Firmin V. Desloge
Encyclopedia
Firmin V. Desloge was an American lead mining pioneer in the disseminated lead fields of the Southeast Missouri Lead District.
In 1867 he began mining operations near Potosi, Missouri
, where the family had engaged in mercantile, fur trading, distillery and mining since 1822 when his father, Firmin Rene Desloge
, came to America from France to partner with his uncle Jean Ferdinand Rozier
from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
. When lead-mining was in its infancy in St. Francois County, Missouri, he prospected lands in that county adjacent to those of the St. Joseph Lead Company, and finally purchased and erected smelting works for the corporation known as the Desloge Lead Company
. The interests of this corporation were consolidated with those of the St. Joseph Lead Company, in 1887, and became what is probably the greatest lead-mining and smelting company in the world at that time.
While managing the affairs of the Desloge Lead Company
, Mr. Desloge built—in connection with the St. Joseph Lead Company—the first railroad which penetrated the disseminated lead field of St. Francois County. In 1889 he acquired what was known as one of the oldest mining properties in Missouri, a property which had previously belonged to the Bogy Lead Mining Company. This he added to the properties of the St. Francois Mining Company, and, after demonstrating that there were valuable deposits of disseminated lead on these lands, he organized the Desloge Consolidated Lead Company
, which became the owner of these and other properties. These mines, and the town which was built to support the mines is now known as Desloge, Missouri
. The operations of this company were very successful, and in 1893 the Mississippi River & Bonne Terre Railroad was extended so as to give necessary transportation facilities, thereby enabling the business to be operated on a scale commensurate with the extent of the lead field and its importance. The mines became large producers of lead ore. The diamond drill made possible the prospecting of these properties and the subsequent development of their mineral wealth.
From 1870 to 1872 Mr. Desloge served as treasurer of Washington County, Missouri and on different occasions he aided the advancement of educational interests in that and St. Francois County, Missouri by serving as a public school director.
In 1930, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Firmin Vincent Desloge ($13 million in 2010 dollars) was made to build Firmin Desloge Hospital
in St. Louis, Missouri. Another donation from the Desloge family of $100,000 ($1.3 million in 2010 dollars) from Mr. Desloge’s wife, Lydia Desloge, and was designated to build a chapel next to the hospital.
Life
Firmin Vincent Desloge received his early education in the public schools at Potosi, Missouri, afterward attended St. Louis University, at St. Louis, Missouri, and still later at the commercial school of Bryant & Stratton, in that city. He was trained to mercantile pursuits, beginning at an early age as a clerk for the firm of John B. Valle & Co. of St. Louis.In 1867 he began mining operations near Potosi, Missouri
Potosi, Missouri
Potosi is a city in Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is about 10 miles north of Belgrade. The estimated population in July 2008 was 2,698. It was 2,662 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, where the family had engaged in mercantile, fur trading, distillery and mining since 1822 when his father, Firmin Rene Desloge
Firmin Rene Desloge
Firmin Rene Desloge , descendant of French nobility, came to the new Louisiana Purchase territory of Missouri in 1823 as a partner in the mercantile business with his uncle, Jean Ferdinand Rozier...
, came to America from France to partner with his uncle Jean Ferdinand Rozier
Jean Ferdinand Rozier
Jean Ferdinand Rozier was born in Nantes, France to Francois Claude Rozier and Renee Angelique Colas . In 1802 he served in the French Navy. Jean Ferdinand immigrated from France to New York in 1806, eventually settling in the village of Ste...
from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...
. When lead-mining was in its infancy in St. Francois County, Missouri, he prospected lands in that county adjacent to those of the St. Joseph Lead Company, and finally purchased and erected smelting works for the corporation known as the Desloge Lead Company
Desloge Lead Company
Desloge Lead Company is the original Desloge family lead business in Missouri. The Desloge family businesses in lead and mercantile in Missouri dating from 1824, and including the Missouri Lead Mining and Smelting Company in 1874 and the Desloge Lead Company in 1876...
. The interests of this corporation were consolidated with those of the St. Joseph Lead Company, in 1887, and became what is probably the greatest lead-mining and smelting company in the world at that time.
While managing the affairs of the Desloge Lead Company
Desloge Lead Company
Desloge Lead Company is the original Desloge family lead business in Missouri. The Desloge family businesses in lead and mercantile in Missouri dating from 1824, and including the Missouri Lead Mining and Smelting Company in 1874 and the Desloge Lead Company in 1876...
, Mr. Desloge built—in connection with the St. Joseph Lead Company—the first railroad which penetrated the disseminated lead field of St. Francois County. In 1889 he acquired what was known as one of the oldest mining properties in Missouri, a property which had previously belonged to the Bogy Lead Mining Company. This he added to the properties of the St. Francois Mining Company, and, after demonstrating that there were valuable deposits of disseminated lead on these lands, he organized the Desloge Consolidated Lead Company
Desloge Consolidated Lead Company
Desloge Consolidated Lead Company is a historically significant Missouri lead mining company owned by a great industrialist baron family of the 19th and 20th centuries in the new American Frontier - starting just after the Louisiana Purchase, in the Southeast Missouri Lead District.-History:The...
, which became the owner of these and other properties. These mines, and the town which was built to support the mines is now known as Desloge, Missouri
Desloge, Missouri
Desloge is a city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. The estimated 2008 population was 5,190. It was 4,802 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. The operations of this company were very successful, and in 1893 the Mississippi River & Bonne Terre Railroad was extended so as to give necessary transportation facilities, thereby enabling the business to be operated on a scale commensurate with the extent of the lead field and its importance. The mines became large producers of lead ore. The diamond drill made possible the prospecting of these properties and the subsequent development of their mineral wealth.
From 1870 to 1872 Mr. Desloge served as treasurer of Washington County, Missouri and on different occasions he aided the advancement of educational interests in that and St. Francois County, Missouri by serving as a public school director.
In 1930, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Firmin Vincent Desloge ($13 million in 2010 dollars) was made to build Firmin Desloge Hospital
Firmin Desloge Hospital
Firmin Desloge Hospital first opened in 1933 as a partnership between the Jesuits of Saint Louis University and the Sisters of Saint Mary, and named for the benefactor, Firmin V. Desloge...
in St. Louis, Missouri. Another donation from the Desloge family of $100,000 ($1.3 million in 2010 dollars) from Mr. Desloge’s wife, Lydia Desloge, and was designated to build a chapel next to the hospital.