| Notes |
- June 4, 1892
At a meeting of the directors of the Philibert and Johanning Manufacturing Company held at their office, No. 1502 Market Street, on the first day of June, 1892, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted relative to the death of the late Mrs. Julia M. Philibert.
Whereas, it had pleased Almighty God in the course of His divine providence to remove from our midst Mrs. Julia M. Philibert, widow of the late Benjamin Philibert, the founder of this ibnstitution, and who by his energy, devotion and business foresight so largely contributed to the uniform success of this company, and,
Whereas, we recognize in Mrs. Julia M. Philibert many of those characteristics possessed by her grandfather, John B. Ortes, the associate of the eminent Liguet (one of the original founders of the city of St. Louis), and who in the relations of life as daughter, wife and mother furnished an example worthy of imitation,
Be it resolved, that in the death of Mrs. Julia M. Philibert we humbly bow to the will of our Heavenly Father, in whom she so faithfully trusted during three score and eleven years of her useful life, representing four generations, given uplargely to acts of benevolence, piety and unostentatious charity, and,
That in her death we have sustained an irreparable loss commensurate with her many virtues, clear judgment and noble example, and,
That our sympathy be extended to her bereaved family, and,
That a copy of these resolutions be furnished them and spread on the minutes of this meeting, and,
That we attend the funeral in a body.
Philibert & Johanning Mfg. Co.
John H. Kaiser, President
Wm. G. Frye, Secretary
Benjamin was baptized Pierre, but was accused by his brothers of being their father's favorite, hence he was called Benjamin from the Bible story of Joseph and his brothers.
Obituaries:
St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 22, 1881
One of the morning papers tell about a citizen of St. Louis, named Philibert, who died last Friday, worth $300,000, who had never been outside the city - never had ridden a steamboat nor a railroad train in his life. We desire to say that this gentleman was not a typical citizen, the opinion of theChicago press to the contrary notwithstanding. The majority of St. Louis men take a ride by steamboat and railroad occassionally and they seem to be all the better for it. Still the success of Mr. Philibert shows what a man can accomplish here by staying strictly at home and attending to his own affairs.
St. Louis Globe Democrat, December 18, 1881
This is a notable day with some of the undertakers, and there are a nunmber of funerals of more than ordinary importance. Mr. Lynch of Olive Street, has four affairs in charge and says it is one of the most remarkable coincident days in all of his experience. The remains of Major Turner, Mrs. Ulriet and Mrs. Ma-ura are to be interred, and also those of Mr. Benjamin Philibert, who died at the age of 66 and was a member of the firm of Philibert and Johanning, planing-mill proprietors. The latter gentleman was one of the oldest of St. Louis citizens, and Mr. Lnch says he remembers visiting him as a boy at the old famikly residence at the corner of Main and Walnut streets, a full half century ago. All of the deceased were connected with the old French families and were more or less identified with the earlier history of the city.
St. Louis Globe Democrat - December 19, 1881
EARTH TO EARTH
Ceremonies attending the interment of remains of Benjamin Philibert and Mrs. Ulriet.
The obsequies of the late Benjamin Philibert took place yesterday morning and were of an imposing and impressive character. At an early hour the family residence, 2705 Clark Avenue, was thronged by the numerous relatives of the deceased and many prominent citizens who came to pay their last tribute of respect and friendship to the departed. The casket was almost covered with a profusion of floral offerings. A beautiful pillow, with the inscription "Our Father" covered the head of the casket, and was the tribute of Mr. Philibert's children; a wreath with the words "Our Grandpa", from the grandchildren, and another large wreath having on it in handsome letters "Our Uncle Ben", from the nieces and nephews.
At 10:00 o'clock the coffin was placed in the hearse, and the funeral procession moved to St. Malaobt's Church, Summit and Clark Avenues. The edifice was completely crowded by the attendants at the funeral and members of the church. Requiem high mass was celebrated, Father Zeigler acting as celebrant, assisted by Father Brennan and another priest.
After mass Father Zeigler preached a short but eloquent sermon, eulogizing the deceased and alluding to his manly traits and sterling virtues, his well-known benevolence and loveable disposition as a kind father and loving husband.
The musical services were excellent and elaborate; consisting of Gregorian chants, several trios, and the "Ave Maria" impressively rendered. The choir was under the direction of Mr. J. B. Grant. (The names were listed but difficult to make out due to a tear in the original it was copied from.)
At the conclusion of the services, the pall-bearers Messrs. Aug. Legg, George Ulrich, Hl. Romer, Frank T. Barada, Mr. Longneinare and the four sons of the deceased, took up the casket adn bore it to the hearse. The cortege then moved off to Calvary Cemetery, where the remains were interred.
Among those in attendance were the Papin, Longueinare, Barada and Boutz families, all family connections and descendants of Mme. Ortez, the gbrandmother of Mr. Philibert; Capt. Joseph LaBarge, C. H. Peek, Richard Dowling, Dr. Aug. Fisher, J. W. Booth, D. Berthold, Ms. Webster, and other well-known citizens.
St. Louis Globe Democrat - December 20, 1881
Sixty-three years a resident of St. Louis, and not once out of the city.
A man who died worth $300,00 and never rode on a steamboat or a steam road.
The death of Mr. Benjamin Philibert, on Friday last, removed from the business andsocial community an active and much-esteemed citizen. Though quiet and uneventful, his career revives some of the earliest recollections of St. Louis, with the history and growth of which he was closely identified. His family going back only two generations, was among the pioneer settlers who founded St. Louis with Pierre Laclede and Pierre Chouteau. Mr. Philibert's maternal grandmother was the famous Madame Ortex, the first white woman who came to the then insignificant French settlement, but important Indian trading post, and who died not many years ago at the age of 103 years. Madame Ortez with whose history every old citizen is familiar, ahd three daughters, the youngest of whom married Joseph Philibert, the father of the subject of this brief sketch. Joseph Philibert was an adventurous and hardy Canadian, who cast his fortunes with the first settlers. He was one of the most prominent and enterprising of the energetic men who first planted civilization on the western bank of the Mississippi.
In the pursuit of fur trading he amassed what in those times was a large fortune, which, at his death, he left to his widow and children: Benjamin, the eldest of the children, was born October 21, 1818. The family residence at that time was on Maln and Washington Avenue, the aristocratic residence portion of the Village. Six blocks further west was a complete wilderness, and in his youthful days Mr. Philibert often hunted game with his companions where today stand some of the large and most extensive business establishments of the city.
The Early Manhood of Mr. Philibert, like the most of his life, was devoid of any eventful incident. At an early age he entered the Jesuit Colege and received a good education, both secular and religious. His parents were devout Catholics, and his piet and belief in that religion was as ardent. he was not of an adventurous spirit, but naturally modest and retiring in disposition, and inherited the marked and perculiar characteristics of his ancestors and of the people of his time. While he did not disapprove of worldly pleasures, he studiously avoided them. Neither grasping nro mercenary, he was entirely wrapped up in his business and domestic affairs. In 1840 he was married to a cousin, Miss Lequere who survives him after forty years of wedded life. About the time of his marriage, or soon after, he embarked in business and started a largeplaning mill on thirteenth and Chestnut streets. So successful was he that several years later, to meet the increase of business, he was obliged to remove to the present location on Fifteenth and Market. Mr. Branconier, an old and worthy citizen, was his partner until a few years ago. On Mr. Branconier's retirement, Mr. Johanning, the surviving partner who had been chief book-keeper of the firm for over thirteen years, was given a fifth interest in the establishment, which today is one of the largest and most extensive of the kind in the city. Mr. Philibert always avoided notoriety of any kind, and disliked ostentatious display. So highly esteemed and regarded was he that the office of Mayor was offered him at one time by leading citizens and business men, but he firmly declined the position, saying that he was wedded to his business and his family. This assertion of his was true in every respect. Commanding as he did a great influence in the community, both socially and in business, and as the bend of an esxtensive manufacturing enterprise, it is a remarkable fact that from the day of his birth and during his existence of 63 yrs, Mr. Philibert was never out of the city.
Still more remarkable is it that althoughengaged in an important mechanical pursuit and interested in everything that pertained to it, he never traveled on a steamboat or rode on a railroad car. Indeed, it was asserted by one of his most intimate friends that he did not ride on a street car until several years after that now indispensable system of transit was intoduced here. By careful attention to business affairs, Mr. Philibert ammased a considerable fortune, estimated at over $300,000.
Hundreds can testify to his generous and liberal philanthropy, and he never turned a deam ear to any appeal of the distressed. He gave quickly without ostentation, and all that went from his purse in charity during his lifetime would figure up a handsome little fortune. His wiwfe and eight children - four sons and four daughters - all grown, survive him.
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1817 - 1881 (64 years)
