After graduation from high school in Virginia, Henry followed his father’s occupation of contractor and builder in Virginia until 1857 when the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He was made chief of the old volunteer fire department of St. Louis and became widely known throughout the country as a result. He was distinguished for his courage and bravery, good judgment and his kindness of heart. After the great Chicago fire of 1871 he was offered a salary of $15,000 a year to charge of the fire department in Chicago, but he declined the offer, preferring to remain in St. Louis. From 1862 to 1875, along with his brother John, he carried on a large contracting and building business in St. Louis, erecting many of the principal buildings of that era. He was collector of water rates in St. Louis during the administration of Mayor King. In 1862 General Schofield removed him from the position of chief of the fire department and confined him in the Gratiot Street Prison as a Southern sympathizer. He was reappointed chief in 1869, and held the office until 1885, when he resigned to become collector of internal revenue. In his early life he was a Whig in politics, but later became a Democrat. A member of the Southern Methodist Church, he was a devout Christian and for many years was superintendent of the Masonic order, of the Legion of Honor, of the order of Elks, and a Knight of St. Patrick.
After graduation from high school in Virginia, Henry followed his father’s occupation of contractor and builder in Virginia until 1857 when the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He was made chief of the old volunteer fire department of St. Louis and became widely known throughout the country as a result. He was distinguished for his courage and bravery, good judgment and his kindness of heart. After the great Chicago fire of 1871 he was offered a salary of $15,000 a year to charge of the fire department in Chicago, but he declined the offer, preferring to remain in St. Louis. From 1862 to 1875, along with his brother John, he carried on a large contracting and building business in St. Louis, erecting many of the principal buildings of that era. He was collector of water rates in St. Louis during the administration of Mayor King. In 1862 General Schofield removed him from the position of chief of the fire department and confined him in the Gratiot Street Prison as a Southern sympathizer. He was reappointed chief in 1869, and held the office until 1885, when he resigned to become collector of internal revenue. In his early life he was a Whig in politics, but later became a Democrat. A member of the Southern Methodist Church, he was a devout Christian and for many years was superintendent of the Masonic order, of the Legion of Honor, of the order of Elks, and a Knight of St. Patrick.
Gravesite Details
Age 65; Born in VA; Died 3677 Cook Ave.
Family Members
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