Burdette G. Johnson was born in DeSoto, Missouri on January 2, 1885, and died in St. Louis on February 24, 1947. He was self educated and read a book a day after he learned to read. Johnson was never married. He and his partner, David A. Sutherland, operated St. Louis Stamp and Coin Company, which they bought from F.E. Ellis on July 7, 1907. Just over a year later, Johnson bought out his partner. Johnson conducted 36 auction sales from 1902 to 1915. He was a mentor of Eric Newman, and these two purchased all five 1913 Liberty Nickels from the Colonel Green estate in 1942. Johnson received numerous large consignments from Armin Brand, representing coins from the Virgil Brand estate. He died on a street car in St. Louis on his way to work.

Edward Cogan was born in England on January 5, 1803 and died on April 7, 1884. Cogan came to the United States in 1853, and he and his wife Louise had eight children. Cogan conducted 69 auction sales, with the first held in Philadelphia in 1855. Cogan was an important figure in the earliest numismatic activities in this country.

Samuel Hudson Chapman was born on July 15, 1857 and died on September 22, 1931. He and his wife Bertha had three sons. Samuel Hudson Chapman conducting 28 auction sales from 1907 until 1924. He retired from the business in 1929 and the remainder of his collection and inventory was sold by Thomas Elder in 1932.

Henry Chapman was born on October 18, 1859 and lived until January 4, 1935. He and his wife Helen had a son and three daughters. He conducted 51 auction sales from 1907 through the end of his career. His business was continued by his wife, and his long time employee Ella B. Wright who operated the business until 1948.

The Chapman brothers began their numismatic career as employees of John Haseltine, and formed their own auction company with the first sale held in 1878. From then until 1906, they conducted 82 auction sales together, and continued separately, conducting more sales. The Chapmans set the standard for numismatic cataloging at the time.

Andrew C. Zabriskie was born in New York on May 30, 1853 and married Francis Hunter on June 6, 1895. Zabriskie served as third vice-president of the American Numismatic Society from March 16, 1880 to March 18,1884, as first vice-president from March 18, 1884 to March 16, 1896, and as the society’s president from that date until January 16, 1905. He was a member of the 7th regiment of the National Guard of New York from 1873 until 1898, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1908. Zabriskie had privately purchased gold coins from the collection of Augustus Humbert before it was offered for public sale. His death occurred at his home, Blithewood, in Barrytown-on-Hudson, NY. When his own collection was offered for sale by Henry Chapman in June 1909, private and territorial gold pieces brought the highest prices. He was the author of a book on Political and Memorial Medals of Abraham Lincoln. The Zabriskie Collection was sold by Henry Chapman in June 1909.

Matthew A. Stickney was born at Rowley Massachusetts on September 23, 1805. His childhood collection consisted of nearly 2,000 birds eggs that he acquired by the age of 10. Stickney was employed by the firm of Sawyer & Pierce, dealers in West India goods. He retired from this position in 1854. His coin collecting interest began at about age 18. He had a good relationship with Eckfeldt and DuBois at the Mint and was able to acquire needed items from them, in trade. These included an 1804 dollar. He was a member of the ANS. Stickney died at his home in Salem, Massachusetts on August 11, 1894. His collection was sold several years later by Henry Chapman in June 1907, one of his first important sales after he and his brother parted company.