Henry Hotze & Sons 1862 - 1962

by Bent Hotze

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Henry went west and set up a "Buckeye" saddle shop in Holly Springs, Mississippi (according to my dad). The "War Between the States" broke out. He had made the saddle on which General Albert Sidney Johnson died of his wounds in the "Battle of Shiloh", in Tennessee. There was a lot of hard talk about the "Dutchman" as the news percolated into the Memphis area. Grandpa was, you might say, "Impressed"; and, with his wife and three children, eldest Harry, second Elizabeth (Aunt Lizzy), and baby John K.; went up river to St. Louis, in the spring of 1862.

In St. Louis he entered into the partnership of Hotze, Homann, and Meier. The harness and saddle shop was in the vicinity of what became the west approach of the Eads Bridge, where the tunnel from the old Union Station emerged, and is the lower deck of the Eads Bridge. The family lived on Third street. One of their neighbors was the Ringens (Ringens Store). Ringen's brother-in-law was, Timken, who invented the "Side Spring Carriage", and later the "Timken Ball Bearing". German was spoken on the streets at that time (Platt Deutsch - Low Dutch), like "Anhizer Busch" - instead of "Annhoyser Busch".

Their location was desirable because of the ferry to the Eastside. THe last ferry I rode, was the Davis Street Ferry in Carondelet. The Mo-Pac ferried trains from Dupont to their Southwest connection.

Meier dropped out, and the firm became Hotze and Homann Saddlery and Harness. At that time, in the early eighties, Harry, the oldest son, and John K. were working in the factory. Harry had a sharp eye and discovered Homann pocketing the money from walk - in store sales. In a partnership, each partner has access to the cash drawer, and leaves a chit if he takes cash from the drawer, and puts cash, etc., in the cash drawer. In Homanns' case the cash didn't get into the drawer. So some friction developed between Henry Hotze and Homann. Poor Homanns' only issue was a daughter, and by that time Charlie and Will were in and out of the small factory. Just too many Hotze's for Homann, poor fellow.

So the partnership broke up - Hotze with the saddlery operation moved out, Homann kept the harness - by that time highly mechanized with the iron harness (machine). The machine cut, dyed, and finished straps. No great skill involved. Homann's biggest achievement was the sale to Annheiser Busch of harness with silver plated buckles and the only leater trade lower than a harness maker , was a collar maker (collars for draft horses).