300 E Locust in Union
Franklin County Historical Society
"They do amazing things to preserve history, but amazing things take amazing donations."
Open 1st Wed and 2nd/4th Sat Mar-Nov at 300 E Locust St in Union
​Contact Us: 636.583.3247​ Text: 636.283.8353
Wall of Honor
To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Franklin County Missouri, we would like to recognize the businesses that have stood the test of time. They have survived two world wars, The Great Depression, several recessions, and changes in technologies their founders never could have imagined. Small and family businesses are the backbone of any community and we are blessed to have so many last at least half the length of time the County has been in existence. That is something so special and rare. Their dedication and hard work helped them succeed across generations, and hopefully for many more to come.
I want to make special mention of Droege's Supermarket. While the grocery store is now gone, they served Washington for over 150 years in the same family. The family is still doing business in the building, just as John G's Tap Room, along with Augusta Brewery.
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The following active businesses have been in Franklin County for at least 100 years. Thank you to all the businesses who build and support our communities.
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Honold Hardware, Beaufort (closed 2019)
Bruns Monuments, Pacific, 1916
Boeuf & Berger Insurance, New Haven, 1908
Oltmann Funeral Home, Union and Washington, 1908
Altemueller Jewelry, Washington, 1902
Bank of Sullivan, Sullivan, 1895
Bank of Washington, Washington, 1877
Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipes, Washington, 1907
Hansen Title and Abstract, Union, 1865
Bleckman Machine, Washington, 1833
Woody Bogler Trucking, Gerald, 1924 (pre)
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Some other long time businesses are
Hodges Badge Company, Washington, 1987 here 1920 overall
Carriage Auto Care, Washington, 1984
McDonald's (Klak Management), Washington, 1977
Melton Machine, Washington, 1975 (est. 1970)
Cowan's (as Cowan's), Washington, 1973
St Clair Rexall/HealthMart, St Clair, 1971
East Central College, Union, 1968
Seitter's Market, New Haven, 1967
Electro Core, Washington, 1967
Phil's Sewing, Washington, 1966
New Haven Lumber, New Haven 1965
Rothschild's Family Restaurant, Washington, 1963
Schulte's Bakery, Washington, 1959 (sold 2022)
Leroy A. Strubberg & Associates, Inc, Union, 1958
Ace Manufacturing, Sullivan, 1957
Maczuk Trucking, New Haven, 1955
Siedhoff Distributing, Union, 1954
Schroeder Insurance, Union and Washington, 1953
Town and Country Barber Shop, Union, 1952
Pacific Lumber, Pacific, 1951 (sold in 2022)
Straatmann Feed and Transfer, Labadie, 1951
Hillermann Nursery and Florist, Washington, 1951 (sold 2022)
Brune Jewelry, Washington, 1946
Elbert Motor Company, Washington, 1946
Riecher's Tire & Auto, Washington, 1939
Halls Brothers Lumber, Union, 1938
Pepsi Bottling in New Haven, 1937
Bay's Tire, Pacific, 1935
United Bank of Union, Union, 1934
Citizen's Bank, New Haven, Washington, Gerald and Pacific, 1934
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, 1933
Washington Monument Company, Washington, 1932
Schroeder Drug, Washington, 1927
Washington Missourian, Washington, 1926
Purina Research Farm, Gray Summit, 1926
Frick's Market, Union, 1926 (sold 2022)
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If we have missed a business, please email Lynn at franklincountyhistorical@gmail.com
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Medal of Honor Recipient Lorenzo Immell
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Information compiled by BJ Chadduck
Lorenzo Dow Immell Date of birth: June 18, 1837 Date of death: October 31, 1912 Burial location: St. Louis, Missouri Place of Birth: Ohio, Ross Home of record: Fort Leavenworth Kansas Awarded for actions during the Civil War The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Lorenzo Dow Immell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 10 August 1861, while serving with Company F, 2d U.S. Artillery, at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, for bravery in action. General Orders: Date of Issue: July 19, 1890 Action Date: August 10, 1861 Service: Army Rank: Corporal Company: Company F Division: 2d U.S. Artillery Wilson's Creek Medals of Honor from Civil War Trust https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/wilsons-creek-medals-honor Lorenzo Dow Immell, a corporal in the 2nd U.S. Artillery, was a native of Ross, Ohio, who joined the Federal army in August 1860 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas Territory. Immell was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 19, 1890, for “bravery in action.” Over the course of the war, he rose to the rank of lieutenant and served with the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, the 12th Wisconsin Battery and the 6th Ohio Battery. Immell is buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. About Lorenzo D. Immell from GoodSpeeds History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford, and Gasconade Counties page 254 Company G, of the First Artillery, was in part raised in Franklin County. Lorenzo D. Immell, from this county, was first lieutenant; commissioned August 31, 1863, and mustered out July 28, 1865. Part of Company E, Second Artillery, was also from Franklin County, and about one-half of Company M, of the same regiment. Biographical Sketch of Capt. L. D. Immell from 1878 Franklin County Land Plat Atlas pages 53-56 Captain Immell, the important agricultural man of central Missouri, is a native of Ohio. His parents, Jacob Immell and Mary A., formerly a Miss Seberell, were from the town of Hesse, Hamburg, Germany. The subject of this sketch entered the army of the United States as a private, when quite young, at the commencement of our late war, and during a service of five years was honored with four promotions for bravery on the field of action. He was engaged in sixty different battles, received seven wounds at different times, and was honorably mustered out of the army as captain of artillery, and with a reputation for impetuous daring second to none. At the close of the war he engaged in farming, which, as is usual with him in all kinds of business, he made a success. He has likely done more for Franklin and adjoining counties in the way of distribution of valuable seeds and improved farm implements, than any other citizen of this section of the state. His eminent qualifica- tions as an agriculturist, and his good judgement as a citizen, recommended his services to the governor, and he was accordingly one of the first gentlemen of the state chosen to select from the rich fields of Missouri a fair representation of her varied resources at the late centennial exposition, a duty which he discharged with credit and taste. Mr. Immell is of a lively disposition, a strong friend, but quick to resent an insult; and can punish insolence with an emphasis that never needs repetition. He is fond of the society of the ladies, and takes a delight in pets in general. He is now largely engaged in the sale of all kinds of agricultural implements, in Washington, and is one of our most energetic business men. He is now one of the directors of the Franklin County Fair Association. ABOUT Wilson's Creek from the National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/wicr/index.htm Total Northern forces engaged at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek were 5,400 men. Southern forces numbered 10,125. In comparison the population of Springfield in 1860 was 2,000. The Northern Army was made up of volunteer units from Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, as well as the Regular Army. The Southern Army was composed of Confederate forces from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, as well as Arkansas and Missouri state troops. The Missouri State Guard, a pro-Southern militia force, were not technically Confederate soldiers, as they had not sworn allegiance to the Confederate government, nor had Missouri seceded from the Union. Many State Guardsmen were poorly equipped with hunting rifles, shotguns, out-of-date military weapons and farm implements, with little to no uniforms. The Union army departed Springfield at 5:00 p.m. on August 9. In 24 hours, it marched more than 20 miles and fought a pitched battle lasting more than six hours (from around 5:00 a.m. until around noon) before returning to Springfield on the evening of August 10th. The combined southern forces damped on Wilson’s Creek prior to attacking Lyon in Springfield. This area afforded water, forage and food for the army and was within striking distance along the Wire Road. Ironically, McCulloch ordered an attack on Springfield on the morning of August 10th, but a light rain the night before delayed their movement. The First Kansas Infantry Regiment (US) is seventh on the list of Northern units suffering the largest number of killed, wounded or mortally wounded in any one engagement during the Civil War with 106 casualties taken at Wilson’s Creek. The First Missouri Infantry Regiment (US) is number eight with 103 casualties. A total of 537 men were killed at Wilson’s Creek on both sides. The federals suffered 1,317 casualties (killed, wounded and missing) and the Confederates 1,222. In terms of percentage of losses, the Union Army suffered at 24.5% casualty rate and the Confederates 12%. The lack of standardization in uniforms on both sides caused much confusion, including when Colonel Franz Sigel mistook the gray uniforms of the Third Louisiana Regiment (CS) for the 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment (US). Sigel’s command was routed, and the tide of battle turned in favor of the Confederates. There were a total of 31 cannons used in the battle. The Union had 16 cannons organized in three batteries. The south had 15 guns organized in four batteries. Many ethnic groups were involved in the battle. Germans and Irishmen made up large percentages on both sides. Records indicate that several African-Americans were present as servants on both sides. Mary Lincoln’s dressmaker’s son, George Washington Kirkland (a mulatto), was killed at Wilson’s Creek as a member of the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment (US). A small number of Cherokees joined the southern forces just prior to the battle and participated in it. OTHER INFORMATION: Confederates referred to the battle of Wilson’s Creek as the Battle of “Oak Hill(s)”, after the original name of Bloody Hill. The Wire Road is named for the telegraph wire strung alongside the road that ran From Springfield to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Five men – Nicholas Bouquet, Lorenzo Immell, John M. Schofield, William Wherry and Henry Clay Wood – earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions performed at Wilson’s Creek. The Ray House, the only surviving structure from the time of the battle, was used as a field hospital during and after the battle by the Confederates. There were many other homes used as hospitals in the vicinity of Wilson’s Creek following the battle. As the Union army retreated from the battlefield of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861, the exhausted survivors on both sides undoubtedly agreed with William Tunnard of the Third Louisiana Infantry, who wrote that the battle “enlightened many ignorant minds as to the seriousness and fearful certainty of the contest.” The six-hour fight near Springfield, Missouri began the process of transforming inexperienced, eager recruits into veteran soldiers. For the surviving army commanders at Wilson’s Creek, as well as for the men in the ranks, the battle was merely the first major event in a long and bloody national tragedy.
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Medal of Honor Recipient George Phillips
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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Rank and Organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born 14 July 1926, Rich Hill, Mo. Entered Service at: Labadie, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 14 March 1945. Standing the foxhole watch while other members of his squad rested after a night of bitter hand grenade fighting against infiltrating Japanese troops, Pvt. Phillips was the only member of his unit alerted when an enemy hand grenade was tossed into their midst. Instantly shouting a warning, he unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pvt. Phillips willingly yielded his own life that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy. His superb valor and unfaltering spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Bio by: Bill Walker on Find a Grave
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There is a complete article in the Feb 21 1946 edition of the Washington Missourian
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