Henry Christian Haarstick was an American businessman. He was a pioneer in Mississippi barge transportation after the Civil War.
Background
Henry Christian Haarstick on July 26, 1836, was born at Hohenhameln, Lower Saxony, Germany. During the German immigration of 1849, with his parents, Henry and Christina Haarstick, he arrived in New York after an ocean voyage of forty-nine days. The family went westward along the Erie Canal route and on to St. Louis, reaching their journey’s end on July 25, 1849, in the midst of devastation by fire and cholera.
Education
Henry attended the Saxony School of the German Evangelical Church, the Wykoff English School, and Jones Commercial College.
Career
In February 1853 Henry Haarstick entered the employ of the Maloney & Tilton distillery, and in nine years rose to partnership. When in 1862 fire destroyed the Property of the firm, Haarstick bought the interests of his partner and rebuilt the plant. Four or five years later, seeing the opportunity in river transportation, he sold the distillery to Card & Lawrence, and in 1869 bought stock in the Mississippi Valley Transportation Company, the only considerable barge line on the river. In the course of the next decade, serving in the capacities of director, vice-president, and finally general manager, he firmly established the concern. Because of high freight rates on the more speedy railroads, interest revived in cheaper river commerce, asleep since the Civil War.
In August 1881, in order to control the eastern outlet for his railroads afforded by the Mississippi, Jay Gould assimilated the Mississippi Valley Transportation Company, in which Haarstick now owned stock to the amount of $600, 000, and consolidated it with the St. Louis & New Orleans Transportation Company. A certificate of corporate existence of the resulting St. Louis & Mississippi Valley Transportation Company was issued at Jefferson City, Missouri, on September 10, 1881. The board of nine directors was headed by Haarstick and had five members controlled by Gould. Because all competition was overshadowed the cry of monopoly was raised, but this soon quieted as service improved and rates decreased.
Activities culminated in 1892-1893 when 4, 200 carloads were transported. Decline due to railroad competition began in 1894, and ten years later Haarstick retired. After his retirement from business in 1904 he continued as vice-president of the St. Louis Union Trust Company.
Achievements
Connections
Henry Christian Haarstick was married to Elise (Hoppe) Haarstick in 1861.