Evening journal., 1888-08-15
RICH MEN OF ST. LOUIS.
WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY
ACQUIRED WEALTH.
Men who Have Walked the Most Hum
Bile Paths of Lite, but Are Now Travel
ing the Isasy Ways of opulence and
Luxury.


Bile Paths of Lite, but Are Now Travel
ing the I:asy Ways of Opulence and
Luxury.
SPECIAL Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 13.--St. Louis has It's share
Of rich people like every other large com
munity-people who are considered by their
neighbols to have enormous fortunes. 1t is
q noticeable fact, though, that thereare com
paratiyely few people hero who would DO
looked upon as extremely wealthy in any
other Of the great cities Of the United States
The millionaire is not what he was in this
country; in fact, the millionaire is now
rather commonplace, and man who wishes
TO attract attention by the sizs Of his fortune
must pass tho million mark several times. |
was standing in the lobby Of n New York
hotel not long ago The clerk, who had lived
IN 81 Louis a few years before. handed me
st. Louis telegram wanting to know who
this man was who asked for a suite Of rooms.
looked at the signature and it was that of
the richest man in St Louis. Such is famel
Two reasons which think in part account
for the absence Of great accumulated wealth
IN ST. Louis are the age Of the city and the
absence Of the speculative fever here. st.
Louis was built up so many years ago that
the fortunes of its founders have been divi-
ded and sub-divided through successive gen
erations None of the great fortunes have
been kept intact. They have been frittered
away by children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren. In other cities the presence
of the fever for speculation in grain, in real
estate and in other speculative articles builds
up fortunes as it tears them down. st. Louis
people are inclined to enjoy the possession Of
their wealth without rislling it; fortunate
thing for many of the people, an unfortunate
thing for the city.
There are many rich men in st. Louis.
though, and some whose method Of accumula
ting recently acquired wealth is interesting
The wcalthcst man in the city Of st. Louis
is John 4. Davis, Of the firm of Samuel c.
Davis 81 Co, wholesale dealers in dry goods.
Mr. Davis comes of a Boston family His
father was q shrewd business man, who, by
good investments, laid the foundation for
the great fortune which his son owns today.
Mr. Davis wealth is variously estimated, the
figures ranging from $4,000 600 to $50. OOO.-
OOO The former figure is probably nearest
the TRUTH Mr.. Davis has over 81, 100000 in
his dry goods business. The building in
which his business is done and the ground on
which that building stands are worth proba-
bly, 100000, In addition to this property
Mr. Davis Owls real estate in both the bust
ness and residence sections Of St Louis and
great deal of improved property in Boston
aud Chicago. Mr., Davis is a director in
local banking and other corporations and
largo owner Of stocks and bonds In APP
pearance the richest man in St Louis does
not give an impression of extreme wealth.
He is Of medium height, with strong, clean
cut features, mustaehe just turning gray
close cropped over a firm mouth, and close
cut hair OF dark color lighted up with gray
He dresses well, but very quietly, and his
manner is unassuming though firm and
business like. Mr.. Davis lives in very
large house on Lucas place, formerly the
fashionable residence street Of the CITY. He
has a family, but they entertain very little
and seem to find their chief enjoyment in
travelling
The second wealthiest man in the city Of
st. Louis until his death last summer was
Gerard b. Allen. He came to st. Louis
many years ago, without money and without
friends. He embarked in the iron business
in a small way. His business increased from
year to year, until he owned the largest
foundry in St Louis. The war found him
with q largo stock on hand, the value of
which was enhanced with the breaking out
OF hostilities. As his profits accumulated
Mr. Allen invested them carefully, one Of his
first purchases being an interest in the
Anchor line Of steamboats,. The Anchor
line came into full control Of the southern
river trade from st. Louis, and the dividends
on the stock were many and large Mr. Al
lens stock was generally believed to approx
innate that of MIR. Davis, but on his death it
was foupd that his estate would not realize
more than 100000 Mr.. Aliens open
handed generosity was no doubt accountable
for the deficit Most Of the estate Of Mr.. Al
len went TO his son, George Alien, who thus
became one Of the richest men in St. Louis
George Allen lacks many Of his fathers
traits, notably his kindly courtesy He
is man Of medium height, with a
full beard OF dark brown. His man.
ner is rather bluff bir Aliens father held
a controlling interest in the stock Of The Re
publican, now The Republic, OF this city,
but since his death the control OF the paper
has passed again into the hands Of the Knapp
family. Mr.. Allen lives with his family in
Tho large double stone mansion which his
father built SOME years ago on Chestnut and
Twcnty-eighth streets.
Another inherited fortune was that OF the
Maiitt family. One Of the original settlers
| OF ST. Louis was a ChOnteau. From the
| Chontcau family Mrs. Mafitt is descended
and from this family she inherited most OF
| her wealth Her fortune is estimated at
4 So 10000. This money is invested in real
estate and in negotiable stocks and bomb.
One OF her sons is the principal stockholder
OF the Missouri Street Railway company,
owning two Of the best paying roads in the
city. The other is engaged IN NO iron trade
Mn. Mafitt is getting old and she seldom
goes out now She lives with her family In
big double house on Lucas place. All OK
its exterior decorations and interior furnish
ings are rich. but its appearance is cold and
| gloomy Il is seldom opened Tor entertain
msnts Of any kind
John j. Mitchell made his s3,500000 by
fortunate investments in the stock of success
ful corporations like the Chicago and Alton
railroad, the Madison County ferry, tho ST.
Louis Transfer company and tho Laclede
Gaslight company. Tie is one OF the ruling
spirits in these concerns today. Hoalso owns
government bonds in large amounts. and
great tracts of farming land in Illinois, as
well as quantities of improved real estate i'll
Chicago.
The Thomas Allen estate was divided into
several fat slices some years ago. Its value
was over S3,500,OO0, money accumulated in
the purchase, operation and subsequent sale
70 JAZZ Gould of the Iron Mountain railroad,
now part Of the Missouri Pacific system.
Russell Allen and George w. Allen are mil
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