Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis, MO.  
A compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference.  
Edited by William Hyde and Howard L. Conard.  Vol. 1.  
The Southern History Company, Haldeman, Conard & Co., 
Proprietors.  New York, Louisville, St. Louis.  1899.  Pg. 243.

BROCKMEYER, HENRY C., lawyer, legislator, publicist and 
author, was born near Minden, Prussia, August 12, 1828 and 
left his home at the age of sixteen to seek his fortune in 
America, reaching our shores in an emigrant ship, penniless, 
friendless and unable to understand the English language.  
By dint of hard work in an humble capacity he got money 
enough to make his way westward, and finally, when twenty 
years old, arrived in St. Louis.  For two months he was 
employed in the tannery of John How.  Afterward, he went 
to Memphis, Tennessee and to Columbus, Mississippi where 
he worked at the same trade until he accumulated means to 
attend Georgetown College, Kentucky and subsequently Brown 
University at Providence, Rhode Island, taking advantage 
of vacations to provide means to pursue his studies in p
reparation for a professional life, all the time relying 
upon his own exertions in the battle against "iron fortune."  
In 1854 he returned to Missouri.  From boyhood he had been 
a lover of nature, and of "communion with her visible forms."  
To him, indeed, she spoke "a various language."  With his 
books and gun he made himself a rude home in the woods of 
Warren County, where for nearly three years he led the life 
a recluse, his only companion being his faithful dog.  
It was not that he loved man less, but nature more, that 
he thus secluded himself, while deepening the foundation 
of that philosophic knowledge which has so comforted him 
in after life, and been the source of so much enjoyment 
to others.  He acquainted himself with the habits of animals 
and birds,, the musical and the tuneless inhabitants of the 
forest, with the secrets of verdure and leaf, with the royal 
arcanum of "God's first temples."  This study was varied by 
thoughtful investigation into the science of human government 
in all its forms.  And so those hermit years were passed until 
other objects began to claim attention.  Returning to St. Louis, 
young Brockmeyer obtained employment in the "Excelsior Stove 
Works" of Giles F. Filley, and afterward with Bridge, Beach & Co.  
He then tried farming in Warren County, and the Civil War breaking 
out, enrolled himself in the militia and was elected captain of a 
company.  Later he was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel and 
authorized to raise a regiment.  This he did within a period of 
three weeks.  The regiment petitioned Colonel Gamble to give 
Brockmeyer a colonelcy.  Both muster roll and petition were 
declined, and a few days thereafter the surprised suspect was 
thrown into Gratiot Street Prison by order of General Morrill, 
whose headquarters were at Warrenton.  An investigation of the 
facts showed there were no grounds for this proceeding, and he 
was released.  The people of Warren County vindicated "Colonel" 
Brockmeyer, as he continued to be called, by electing him by a 
large majority as a Union Democrat to the next Legislature, in 
1862.  During the session he acted with the war Democrats, and 
voted for Samuel T. Glover for United States Senator.  At the 
close of his term he removed to St. Louis and began the practice 
of law.  In 1866 he was elected alderman, and in 1870 State Senator.  
He was chairman of the committee on judiciary of the latter body 
for two years, and served a like term as chairman of the committee 
on ways and means.  He was a member of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1875, and served as chairman of the committee on legislative 
department.  During the whole of his representative career Colonel 
Brockmeyer exhibited a thorough and detailed knowledge of prevailing
 systems of taxation and revenue, internal improvements, public 
institutions, education and, indeed, the whole range of political 
economy.  He is the author of the restrictions placed by the c
onstitution of 1875 upon expenditures in excess of a certain 
percentage of the revenues, whereby a sinking fund was established 
for the extinguishing of the public debt, and of many others of 
the features making that instrument a model of its kind.  
In 1876 Colonel Brockmeyer was the Democratic candidate for L
ieutenant-Governor on the ticket with John S. Phelps, thereby 
becoming president of the State Senate and appointing the working 
committees.  He has been repeatedly solicited to re-enter public 
life as a member of Congress, but since 1879 has declined all 
participation in political affairs, except as a voter; but for 
many years he was active in politics as a speaker throughout 
Missouri, and in other States, and as a participant in State 
and national Democratic conventions.  Literary pursuits have 
engrossed him mostly.

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