John G. Priest

John G. Priest (1822–1900) was a businessman and social and civic leader in St. Louis, Missouri, in the latter part of the 19th century.

Priest was making money fast in his business, and besides that his wife was immensely wealthy, so there was no reason why he should not indulge his taste.

[5] Priest's first wife died in 1897, and four months later at age 75, he "quietly departed for New York," where on August 16 he married Ella Bule, 31, a school teacher, "and for whom Mr.

A child, Maud Goodridge, was born in St. Louis on August 23, 1898, and the new family came to live in the same house with Priest's children, who were then adults.

"[1][8][7] After a two-month illness, Priest died on July 4, 1900, at the age of 78 in the residence, being survived by his second wife and Maud, as well as sons Warren G., Marcus or Mark and John and daughters Auguste L., Annie M., and Virginia C. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

"[13] His clients were counted by the thousands, and rarely a great real estate transaction took place in St. Louis that he did not have a hand in.

[1]In antebellum politics, Priest was a Conditional Unionist, one who opposed not only secession but also coercion of the seceded states.

[15] For eight years he was on the Democratic National Committee and managed the 1876 campaign of Samuel J. Tilden in the Western United States,[3] which at that time began at the Mississippi River.

[18] At different times he was director of the St. Louis Bank, president of the Mullanphy Emigrant Board (an organization that cared for homeless travelers), a director of the St. Louis Mutual Life Insurance Company and a member of the Board of Managers of the city's House of Refuge.

[3][19][20] In December 1877, Priest suggested that a charity ball be held at Masonic Hall, "the proceeds to be used in buying fuel for needy families during the winter.