Hydraulic-Press Brick Company

"Hydraulic Press Brick Company (HPB) was incorporated that year [1868] with a capital stock of $200,000 divided into 2,000 shares with a par value of $100 per share. The first subscribers for Hydraulic stock named in the corporate minutes were the following St. Louisans: E.C. Sterling (500 shares); T.W. Sterling (500 shares); Samuel M. Breckinridge (150 shares); John P. Collier (75 shares); Drury Underwood (30 shares); Joseph H. Clark (30 shares); and Sanford B. Kellog (20 shares). E. C. Sterling became Hydraulic’s first president at an annual salary of $1,500; he remained president until retirement in 1905. T. W. Sterling served as secretary-treasurer from 1868 to 1874...E.C. Sterling retired from the presidency in 1905 and left St. Louis to reside in Redlands, California. He remained a director through 1907 and helped to shepherd the parent company through the process of consolidating the 14 branch companies into one. Prior to the merger in January 1907, the capital was increased to $10 million. "--http://web.nationalbuildingarts.org/collections/clay-products/ornamental-brick/hydraulic-brick-company-the-early-years/