Edward J. Glasgow

As printed in 1899

Glasgow, Edward James, was born in Belleville, Illinois, June 7, 1820, son of William and Sarah (Mitchell) Glasgow, the first named a native of Delaware and the last named, of Virginia. His maternal grandfather, Edward Mitchell, and his two brothers served in Colonel William Campbell's regiment of Virginia riflemen during the Revolutionary War. His father was a pioneer Western merchant, who was in business at different times in Belleville, Illinois, and at Herculaneum and St. Louis, Missouri. The elder Glasgow served at one time as treasurer of St. Louis, and was president of the Missouri Insurance Company, the first corporation of that character organized in this city. Edward J. Glasgow was educated in St. Louis, completing his course of study at St. Louis University and St. Charles College. Before he attained his majority he went to Mexico and in 1840 was appointed United States Consul at Guaymas by President Van Buren. He had gone to Mexico to take charge of certain business interests for James Harrison, his uncle, James Glasgow, and himself, at Mazatlan, and was engaged in trade there until 1843. The goods which he received from this country were shipped by sailing vessels around Cape Horn, and returns were made to St. Louis in silver bars, dye-woods and pearl shells, the last named article being gathered from the California Gulf pearl fisheries. In 1843 he left Mazatlan. and engaged in the overland trade between Missouri and Chihuahua in partnership with Henry Connelly, afterward Governor of New Mexico. Their goods we ported in large wagons, usually drawn b mules each, and the starting point f А wagon trains was Independence, Misco: these those days, the plains of Kansas, whi ҮТ is were obliged to traverse, were infested ie they tile Indians, belonging to the Comanches m owa, Pawnee and other tribes, and in N is Mexico and Chihuahua the Apaches ee hardly less unfriendly. It was 1,400 Ben from Independence to Chihuahua, and ч more than 200 miles of the trail Was secure from Indian attacks on the Wagon trains traversing it. Freighting in those days over the Santa Fetrail was a hazardous Occupation, and Mr. Glasgow had.many thrilling, and not a few perilous, experiences while engaged in the overland trade. His last trip across the plains was made in 1846 on the eve of the rupture between the United States and Mexico, which culminated in the Mexican War. His train was escorted into Santa Fe by the troops then on their way to Mexico, under command of General Stephen W. Kearney. Aiter a delay of several months, Mr. Glasgow's train, with several others, moved south with the United States forces under command of Colonel A W. Doniphan, who expected to join and reinforce General Wool at Chihuahua. At El Paso del Norte the traders and their teamsters, over 200 in number, were formed into two companies of infantry and mustered into the service of the United States by order of Colonel Doniphan. Mr. Glasgow was elected captain of one of the companies, which became a part of the battalion commanded by Major Samuel С. Owens, also a trade. They о ticipated in the battle of Sacramento, fought о the 28th of February, 1847, in which May Owens was killed, and completed a three months’ term of service in the war with Mex ice. Later, in 1847, and during a ee the year 1848, Mr. Glasgow served as States commercial agent at Chihuahua pad returned to the United States in 1848. eines thirty years thereafter was engaged in er cafe in St. Louis, dealing largely in sugar өү IÓ fee, a considerable amount of which = durimported from Brazil. At different в he ing his long business career in St. rests 25 has been identified with corporate “i a director of the Bank of Missourl,

Te trans.

Я Boat the Bank of St. Louis, director 5 Sah n men's Bank, and director of the >t- сай insurancı surance Company, and other insur

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Я sarricd, іп 1856, Harriet Clark rains, \ неа of James Kennedy, origi- кеше у, inia, but as early as 1816 a promi-

‚of Virgi É ай) business тап of St. Louis. Her material nen grandfather was Dr. Antoine F. Байат, of who, in 1788, came to America, bring: ИП $ of introduction to Benjamin Frank- ing pe he was entertained and highly Jean He descended the Ohio River that pe from Pittsburg in an open boat, in company with three other men, one of whom was killed by the Indians, and another drowned in auempting to swim ashore. Dr. Saugrain was captured by the Indians, but escaped later, and made his way to the fort at Ohio Falls, opposite Louisville. After revisiting France he came back to this country and settled first at Gallipolis, Ohio, removing from there to St. Louis in the year 1800 and remaining here until his death.

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (v. 2) (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.