USA > Illinois > Franklin County > Franklin County, Illinois, war history, 1832-1919; containing a brief review of the world war--complete history of Franklin County's activities--photographs and service records of Franklin County's soldiers, sailors and marines--industrial and biographical review of business and professional firms who have made this history possible > Part 41
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Zeigler Building and Loan Association
THE above home building association, the youngest in Franklin county, has started on its career with every prospect of being one of the most successful. Officered as it is by representative business and pro- fessional men of this rapidly growing city, there is little doubt that the efforts of the association directed principally toward build- ing of homes on the safe plan of reliable mutual associations will materially benefit the city of Zeigler.
The Zeigler Building and Loan Association was incorporated March, 1920. The officers are: Geo. P. Baggott, president; L. L. Jones, vice-president; D. T. Ashby, treas- urer; O. F. Harris, secretary. The directors other than the officers are: Dr. I. A. Foster, Geo. W. Hubbard, M. A. Gurley, Max Kohlsdorf and Dr. R. L. Whiteside.
The capital stock is $500,000, and consists of shares of four classes-class "A" and "B" at 50c and $1.00 per share are for the home builders and a safe saving investment for the wage or salary earner; class "C" and "D" at $70 and $45 are paid-up shares and are considered the best kind of invest- ment for those who have ready money for for investment purposes.
New series of stock is opened every three months -the first Monday in March, June, September and December.
A special invitation is extended to bor- rowers, and the prospective home builders will receive every courtesy from any officer of the association-they are boosters for Zeigler and will gladly extend their co- operation and explain the easy method of owning a home in Zeigler.
371
*1832
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MAX KOHLSDORF.
Dr. R.L.WHITESIDE.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
BERT TURNER, City Clerk.
WALTER BAYLESS, City Treasurer.
WILLIAM HOGAN, Mayor.
Street Scenes from Administration Building Showing Modern Business Buildings of Zeigler, October, 1920. WATCH IT GROW
ELECTIVE OFFICERS CITY OF ZEIGLER, 1920.
7
W.H. BUCHANAN, Alderman.
ALVIN TURNER. Police Magistrate.
WM. MC HAUGH, Alderman .
WALLIE ADAMS, Alderman.
JAMES BLACK, Alderman.
ROBERT MC CLAIN, Alderman.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
T THE City of Zeigler was first incorporated in 1914, and previous to that time the town was owned by the Zeigler Coal Com- pany, which believed that it was better for the miners to own their own homes and
opened up the town to private enterprises about this time.
The first mayor was Conrad Slavin, who was killed in the mine; the next mayor was Conrad Mitchell.
The City Officers of Zeigler
WILLIAM HOGAN, Mayor. A native of Scotland, where he worked in the mines before coming to this Country; a close student of the mining industry and has worked as mine manager of several mines; prominent in all miners' union affairs, serv- ing on important committees and holding various offices in his locals; has been offered important positions with the operators but prefers to serve in capacities where he can work with the rank and file of the U. M. W. of A .; now assisting the State Mine Board; elected mayor, 1919.
W. H. BUCHANAN, Alderman. Came to Zeigler from Chicago three years ago where he was engaged in the real estate business; first employed on the Leiter farms as farm hand and tractor driver and was later transferred to engineering department; manager of the real estate department of the Zeigler Coal Co. and assistant general manager; now general manager. A veteran of the Philippine army of pacification at- tached to the cavalry.
ROBERT McCLAIN, Alderman. Born in Mason, Mich .; lived in Ohio before com- ing to Illinois; Herrin nine years and then to Zeigler five years ago; serving his second term as alderman; a member of the Moose.
WILLIAM McHUGH, Alderman. Came to Zeigler before it was incorporated and has been one of the real boosters watching
The present administration has been a busy one and many improvements are the result of the efforts of the present city council-among the accomplishments are: 20 miles of sidewalks, establishment of a clean up day, laying out new streets and
Zeigler grow from a mining camp to a hustling city; serving his third term as alderman-elected when city was first incorporated.
WALLIE ADAMS, Alderman. A native of Franklin county, born near Benton in 1886; moved from Plumbfield to Zeigler three years ago; serving his second term as alderman; a member of the Moose.
JAMES BLACK, Alderman. Came from Springfield and took up his residence in Zeigler when it was a mining camp; elected alderman when city was first incorporated and now serving his second term; a member of the U. M. W. of A.
ALVIN TURNER, Police Magistrate. Came from Springfield; served as policeman of Zeigler two years before being elected to present office.
BERT TURNER, City Clerk. Came to Zeigler from Springfield in 1913; injured in mine at Auburn and now a cripple; serving his third term as city clerk, elected first when city was incorporated.
WALTER BAYLESS, City Treasurer. Came to Zeigler from Wolf Creek fourteen years ago; serving his second term as treasurer-first term when city was incor- porated; a member of the W. O. W. and Odd Fellows.
new additions, franchises granted for im- proved street lights and telephones, im- proved water and sewer system under advisement, co-operated in establishing high grade public school and township high school.
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The City of Zeigler
Nº city of Franklin county has had a more wonderful growth than Zeigler. Until a few years ago it was considered a small mining camp owned by private inter- ests with general conditions not conducive to a growth as a city where conditions would readily develop a city instead of a mining camp. The story, and it is an interesting story, of the growth of Zeigler is told in the review of the Zeigler Coal Company, on another page in this section of this history.
The City of Zeigler was incorporated in 1914, but the boom that started Zeigler growing into one of the most prosperous cities of the county, did not start until 1917, when the Zeigler Coal Company began the sale of its houses and real estate. At that time the population was 1500-the popula- tion at the present time is over 3500 and growing more rapidly than any other city in southern Illinois.
The city is located in the very heart of the southern Illinois coal field, and has soft coal mining properties that rank with the most important mining industries of the nation. The first mine was sunk nineteen years ago with an estimated capacity of 4000 tons daily. At present this old mine gives employment to more than a thousand people and the mine is averaging 5000 tons for every eight hour shift. This is twenty- five per cent more than a few years ago it was thought possible to hoist. A new mine, now being developed, known as No. 2, will employ more than a thousand additional employees-with the surface buildings not fully completed more than two hundred and fifty are now employed. Work will start on a third mine in the near future. The present payroll is over $110,000 every two weeks.
Other industries and enterprises now located in Zeigler are:
Three School Houses,
Three Churches, Hospital,
Amusement Park, Swimming Pool, Public Playground,
Two Theatres,
Water Works, Electric Lights.
Two Garages,
Telephone,
Ice and Bottling Company, Lumber Yard,
Telegraph Office,
State Bank,
Three Railroads,
Newspaper,
20 miles concrete sidewalks,
Wholesale Houses,
50 other business houses.
374
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THE?
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
The Zeigler News
L ESS than a year after the property in Zeigler was thrown on the open market, The Zeigler News was established by Hal W. Trovillion, of Herrin and M. A. Gurley, of Harrisburg. The growth of the city has been equalled by that of the growth of the paper which has actively supported every movement for progress.
The first issue of the paper appeared Friday, June 13, 1919 and since that time has enjoyed the liberal patronage of the busi- ness men and public in general of Six Mile township. During the first year and half of its existence it has pub- lished more columns of news and advertise- ments and a larger num- ber of pages than any other weekly paper in Franklin county and has adopted the slogan "Franklin County's Big Weekly Newspaper.' The office is temporarily located at 12 N. Oak St.
Early in 1920 the paper reached out and began covering the neighboring city of Royalton equally as well as would have been covered by a local paper in that city. Its local service is given to the two cities with a com- bined population of over 7,000. It has grown over the county and is, in reality, a county paper, giving all the news of Zeigler and Royalton and the important events in this vicinity.
Because of its connection with the Herrin News it has access to what is probably the largest job printing establishment in south- ern Illinois, that does the best of work and turns out an immense quantity of it.
Both the owners are newspaper men of several years standing.
Hal W. Trovillion, the editor, is also the editor and owner of the Herrin News, one of the most successful weekly newspapers in southern Illinois. This paper has been under his successful management for several years.
M. A. Gurley, the business manager, has had several years experience of successful newspaper work, having held positions on a large number of country and metropolitan papers. Beginning work as a "devil" in the office of the Makanda News in 1896 he has passed through every department up to editor and business manager. He was especially fitted by knack and training for the circulation department, which he fol- lowed for several years on various papers until the establishment of The Zeigler News when he became the business manager. The estab- lishment and business management of the paper from its beginning have been under the management of Mr. Gurley.
Mr. Gurley was born at Makanda, Jackson county, in 1880, and after finishing the public school, in that village, attended the Southern Illinois Nor- mal University at Car- bondale for several terms. In 1916 he was married to Miss Mary B. Fish, of Kentucky.
Besides newspaper work he has been em- ployed in various indus- tries including mines, both coal and copper, foundries and rolling mills and for several years has been prominent in labor circles. Among the important labor union official positions he has held has been that of secre- tary of the Williamson-Jackson Labor Day association. At present he is a member of the Typographical Union at Herrin.
Among the papers in this vicinity on which Mr. Gurley has worked are The Herrin News, The Herrin Journal, William- son County News, Marion Daily Republican and the Harrisburg Daily Register.
Miss Myrtle McGrail, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miles McGrail, holds the position as local reporter with credit to herself and the institution.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
Brown and Jones House Furnishing Company
BROWN AND JONES HOUSE FURNISHING COMPANY THE HOME OF DEPENDABLE FURNITURE.
THIS large and complete building pic-
tured above is the home of dependable 4 furniture and hardware in the rapidly growing city of Zeigler. The firm was established in 1919 and on account of the connections of the officers-all business men of experience having been engaged in similar business ventures, and two of the officers at present engaged in the same kind of business in West Frankfort, the firm at once took the lead in furnishing homes of Zeigler citizens.
The company is incorporated with E. R. Brown of the E. R. Brown Furniture Company of West Frankfort, as president, and whose biography and business review will be found in the West Frankfort section of this book. D. C. Jones of D. C. Jones & Sons, furniture and hardware, West Frankfort, is vice-president-the West Frankfort section will show the several business connections of D. C. Jones. The secretary and manager is L. L. Jones, a brother of D. C. Jones, who for many years was one of the most able educators, teaching in Will amson and Franklin counties.
The Brown and Jones House Furnishing Co. are agents for the Peninsular, Round Oak, Quick Meal and Moore stoves and ranges-these are the reliable stoves that are absolutely guaranteed and make it easy for the firm to live up to its motto of "Quality, Service and Satisfaction." Their line of
furniture, rugs, lino- leums and wall paper is most complete and suitable for furnish- ing the home of any citizen.
L. L. Jones, who is the resident mem- ber of the firm, was born in Williamson county, the son of S. S. Jones. He was educated in the Marion High School and Carbondale Normal. He began teaching school at twenty years of age and for thirteen years was considered one of the most able instructors in southern Illinois-principal of the Herrin schools for four years and one term at West Frankfort, and it was at the end of this term that he joined his brother and Mr. Brown in forming the Brown and Jones House Furnishing Co. He was mar- ried June 5, 1904 to Miss Jernerva Benson of Campbell Hill, Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of two children, Paul and Ruth. Mr. Jones in the short time he has been a resident of Zeigler has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the city and is the president of Community High School Board of Education and also pres- ident of the Zeigler Booster Club and vice- president of the Zeigler Building and Loan Association.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL WAR HISTORY.
LEAL FOTAT
Zeigler State Bank
O NE of the youngest financial institu- tions of southern Illinois, and one that has made an astonishing record in rapidly growing popularity and financial strength, is the Zeigler State Bank, which was organ- ized August 6, 1918, with an original capital of $25,000.00. At the end of the first year the deposits were $125,017.00, with total resources of $154,000.00. At the time the bank was established there was no suitable place in Zeigler for a bank, and the bank offices were maintained at the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber yards. At the end of the ninth month the fine building here pictured was completed, and the bank moved into its new location which is modern and com- plete in every way. At the end of the second year the deposits had reached $258,392.00, with resources of $287,111.00.
Harry Stotlar, who is at the head of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Co. of Franklin county, president of the Sanitary Stove and Range Co., president of the West Frankfort Bank & Trust Co. and heavily interested in other institutions which have done so much
to build Franklin county, is president of this bank; George T. Baggott, of the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber Co. of Zeigler, is vice-pres- ident; R. H. Zoller of the Bell & Zoller Coal Co., Kent Stotlar, manager of the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber Co. at Johnson City, D. C. Jones, manager of the Stotlar-Herrin Lum- ber Co. at West Frankfort and Edward M. Stotlar, president of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Co., are directors; Dee T. Ashby, cashier; Mildred Ashby, assistant cashier; John Broadway, teller and book-keeper. D. T. Ashby, the cashier, was born in Frank- lin county, near Thompsonville and moved to Marion at an early age, where he attended the public schools and later the high school and finished a business course at Brown's Business College, then worked in a store for a while, but later took up the lyceum work in which he was engaged for two or three years. He took up bank work at the early age of 23 years, as assistant cashier of the West Frankfort Bank & Trust Co., and when the Zeigler State Bank was organized, he was sent to Zeigler to take charge.
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1832-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL WAR HISTORY. L
J. W. SMITH, allderman .
LON BATEMAN, alderman.
C.R.SLADE, MAYOR.
H.E.GILLOOLY, alderman.
HARRY DANIELS, alderman.
RILEY D. WEBB, Treasurer.
SESSER CITY HALL.
Mrs. JESSIE GRAY, City Clerk.
ELECTIVE OFFICERS CITY OF SESSER 1919~1921.
A.J. EUBANKS, Police Magistrate.
ED. PAYNTER , City Marshall.
378
1832-THE -1919
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL WAR HISTORY.
Sesser-Historical and Biographical
C. R. SLADE, Mayor-Elected to fill vacancy, for the term 1919 to 1921; came to Sesser from Woodlawn, Jefferson county; employed on railroad as telegraph operator and agent until 1912 when he came to Sesser; since coming to Sesser has been employed principally in mines; a popular union worker holding many offices in the Sesser U. M. W. of A; now assistant mine manager.
J. W. SMITH, Alderman-Reelected for term 1919 to 1921; has been alderman since 1909; came to Sesser from Albia, Monroe county, Iowa; principally engaged in con- struction contracting, at present member of the firm of Smith & Minor, dealers in har- ness, pumps, and farm implements; a Republican in politics and always active in the interests of his party, a member of the county central committee for ten years, member of the school board, director in . Sesser Building & Loan Association and member of the Franklin County War History Society.
LON BATEMAN, Alderman-Reelected for term 1919 to 1921; three terms as alder- man, first term 1912; came to Sesser in 1910 from Marion, Williamson county; for many years master mechanic for Old Ben Coal Corporation, now top foreman.
HARRY DANIELS, Alderman-Elected for term 1920 to 1921; first term but has proven a popular and efficient alderman; a Franklin county boy, born and reared in
this county; came to Sesser in 1912 and was employed as blacksmith helper and has since constantly advanced himself in his trade.
H. E. GILLOOLY, Alderman-Reelected for term 1919 to 1921; three terms as alder- man, first in 1912; came to Sesser from Murphysboro in 1909 and was employed for several years at the Stoelze Hardware store; now employed as miner.
RILEY D. WEBB, Treasurer-Reelected for term 1919 to 1921; has been treasurer since Sesser was incorporated as a village in 1906; see review of Sesser State Bank for biography.
MRS. JESSIE GRAY, City Clerk-Elect- ed for term 1920; wife of postmaster G. B. Gray; first woman city officer to be elected in Franklin county.
A. J. EUBANKS, Police Magistrate- Elected for term 1920; a member of one of Franklin county's oldest families; born and reared in Browning township.
ED. PAYNTER, City Marshall-Ap- pointed for the year 1920; came to Sesser from Mt. Olive; employed in mines at Sesser since 1908.
Other members of the council after the election of 1919, were Albert Thompson and Eliza Lewis, who have resigned and vacan- cies not filled.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
Sesser-Its Advantages and Early History
L ESS than fifteen years ago the land on which Sesser is built was principally prairie. Now the City of Sesser is a hustling and bustling city of more than 4000 inhabi- tants and rapidly growing. It is located in the northwestern part of the county on the C. B. & Q. railroad, which has no direct connection with the county seat, always considered a handicap in business intercourse between the two cities.
The first mine was sunk during the years 1905 and 1906, and this mine put Sesser on the map. It was incorporated as a village in 1906 and re-incorporated as a city in 1909.
The community spirit is very apparent among the citizens. They are always boost- ing for their town, and with the sinking of the second mine in 1916, they have had the satisfaction of seeing their city more than double in population in less than four years.
The city is served with electrical current from the Central Illinois Public Service Company and has a very efficient system of street lighting. While at present there is no water works system, preparations are under way by which the city will have an elaborate water works system in the near future.
The present and past city officers are to be congratulated on the efficient adminis-
tration of financial affairs-at no time during the incorporation of Sesser as a village and later as city, has the city not been able to pay their warrants. This record is excep- tional as no other city in Franklin county can boast of such a record.
The city cemetery-"Maple Hill", con- sisting of five acres, is owned by the city. A concrete walk has been laid from the city to the cemetery.
Sesser schools are being rapidly improved and a new High School building will be built in 1921, as Sesser is on the list of accredited schools.
The city has four churches-Methodist, Baptist, Christian and Catholic.
Since the incorporation of Sesser as a village, the following have served as pres- ident of the village and after incorporation as a city in 1909, as mayor:
A. A. Webb, 1906 to 1907.
B. A. Murray, 1907 to 1909.
A. A. Webb, 1909 to 1911.
J. W. Smith, 1908, 1909.
A. J. Gulley, 1911 to 1913.
H. P. Morgan, 1913 to 1915.
D. E. Pate, 1915 to 1917.
N. L. Phillips, 1917 to 1920.
C. R. Slade, 1920 to 1921.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
First National Bank of Sesser
O NE of the institutions of Sesser, and perhaps the most important, in that the institution has kept pace with the rapid growth of the city, is the First National Bank.
The bank was organized on the 5th of September, 1906, and for nine months was conducted as a private bank and known as the Bank of Sesser. The rapid growth of the city, however, made it desirable to reorganize as a national bank, which was done on July 1, 1907.
The officers of the bank are: Evan Fitzgerrell, president; C. B. Lewis, vice-president; Riley D. Webb, cashier, and Don Lionberger, assistant cashier. These officers were the first officers and have remained in their respective capacities throughout the history of the bank. Directors other than the officers mentioned are: J. F. Kirkpatrick, Carroll Moore, F. H. Stamper, J. W. Huie, and W. S. Hutson.
Although the bank has the reputation of being safe and conservative, it is progressive and a popular institution. The capital stock is $25,000.00, with a surplus of $20,000.00. The deposits have grown constantly and are now $380,000.00. The reputation of the bank and efficiency of the local officers have made stock in the bank a very profitable investment-every year the bank regularly declares a dividend. The bank is a member of the Federal Reserve system.
Riley D. Webb, the cashier is also the resident manager and has full responsibility in all affairs pertaining to its management.
He was born April 24, 1865, in Webbs Prarie, and grew to manhood on his father's farm near that place. With three year's banking experience to his credit with the Ewing bank, he came to Sesser when it was first platted and before incorporation as a village, and has been identified with the building of the bank and city of Sesser since their infancy. He married Miss Minnie Lionberger, January 31, 1892. They are the parents of one daughter, Jennie, now twenty- two years of age. As has been mentioned in the roster of the city, Mr. Webb has been the treasurer of the city since its incorpor- ation as a village. He was chairman of the Sesser district during the Liberty Loan campaigns and was active in other patriotic endeavors during the war.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL WAR HISTORY.
C. O. Hutson
T "THE reader of the indus- trial section of this history will note the many successful men who began life as school teachers-among those who have advanced rapidly and become efficient business men by application of their own preachments is C. O. Hutson, general merchant and real es- tate operator of Sesser. He was born August 4, 1876, in Franklin county four and one- half miles south of Sesser, the son of Dr. Ulyses and Florence M. (Wheeler) Hutson. The Hutson family is one of the pioneer families of the county, the progenitor of the Hutson family being Fen Moses Hutson, the father of Dr. Hutson, who came from Tennessee many years before the Civil War.
Clarence Hutson grew to early manhood on the Hutson farm and received his early education in the common schools and Benton High School, later taking special courses at Ewing college and the State Normal at Carbondale. He began teaching school at the age of nineteen, but desiring to take up law he entered the Dixon Law School, but illness compelled him to give up this am- bition, and he then went to Texas where he again took up the profession of teaching. In all he taught school for thirteen years, teaching in Illinois, Texas and Arkansas.
He returned to Illinois and again took up farming and at present owns two fine farms adjoining the old Hutson homestead. He. continued farming and buying and selling stock until he came to Sesser in 1916, where he en- tered the general mercantile field and also became interested in extensive real estate opera- tions. He with Jesse Dimond owns the Enoch N. Rea addition to Sesser, and he is also a mem- ber of the firm of Gualdoni, Gray & Hutson, who do an extensive real estate and loan business under the name of Sesser Real Estate and Loan Co. Mr. Hutson is also a director of the Sesser Building and Loan Association. In the past he has been active in politics and as a worker in the Democratic rank has represented his party in various capacities. He was township supervisor for four years and chairman of the county board one year, and also ex-officio chairman of the county board of Reviews. He is a diretor in the Southern Gem Coal Corporation.
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