USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 64
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The Madison County State Bank was con- solidated with the Bank of Edwardsville under the latter name July 8, 1899, and the capital stock was increased to $50,000, W. F. L. Had- ley being chosen as president ; Judge William H. Krome, vice-president ; E. P. Greenwood, cashier ; A. P. Wolf, assistant cashier ; John Stolze, Charles Boeschenstein, Henry P. Hotz and Mary West Hadley, directors. Mr. Had- ley died April 25, 1901. Judge Krome suc- ceeded him as president, and Charles Boesch- enstein became vice president. In January, 1904, the bank increased its capital stock to $100,000 from its earnings. Five years later Mr. Boeschenstein sold his holdings and W. L. Hadley became vice president. E. P. Green- wood died in September, 1911, and was suc- ceeded by A. P. Wolf as cashier, and Frank B. Sanders was made assistant cashier. In Jan- uary, 1912, the bank increased its capital stock to $150,000. The present board of directors consists of William H. Krome, John Stolze, W.
*Private banks.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
L. Hadley, R. D. Griffin, J. F. Ammann, B. H. Richards and A. P. Wolf.
J. A. Prickett & Sons conducted a bank from 1869 to December 14, 1890, at which time it suspended on account of having placed too much money in western investments.
The First National Bank was organized in the spring of 1897 by C. N. Travous, George W. Meyer, Henry Trares, Harrison Barco, Judge W. P. Early, E. D. Gillespie, August Schlafly and E. P. Keshner. The capital stock was $50,000. On July 17, 1905, the capital stock was increased to $100,000. The present officers are : Henry Trares, president ; George W. Meyer, vice-president; Joseph F. Keshner, cashier; George Kalbfleisch, assist- ant cashier ; S. V. Crossman, assistant cashier. The board of directors consists of Henry Trares, E. P. Keshner, J. F. Keshner, George Kalbfleisch, George W. Meyer and August Schlafly.
The Citizens' State and Trust Bank of Edwardsville was chartered on September 6, 1907, and opened for business on February 24, 1908. The original officers were C. W. Terry, president ; H. P. Hotz, vice-president ; W. L. Duckles, cashier ; Henry Childs, assistant cash- ier. In September, 1909, Mr. Childs withdrew and was succeeded by E. A. Fresen. The other officers are the same with the addition of Charles Schmidt, who is now one of the vice- presidents. The capital stock is $60,000. The original board of directors consisted of C. W. Terry, H. P. Hotz, W. L. Duckles, Charles Schmidt, Jacob Weber, C. F. Shroeder, C. H. Burton, J. E. Tunnell, and Louis May. Mr. Tunnell died in April, 1912. The present board of directors consists of the others pre- viously mentioned and Henry H. Stahlhut and E. A. Keller.
The financial showing of the Edwardsville banks made under the calls of April 18, 1912, were as follows :
Capital Undivided and
Surplus. Profits. Deposits.
Bank of Ed-
wardsville .. . $190,000 $14,965 $854,622.68 First National
of Edwards-
ville 200,000 6,912 817,835.55
Citizens State &
Trust, Ed
wardsville . . 74,000 4,364 292,591.61
LECLAIRE, A PROFIT SHARING COMMUNITY
Edwardsville has a suburb, both industrial and residential, which is distinctive in its nat- ure. It is called Leclaire, and adjoins the county seat on the south, the streets running through so that as far as the casual passerby could observe the communities are identical. They have the same water service, the same telephone service and the same mail service, but Leclaire has a separate electric lighting system. It also has its own fire department, but in times of need, each place comes to the assistance of the other. Leclaire never had any police, rarely needs them and never wants them.
The industrial portion of the town is co- operative throughout. The village, which now numbers about 650 people, was founded by N. O. Nelson, of St. Louis, in 1890, he being desirous of moving his factories away from the larger cities. It was named Leclaire in honor of the pioneer French profit-sharer.
The shops are notable. They are about fifteen buildings, none over one story in height, well lighted and ventilated, equipped with all conveniences for the comfort of the workmen and each building overgrown with vines and surrounded by beautiful lawns. Beds of blooming plants are seen at frequent intervals and the factories are bordered with flower beds
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
and foliage plants. The products are plumb- ers' brass work, nickel and silver fittings, plumbers' woodwork, staircases, mantels and art planing mill work, architectural marble and machinery.
Since the shops were located there in 1890 they have never been shut down, nor has any part of them run short for any lengthy period. Since the beginning the profit-sharing plan has been in force as concerns the employees, and since 1904 the customers likewise have participated in the profits of the business.
The dividend to employees is based upon the wages earned within the year and during the past eight years has ranged from fifteen to thirty per cent of their wages, the aggre- gate distributed amounting to approximately $200,000, in addition to the amounts received in the preceding twenty years. A large ma- jority of the employees are stockholders in the company. The dividend to customers is based upon the gross profit on their purchases. The company also maintains a pension fund for disabled and superannuated employees, and an accident fund to care for those who are hurt from any cause while in the service of the company.
The company owns other factories at St. Louis and Bessemer, Alabama, and has branch houses in many cities. Its officers are, N. O. Nelson, president ; L. D. Lawnin, vice-presi- dent ; A. B. Pierce, vice-president ; J. B. Cham- bers, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Nelson, the founder of the village, was born in Lillesand, Norway, September II, 1844, and came to this country in 1846, his family being accompanied by seventy neigh- bors who established a colony for farming at St. Joseph, Missouri. He located in St. Louis in 1872, and went into business. Mr. Nelson is deeply interested in practical philanthropy and has established institutions and enterprises to help the poor, sick or unfortunate in many parts of the country. His home is in Leclaire
but he himself is away much of the time. At present he is engaged in ameliorating the con- ditions of the poor of New Orleans, Louisiana.
The residential portion of Leclaire is beau- tiful throughout. A hedge thirty feet high separates it from the factories, and on the south side of this natural screen there is not a discordant note. The streets are all wind- ing, constructed of packed cinders with an oil bound surface and with granitoid sidewalks throughout. There is a large common covered with grass for outdoor sports, such as base- ball, football, etc., and a large assembly hall for lectures, dances and indoor entertainments. This is also used for a school house. A spe- cial play ground well equipped is provided for the children. All this is free for all who care to use them, the only stipulation on the part of Mr. Nelson being that no admission fee or charge of any kind be made for any form of entertainment.
BANKING IN ALTON
[By Edward P. Wade, President Alton Na- tional Bank.]
As early as January 8th, 1818, the terri- torial legislature authorized the establishment of a bank at Edwardsville. In 1821, Shad- rach Bond being governor, a state bank was organized at Vandalia, the capital, with "branches at Brownsville, Edwardsville, Shawneetown and the seat of justice in Ed- wards county." It was hoped that the notes of the bank would be accepted by the U. S. at the land office, but on the passage of the bill, Lieut. Gov. Pierre Menard, presiding in the senate, after putting the motion said, "And now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollars he never be made land office money," and so it proved. There seems to have been, and yet is, a vicious or weak element in all our financial legislation, and the device re- turns to plague the inventor. In due time the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
collapse came. It took ten years to clear away the debris.
In 1835, Joseph Duncan being governor, a new state bank was created and the charter of the Shawneetown bank revived. Branches of both these banks were located at Alton. The State Bank occupied the cut-stone build- ing on Market street recently demolished to make room for the Illini Hotel. The Shaw- neetown branch was located on State street, in a commodious structure of brick on the site now occupied by the William Fries es- tablishment. Of the former, Benjamin God- frey was president, and Stephen Griggs cashier. Of the latter, D. T. Wheeler was cashier and manager. Benjamin Godfrey and W. S. Gilman erected the handsome resi- dences which stood on the southeast corner of Third and Market, and at date of con- struction would have been an ornament to any street in New York City. These also gave way to the new hotel. Stephen Griggs occu- pied the frame house yet standing adjacent to the hotel on the south. Godfrey, Gilman & Company obtained control of the stock of the bank, and Governor Ford, in his full his- tory of the scheme, states they used $800,- 000.00 of the bank's money. Stone; Manning & Company and Sloo & Company also ob- tained large sums and these firms undertook to divert the upper Mississippi river trade from St. Louis to Alton. Governor Ford says, "The bank must have lost by these Alton operations about a million dollars, and before the second year of its existence was nearly insolvent."
In 1839 Godfrey and Griggs were suc- ceeded by E. Marsh as president and James H. Lea cashier. And in 1842, Thomas Ford being governor, the legislature directed the liquidation of both banks. One can hardly realize the depression incident to this col- lapse. . The circulation was now reduced to the very limited amount of coin and the notes of the solvent state banks, notably, that of Missouri.
In 1835 the Alton Marine & Fire Insurance Co. was chartered, E. Marsh, secretary, and B. I. Gilman, president. When the Franklin House, now the Lincoln Hotel, was built, the insurance company occupied the south half of the first floor. In 1848 it ceased issuing fire risks, continuing to do a limited marine busi- ness, but the requirements of the community, small though they were, demanded a place of deposit for the cash of the merchants and facilities for exchange to enable the payment of indebtedness elsewhere, and in this way the insurance company entered upon the business of banking, continuing until the free banking law was enacted. During this time, and for a short period only, a bank was conducted by Wise, Lea & Mitchell, at 208 State street. These parties, later, identified themselves with the Alton Mutual & Savings Bank, which, organized as an insurance company in 1853, began a banking business in 1859. This was located at the northwest corner of State and Short streets. There was also a bank at No. 216 State street, styled Alton Building and Savings Institution. After a precarious existence, it went into liquidation.
The building of the Alton & Sangamon Rail- road, the nucleus of the Chicago & Alton, and the inception of the Alton & Terre Haute, now a part of the New York Central System, had stimulated business, and some years of prosperity followed. The experience with the state banks had induced the incorporation of the clause in the constitution of 1848, "No state bank shall hereafter be created." In 1852, under the free banking system, the Alton Bank was organized, E. Marsh, presi- dent; Samuel Wade, vice-president ; Chas. A. Caldwell, cashier. On January 1, 1854, the bank took possession of its new building on the corner of Third and Belle streets. This was then considered complete, and suf- ficient for the use of the bank for many years to come. The day after removal to the new office, tidings came that the correspondent
Vol. I-29
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
bank in New York had failed, entailing a loss of nearly $30,000.00.
The relation of the Alton Bank to that in New York, which was a stockholder to the extent of the indebtedness, enabled the Alton Bank, by obtaining possession of the stock, to recuperate without loss, and with but small inconvenience. The free banking system, as all others, had its faulty provisions. A bank could be located anywhere, but its circulation was secured, or supposed to be, by stocks de- posited with the auditor of state, at a fixed margin below the market value. Numerous banks were organized, many of them at in- accessible points, and for a while all went well. The nomination of Fremont-the growing political strength of the free states, and the threats of secession occasioned dis- trust. Owners of stocks began to realize, the values declined, and the banks at accessible points had to redeem all of their circulation, leaving the notes of the inaccessible banks to circulate. The decline was so steady that soon the margin of the securities held by the audit- or was exhausted, and the principal so im- paired that the circulation was left to be passed from hand to hand or bank to bank until, when about twenty per cent discount, it ceased to be accepted at any rate. Again the money of the vicinity was reduced to coin and some few state and New England bank notes. At this extreme the Alton Bank had in its vaults, no notes of other banks, but had its own notes to nearly the full amount of its circulation, and a like amount of gold and silver coin.
At the breaking out of the war the exigen- cies of the United States government occas- ioned an issue of demand notes. These were made receivable for customs, but the need of coin to meet payments abroad soon made it obligatory to cease this issue, and notes ac- cepted for all debts except customs bearing a proviso that they could be funded in United States bonds bearing six per cent. interest.
Soon the United States and all the banks sus- pended specie payments. In 1865 the Alton Bank and the Alton Mutual Insurance & Sav- ings Co. adopted the national system. The latter assuming the name "First National Bank," Isaac Scarritt, president; D. D. Ry- rie, cashier.
The national system was inaugurated by S. P. Chase, secretary of the treasury, apply- ing on the larger scale the system adopted in Ohio during his administration as governor. It was organized as a means of funding the increasing floating debt of the country. At the close of the war the United States notes were to be eliminated and the currency of the country restricted to coin and the notes of the banks, with sufficient provision for their re- demption, and consequent expansion and con- traction as the business of the country de- manded. But a taste of expansion resulted in the appetite for more, and congress for- bade the retiring of the United States notes, and with the issue of notes based on silver coin the paper money of the country has reached the full limit of safety.
Under the national system both of the Alton banks prospered. In 1875-76 the First Na- tional Bank bought the lot at the northeast cor- ner of Third and State streets and erected a two-story brick building, equipped agreeable to the needs of the period. Meanwhile, Mr. Scarritt and Mr. Ryrie had died, and Mr. W. H. Mitchell and Mr. J. E. Hayner became respectively president and cashier. In 1882 the First National sold its building and busi- ness to the Alton National, and for a short time the Alton National was the only oper- ating bank in the city. In October, 1882, the Alton Savings Bank was organized, J. E. Hayner, president; G. A. Joesting, cashier. In 1877 Mr. E. Marsh died and Mr. Samuel Wade succeeded to the presidency of the Al- ton National. At Mr. Wade's death, Mr. C. A. Caldwell became president. In 1895 Mr. Caldwell died, and his son, C. A. Caldwell,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
became cashier, the active factor in the direc- tory. In 1903 Mr. J. E. Hayner died and Mr. O. S. Stowell succeeded to the presi- dency of the Savings Bank. The expansion of business after the close of the war and the enlargement of the factories then existing with the establishment of new ones, conduct- ing important and extensive enterprises, made it desirable to increase banking facilities. I May, 1899, the Citizens National Bank began business at the northeast corner of Second and Piasa streets, with August Schlafly as president; L. Pfeifenberger, vice president ; Chas. F. Stelzel, cashier. In 1902 William Eliot Smith became president; G. A. Joest- ing being then cashier. On the death of Mr. Smith, George M. Levis became president.
In 1902 (Dec. 19th), the Alton Banking & Trust Company opened for business, in its handsome banking house, corner of Weigler and Second streets. S. H. Wyss, president ; D. A. Wyckoff, cashier, recently succeeded by C. H. Seger.
And in 1909 (March IIth) the First Trust & Savings Bank began business at 102 West Third street, near Piasa. H. L. Black, presi- dent; D. A. Wyckoff, cashier.
At date of the first report of the Alton Na- tional Bank, after consolidation with the First National in October, 1882, the capital and sur- plus was $196,373.50 ; total resources $1,362,- 105.61. On December 5, 1911, when the latest report of the five banks was made, the com- bined capital and surplus was $1,056,044.19; total combined resources, $5,362,105.61.
Occasionally amusing incidents occur to re- lieve the monotony and strain of the business, as when a customer gives another check to
pay his overdraft. One day a little Irish woman who had some small certificates of deposit came to the bank and said her brother wished to borrow the money, and she did not want to let him have it. Would the bank folks, if she brought him to the bank, say she could not have it. Giving her to understand she was entitled to it when demanded, she yet insisted she should be helped in her dilemma and turning to go out, said, "Now do you be up to it." The next day the brother came with her and while he stood meekly by the en- trance she came boldly to the counter and said, "I want my money." The refusal seemed to irritate her, and after another de- mand, and the agreed refusal, she switched out with the threat: "I will get somebody to make you." The day after she returned, and laughingly said, "I must let him have it." She assured the almost fearful banker that he had done just right. The event proved she wanted to buy some pigs of the brother, who would not trust her.
In the summer of 187-, a superannuated Baptist minister opened an account at the bank. He had gone out from the state of Mississippi as a missionary to China, and, having penetrated to the interior, had some success in his work. One of his converts was a talented, ambitious fellow who, mixing Christianity and the religion of Buddha and Confucius, inaugurated a religious-political movement, which (known as the Tai-Ping rebellion) became so formidable that the En- glish government was asked to assist in the suppression of it. And in that movement General Chas. George Gordon received the sobriquet of "Chinese Gordon."
CHAPTER LII OFFICIAL CENTENNIAL ROSTER
MILITARY COMMISSIONS-CIVIL APPOINTMENTS-CIRCUIT CLERKS-COUNTY JUDGES-COUNTY CLERKS-SHERIFFS-TREASURERS-CORONERS-STATE'S ATTORNEYS-SCHOOL SUPERINTEND- ENTS-SURVEYORS-RECORDERS-PROBATE JUDGES - PROBATE CLERKS - COUNTY COMMIS- SIONERS-COUNTY COURTS-COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGAIN-SUPERVISORS.
It has been stated elsewhere in this work that the northern boundary of Madison county was the Canadian line. This is in accordance with the proclamation of Governor Edwards, September 14, 1812, constituting the county. But B. F. Hoffman, in Brink's History, claims that the northern boundary never extended to the Canadian border, that the territory of Michigan, organized in 1805, included the present states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. This contradicts the American Encyclopedia, which claims that when Michigan was set off from Ohio it was with substantially the same borders as at present. Thus do authorities disagree, but we find from "The Territorial Records" that Wisconsin was certainly a part of Illinois when set off from Indiana in 1809, as Governor Edwards exercised jurisdiction over it and appointed its local officials. On the 3d of May, 1809, the acting governor (Secretary Nat. Pope) appointed Nicholas Boilvin justice of the peace at Prairie du Chien (Wisconsin). On the following day he issued a dedimus to Harry M. Fisher, of the same place, to administer the oath to Michel Brisbois and John Marie Cardinal, whom he had appointed as lieutenant and en- sign, respectively, of a militia company at Prairie du Chien. To show further that there was no mistake in jurisdiction the Territorial
Record shows the appointment by Governor Edwards, on June 21, 1814 (five years later), of George Kennedy as captain and James Kennedy as lieutenant at Prairie du Chien. Hence the territory of Illinois did extend to the Canadian border. Prior to the admission of the territory as a state, all military and civil appointments were made by the governor. The following list for this county is compiled from the "Executive Register" of the terri- torial records.
MILITARY COMMISSIONS
The following military commissions were issued to residents of Madison county by the acting governor, Nathaniel Pope, prior to the separation of Madison from St. Clair :
1809-May 2-William Whiteside as major and William B. Whiteside as captain of com- pany in regiment of militia of county.
May 3-Commission issued to William Pruitt as captain; Samuel Judy and Isaac Ferguson as lieutenants of a cavalry company.
December 22-The governor appointed William Whiteside colonel of militia.
1810-January 2-William Pruitt, Samuel Judy, captains of militia; William Gillham, Valentine Brazil, Solomon Pruitt, lieutenants of militia; Samuel Whiteside, ensign.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
April 24-William B. Whiteside, major of militia.
1811-April 24-William Pruitt, major of militia and V. Brazil, captain
June 27-Samuel Whiteside commissioned captain.
1812-January 24-Isaac Griffin and Solo- mon Pruitt, captains ; John Goings, lieutenant ; George Mitchell and Isaac Gillham, ensigns Second regiment.
April 12-Samuel Judy, major, vice W. B. Whiteside, resigned.
May 2-Samuel Gillham, ensign, vice Isaac Gillham, promoted.
1813-March 24-William Jones, captain ; John Springer, lieutenant and Thomas Finley, ensign.
December II-Benjamin Stevenson, adju- tant general.
1814-April 19-Thomas Cox and R. C. of the peace and Daniel G. Moore, coroner. Gillham, lieutenants of militia.
1815-March 23-Samuel Judy, colonel of Second regiment, vice William Whiteside, deceased.
1816-January 10-William Gillham and Henry Cook, captains; Isaac Gillham, lieu- tenant ; Martin Jones and John Barnett, en- signs Second regiment.
1817-February 16-Samuel Whiteside, major Seventh regiment.
May 22-Samuel Whiteside, colonel Sev- enth regiment.
June 2-Hiram Arthur, captain; Thomas Lofton, lieutenant ; James Gillham, ensign, Seventh regiment.
August 16-Isaac Ferguson, major; Wil- liam Townsend, captain; John Herron, lieu- tenant. Residence in this case uncertain- Madison or St. Clair.
1818-June 29-Abraham Prickett, cap- tain; John T. Lusk, lieutenant; Jeph. Lamb- kin, ensign, Seventh regiment.
August 7-Isaac Gillham, lieutenant ; Jas. H. Gillham and John Harris, ensigns, Sev-
enth regiment. Isaac Judy, lieutenant ; Rob- ert Reynolds, ensign, same regiment.
CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.
1809-July 9-George Cadwell, justice of the peace.
1810-April 28-William Gillham, justice of the peace.
1812-September 19-Isom Gillham, sher- iff ; Josias Randle, clerk of court of common pleas. Wm. Rabb, Jno. G. Lofton and Samuel Judy, judges of court of common pleas.
September 27-Josias Randle, recorder ; Robert Elliott, Thomas G. Davidson, William Gillham and Geo. Cadwell, justices of the peace.
1813-December 6-Robert Brazil, justice of the peace.
1814-March 9-Uel Whiteside, justice
June 21-Nicholas Boilvin, justice of the peace at Prairie du Chieu.
August 10-John McKinney, justice of the peace, at Prairie due Chien.
September 8-Bird Lockhart, coroner.
December 7-William L. Smyth, justice of the peace.
December 13-Josias Randle, clerk of su- preme court for Madison county.
December 24-Josias Randle, clerk of county court, and William Mears, prosecuting attorney.
December 24-William Jones, county treas- urer.
1815-December 22-Abraham Prickett, justice of the peace.
1816-January 10-Alexander Waddell and Joseph Eberman, justices of the peace.
January II-Josias Randle, clerk of county court for three years.
March 2-Joseph Meacham, justice of the peace.
1817-William Jones, judge of county court.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
1817-January 16-John T. Lusk, justice Joseph Conway .
of the peace.
February 12-James Robinson, coroner of Madison county.
February 20-Asahel Enloe, county sur- veyor.
February 24-Abraham Prickett, justice of the peace.
May 22-John Howard, justice of the peace.
December 10-Levi Roberts and William L. May, justices of the peace.
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