that telegraphy was as yet in its infancy, this feat deserves to be ranked with the great achievements of the age. The line between Baltimore and Washington was the creation of the general government ; but the development of the telegraphic system in the West was due to the energy and unflagging zcal of one man, Henry O'Reilly, who after encountering many trials and discouragements succeeded in forming a stock company for the estab- lishment of telegraphic communication between the great business centres of the East and Cincinnati, St. Louis, and other Western points. Mr. O'Reilly met with very little encouragement from the capitalists to whom he applied, finding it almost impossible to con- vince them that the telegraph would ever prove a pay- ing investment ; but, finally, having procured the necessary funds, he obtained control of the Morse patents from the Atlantic seaboard westward ; Pro- fessor Samuel F. B. Morse, who owned them, having sought in vain to induce the general government to purchase them.

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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 94

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