Adolph Abeles

Mentioned in Zion In The Valley, The Jewish Community of St. Louis, by Walter Ehrlich, Volume 1, page 138. Adolph Abeles and Charles Taussig established a store in about 1835 at the corner of Park and Carondelet streets. Later, this store was bought out by Isidor Bush, Taussig's Brother-in-Law, and they ran it for many years, page 152.

In 1855 Adolph Abeles was the first Jew to be elected to the Missouri State legislature. He was killed in the November 1, 1855 Gasconade Bridge train wreck before he could serve. Ehrlich, note on page 156.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5746826 Disaster Victim. Was one of 34 people who were killed at the Gasconade Bridge train disaster. Hundreds of St. Louisans prepared for the excursion marking the opening of the Pacific Railroad from St. Louis to Jefferson City, Missouri on November 1, 1855. In addition to the people killed, about 100 were injured when the Gasconade Bridge trestle collapsed as the 15 wooden railway cars reached the first pier. Nine of the cars sank at the edge of the Gasconade River and dragged three other cars off the track. Washington King, mayor of St. Louis, was among those injured. The president of the St. Louis city council and the chief engineer were killed. The son of David Ables and Leah Bloch Ables, Adolph was married to Amalia Taussig, the sister of James Taussig, a lawyer and uncle of Charles Taussig and the mentor of young Justice Louis Brandeis. Their children were Julius David Abeles, Arthur Abeles, Robert Abeles, and Alice Abeles. Adolph and Charles developed a vertically integrated business around the Pacific Railroad supplying land, timber and capitol for its development. Adolph was elected state representative to the Missouri General Assembly in 1850 and served two years. Among other things, he promoted the Pacific Railroad's incorporation, which ultimately led to his death.

(Some information provided by JJ 3/19/17) (bio by: Connie Nisinger)

Marriage: "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2DH-D4B : 11 February 2018), Adolph Abeles and Amellia Taussig, 09 Jan 1848; citing Saint Louis, St Louis, Missouri; FHL microfilm 528,175.