Thursday, June 28, 2012

Edward Bredell, Sr., And The Missouri Glass Company

There is a very nice biographical essay of Edward Bredell, Sr., in the Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis: A Compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference (1899), pp 218-219, that includes the picture above and some of the following information:

In 1834 [after graduating from Yale law school] he returned to St. Louis with the intention of practicing his profession here, but after being admitted to the bar, the delicate state of his health caused him to change his plans, and he engaged in commercial pursuits.  With the patrimony he had inherited, he embarked in merchandising in St. Louis, as a member of the firm of Sweringen & Bredell.  Later he associated with himself his brother, J.C. Bredell, under the firm of Edward & J.C. Bredell.  Both these houses were wholesale and retail establishments, and both were prosperous ventures in a financial sense.  Subsequently Mr. Bredell retired from mercantile pursuits and engaged in mining operations, smelting and shipping copper ore on Meramec River from Franklin County.  The Perrys, who were distinguished citizens of Missouri at an early day, and to whom Mr. Bredell had become related by marriage, were pioneers in the lead business in this state, and when one of the leading members of the family died, Mr. Bredell took charge of the interests of the estate and thus became identified with the working of lead mines and the manufacture of lead in St. Francis County.  These mines were known as the "Perry Mines," and the operations there were on a very large scale for many years.  Eventually Mr. Bredell retired from the conduct of this business and built the Missouri Glass Works for his son.  He became president of the corporation operating this enterprise, and remained at its head, or was connected with it as director, until he retired from business...The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Bredell was Edward Bredell, Jr., who was born August 3, 1839.  At the outbreak of the Civil War the younger Edward Bredell joined the Confederate Army, was commissioned captain and was assigned to duty on the staff of General Charles Feifer, in command of a brigade of Missouri troops.  After the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, he was transferred to General Mosby's command, and served in the famous "Black Horse Cavalry," until killed at the battle of Fredericksburg.  He was a gallant soldier and distinguished himself for bravery on numerous fields.

Leaving aside what I think are some obvious errors in the Civil War record of Edward Bredell, Jr., the most important piece of information that I take away from this is that Bredell, Sr., built the Missouri Glass Company for his son.  Also, I found it interesting that the writer of the essay whitewashed Bredell, Sr.'s pro-Southern political leanings and the difficulties he suffered in St. Louis during the war - difficulties that include the confiscation of his property and imprisonment.  

1 comment:

Bruce Allardice said...

The General Charles Feifer mentioned above is Charles W.Phifer, who led a brigade at Corinth in 1862 and who is featured in my book, "More Generals in Gray."