The Thurston Company in Great Britain had in 1826 replaced the wood playing surfaces (beds) of billiard tables with slate and in 1840 began to use molded gum rubber as rail bumpers or cushions in place of canvas sleeves stuffed with cotton, rags, or felt. Customers could easily reach Ernst’s shop from almost anywhere in the city - which at that time was mostly concentrated North and South along the river and Broadway: and passengers could walk in a few minutes from their steamboats along the levee to Schmidt’s place.
The bus started about 100 feet from Ernst’s shop, traveled West two blocks to Broadway, then North to the end of Broadway, then turned around and went back to Third and Market.īusiness success is frequently the result of “being in the right place at the right time”, and having the right products for your market. And at the comer of Third and Market was the starting point of the Omnibus.There were no trolley cars at that time, and the only public transportation was by horse-drawn taxi-cabs or the Omnibus - a long, flat bed wagon with benches attached, seating about 20 people and drawn by 2 horses - fare 5 cents. Clair, which carried passengers and vehicles across the Mississippi to Illinois. Three blocks to the east was the loading dock of the steam ferry-boat, The St. Three blocks to the north, at Third and Olive Streets, was the “new” Post Office. JOBBING WORK AND REPAIRS OF ALL KINDS DONE WITH NEATNESS AND DISPATCH The shingle read:īILLIARD BALLS, TEN PIN BALLS, AND SMOKING PIPES In the Fall of 1850 he put his “shingle” in the window of a strategically located building 50 feet Northwest of the St. Louis business language - and he had time to find just the right location for his business. The delayed opening of his shop was a blessing in several ways: he was able to add considerably to his legacy he learned to speak and write French - the prevalent St. He was a competent cabinet-maker, as well as a Master Turner, and the demand for these skills kept him busy until late 1850.
The city was crowded with prospectors outfitting themselves for the long trek to the West Coast, when “The Great Levee Fire” broke out on May 19th, destroying 20 steamboats and 8 entire blocks of business buildings.Įrnst found instant employment. Louis, the largest city of the West was a jumping off place for the 49’ers. In 1849 gold had been discovered in California, and St. Louis, and had to delay for a year establishing his business. Louis on September 12, 1850, Ernst thanked Johann for the “nice shelter I found with you”.Ī letter mailed to Ernst on Octofrom Hannover by his uncle, Friedrich Schmidt, Merchant, indicates that Ernst had inherited Ono’s house, the house had recently been sold by Ernst’s attorney, and the sale proceeds would be sent to Ernst.Įrnst had arrived at an unusual time in St. Louis in 1849 and Auguste was married on Januto Johann Lehman, a Belleville, Illinois painter. Louis, but we do know that Ernst, Georg, Auguste and their mother Sarah were in St. No information was uncovered as to exactly when and how the family left Germany and traveled to St. This, coupled with Otto’s death, possibly spurred the family to emigrate to the United States.įrom letters penned to and from Ernst, we learned that Otto and Sarah had been divorced, Otto had remarried, and that when he died his estate passed to his and Sarah’s children. No records were found that either Georg or Ernst had served in the military, and as the year 1850 approached both would soon have to report for their compulsory military training. He qualified for a Second Lieutenant’s pension when he received his discharge on October 8, 1819. Otto apparently was a Master Carpenter, because on December 7, 18l7 he was “hired” by the Hannover State Military Company and ranked as a corporal. Schmidt Co., was born Octoin Celle (pronounced “Zelle”) Germany and christened Heinrich Ernst Friedrich Schmidt in the Celle Evangelical-Lutheran Church.įrom church, census, and military records we learn that Ernst’s father, Otto Friedrich Ernst Schmidt, was born in Hannover State on July 12, 1792, married Sarah Hoadley on January 29, 1817, and this couple had three children: a daughter Auguste, and two sons Georg and Ernst.
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