The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-03-30
LEARNED HIS TRADE
In Cape Girardeau Fifty
One Years Ago.
The Ex-Bricklayersf in st. Louis Send
Set of Resolutions to the
Family of the Late Joseph
Lansman in this City,

Adams, on behalf of committee OF
resolutions on the death of JOSEPH
Lansmon presented to the family o
the deceased the resolutions passed
by the bricklayers of st. Louis who
formerly resided in this city. tn,
resolutions we're artisticIy drafted ant
framed in a handsome frame
Accompanying the resolutions wa.
the following letter to Mr.. Woeleke
which will be read with interest by
many of our citizens:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March Il, 1895.
Mr.. WILLIAM WoELENE:- My Deal
Good old Friend:.-Ws Intelded TO
have shipped to-day Friday pei
Str. New Idlewild in care of the por.
ter to Bro. Ben Adams the Memoriam
on the death of our old trend Joseph
Lansman, but were disappointed 10y
the party that was to do the framing
and we intended to have shipped il
last Monday already but hIm failing
to comply with his agreemA hence
the delay, but tell Bro. Ben Adams
that he will receive it by next Tuesday
morning from the porter. Hoping
that it will reach you o. X. and
knowing that you. Mr.. Adams and
brother Fritz will do the rest as per
No na+ h,
that signed the resolutions are all
well known to you and the citizens oi
the Cape but one. and that is Mr..
Thos. Sparks, whom will require
some introduction on my part Mr.
Sparks learned his trade as brick
layer at he Cape like the balance OF
the committee, but unlike the balance
of said committee he learned before
the days of 1914 high water year, and
worked on the first part of the college
buildings, also he off-boar brick on a
brickyard run by a Mr.. Turner, his
Fritz has his brickyard now, and he
also helped his father plant the apple
trees on the Bierwirth farm and also
he helped his father dig the old well
at the Bierwirth farm, the one where
the Bierwirth children fell into. Also
his father and mother lie buried on
the Gid grave yard alongside his uncle,
Mr.. Berry. the carpenter that built
the first college building, and | may
say now, that he must of been a good
country boy. but he says he was very
green. bat anyway he left the Cape in
1874 and came to st. Louis to better
his condition and went to work on a
brickyard on 10Th and Market street,
then being out of the city, and the next
summer he started again at bricklay-
ing and l am happy to tell you that
he has succeeded, for to-day he is the
most successful bricklayer boss in St.
Louis and also the richest. And l
think he is one of the best mechanics
tviz, bricklayer) in this city and
second to none in the U. S. There
are a number of the largest and finest
buildings, both as business houses and
residences, standing as monuments OF
his skill and master workmanship.
He is an examplar master builder and
man, and | think about the Oldest
living bricklayer to-day yet actively
engaged in large business, and as
you say that you are proud of the
Cape boys and that you hope that at
no time you need not be ashamed to
say he is one of the Cape boys. Yes,
[ am happy to tell you this for all,
for | find them all a sober and in
dustrious lot of working men and all
good mechanics. / also wish to say
that your old boy, Geo. Saurbrum, is
one of the coming bosses for he has
established good reputation
and built up a large business and
made considerable money. So then
this much for your old Cape boys
lOI 1 hLO" SOu liz W
them all at heart, for l, as one, know
we have your good wishes and earnest
prayers too.
Now. my dear old friend, | also
wish to say word about the engross-
ing or penmanship. We could have
had the Memoriam engrossed by some
professor of penmanship and had it
done much better, but it was under
stood that it was to be engrossed by
one of Old Joe's Boys by one who
started with him on the brickyard in
March 1881 so it was agreed that it
was not to be done by the cold hand
and heart of some disinterested hand
of professor, and hence We hope that
it will be accepted in the same spirit
as it is given. This fact you will
please explain to the bereaved family.
Now in conclusion l will say We
will be very grateful to Bro. Adams,