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977.3875 P442n
New Baden Centennial, 1955
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
1
977.3875 P442n
New Baden Centennial
1855 -- 1955
JUNE 24, 25, and 26, 1955 NEW BADEN, ILLINOIS
PROGRAM CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
NEW BADEN, ILLINOIS
1855-1955
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1955
OLD TIMERS PARADE
BEARD and COSTUME JUDGING SQUARE DANCING
Address: SEN. DWIGHT FRIEDERICH
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1955 FLOAT PARADE
SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 1955
TALENT SHOW
FLOAT PARADE
SOUVENIR COPY
$1.00
1855
1955
NEW BADEN, ILLINOIS
CITY OFFICIALS - 1955
From left to right: ROBERT ROTH, Trustee; FRANKLIN KENNETT, Sec. retary; DONALD JUNIOR ILGES, Treasurer; RICHARD STEMPEL, Trustee; CHARLES COOK, Trustee; LEONARD BERBERICH, Street Commissioner and Village Marshal; ROBERT CROUMLICH, President of Village Board of Trustees; ROBERT THOEMING, Trustee; OSCAR Poos, Trustee; ORVILLE HEMANN, Retiring Board Member; CARL HEIMBERGER, Retiring Board Member; RALPH BANN, Trustee.
STANFORD FRITZ, Police Magistrate, (absent when picture was taken).
1855
1955
Page Two
977, 3875 P442n
In Vistaural Suisky
NEW BADEN CENTENNIAL
SPONSORED BY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NEW BADEN, ILLINOIS
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Seated left to right: Joseph Huelsmann, Mrs. Agnes Macke, (alternate for Marcella Heinzmann) ; Eileen Hoffmann, Lorene Brede, Frank Bux. Standing: Oscar Poos, Robert Roth, Charles Cook, William E. Renth, Alfred Brown, Ray Bruns, Richard Rakers, Theodore Medcalf, LeRoy Brede, Gilbert Noll, H. C. Largent, Chairman.
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FOREWORD
History, that has been one hundred years in the making, cannot possi- bly be recreated or retold in a mere twenty five or one hundred page book. The committee has worked with a mixed feeling of pride, humility, and at times, sheer exhaustion and frustration. The people and events menticned through the years are, of course, not the only ones responsible for our town but are those about whom we could find accurate accounts and records to help formulate a running story of development. Behind the growth of every village, city, state, or nation, are those tireless and willing workers who receive no honor or mention. New Baden would never have existed or progressed without a combination of leaders and followers.
Special thanks must be given the Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the Centennial Celebration. Through this club, the committees met and plans were made and carried out. It is an effort of which they can be very proud.
Our thanks goes to every individual who has in any way given infor- mation or pictures to the history committee to make our story. We hope it will bring to you a picture and many pleasant memories of our tow:, from 1855 to 1955.
Compiled and Written by CHARLENE PETERS MILDRED LARGENT
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
Florence Mueller, Oscar Poos, Chairman, Mildred Largent, Charlene Peters
Page Four
EARLY SETTLERS INFLUENTIAL IN THE SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH OF NEW BADEN
ANTON GRIESBAUM-Came from Germany in 1846 at the age of 19. Wife, Elizabeth Yost. He was a farmer and laid out the Anton Griesbaum Addition in 1899.
WILLIAM GRIESBAUM- Came from Germany in 1852. Wife, Louisa Wink- ler. Farmer, businessman. Laid out William Griesbaum Addition in 1890.
VALENTINE HEINZMANN-Settled in 1852, from Baden, Germany. Wife, Caroline Carl. Served as Postmaster and Township Treasurer, oper. ated a saloon, served as Street Commissioner of the Village, Village President, and Village Treasurer.
BERNARD SINGLER-Came from Baden, Germany in 1853. Wife, Barbara Morlock. He was a farmer and Highway Commissioner.
RUDOLPH HERTENSTEIN, SR .- Born in Baden, Germany in 1850. Emi- grated to New Baden in 1854. Wife, Ida Monken. He worked as a farm hand until 1872, when he started a peddler business. In a short time he opened a store.
JOHN WEBER-Born in Clinton County, Illinois in 1855. Wife, Lizzie Koob. He was a school teacher in the first school house. Was the first Village Clerk and wrote the first Village Ordinances. He procured the Village Seal and Village Law at the time of incorporation.
CONRAD WOERNER-Came from Baden, Germany in 1855. Wife, Barbar .. Ganz. Mr. Woerner operated a wagon shop. His was the first inter- ment in the Catholic Cemetery.
ADOLPH HARPSTREITH-Came in 1855 from Germany. Wife, Ida Hartwig. He was a farmer and Justice of the Peace.
CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER-Came from Germany in 1867. Wife, Louisa Wittmer. Established a general store in New Baden in the late 1860 s. The building in which he had his business and living quarters still stands and has always been a general merchandise store.
JOHN MONKEN-Came to New Baden from Columbia, Illinois in 1869. Mr. Monken was a teacher.
HENRY HUMMEL-Came from Baden, Germany in 1872. Wife, Caroline Griesbaum. Mr. Hummel operated a saloon, a general store, a bowling alley, and a dance hall in the establishment he built in 1880. The building and its contents were completely destroyed by fire in 188). It was rebuilt a year later. The building has also housed the post office and bank in time past and was owned by the Hummel family for 75 years. This building is still standing.
WILLIAM PROBST-Came from Green County, Wisconsin and settled in 1875. Wife, Sophia Meyer. He was a farmer and stock raiser.
WILLIAM E. KRUGER-Came from Holstein, Germany in 1878. Dr. Kruger was a physician and surgeon. He also operated a drug store.
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COPY - PLAT of the TOWN of BADEN Dated November 28, 1855
"Be it known that I surveyed and established the town of Baden for Frederick A. Carpenter this fifteenth day of August in the year one thou- sand eight hundred and fifty five, which is situated in the North West quarter of Section Eighteen, Town One North Range Five (5) West of the Third Principal Meridian, in Clinton County, State of Illinois, com. mencing at the South West corner of the North West Quarter of said Section 18; planted a stone for the center of Hanover Street; thence N. 7º 30' W. 33 feet; thence N. 821/2° E. 15 feet across Lawrence Street, set a stone; thence N. 821/2° E. setting stakes alternately 300 feet and 30 feet to the South East corner of Lot No. one; thence 71/2° West 150 feet; thence 821/2° West setting stakes alternately 300 feet and 30 feet apart to the North West corner of Lot 36; thence S. 71/2° E. 150 feet to the S. W. corner of Lot 36, making 6 blocks and 5 streets; each 'block is divided into 6 lots 50 feet by 150 feet, commencing again at the stone in the center of Hanover Street; thence S.71/2° E. 33 feet; thence 821/2° E. 33 feet set a stone for the N. W. corner of Lot 3'7; thence 821/2° E. 99 feet to the N. E. corner of Lot 37; thence N. 821/2° 2376 feet setting stakes consecutively 132 feet apart to the N. E. corner of Lot 36; thence S. 71/2° E. 330 feet; thence S. 821/2º W. setting consecutive stakes as before 132 feet to the N. E. corner of Lot 37 same course 99 feet to N. W. corner of Lot 37, same v. 33 feet to a point in the township line 5.50 chains South of the stone in the center of Hanover Street: thence S. 71/2° E. 957 feet to the S. W. corner of said quarter Section 18, planted a stone; thence N. 821/2° E. 2640 feet to the S. E. corner of said quarter Section; thence N. 71/2° W. 957 feet to the S. E. corner of Lot 56; thence 82° 30 W. 2640 feet to the N. W. corner of Lot 64, which area is divided into eight lots 330 feet by 957 feet (each lot containing seven acres and a quarter).
W. G. BURNSIDE, Surveyor of Clinton County, Illinois.
It was also established at this time that "Hanover Street is 66 feet wide. The center of Hanover Street is the center of the County Road leading from Carlyle to Belleville."
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ADDITIONS and SUBDIVISIONS Town of New Baden
1. FRIESS and TEICHMANN'S ADDITION-September, 1886. John P. Friess and Henry Teichmann. No accurate price shown.
2. ANTON GRIESBAUM ADDITION-July, 1899. First lots sold at $50 each.
3. WILLIAM GRIESBAUM RAILROAD ADDITION- September, 1890. William Griesbaum. First lots sold for $37.50 each.
4. MARTIN HEINZMANN SUBDIVISION- July, 1908. Martin Heinzmann. First lots sold at $75 each.
5. KOCH SUBDIVISION-April, 1905. Fred J. Koch. First lots sold at $137.50 each.
6. RAKERS SUBDIVISION-May, 1952. Richard Rakers and Marcella Rakers
7. SINGLER SUBDIVISION-May, 1905. Bernard Singler. No price shown.
8. JOSEPH SPAETH ADDITION-April, 1903. Joseph Spaeth. First lots sold at $100 each.
9. TOENNIES ADDITION-July, 1901. Reverend Gerard Toennies. First lots sold for $72.50 each.
CELEBRANTS IN CENTENNIAL GARB
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A HISTORY OF NEW BADEN, ILLINOIS 1855 - 1955
Clinton County was erected and organized December 27, 1824 from Washington, Bond, and Fayette Counties. It was named in honor of the distinguished statesman, DeWitt Clinton, of New York. The first land en- tries were made in 1814. The population of the county in 1824 was about 1,000.
The land on which New Baden was founded was granted by the United States Government to Walter Sawyer on September 11, 1838. The original grant contained 155.14 acres. It is supposed that the first settlers of New Baden were probably traders and farmers of Yankee descent who were a part of the great westward movement. From the year 1840 to the time New Baden was classed as a village, most of the emigrants were from Baden, Germany. Hence, the name of our town.
Henry Pool, a German, and blacksmith by trade, put up the first house here and began working at his trade. The second house was built of logs by Lawrence Spicer and the third was built of brick by August Spicer and housed his grocery store. These houses were built before the town was laid out.
From a warranty deed dated April 27, 1844, the original 155.14 acres of land, and other lands currently undefined, were sold by Walter Sawyer to Frederick A. Carpenter for the consideration of $450. These lands were laid out by Carpenter as the town of Baden on August 15, 1855.
Early records give interesting but sparse accounts of early settlements and developments. In 1866, a large, first-class flouring mill was built by John P. Friess, Henry Teichmann, and C. Scheurer; it burned in 1869. Within the next few years the town boasted 52 residences,, a population of about 200, and the following businesses: a small grist and saw mill run by M. Miller; two stores kept by Henry Hummel and Christ Schumacher; four saloons; two shoemakers; and one tailor.
Provisions were made for organized townships in Illinois in 1875. New Baden was made part of Lookingglass Township. The township derives its name from the Looking Glass prairie, of which about twenty-five sections are within the boundaries of the township. A small portion of Shoal Creek prairie is on the west side. The township is in the extreme southwest part of the county, and contains about 48 sections, mostly fine farming land.
An election for trustees for the purpose of serving in the town seeking incorporation as the village of New Baden was held December 16, 1882. (Up to the time of incorporation, the town was known as Baden). The village was officially incorporated in 1884 and the Village Seal and Village
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Law were adopted. John Weber, the first Village Clerk, who actually served before the village incorporation, was paid $5.00 for writing ordinances for the village. The first Treasurer was Xavier Griesbaum. On April 23, 1883, Dr. William E. Kruger was paid $1.50 for swcaring in six trustees; Village Clerk, John Weber; Street Commissioner, Valentine Heinzmann, and Con- stable, John Harpstreith.
Village records were kept from 1883 until April 5, 1896 when no entries were made until April 27, 1897.
The Louisville, Evansville, and St. Louis Consolidated Railway pur. chased land in 1889 for the purpose of building a railroad which was com- pleted about 1890. It was known as the "Air Line." Shortly thereafter the line became part of the Southern Railway System. In 1889, the village purchased one and 25/100 acres of land for $100 from William Griesbaum for the railway depot. In the same year the village purchased land from Rudolph Hertenstein, Sr. to build Railway Avenue from the Belleville and Carlyle Road to the depot site. The sidewalk along Railway Avenue was laid in 1890. The first railway depot agent was Joseph Watschinger. J. W. Bann is the present agent and has served in this position since 1927.
The first post office was located in the Hummel building; it was a fourth class post office and the Postmaster was Laurence Geiger. The mail was brought to New Baden by horse and wagon from Trenton. With the coming of the railroad in 1890, the mail was brought by train. At one time the Southern brought four mail exchanges a day. Train delivery con- tinued until the Federal Government inaugurated the Highway Post Office on November 1, 1952. The route is from Louisville, Kentucky to St. Louis, Missouri. The Post Office is now third class and is located in the City Hall building. Bert Baird serves as Postmaster.
Wedneday, May 27, 1896 stands out in the memory of the elder citi- zens of New Baden and there are few of the younger generation who have not heard stories of the terrible cyclone which struck the village that day. There were about sixty houses with a population of 200 in New Baden at this time and after the fury of the storm had passed, thirty one buildings were completely demolished, many were slightly wrecked, and the dead and suffering lay without shelter until help could come. The loss exceeded $50,000. Neighboring towns lent a strong and willing hand and the injured were taken to the old school house, St. George's School, and Nagele's Hall.
Those killed or who died from injuries were:
PETER KRAUS
PIUS MEYER
WILLIAM RUST
MRS. PETER KRAUS
CHARLES LEE
MRS. WILLIAM RUST
EMMA KRAUS
JOHN BASSLER HATTIE BASSLER
WILLIE RUST
HAZEL ETHINGTON
ADAM PETER
EDNA FERGUSON
JACOB FEHMEL
IDA BORN
MRS. BACHMANN
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An emergency fund was set up for the cyclone victims and contribu- tions were received from many Illinois communities and one California community. Mr. Louis Butzow was serving as president of the village at
SCENE FOLLOWING TORNADO OF 1896
this time and a board was appointed to apportion the relief funds which amounted to $6,836.97.
Probably the most important development in the rebuilding and growth of the community was the opening of a coal mine in 1897. The mine was known as the Muren Mine and employed several hundred men. Coal was hoisted from the air shaft until a main shaft was sunk. The name was changed to the Southern Coal and Mining Co. in 1906; to Southern Coal, Coke and Mining Co. in 1913. Mining operations continued until 1936 and the mine was officially closed April 9, 1938.
Prior to the opening of the mine the village income had been obtained mainly from tavern licenses which cost $25.00 to $37.50, bridge and road tax, and rent for the village hall. With the new industry and increased population new sources of income became available. Many fines were col- lected, apparently on pay days when people celebrated a little too much; liquor licenses were increased; dog tax was assessed; picnic tax was charged; village tax was recorded; and all merchants and peddlers bought village licenses. There was, however, a need for the extra funds. Street lamps were installed and a lamp-lighter was employed. A fire engine was pur- chased for the city for the sum of $535.00. Jail cells were purchased which
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cost $140.00, and $25.55 was expended for balls and chains. Prior to the 1920's, the most frequent village expense was for blacksmith work.
Around the year 1900 the daily wage for farm labor was 75 cents a day from "sun up to sun down." Farm hands werc paid $10 to $15 a month and board. Corn sold at about 11 cents a bushel. On salaried jobs, you could pay room and board and have about 70% of your salary left. The average salary for a coal miner in New Baden around 1900 was $1.00 per day for bottom men; $2.00 for top men.
The following were Village Appropriations for 1904-1905 :
STREETS AND GRADES $1,000.00
BRIDGES, CULVERTS AND GUTTERS 500.00
LIGHTING 500.00
FIRE APPARATUS FUND
50.00
SIDEWALKS 2,000.00
By the year 1905 the oil lights of the village were replaced by gas lights and payments are recorded to the Vapor Light Co. The old lights were sold by the village to Shiloh. In 1912 the New Baden Light and Power Co. came into being. It was built at a cost of $13,500. Mr. Fred J. Koch was the organizer of the plant and power was first generated on No- vember 28, 1912. There were forty street lights controlled from the main office which was located immediately west of the mill near the Southern Rail Line. There are those who remember when there was power service from daylight to 11:00 A. M. on Monday and Tuesday, because house- wives washed and ironed on those days. The power was usually off until the evening hours, beginning at dusk, and would again be turned off at 11:00 P. M. until the next morning. A company was organized to erect the plant and it was then leased to the city for a period of ten years, after which time it was to become the property of the city as a municipal plant. The street lights were of the Tungsten variety. The officers of the company were: Fred J. Koch, president; F. A. Billhartz, secretary; John F. Engelke, treasurer. The directors were: L. A. Schumacher, William Linck, and the officers. The company discontinued operation in 1923. The Southern Illi- nois Power Company obtained the franchise to supply power at this time- this company became the Illinois Power Company which serves the com- munity at the present.
A commercial history on Clinton County was compiled and published in 1913. A glowing and thorough account of New Baden was presented. The population was approximately 1,400 and great strides had been made in the advancement of the community.
The City Administration of 1913 was as follows: George J. Monken, mayor; William Georger, city clerk; A. F. Ackerman, city treasurer; Pa- trick J. Bann, city marshall; Peter Mauk, superintendent of streets and
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alleys; Dr. E. G. Schmitt, police magistrate; Wm. Stoeckel, J. W. Duffner, Henry Peter, Adam Vick, Joe Poelker, and Wm. Beine, aldermen.
The following businesses were listed at this time: One mill, one mine, one bank, four general stores, three groceries, one bakery, eight saloons, three gents' furnishing shops, two barber shops, one lumber yard, one hard- ware concern, one tin shop, one saddlery shop, one hotel, one undertaker, one livery stable, one implement house, one drug store, one picture show, one real estate firm, one confectionery, one jeweler, two butchers, one res- taurant, two doctors, one dentist, one veterinary surgeon, and several smaller places of business.
This was one of the most progressive eras in New Baden's history. The coal mine had brought a new economic growth to the town which promoted prosperity in all phases of business. Some of the highlights in the businesses and in the lives of the residents are listed below:
The Hertenstein Mercantile Co. did an average business of over $50,000 a year.
Fred J. Koch of the Koch Lumber Co. was serving his second term in the State Legislature.
There were cight passenger trains daily through New Baden. An average of 12,000 cars a year were sent from New Baden and about four fifths of these were coal, the rest being produce, grain and merchandise.
One of the first things to meet a person's gaze when he stepped from the train in New Baden was the tall and stately figure of Mr. Patrick Bann, village marshall, in a full policeman's uniform. He was the first marshall to wear a full policeman's uniform in the city.
Martin Rensing operated two saloons and served as agent for the Star Brewery.
William Stoeckel operated the livery stable, conducted a sales stable and had an automobile for the use of traveling men who wished to make fast drives when the roads were in good condition.
Charles Woerner ran a saloon and bowling alley. The bowling alley was well known all over the Southern tournaments.
Chris Meinkoth operated the only restaurant in the city and the Francis Hotel was one of the finest hotel buildings in the county.
The cigar factory was owned by Mr. Charles Kassebaum and their output was 14,000 cigars a month.
J. W. Duffner ran a large and well-equipped meat market. He did his own killing and manufactured sausages of all kinds.
Mr. F. H. Stroot had the only undertaking establishment in the city. He was a licensed embalmer and carried a full line of caskets
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and shrouds, artificial flowers, also dealt in monuments and sup- plied wagonettes and surreys for weddings.
The mill was rated as one of the largest of its kind in Southern Illinois. Its capacity was 450 barrels of grist and meal per day. The company manufa tured two well-known brands of meal and grist-"Imperial Grits" and "Imperial Meal."
William Georger was a manufacturer of cement blocks and the contractor who layed the greater part of the city's streets and sidewalks.
Mr. Henry Schumacher manufactured hand-made shoes and did all kinds of shoe repair.
F. A. Billhartz ran the Gents' Emporium. He had also been tax collector for the district for fifteen years.
So New Baden lived and grew through the early 1900's and moved into World War I. Many of her sons saw military service and some never returned. Jobs were plentiful and she had her fling in the "roaring twen- ties." This was the era of prohibition when "moonshine" and "home brew" appeared in most communities; New Baden was no exception.
After the depression which lasted through the early 30's, New Baden was synonymous with the nation and experienced a stabilizing period which lasted until economic aid was provided by the Federal Government, notably in New Baden through the WPA. There was a WPA Library and a WPA Recreation Center. Laboring wages for WPA workers ranged from $38 to $56 per month. Surplus government food was given out in ratio to family size in 1 to 3-months periods. Occasionally clothing was also given.
Another important aid in the growth of New Baden was the construc- tion of State Highway 161 through the community. This project was begun in 1935 and completed in 1936. That wages were still low and prices cheap at this time is evidenced by the fact that plate lunches sold in a local restaurant for 25 cents.
Lack of employment remained a problem due to the slowed down op- eration and eventual closing of the mine in 1938. However, with the ex- pansion of nearby Scott Air Force Base (nine miles west of New Baden on Highway 161), the local employment problem was somewhat alleviated. In 1938, the field became General Headquarters of the Air Force of the United States Army. In 1939, it became an Army Air Corps Technical School. It was during this period that New Baden people found new em- ployment, for with the stepped up program at the Air Base, there was a need for civilian personnel in many arcas. The Air Base has been steadily growing-building programs having been carried on in 1938. 1941, 1952, and 1955. So it continues to be a source of employment for New Baden as well as much of its surrounding area.
The period of World War II again brought prosperity to the nation
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and locally with the defense program. New Baden men were drafted into military service and served in many battle areas and the Korean conflict.
The present population of New Baden exceeds 1.600. Its growth may be said to have been moderate, but steady. To indicate the growth. the numerous new residences that have been built in the 1950 period can be cited. The town's only supermarket was built in 1951. A drive-in dessert stand was also built. A new parochial school, modern in every respect was completed in 1953. A fine new addition to the public school is near con :. pletion. In 1954 the old crank type telephone, in use for over 40 years, was replaced with the dial system. New Baden is served by the Looking- glass Prairie Telephone Co. A Legion Home was built in 1954.
The newest community project is a Community Park, initiated in 1953 by the Lions' Club, and carried on by the civic organizations of New Baden.
The increasing population brought a water shortage to New Baden, so. the evolution of the water system from private wells to city wells, and finally to the present system. It was completed in 1952 and brings water to the community from a deep well located near Highway 15, about 7 miles southeast of New Baden, near the Kaskaskia River.
On December 14, 1954, the citizens of New Baden voted a Sanitary District for the community, thus paving the way for a sewerage system. The bond issue for this new system was voted and passed at this election.
At the present time construction is underway for the Capitol Highway, that part which extends from New Baden to Trenton, over the old Trenton Road. It is with pleasure that this can be included in the first 100 years of New Baden's history, for the realization of the project is the culmination of 30 years' effort to secure the highway. The entire Capitol Highway will extend, when completed, from Litchfield to Coulterville.
New Baden is an alert and fast growing community, active in county and state government, having a county judge and a state representative. New Baden is the largest town in the township and is represented by the following township officials: Road Commissioner Raymond Reinhardt who succeeds Frank Zirkel, who served in this position for 31 years; Supervisor August Zimmerman who has served since 1941; Clerk Arthur E. Billhartz who succeeds the late Fred H. Billhartz; Tax Assessor Harold Rensing, and Justices of the Peace Fred Toennies and August Krausz.
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