==Van Hook family==
* Lawrence Newell Van Hook, Jr. '''+1946+''' (b. 1888 Ferguson, St. Louis, MO - d. 1973 St. Louis Co., MO). Son of Lawrence Newell Van Hook, Sr. (b. 1853 Columbus, Lowndes, [[Mississippi|MS]] - d. 1910 Ferguson, MO) & Jane "Jennie" Finlay Van Hook (b. 1853 Barony, Lanark, Scot. - d. 1923 Webster Groves, St. Louis, MO).
* Olive Andrews Van Hook '''+1946+''' (b. 1892 St. Louis, MO - d. 1978 St. Louis, MO), daughter of William Owen Andrews (b. 1875 St. Louis, MO - d. 1935 Webster Groves, MO) & Mary Rogers Andrews (b. 1875 Louisville, Jefferson, [[Kentucky|KY]] - d. 1957 Richmond Heights, St. Louis, MO).
** William Andrews Van Hook '''+1946+''' (b. 1920 St. Louis, MO - d. 2002 Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO). Wife (1950 @ Manhattan, NYC, N.Y.): Waltraud M.S. Van Hook (b. 1922 Germany), daughter of Rudolph Nickel (b. 1877 Germany - d. 1958 Manhattan, N.Y.) & Sofia Elisa Rosina Krucke Nickel (b. 1892 Hanover, Germany - d. 1945 Manhattan, N.Y.).** Mary R. Van Hook Hartkopf '''+1946+''' (b. 1930 St. Louis, MO - d. 2013). Husband (1960 @ St. Louis, MO): Heinz Erich Hartkopf (b. 1933 Sollingen, Germany - d. 1997), son of Ernst Johann Hartkopf (1891-1981 Sollingen, Germany) & Erna Berta Schulte Hartkopf (1898-1953 Sollingen, Germany).** Jane Finlay Van Hook Jennings '''+1946+''' (b. 1922 Webster Groves, MO - d. 1978 Kirkwood, MO). Husband (1950 @ Webster Groves, MO): David Getson Jennings (b. 1923 Coleman, [[Texas|TX]] - d. 2012 Lemay, St. Louis, MO), son of Dr. William Leonard Jennings (b. 1885 Kirk, Limestone, TX - d. 1971 Coleman, TX) & Mattie Asenath Horne Jennings (b. 1888 Coleman, TX - d. 1979 Lubbock, TX). David's 2nd wife: Billie Annabelle Beaver Jennings (b. 1926 St. Louis, MO), daughter of Ward Detrich Beaver (b. 1903 Cobden, Union, [[Illinois|IL]] - d. 1988 St. Louis, MO) & Ruth Evelyn Baldwin Beaver (b. 1908 Pleasant Mound, Bond, IL - d. 1955 Buena Vista, Fayette, OH). Lawrence's maternal grandparents (Jennie Van Hook's parents) were John Robert Finlay (b. 1813 Leslie, Fife, [[Scotland]] - d. 1877 St. Louis, MO) & Elizabeth Mitchell Finlay (b. 1829 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scot.; m. 1847 Glasgow, Lanark, Scot.; d. 1901 St. Louis, MO). Between 1856-1859, J.R. Finlay emigrated to St. Louis, and established the first oil refinery west of the Mississippi river, known as the J.R. Finlay & Co., and by 1866 as the St. Louis Coal Oil Co.
LawrenceAfter Finlay's maternal grandparents (Jennie Van Hook's parents) were John Robert Finlay death, his son-in-law Henry Clay Pierce (b. 1813 Leslie1849 St. Lawrence, FifeJefferson, [[ScotlandNew York|N.Y.]] - d. 1877 St1927 Manhattan, NYC, N.Y. Louis, MO) & Elizabeth Mitchell Finlay (b. 1829 Kirkcaldyabsorbed the business into his own oil company, Fife, Scotwhich started as the firm of H.; mC. 1847 Glasgow, Lanark, ScotPierce & Co.; din 1867. 1901 StThis company initially served as successful competition for John D. Louis, MORockefeller's newly formed (1865)''Standard Oil'' with partnership in 1873 with William H. Between 1856-1859Waters, J.R. Finlay emigrated but in 1878 he bought Waters out by selling majority share (60%) to St. LouisStandard, and established Pierce became signatory to the first oil refinery west "famous Standard Oil Trust agreement" of 1882 which expanded Rockefeller into dominating markets in the Mississippi riverSouthwest and Mexico, known the latter as the J.R. Finlay & Co.Pierce was an early investor owning refineries in Tampico, Vera Cruz and by 1866 as the St. Louis Coal Oil CoMexico City.
After Finlay's deathBy 1900, his son-Pierce obtained control of the Mexican Central railroad, along with interest in-law Henry Clay Pierce several other railways (b. 1849 St. LawrenceLouis & San Francisco, JeffersonTennessee Central, [[New York|N.Y.]] - d. 1927 ManhattanNashville Terminal, NYC, NSeaboard Air Line & St.YLouis & Southwestern).) absorbed He also directed the business into his own oil Mississippi Valley Trust company, which started as the firm & National Bank of Commerce of HSt.C. Pierce & CoLouis. He was known as "one of the four richest men in 1867. This the country" at one point, until losing a highly publicized anti-trust suit 1908-1909 against the state of Texas which reached the Supreme Court, which fined his company initially served as successful competition for John D$1. Rockefeller's newly formed 6M (1865$54M in 2023 dollars) ''Standard Oil'' with partnership in 1873 with William H. WatersIn 1913, but in 1878 he bought Waters out by selling majority share (60%) to Standard, and rebranded as the Pierce became signatory to the "famous Standard Oil Trust agreement" of 1882 which expanded Rockefeller into dominating markets in the Southwest Corporation and Mexico, the latter served as Pierce was an early investor owning refineries in Tampico, Vera Cruz and Mexico Cityits chairman until his retirement.
By 1900, Pierce obtained control of the Mexican Central railroad, along with interest in several other railways (St. Louis & San Francisco, Tennessee Central, Nashville Terminal, Seaboard Air Line & St. Louis & Southwestern). He also directed the Mississippi Valley Trust company & National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis. He was known as "one of the four richest men in the country" at one point, until losing a highly publicized anti-trust suit 1908-1909 against the state of Texas which reached the Supreme Court, which fined his company $1.6M ($54M in 2023 dollars). In 1913, he rebranded as the Pierce Oil Corporation and served as its chairman until his retirement.