Henry Flad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Flad
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| Born | July 30, 1824 |
| Died | July 20, 1898 (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| Education | University of Munich |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Union |
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United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | Engineer Regiment of the West 1st Regiment Missouri Volunteer Engineers |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
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Henry Flad (born July 30, 1824 – died July 20, 1898) was a talented German-born civil engineer. He served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Before and after the war, he also worked as a railroad engineer. Later, he became a very important civil engineer. He helped start the Engineers' Club of Saint Louis and was its first president. In 1886, he was also president of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Contents
Henry Flad's Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Germany
Henry Flad was born on July 30, 1824, in a place called the Grand Duchy of Baden. This was near the university town of Heidelberg in Germany. His father, Jacob Flad, passed away the same year Henry was born. Soon after, his mother, Francisca Brunn Flad, moved to Speyer. This town was on the Rhine River, in a region that belonged to Bavaria.
After attending schools in Speyer, young Henry went to the University of Munich. There, he studied engineering and other technical subjects. He graduated in 1846 when he was 22 years old.
Starting His Engineering Career
After college, Henry got a job with the Bavarian Government's engineering service. His first project was improving the Rhine River. The years that followed, especially 1848 and 1849, were a time of big political changes in Europe. People in Germany wanted a freer government. They were inspired by the French Revolution of 1848.
A National Assembly met in Frankfurt in May 1848. Its goal was to create a constitution for a united Germany. However, the leaders couldn't agree on a plan. The princes of the many small German states took back their power.
Joining the Revolution
In Southern Germany, people who supported the Parliament decided to fight. Henry Flad, then 24, joined the Parliament's army as a captain of engineers. But their side lost the battles. The Parliamentary army was forced into Switzerland and then broke up.
Because he fought for the Parliament, Captain Flad was sentenced to death. So, he decided to leave Germany. He sailed to the United States, a country where people had the right to govern themselves.
Moving to America and Building Railroads
New Beginnings in New York
Henry Flad arrived in New York City in the fall of 1849. His first job was as a draftsman in an architect's office. Soon after, he started working for the New York and Erie Railroad, which was being built. His office was in Dunkirk, New York.
After the Erie Railroad was finished in 1851, Captain Flad worked in Tonawanda. Then, in 1852, he became an assistant engineer for the Ohio and Mississippi Railway. This railroad was being built from Cincinnati to St. Louis. His office was in Vincennes, Indiana.
Working in Missouri
When the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad opened to St. Louis in 1854, Captain Flad moved to Missouri. He became an assistant engineer for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. He worked in Potosi, Missouri. After this railroad was completed, he became a land and tie agent for the company. His office was in Arcadia, Missouri.
On September 12, 1856, Captain Flad married Miss Reichard in St. Louis.
Henry Flad's Role in the Civil War
Joining the Union Army
When the Civil War began in 1861, Captain Flad came to St. Louis. On June 15, he joined the army as a private soldier. He was part of Company F, Third Regiment, United States Reserve Corps. He quickly moved up in rank, becoming a corporal and then a sergeant.
In July 1861, a group called the Engineer Regiment of the West was formed. Henry Flad was made a captain of Company B. In August, General John C. Frémont ordered him to help build forts in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He stayed there for several months.
Engineering in Battle
Later that year, Captain Flad joined General Pope in southeast Missouri. He served as a staff officer during the campaign of New Madrid. After that, he rejoined his regiment. He was with his regiment at Fort Pillow and Pittsburgh Landing. He also helped in the operations near Corinth.
In the summer of 1862, he repaired the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. He also built forts at Corinth and fixed the Mississippi Central Railroad. He was part of Grant's advance on Grenada. In February 1863, he worked on engineering projects at Young's Point.
Promotions and Final Service
In April 1863, he was in charge of repairing the Memphis and Charleston Railroad at Memphis and other towns. In October, he repaired the same railroad east of Corinth under General Sherman. He was with Sherman in northern Mississippi.
Henry Flad was promoted several times. On November 17, 1862, he became a Major. On July 30, 1863, he became a Lieutenant Colonel. And on October 16, 1863, he became a Colonel.
On January 1, 1864, in Nashville, Tennessee, he became Colonel of the 1st Regiment Missouri Volunteer Engineers. This was a new regiment formed by combining two older ones. In the summer of 1864, he helped complete the Nashville and Northwestern Rail road. He also built defense structures. In August, he went to Atlanta, Georgia, and worked there until November. His last job was building new forts in Atlanta.
His time in the army ended on November 12, 1864. He had served for three and a half years. During this time, he was always in the field, never sick, wounded, or captured.
Henry Flad's Work After the Civil War
Improving St. Louis Water Supply
After the war, Colonel Flad returned to St. Louis. He looked for engineering work. Soon, there was a big push to improve the water supply for St. Louis, Missouri. A new law created a Board of Water Commissioners. Their job was to plan and build a new water system for the city.
In the spring of 1865, Mr. James P. Kirkwood was appointed chief engineer. Henry Flad became his chief assistant engineer. They started surveys and investigations right away. By the end of the year, they proposed a plan. It included water intake, settling basins, and filter beds at the Chain of Rocks. This plan was the best, but many people opposed it. It was expensive and very different from the old system.
The opposition grew so strong that the Water Commissioners had to resign. In July 1866, a new board was appointed with a different plan. Colonel Flad became the acting chief engineer. In December 1866, a new plan was presented. It put the intake and settling basins at Bissell Point and a reservoir on Compton Hill. This is mostly how it was built.
In March 1867, Colonel Flad was appointed as a member of the new Water Board. He held this position for eight years, until April 1875. During this time, under his guidance, the new waterworks were finished. They started providing water in 1872.
Building the Eads Bridge
While working on the waterworks, Colonel Flad met Captain James Buchanan Eads. Captain Eads was planning gun carriages and turrets. They often discussed engineering questions. This led to a strong friendship and respect for each other's skills.
In 1868, Captain Eads was ready to build the amazing Eads Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis. He offered Colonel Flad the job of chief assistant engineer. Colonel Flad accepted because his water board duties didn't take all his time. He worked on the bridge until it was finished in 1874. Some of the most daring ideas for the bridge, like building it without temporary supports, came from Colonel Flad.
Leading Public Works in St. Louis
In 1875 and 1876, he worked as a consulting engineer on various projects. One of his jobs was being the engineer for the people who bought and designed Forest Park.
In 1876, St. Louis got a new city charter. This made the city more independent. Colonel Flad was elected the first President of the new Board of Public Improvements. He held this job for almost 14 years, being re-elected three times.
The new board wanted to make public works fair and efficient, free from politics. Colonel Flad worked very hard on this. He was completely successful. During his time, the board earned the full trust of the community. People knew that for every dollar spent on public works, the city got its money's worth. St. Louis became a great example for other cities.
In 1890, he resigned from the Board of Public Improvements. He joined the Mississippi Valley Division#Mississippi River Commission. This position became open when Captain Eads resigned. He stayed on this commission until he died. He worked hard to deepen the river's channel by dredging, which was a new approach.
Colonel Flad was a founding member of the Engineers Club of St. Louis. He was its President for 12 years, from 1868 to 1880. He also became a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1871. He was President of this society from 1886 to 1887. These were the highest honors he could receive from both groups.
Henry Flad's Death and Legacy
His Final Days
Henry Flad died on June 20, 1898, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had stopped there on his way home from a meeting of the Mississippi River Commission. He was visiting a lifelong friend, Mr. Godfrey Stengel, who had traveled with him to America 49 years earlier.
He died very suddenly from heart failure while walking to Highland Park with Mr. and Mrs. Stengel. He was in good spirits right up to the end and passed away peacefully.
A Lasting Impact
As an engineer, Colonel Flad was known for his amazing creativity. For every new problem, he had many solutions. He could quickly understand all the details and create plans. He didn't just follow old ways; he always looked for new and better methods. He was incredibly bold and original in his ideas.
He loved his work for its own sake. He would tackle a new problem with great interest and wouldn't rest until he solved it. Once a solution was found, he would move on to something new. He even took out many patents for inventions but didn't focus on making money from them. He cared more about the work itself than the rewards.
As a person, he was also highly respected. He was humble, honest, brave, and always stuck to his beliefs. He put the public good before his own interests. Everyone who knew him trusted him completely. His name meant loyalty and skill. People knew that any project he was in charge of would be done perfectly. His honesty and dedication made his public service a huge gift to his fellow citizens.
Flad Avenue in St. Louis is named after Henry Flad, honoring his contributions.
