James Tower Sweringen Collection

Collection — Box: VMF 15, Folder: 19

Identifier: MS-VMF-vmf165

Staff Only

Collection contains loose receipts, checks, bills for business and personal accounts, primarily in St. Louis, for J.T. Sweringen and others, including Arthur Buckner Barret, Edwin Harrison and J. Freeman. Also 2 letters and miscellaneous legal documents

Dates

Creation: 1832-1872

Creator

Sweringen, James Tower, 1806-1872 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

55.00 items

1 folders

Additional Description

Biographical Information

James Tower Sweringen (1806-1872) operated the largest dry goods store in St. Louis [Sweringen and Bredell?] - reputed to be the most flourishing in the West - also sat on the Board of Directors of numerous Missouri firms, including the North Missouri Railroad in 1859 and was influential in various St. Louis business and civic activities, holding power of attorney for many prominent citizens.

Arthur Buckner Barret (1836-1875) farmer and businessman, married Anna Farrar Sweringen, daughter of James Tower Sweringen. He was an influential business and social leader, becoming president of the Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Association, 1866, and was active in city recreational planning. He was elected Mayor of St. Louis in 1875 but died shortly after taking office.

Edwin Harrison (1836-[19--]) capitalist, was the son of James Harrison, 1803-1870, who established the firm of Chouteau, Harrison and Valle - (which constructed the largest rolling mill in the west)- and founded the Iron Mountain Railroad Company, c.1852, among other enterprises. Edwin Harrison became president of the above concerns and chairman of the Iron Mountain Company, which his father had helped promote. He was also a geologist, undertaking numerous private and government surveys and explorations.

Trusten Polk (1811-1876) lawyer, Governor of Missouri, 1857; U.S. Senator, 1857-1862; Commander in the Confederate Army, 1861; and a military judge for Missouri, 1864-1865.