Birth: Jul. 17, 1836

Death: May 28, 1920

Burial: Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

After starting his business career selling stoves, John Scullin went to work in the railroad business as a brakeman before establishing himself as a railroad contractor. His largest project was the construction of the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad in 1870.

During his time in Denison, Scullin helped found the First National Bank with his brother-in-law Edward Perry, and got a street named after him. It is likely that he invested in other startup businessses as well. He then moved to St. Louis in 1875 and constructed several streetcar lines there. He later worked as a financier and in 1882 briefly served as general manager of the Mexican National Railway.

In 1899, having settled permanently in St. Louis, John established the Scullin-Gallagher Iron and Steel Company there, built its huge foundry and rolling mill near St. Louis’s southwestern city limits, and started producing steel for the railroad industry. He served the company as chairman of the board. During World War II, defense contracts and the subsequent increased production called for plant expansion, and in the 1960s, Scullin was one of the suppliers for St. Louis’s Gateway Arch. Long before then, the company had simplified the name to Scullin Steel Company.

Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, May 17, 1908
pg. 3

HOME NEWS
John Scullin, who was here the other day, is reported to have dropped a remark about Forest park.   Mr. Scullin was surprised to see that the park had been treated with so much neglect.
The Globe-Democrat estimates the wealth of John Scullin, who was here a few days ago, at $30,000,000.  We can recollect thirty years ago when Mr. Scullin was interested in Denison, that his wealth could easily be computed at a few thousand.