USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 48
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JOHN F. JOHNSON, city comp- troller, was born in Buchanan county, pany, was born in Minonk, Woodford Jan. 12, 1860, and is the son of John K. and Mary E. (Stephens) Johnson. He attended the county schools and Christian Brothers' College. Engaged in railroad work and was in the Bur- lington offices for eight years. In 1897 was appointed deputy comptroller and in April, 1899, was appointed comptroller. Mr. Johnson has always been an active Democrat. He was married March 13, 1889, to Miss Rosa a time he traveled for the Pittsburgh B. Breckenridge.
DR. J. FRANCIS SMITH, the only living male descendant of Major Fred W. Smith, an illustrious pioneer, who made the plat of the original town of they have one child.
JOHN M. ARMSTRONG, whole- sale dealer in coffees and spices, etc., was born in Centerville, Pa., March 31, 1838. Served during the war in Company A, Second Missouri Cavalry, and was honorably discharged in 1864 with the rank of first lieutenant. He came to St. Joseph and was one of the proprietors of the Patee house, the
JOHN H. SPARKS, president of the St. Joseph Bridge and Iron Com- County, Ill., June 23, 1860; attended the public schools there, and at the age of seventeen went to Nebraska, where he worked on a farm and spent four years in the employ of the B. & M. R. R. Co. He was salesman for W. J. Hobson of Savannah for four years, and then became a partner. For
Bridge Company, and then organized the concern of which he is now pres- ident. He was married at Savannah in 1877 to Miss Carrie Majors, and
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
GEORGE G. STARMER, deputy farmer, and died a few week's before sheriff, was born in Harrison County, his son's birth. Early training fell to Mo., April 6, 1852. He came to Bu- a loving, intelligent mother. Re- chanan County in 1866, where he at- ceived private instruction from Wil- tended the common schools and work- liam Schubert, esq., an able teacher. ed on a farm. Mr. Starmer is a Dem- At the age of sixteen he entered ocrat and takes an active interest in Mount Pleasant Seminary, at Bogers- politics. He was for two years dep- uty under Constable W. R. Womach, and since 1896 has been deputy sheriff under Sherif Hull. He is known as a very efficient and trustworthy offi- cer.
town, Pa., and later, Union Semin- ary, at New Berlin, Union county, Pennsylvania. Commenced the study of medicine in 1863, attended the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and Long Island College Hospital successively,
DR. E. A. MENDELL, physician graduating in 1865 from the latter in- and surgeon, office in rooms 13 and stitution; was immediately after grad- uation appointed resident physician of 14 Commercial block, residence 1202 South Fifteenth street. Dr. Mendell his alma mater, serving one year. is a highly successful practioner. He Came to St. Joseph, Sept. 28, 1866, was born at Johnstown, Pa., Dec. 16, which place he has made his home 1861. In 1885 he went to Omaha, ever since. During the location of the where he made his home until 1892. county poor house in St. Joseph, for He was educated in the public schools a period of one year, about 1870, Dr. and at the State University of Nebras- Long was its efficient superintendent ka, graduating in medicine in 1892. and physician. On the removal of the Shortly after this he located in St. Jo- county poor farm to the present farm seph and soon took high rank. Dr. north of the city, he ceased to act as Mendell is a member of the Eclectic Medical Association and secretary of the Missouri Eclectic Society, having been twice elected to this office. Aside from a devotion to his profession he is an enthusiast on the subject of fruit
superintendent of the same, but was continued as county physician up to the period of his resignation. He was for many years a member of the United States Pension board. In chronis diseases Dr. Long has growing, and is vice president of the long enjoyed an enviable reputation Kenmoor Orchard Company, and a in St. Joseph and tributary country. member of the board of directors of He is a successful specialtist in rectal
the Wathena Commercial company. He also owns a private orchard of eighty acres five miles south of St.
diseases. Dr. Long is a Republican in politics. He represented the Eighth ward in the city council dur-
Joseph, the trees in which are two ing 1895-97 and was again elected for years old. Dr. Mendell was married two years in April, 1899.
at Tecumseh, Neb., in 1885, to Miss Lillah Taylor, and they have one child, a daughter.
CARL LOHR, whose resort is the popular rendezvous for business men, is one of the most popular and most
DR. AUGUSTUS S. LONG was successful caterers in St. Joseph. Mr. born Aug. 2, 1840, at Long Swamp, Lohr has been the saloon business in Berks county, Pennslyvania. His fa- St. Joseph for many years and his cir- ther, Daniel Long, was a prosperous cle of friends has constantly increased.
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
LYMAN G. BIGELOW, photo- 1876 he was appointed superintendent grapher and artist, Fourth and Ed- of the Centennial Photographi com- mond streets. Mr. Bigelow began to pany, where he had charge during the study art immediately after leaving entire exposition. He personally school, entering the studio of Henri made sittings of most of the foreign Dolph, an eminent French artist. In celebrities who came to the exhibi- 1869 he opened a studio in New York tion, among whom was the late Dom city. Then he took up photography, Pedro, emperor of Brazil. Large or- opening a gallery in Detroit, Mich., ders were given by the emperor, and where he achieved a reputation sec- many thousands were sold to visitors.
LYMAN G. BIGELOW.
ond to none in the west. He is the Mr. Bigelow had an exhibit in the art inventor of what is known to the pro- department of the exhibition and was fession as "The Bigelow Back- awarded a grand medal and diploma ground," which is in use today the for superior excellence and novel ef- world over. In 1875 the editor of the fects of lightning. In 1877 he visited Philadelphia Photographer offered a Europe, devoting his time to study $100 gold medal for the best series of in the art galleries. In 1879 he per- six negatives to be used in illustrating fected a process of photo-mechanical his journal, competition open to any printing which produced in printing photographer in the United States. inks the finest pictures at that time This was awarded to Mr. Bigelow. In made, but which was too expensive to
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
be a commercial success. In 1890 he State Right's Democrat of the Cal- invented a new class of photographic houn school. He died on his farm objective, which was patented in this on Jan. 6, 1886. Atchison county, country and provisionally protected Missouri, and the city ond county of in Europe. For this and other inven- Atchison, Kansas, perpetuate his tions he was awarded a medal of hon- name. He was a bachelor. or and made an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Science and In- ventions, April 15, 1891. This award was received by him since coming to St. Joseph. Mr. Bigelow enjoys the distinction of having been awarded more first class medals and diplomas than any photographer west of New York. The half-tones in this history are from sittings made by Mr. Bige- low.
GEN. DONIPHAN-Alexander W. Doniphan, whose military ex- ploits are briefly chronicled in a pre- vious chapter, was closely identified with the early history of Buchanan county. He practiced law with bril- liant results both at Sparta and at St. Joseph. He was born in Mason county, Kentucky, July 9, 1808, and came to Missouri in 1830, locating at Lexinton. In 1837 he moved to Lib- erty, where he made his home for thirty years, and then moved to Rich- mond, where he died Aug. 8, 1887. His first military exploits were against the Mormons, and his second was the famous expedition to Mexico. He was most successful as a criminal lawyer. Nature had endowed him muncificently; his presence was mag- netic and his speech fascinating, and he exercised a great and wholesome influence in a broad sphere.
DAVID R. ATCHISON-When Buchanan county was organized it was attached for judicial purposes to the Fifth Judicial circuit, and Hon. Austin A. King of Ray county held the first court. Shortly afterwards the Twelfth judicial circuit, embracing the Platte Purchase and Clinton county, was created and Hon. David R. Atchison of Clinton was made judge. in February of 1841. In 1845. upon the death of United States Sena- tor Linn, Judge Atchison was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy and he served until 1855. He was president JOHN HANAFIN, the well known dealer in milk and ice cream, 218 and 220 South Fifth street, a leader in his line, was born in New York state Dec. 20, 1836, and has been in business in St. Joseph since 1878. Mr. Hanafin began in a small way, but his attention to business and genial manners soon brought him trade and has several times sought larger quarters, until finally he erected the commodious double brick now occupied by him. He is a large manufacturer of the pro tem of the senate in 1849, and as the inauguration day of General Zach- ary Taylor fell on Sunday, Senator Atchison, by virtue of his office, was president of the United States for one day. General Atchison was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, a few miles from Lexington, Aug. 11, 1807, and came to Missouri in 1830. Upon his retirement from the senate he lo- cated on a farm in Clinton county. He went into the Southern army dur- ing the rebellion and remained until he became dissatisfied, not with the very finest ice cream and is always cause, but with the management of prepared to fill orders for anything in the army. He was essentially a his line.
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
THE M. K. GOETZ BREWING provement in the art of brewing, so COMPANY is the outgrowth of a that today it is one of the best and small and primitive beginning, and most modern in equipment in the stands as a monument to the thrift country. This brewery was one of the and business sagacity of its founder. first to adopt ice machines. From The first brewery in St. Joseph was time to time additions were made to that of Joseph Kuechle, started in the Goetz brewery until now there is 1849, the ruins of which still stand on an annual producing capacity of 75,- Charles street, between Seventh and ooo barrels. The recent erection of an Eighth streets. The second was that immense storage plant at a cost of of Henry Nunning, established in many thousands of dollars emphasizes 1855, which stood on Faraon street, the enterprise of this great firm. The between Eleventh and Twelfth street; product of the M. K. Goetz Brewing the third was that of M. K. Goetz & Company is noted for its purity and wholesome health-giving qualities. Their "Pepstonic," non-alcoholic, a peculiarly beneficient drink in cases of weakness and indigestion, has ac- quired a wide celebrity, and is found on sale all over the west. Their bot- tled beer, especially the "Country Club" brand, is among the best made, and this fact is attested by the im- mense sale it meets with in St. Joseph and the surrounding country.
WILLIAM L. GOETZ.
In 1881 M. K. Goetz acquired the entire interest in the brewery. Hav- ing educated and equipped his sons for business he organized, in 1895, the M. K. Goetz Brewing Company, taking them in. This company was incorpor- ated with a paid up capital of $150,000.
William L. Goetz, the vice-presi- dent and superintendent, was born in St. Joseph and educated in the public schools and at Bryant's business col- lege. After working in the brewery for ten years he attended the Ameri- can Brewing Academy in 1893-95, re- ceiving two diplomas., .
Co., established in 1859, at Sixth and Albemarle streets, the site of the present pretentious plant. Michael K. Goetz, the founder of the last named institution, and the president of the M. K. Goetz Brewing Company, came to St. Joseph in 1857, and after working Albert R. Goetz, secretary and treasurer, was born in St. Joseph, edu- cated in the public schools and busi- ness colleges, has been connected with the brewery since 1890 and has charge of the soliciting and collection depart- ments. at Nunning's brewery for two years, organized the firm of M. K. Goetz & Co., and established the "City Brew- ery." Mr. Goetz was among the first in the west to brew lager beer, the previous product having been known as "top" beer, and he has kept his es- Frank R. Goetz, chief engineer, who tablishment well abreast of every im- was also born and educated in St. Jo-
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
seph, became connected with the with plants and vegetables, heated by brewery in 1883 as solicitor. In 1886 steam and equipped with every mod- he went to St. Louis and practically ern appliance. These people are ever studied machinery for seven years. abreast of the times. They raise vege- In 1893 he returned and took charge tables and flowers in the winter in of the machinery and refrigerating ap- their green houses and ship them to partus at the brewery.
Theodore J. Benkendorff, head bookkeeper, was born at Waterville, Wis .; came to St. Joseph with his pa- rents at an early age was educated in the public schools and finished in a business college. He has been with the brewery since 1890, and has charge of the office.
Charles Stetler, sr., the foreman, are always admired. Mr. Krumm's served his apprenticeship in the lead- ing breweries of St. Louis and Chica- go, and was for eight years foreman of the Schilling & Schneider brewery at St. Louis. He has held the position of brewmaster at the Goetz plant since 1893.
Frank, J. Scheid, foreman of the bottling department, is a man of ripe experience in his branch. He has been in his present place since 1897, prior to which time he was for three years with the American Brewing Co. of St. Louis.
all parts -of the country, finding a ready market always. During the summer their gardens grow vege- tables, berries, fruits, etc. They main- tain a depot in the city at 704 Felix street, where cut flowers and potted plants are sold. They decorate for. weddings and other social functions and their floral designs for funerals sons engaged in business with him are: Frederick W., Henry F., and John. They are all artistic florists.
PFEIFFER STONE CO .- This business concern is the oldest of its kind not only in St. Joseph, but in the west, and its operations practically know no confines. The business was established in 1860 by Joseph Pfeiffer, an artist in sculpture as well as a prac- tical stone cutter, who came from Ger- many in 1849. The company was in- corporated in 1881, and the present of- ficers are: Charles A. Pfeiffer, presi- dent; Joseph Pfeiffer, vice-president, and William Gensen secretary. They are cut stone contractors and quarry- men on a large scale and supply all kinds of stone, in any quantity for building purposes. The yard, at
WILLIAM KRUMM & SONS- The immense business done from the green houses of this firm shows what can be brought from. a small begin- ning by industry, enterprise and busi- ness integrity. William Krumm, the founder of this business, whose per- sonal sketch appears in the foregoing Fourth and Locust streets, is 120x300 pages, located on twenty-five acres at feet and equipped with the latest ma- chinery and appliances. Employment is given to upwards of sixty men and the business extends throughout the west. The Pfeiffer Stone Company has brought much credit to St. Joseph and the gentlemen who compose it have always stood in the front rank ot workers for the city's fame and ad- Twenty-eighth and Hickory streets, in 1870, going into debt for his purchase. He had to work hard to keep above water, but finally won. In the later years he was materially aided by his sons, whom he has taken into partner- ship. Theirs is the largest green house and nursery plant in northwest Missouri. There are ten large build- ings, over eighty feet in length, filled vancement.
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL,
CENTRAL MEDICAL COL- LEGE, located at Ninth and Felix corner Fifth and Charles streets, is streets, St. Joseph, is now in the fifth one of the oldest, and is among year of its corporate existence, and the best hostelries in St. Joseph. It has a reputation far and wide as an in- was established in 1879 by C. Q. Lew- stitution second to none in the ad- is and passed through various hands vantages offered to the student seek- until 1891, when it was taken by Hun- inga thorough medical education. ter & Boone. After eighteen months The gentlemen who chartered and Mr. Hunter withdrew from the firm conducted the Central College are and since that time George Boone, jr., among the best known physicians of has been the proprietor. From the the city or state and their aim was to beginning his patronage was good, . make of the new medical college an and not a month has passed that institution of the very highest class. has not showed a flattering in- That aim has been achieved even crease, until now the hotel is one of sooner than many of them expected, the most popular and most home-like and the Central Medical College in the city. Mr. Boone has the house stands among the best in the country. entirely refurnished and refitted, and The college building is admirably lo- has made it a special object to furnish cated in the heart of the city, and the the very best accommodations at rea- various departments are fitted up with paratus known to science. Indeed sonable rates. Mr. Boone was born the very latest and most complete ap- in Manchester, Ia., Jan. 18, 1860. He was educated in the public schools next to the qualifications of its teach- and in 1853 went to Kansas, locating ers, its equipment is the special pride at Hiawatha and Horton. He was en- of its founders. St. Joseph, a city of gaged in the hotel business at Hia- 75,000 inhabitants, offers an ample watha when fire destroyed his prop- supply of clinical material, and the erty and June 1, 1891, he came to St. laws of Missouri are such as to permit Joseph and took charge of the hotel of anatomical material to be obtained in which he has made such a success. abundance. The college course com- Mr. Boone is a Republican, but does plete covers four years, and the high not make politics a part of his busi- standard set for graduates guarantees ness. He was married in St. Joseph its diploma to pass any examination Nov. 1, 1892, to Flora, daughter of required in any state. The facutly is a Mr. and Mrs. Peter Resterer of this particularly able one, numbering city. Mr. Boone is peculiarly fitted among its members Dr. O. B. Camp- bell, A. M., M. D., Dr. T. E. Potter, of his house is one of the most con- for the hotel business and the location venient in the city.
. professor of surgery; Dr. S. F. Car- penter, professor of descriptive and relative anatomy; Dr. M. F. Wey- mann, professor of physiology and
R. T. DAVIS MILL CO .- For opthalmology; Dr. F. G. Thompson, many years the products of this mill professor of clinical surgery, and have made St. Joseph famous. The many other equally well known and founder of the institution, the late R. able physicians and surgeons. Dr. T. T. Davis, strove for excellence and E. Potter, Seventh and Edmond, is was not satisfied until he had pro- the efficient secretary, and Dr. O. B. duced a flour which took the highest Campbell is the president. rank at home and abroad. Mr. Davis
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
started in St. Joseph in the old City AMBROSE MANUFACTURING Mills on North Third street. In 1882 COMPANY-This plant, located at he incorporated the R. T. Davis Mill Eighth and Monterey streets, which Co., and erected the present plant, at produces architectural iron, was estab- Second and Edmond streets, the lished in 1871 and the business was largest mill on the Missouri river. organized in 1883. The original firm In 1886 the capacity of the mill was name was F. W. Ambrose, then Am- increased from 400 to 800 barrels and brose & Co., then Ambrose, Ford & it is today fully equipped with the most Co., then Ambrose & Co., and finally modern of machinery. The mill is The Ambrose Manufacturing Compa- 120x140 feet, five stories in height and ny. The works consist of a spacious there is a mamoth grain elevator in structure, compactly built on an area close proximity. This institution pays of ground 93x280 feet. They are spe- out more money than any other con- cially adapted in construction to the required purpose as will secure prod- ucts almost flawless. The company has met with signal success and gain- cern in the city and has been a decid- ed boom to the commerce of St. Jo- seph. The two high grade flours, Royal Patent No. 10, and High Pat- ed a trade of the most gratifying pro- ent No. I, have obtained an unrivaled portions. As manufacturers of archi- reputation, and are regarded as the tectural iron work and general brass standard in many states. The Davis founders, their goods have a special "Straight Patent" Blue D. and Red reputation for strength, durability, F. are fine medium flours, while Half economy and perfect working. Fifty
Patent, Lion and Undine (low grade) command likewise an increasing sale. Premiums were taken at the World's hands are employed, many of them skilled artisans. The trade extends through the state and the Northwest. fair, at the Omaha exposition and The product of the company's special- everywhere where exhibits were made. ties will bear more than favorable In 1891 the famous Aunt Jemima Pan- comparison with that of any other es- cake Flour was added to the products tablishment in the West. Closely identified with St. Joseph, the Am- brose Manufacturing Company is de- servedly awarded the highest consid-
of this mill, and nothing ever put up- on the market has been so well adver- tised or brought such good returns. "Aunt Jemima" is known all over the eration.
United States and Canada, and hun- dreds of carloads are shipped annually to Europe. This product necessitates a separate building and is manufac- tured at Fourth and Mary streets, where during the season employment is given to hundreds of people. Upon the death of Mr. Davis the manage- ment of this extensive business passed into the hands of his son, R. M. Da -. vis, who has attained a high place in the commercial world, and who is now the president of the company. He is ably assisted in the management of the business by John R. Owens, the secretary and treasurer.
THE ST. JOSEPH ART GLASS CO., 606 South Eighth street, is com- posed of C. H. Zondler, J. J. Blum and G. M. Bose, the latter being man- ager of the concern. They deal in art, mosaic, beveled and jeweled glass for churches, public buildings and residences, and make a specialty of memorial windows. This firm is suc- cessor to the Bose Art Glass Co., and they have built up a splendid trade in their line, standing ready at all times to compete with eastern houses on anything in the way of art glass work.
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH.
E. F. HARTWIG-The wholesale Laufenburg, Canton Aargau, Switzer - liquor house of E. F. Hartwig, 212 land, Nov. 24, 1825. This village is South Third, is known all over the also on the Rhine and opposite the west as one of the leaders in that line birthplace of Mr. Albrecht. First at- of business and the name has come to tracted by family ties, then by congen- be a synonym for merit. For per- iality and next by their profession these two men formed a boyhood sonal integrity and sterling worth no man stands higher than Ernst F. friendship which has continued with- Hartwig, a position which he has at- out interruption through life. They tained by many years of business ex- learned watchmaking in Switzerland, perience, in which his motto has al- worked in France, and in 1847 crossed ways been fair dealing. This house the ocean in the same vessel, landing was originally founded in 1864 by Maj. at New Orleans. In 1851 they formed H. R. W. Hartwig, brother of E. F. a business partnership in St. Joseph, Hartwig, the latter becoming a mem- opening in the City Hotel (now Occi- ber of the firm of H. R. W. Hartwig dental). In the following year they & Co. in 1869, and this firm, by the moved to the Edgar house (now Tre- exercise of strict business integrity mont), added guns, knives and other and unbounded energy, forged stead- equipments necessary to emigrants ily and rapidly to the front and crossing the plains, and did a thriving achieved remarkable success. In 1887 business. In 1859 they erected the Major Hartwig, who had meantime building they now occupy, on the served as mayor of St. Joseph, re- north side of the market square. By tired, and since then the business has thrift and honesty they have built up a been conducted by Mr. E. F. Hart- business which has brought each of wig, and is accompanied by the same them a handsome competency. There success that marked the career of the are few instances in the annals of busi- original firm. Mr. Hartwig was born ness that parallel the history of this in the Province of Hessen, Ger- firm and the uninterrupted compan- many, where he was trained in the ionship of its members.
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