My Genealogy Hound

Gust Hamel, druggist, dealer in all kinds of lumber, and manufacturer of the Economy School Desk, De Soto, is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born in 1831. His parents were Frederick and Lena (Zeiher) Hamel, natives also of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America in 1849, and located in St. Louis. In 1854 they moved to Jefferson County, Mo., and bought a farm three miles west of De Soto, upon which a shop was established, and the father followed his trade, that of a saddler, in connection with farming. He moved to De Soto in 1858, and died in 1872, at the age of eighty-four years. His widow died in 1864, aged sixty-seven years. Gust Hamel was the third of the seven children born to them, four of whom are still living. He was educated in his native country, and at the age of fifteen commenced learning the saddler’s trade. In the fall of 1848 he immigrated to the United States, worked in New York, Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis, and in 1860 came to De Soto, where he followed his trade until 1868. He then established a drug store, which he has since continued, and in connection with which, in 1873, he established and has since conducted a lumber yard and planing-mill. In 1884 he patented and began the manufacture of the Economy School Desk, which has met with good success. He is also the inventor and manufacturer of Hamel’s reclining chair and lounge, which was patented February 8, 1887. Mr. Hamel is one of the most enterprising and successful business men in De Soto. In 1852 he married Miss Louisa Schur, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1837. They have had seven children, viz.: Otto, who is employed on the Iron Mountain Railroad; George F., a partner with his father in the drug store and a doctor of medicine; Fred G., Gustavus, Charles, Alice (wife of Samuel Hibbert) and Emma. In politics Mr. Hamel is a Democrat. He was elected county judge of Jefferson County in 1871, which position he held two years. He served as justice of the peace eight years, was mayor of De Soto two years, served as alderman several years, and was a member of the school board for about twenty years. He is a Master Mason in the Masonic fraternity.