My Genealogy Hound

HON. GEORGE L. FAULHABER, one of the most prominent citizens of Sedalia, is now serving as Treasurer of the Missouri Trust Company. He is public spirited, enterprising and progressive, and has done much for the advancement of the city where he now makes his home. He was born in Kirch Brombach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 6th day of April, 1838, and is a son of John H. Faulhaber, who was a native of the same place. His grandfather, Karl August Faulhaber, was also born in the same province, and there he had charge of the Grand Duke’s forest. The family came originally from the French side of the Rhine, and were Lutherans in religious belief.

The father of our subject was engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Kirch Brombach, and the business there established is still conducted by a member of the family. His eldest brother was also a cabinet-maker by trade. Mr. Faulhaber wedded Catherine Zimmer, who was born near Offenthal, and a daughter of John M. and Susanna (Zeigel) Zimmer. Her father was also a native of Offenthal, where he engaged in the manufacture of plush . To Mr. and Mrs. Faulhaber were born ten children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood: Fritz, who died in Germany; Ernst and Catherine, who both passed away in Pittsburg, Pa.; Ernstine, now Mrs. Hoffman, of Mt. Carroll, Ill.; Lotta, Lizzette and Margaret, who all died in Allegheny, Pa.; Fredericka, a resident of that city; and George L., the youngest of the family. The father departed this life in his native land in 1846, at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother’s death occurred in May, 1 851, at the age of fifty-six years.

The gentleman whose name heads this record graduated from the public schools of Germany at the age of twelve years, after which he came to America with a sister, in 1851. They left Meintz for Rotterdam and thence went to London. For ten weeks they were on the Atlantic, during which time they were lost in an ice-field, and as the water and provisions gave out they were nearly starved. At length they arrived safely in New York, whence they proceeded at once to Pittsburg, Pa., where Mr. Faulhaber worked with his brother until 1855, when he went to Chambersburg, Pa., and apprenticed himself to a chairmaker, with whom he remained twelve months, but during that time the man nearly starved him to death. He then boarded a schooner going down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, and remained there until June, 1857, when he went to St. Louis. In the following September, however, he secured a position with the United States Express Company at Jefferson City, Mo., remaining with them for two years. He was then messenger on the stage lines from Tipton to Kansas City, Mo., and Leavenworth to Junction City, Kan. In April, 1862, he returned to Missouri and ran between Sedalia and St. Louis, and also between St. Louis and Macon City. He then became agent for the United States Express Company at Sedalia, but resigned the following year and removed to Pleasant Gap, Bates County, where for two years he engaged in merchandising. At the end of that time he sold out and engaged in the express business, and was also Route Agent in north Missouri for the same company, with headquarters at St. Louis. Later, in 1867, he organized an express company of his own, known as the Southern Express Company, of which he became proprietor and Superintendent, it having the stage lines in southwestern Missouri. The principal shipping lines were Sedalia, Springfield, Carthage and Neosho, and he carried on the business until 1868, when the railroads encroached on his territory.

In that year we again find Mr. Faulhaber back in the office of the United States Express Company at Sedalia, he remaining with them until 1891, when the Pacific Express Company came into control. With the latter firm he remained until the 1st of September, 1884, when he resigned to become Treasurer of the Missouri Trust Company, being the first to fill that office, and he has held the position ever since. The company was organized in 1880, with a capital stock of $10,000, and is now doing the largest business of the kind in the state. The capital stock has been increased to $500,000, with $200,000 paid up; there is a surplus of $50,000, and undivided profits to the amount of $10,000. The company issue debentures and sell them anywhere, and also have a saving department, and any sum from $1 draws five per cent, interest. Their present fine building was erected in 1887. Besides holding the office of Treasurer of this company, our subject is also a stockholder and Director.

On the 2d of January, 1861, in Jefferson City, Mo., Mr. Faulhaber married Miss Lillie Grimshaw, a native of Leeds, England, and daughter of Jonathan Grimshaw, who was Division Superintendent of the Midland Railroad in England. After coming to America her father located at St. Louis, where he became connected with the United States Express Company, and from 1858 to 1892 was agent at Jefferson City, when he resigned and his son Arthur became his successor. He then came to Sedalia, and is now connected with the Missouri Trust Company. His wife, who was formerly Eliza M. Topham, died in Jefferson City in 1876. Mrs. Faulhaber was educated in St. Louis, and by her marriage has become the mother of six children. Katherine E., now Mrs. Houx, is a widow and resides with her father; George G. died in St. Louis; Gertrude is at home; Ernest A. is in the purchasing department of the Northern Pacific Railroad at St. Paul, Minn.; and Eda Margaret and Blanche Lillian, who are at home, complete the family.

In 1878 Mr. Faulhaber was elected Mayor of Sedalia on the Republican ticket, and the following year was re-elected, holding the office for two terms to the satisfaction of all. He became a member of the School Board in 1882, serving for the first year as President, but he preferred the office of Secretary, which he filled for the two succeeding years. He was made City Treasurer in April, 1888, and remained in office for two years. Public affairs always receive his hearty recognition, and he encourages all enterprises for the city’s advancement. He was in Sedalia in 1864, at the time when Jeff Thompson was captured there, and during the war served in a company of Citizens’ Guard as Sergeant. He takes considerable interest in civic societies, being a member of Sedalia Lodge No. 236, A. F. & A. M., in which he served for five consecutive years as Master, and for eight years as Secretary, from which office he resigned; he is also a member of Sedalia Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., where he was also Secretary for fifteen years; and St. Omar Commandery No. II, K. T., in which he filled the same office for seven years, but some three years ago resigned all of those offices, though he is now serving as Eminent Commander. He has been a member of the Masonic Board of Relief since 1885; and also belonged to Earn Leaf Chapter of the Eastern Star until it gave up its charter, and in that order filled the chairs of Worthy Patron and Grand Marshal. For two years he was Grand Junior Deacon of the State Lodge, and Treasurer of both the Royal Tribe of Joseph and the Royal Arcanum. With the Calvary Episcopal Church he holds membership, and is Vestryman and Clerk of the Board. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has served as delegate to the county and state conventions. No man in Sedalia is more widely or favorably known, and the name of George L. Faulhaber deserves an honored place in this volume.