Merchant and banker. He entered the State University in Columbia, Missouri at the age of sixteen years of age. He was engaged in merchandising in Booneville, Missouri for several years. In 1855 he came to St. Louis and established the wholesale boot and shoe house of Lionberger & Shields. Two years later he purchased his partner's interest in the business and was the sole proprietor for a time, but later admitted junior partners. The firm of J. R. Lionberger & Company became widely known. He retired in 1868 with the well-earned distinction of having been one of the most successful of St. Louis merchants. He immediately became identified with various enterprises, all of which contributed greatly to advance the business interests of St. Louis. He was especially active in aiding to develop the transportation system of St. Louis and in connection with the banking interests of the city. Later, along with others, he took hold of the North Missouri Railroad and completed it to Kansas City and the Iowa State line. For many years he was president of the St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Company. As early as 1857 he was one of the organizers of the old Southern Bank and served as member of directorate and vice-president of the bank. In 1864, when this institution was reorganized under the national banking law as the Third National Bank of St. Louis, Mr. Lionberger continued to be a large shareholder in the bank and became its president in 1867. He continued to hold that position until 1876, when he resigned for the purpose of making an extended trip abroad. When he returned he was elected to the vice-presidency of the bank. While identified with the banking interests of St. Louis, he was one of founders of the St. Louis Clearing House Association and was a member of its first committee of management, serving as chairman of that committee. He was a director of the Chamber of Commerce Association, and was a member of the building committee which had the supervision of the erection of the Merchants' Exchange Building. He was a member in high standing of the Board of Trade of St. Louis, and twice represented the local board as a delegate to the National Board of Trade. During his later life he was identified with the Union Depot Storage & Shipping Company and he helped to organize the St. Louis Safe Deposit Company. He was also closely identified with the early development of the street railway system of St. Louis, becoming a large owner of street railway stock.
Merchant and banker. He entered the State University in Columbia, Missouri at the age of sixteen years of age. He was engaged in merchandising in Booneville, Missouri for several years. In 1855 he came to St. Louis and established the wholesale boot and shoe house of Lionberger & Shields. Two years later he purchased his partner's interest in the business and was the sole proprietor for a time, but later admitted junior partners. The firm of J. R. Lionberger & Company became widely known. He retired in 1868 with the well-earned distinction of having been one of the most successful of St. Louis merchants. He immediately became identified with various enterprises, all of which contributed greatly to advance the business interests of St. Louis. He was especially active in aiding to develop the transportation system of St. Louis and in connection with the banking interests of the city. Later, along with others, he took hold of the North Missouri Railroad and completed it to Kansas City and the Iowa State line. For many years he was president of the St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Company. As early as 1857 he was one of the organizers of the old Southern Bank and served as member of directorate and vice-president of the bank. In 1864, when this institution was reorganized under the national banking law as the Third National Bank of St. Louis, Mr. Lionberger continued to be a large shareholder in the bank and became its president in 1867. He continued to hold that position until 1876, when he resigned for the purpose of making an extended trip abroad. When he returned he was elected to the vice-presidency of the bank. While identified with the banking interests of St. Louis, he was one of founders of the St. Louis Clearing House Association and was a member of its first committee of management, serving as chairman of that committee. He was a director of the Chamber of Commerce Association, and was a member of the building committee which had the supervision of the erection of the Merchants' Exchange Building. He was a member in high standing of the Board of Trade of St. Louis, and twice represented the local board as a delegate to the National Board of Trade. During his later life he was identified with the Union Depot Storage & Shipping Company and he helped to organize the St. Louis Safe Deposit Company. He was also closely identified with the early development of the street railway system of St. Louis, becoming a large owner of street railway stock.
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