Henry von Phul

Henry von Phul (August 14, 1784 – September 8, 1874) was an American pioneer merchant, businessman and public official whose career coincided with the growth of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, between 1811 and 1874.

Origins Henry von Phul was the son of Johann Wilhelm von Phull (later William von Phul), who was born at Westhofen, in Central Pfalz, on November 14, 1739, and came to North America in 1764, settling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he was married to Catharine Graff on November 14, 1775. Both belonged to the Moravian Church, and it is possible that von Phul had left Germany for religious reasons. The marriage was happy, and the fruits of it were George, Catharine, William, Sarah, Henry, Anna Maria, Philip and Graff von Phul.

Success in St. Louis Black painted felt fire hat worn by Henry von Phul of North Fire Co. and Union Fire Co. No. 2 in 1819

Von Phul commenced business in St. Louis in a small store on Main Street, keeping goods, groceries and other merchandise as is usually kept in country stores. In 1817, he and Auguste Chouteau raised funds to buy a fire engine and build a firehouse for the city.

In 1831, von Phul formed a partnership with Theodore McGill, under the style of Von Phul & McGill (later Von Phul, Waters, and Company, and finally H. von Phul, Sons, and Company), and moved to the corner of Olive Street and the levee, where he was largely engaged in the grocery business and steamboat agency, owning an interest in some of the largest steamboats of that day. He was afterward senior partner of the Von Phul, Waters & Co. firm, a respected business house in St. Louis. He was continually in business as a St. Louis merchant for over sixty years. He filled several important positions connected with the municipal government of St. Louis and was connected with many of her public and private institutions, both civil and charitable.

Later life and death Shared tomb of Henry and Rosalie von Phul, Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, St. Louis In 1872, the New Orleans branch of his company, under the management of his sons, went bankrupt. The elderly von Phul, then eighty-eight, insisted upon paying his sons' creditors, and although doing so exhausted his personal fortune, "even to his wife's dower", this final act of integrity earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.

Two years later, at 3 p.m. on September 8, 1874, Henry von Phul died at his residence, 1516 Olive Street, St. Louis. He had been prostrated for some time, and his death had been expected for several days. He left forty-three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Union Merchants' Exchange draped their hall of exchange in mourning for thirty days, and some of Von Phul's friends presented a full-length portrait of the "old and honored merchant" to be hung there.

Personal life In 1816, von Phul was married to Rosalie Genevieve Saugrain (1797–1887), daughter of Dr. Antoine Saugrain, of which marriage were born fifteen children, ten of whom survived:

Maria Taylor, wife of Thomas M. Taylor, of St. Louis; Eliza Cook, wife of Judge William M. Cook; Julia Bird, wife of A. T. Bird, planter in Louisiana; Sophie von Phul; Henry von Phul, Jun., a planter of Louisiana; Fred von Phul, commission merchant of St. Louis; Frank von Phul, merchant of New Orleans; William von Phul, planter in Louisiana; Benjamin von Phul, cotton broker of St. Louis; Philip Phil Phul, of St. Louis.

On June 10, 1866, he celebrated his golden wedding, which was attended by many of the old citizens of St. Louis who still remained alive. In 1819 he was elected a vestryman of the new Christ Episcopal Church in St. Louis, but later in life he converted to Roman Catholicism.