USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 51
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Baldwin, Dr. J. Otho 1901
Booth, Dr. R. P. 1903
Bowman, Dr. F. H. 1905
Carruthers, Dr. G. E. 1899
Converse, Dr. A. E.
1904
Dazeil, Dr. E. F. .1896
Donelan, Dr. J. J.
1905
Doneian, Dr. T. P.
.1900
Frazee, Dr. O. L. 1896
Goodson, Dr. L. J. 1902
Henderson, Dr. G. H. .1896
Hopkins, Dr. L. L. 1909
Kartack, Dr. E. A. .1898
Kirby, Dr. B. L. 1902
Lambert, Dr. Aibert 1900
Lambert, Dr. Edmund 1895
Munroe, Dr. Grafton 1888
Neich, Dr. H. G. 1905
Scifert, Dr. O. H. .1904
Smith, Dr. B. M.
1890
Wall, Dr. Edward 1899
Watts, Dr. Jas. B. .1898.
Watts, Dr. Wm. H. 1908
Weakiy, Dr. Geo. B. .1898
Williams, Dr. A. J. 1900
Wood, Dr. L. E. 1897
DENTISTRY AS A SPECIALTY .- The following paragraph in reference to dentistry as a speciai
766
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
department of the medicai profession, taken from Dr. George N. Kreider's chapter on Medicai History in Sangamon County, wili not be deemed Inappropriate In this connection : (THE EDITOR.)
" In the early days this practice (dentistry) such as it was, was done by the family physi- cian, but beginning with about 1850, speciai attention was given to diseases of the teeth, and very soon a special iine of practice was deveioped. America takes the leading place in the skill of her dentists. Dr. A. W. French was one of the eariy practitioners, lived to an ad- vanced age and died on April 27, 1909. Doctor French was a great bibliophile and in his library were many rare and valuable books. Another old dentist named French aiways waiked on tile streets with his head turned to one side and high in the air and was popularly known as the "star gazer." The demand for this ciass of specialists has increased so rapidiy that at the preseut time nearly fifty men are engaged in its practice. Unfortunately the profession of den- tistry has grown away from the medicai pro- fession, a condition which the best men are oniy beginning to regret, and it is believed that in the near future steps will be taken to require a thorough medical training preparatory to the study of this specialty. There is no question as to the great amount of good the dentist has done and how much the average human life can be and is lengthened by his ministrations."
CHAPTER XXI.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
SPRINGFIELD BANKS-EARLY METIIODS OF DEPOSIT AND BEGINNING OF PRIVATE BANKS-FIRST STATE BANK-CLARK'S EXCIIANGE BANK-HISTORY OF PRESENT BANKS-SPRINGFIELD MARINE BANK THE OLDEST IN THIE STATE-FIRST UNITED STATES BANK ESTABLISHED IN 1863-COL. JOIIN WIL- LIAMS ITS FOUNDER-DATE OF FOUNDING OTHER INSTITUTIONS-AGGREGATE BANKING CAPITAL AND DEPOSITS IN 1911-SPRINGFIELD CITY SAVINGS .
AND LOAN ASSOCIATION-FIRST AND PRESENT OFFICERS-BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS- VILLAGE BANKS.
(By Latham T. Souther.)
Bauking in Springfield has been a process of evolution. As was usuai in the smail pioneer communities, business was a matter of trade and barter, and the oniy pressing need which the eariy settler had for money was for paying taxes. It became the custom, therefore, for the tax-payer to save during the year the smaii amount of money which came into his ilands against the time for tax payment, and, finding his own home a rather insecure place, he often took his money to the storekeepers who would piace it in their strong boxes or safes. Thus It happened that In time the storekeepers found that they had In their safekeeping a number of thousands of doi- iars, for which they were responsible, and yet from which they derlved no benefit. It, there- fore, naturaliy foiiowed that the storekeeper be- came banker of the community, and instead of putting the money away in the safe, tied up in a sack, he issued a certificate of deposit, and be- gan to loan money as the needs of the community demanded.
It was In this manner that the Bank of Jacob Bunn and that of John Williams & Company first came into existence,-names which, for many years, were intimately connected with the bank- ing business of Springfield. Later certain in- stitutions were organized as insurance companles under charters which permitted them to do a banking business, and thus the Springfield Marine Bank, originally known as the Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company, discontinued Its insurance feature, and limited itseif to the bank- Ing business. The Sangamon Insurance Company having failed because of losses incurred In the Chicago fire, for many years was out of business, when its charter, being still in effect, it was pur- chased, and the name changed to the Sangamon Loan and Trust Company.
By speciai charter of the Legislature the State Bank of Illinois was organized In 1835, and tile first meeting of the Board of Directors was heid on May 15th of that year, at wilch meeting Mr. Thomas Mather was elected President and Mr. Nicholas H. Ridgeiy, Cashier. The Cashier's saiary was fixed at $2,000 per year, and he was required to give bond of $25,000. Branches of tile bank were established at Vaudaiia, Aiton,
HANNAH R. SIDENER
767
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
Jacksonville, Galena and Chicago. Later an agency was established in St. Louis and certalu other places. During the pauic of 1837 the bank was compelled to suspend specie payment along with otber banks of the United States, and from this time ou until the bank was finally liquidated it had trouble. From time to time it had to ap- peal to the Legislature for help and for peruils- sion to suspend specle payment in violation of Its charter, and there was considerable criticism of the management, which was, doubtless, unjust, though many of the persons who were engaged in the business were novices. Ou December 20, 1839, it was ordered by the Board of Directors that all new business of the parent bauk and branches should be discoutiuued, and that the tellers and clerks discharged as soon as possible. On January 26, 1843, the Legislature passed an act to put the State Bank into liquidation hy 1848. In 1848, the affairs of tbe hank, not being completely settled, Mr. Nicholas HI. Ridgely, Mr. Url Manley and Jolin Calboun were appointed Trustees hy the Government to settle up the affairs of the bank.
Clark's Exchange bank opened for business in 1852 with N. H. Ridgely, President, and James Campbell, cashier, as a bank of Issne. This not heing profitable, the bank was dissolved, and the Bank of N. II. Ridgely was established, which in 1859 became N. II. Ridgely & Company, and so continued until it became the Ridgely National Bank in 1866.
The Springfield Savings Bank failed during tbe panic of 1873, and though it struggled bravely for a few years afterwards, finally in 1877 it closed its doors permanently.
EXISTING BANKS OF THE PRESENT DAY .- The The State National Bank commenced business Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company - In 1870, at the northwest corner of Sixth and was organized in 1851 with a special charter Monroe Streets, with present Senator Shelby MI. Cullom as Its first President. In 1878 it moved into Its present quarters, at the southwest corner of the Square. In 1SSO, Samuel H. Jones was elected President, and served until 1894, when he was succeeded by Rheuna D. Lawrence. In 1901, Mr. Lawrence died, and Mr. E. W. Payne, the present President, was elected to fill the vacancy. from the Legislature. The Company did a very small insurance business for a short time, and then discontinued that feature of its business. The name was later changed to the Springfield Marine Bank, which is the oldest State Bank In the State of Illlnols. Its first President was A. Campbell. Later the following gentlemen have acted as Presidents : Thomas Condon, R. F. Ruth, B. 1I. Ferguson and Jolin W. Bunn, the present head of the concern.
The Sangamon Loan and Trust Company was organized In 1886, by Mr. George H. Souther and IIenry C. Latbam, who purchased the charter of tbe Sangamon Insurance Company. It was
under the management of Mr. George H. Souther until his death in 1905. On September 3, 1910, it was consolidated with the Lincoln Bank. The following gentlemen have acted as Presideut : John L. Davis, Milton Hay and George Pas- field.
The First National Bank was organized in 1863, being the first organization under the National Banking Act in this section of the country. Its first President was the late Col. John Williams, one of the early merchants and a leading business man of his day. Its original capital was $125,000, which was later increased to $400,000, and still later reduced to $300,000.
Ou November 1, 1905, the stockholders of the First National Bank voted to use $50,000 surplus and $50,000 undivided profits of the hank to pro- vide a capital of $100,000, for the organization of a State Bank to be called the First Trust & Savings Bank. This bank Is owned and managed hy the stockbolders of the First National Bank.
The Ridgely National Bank was organized in 1866, as successor to the Ridgely private bank. Mr. Nicholas H. Ridgely, Its first President, had been for many years connected with the bank- ing interests of Springfield, and this bank suc- ceeded to the business of N. H. Ridgely & Com- pany. Many of the officers of the other banks In town had their first training in business in the Ridgely National Bank, which for many years occupied the same quarters on the west side of the Square. In 1911, the bank was moved to handsome new quarters on the soutbeast corner of Fifth and Monroe Streets. Mr. William Ridgely, son of the first President, is now Presi- dent.
The Farmers' National Bank was founded in 1882, and the hank hegan business May 15th of that year. The stockholders of the bank, from the beginning, have heen principally men hav- ing farming interests. Since the organization, the following meu have served as President : Jonathan Merriam, Ben F. Caldwell, Tltus Sud-
768
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
duth, Dr. Samnel Mendenhail and Edward D). Keys, present occupant of that office.
The Illinols National Bank was organized August 16, 1886, and Mr. D. W. Smith became its first President. Mr. Smith was sneceeded by Mr. Frank Reisch and Algernon Farr, the latter be- ing President until his death in 1909, when Mr. Charles G. Brown was elected President. Mr. Brown died in 1910, when Mr. B. R. Hieronymus, who had been for many years connected with the bank, was eiected President.
At the date of the iast public report, June 7, 1911, the aggregate capital and profits of all the banks in Springfield was $3,392,864.12; deposits, $13,077,369 ; loans, $13,740,515.
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. (By Edwin A. Wilson.)
Perhaps no factor in domestic economics has operated so signally to the advantage of people of moderate means as associations of this class, organized for the specific purpose, primarlly, of begetting and promoting habits of economy, and in the adoption of such methods as would insure safety and practicai value to such savings. Wage earners, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, often descend from sources equaily dependent and improvident as to their own interests, and while working men of meager income present surprises in the success they attain in the appli- cation of their limited income, the vast majority of those dependent upon their own resources for a livelihood have had comparatively iittle educa- tion or training in saving and in the conservation of small sums.
The Building Association normally undertakes to meet this lack In those who have had no en- couragement to lay by a part of their earnings and to further the habit in those who have. The patrons, however, of such Associations, are not confined to the small mechanic or iaborer, but it succeeds in interesting all classes in its economic methods.
Some large cities do themseives honor in tracing much of their growth and general prosperity to the influence of the Building Association. Per- haps no part of the Association's methods has operated so successfully and so satisfactorily as in enconraging that frugality in the household, which leads to the saving of a part of the monthly wage and in laying the foundation for a home.
Many meu are industrious, but lack in the appll- cation of a smaller or larger percentage of their income toward securing a homestead. The reflex action upon the whole family for weal is in- creased in proportion to the time when the house in which they live becomes their home by right of purchase. This institution seeks, on a mutual plan, to further the interests of its membership in this substantial way ; it does much to ameliorate the unhappy condition of dependency which char- acterizes so mauy worthy industrious wage earners who continne to remain renters.
The only prerequisite to securing a home through the Building Association as a preliminary step, is a site. Any industrions man or woman can iay the foundation for such a pleasing pros- pect by borrowing the cost of the improvements from an Association on an agreement to pay the ordinary rental or a little more monthly.
This Association is incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, is absolutely mutual, every persisteut patron receiving a proportionate share of the profits. It has an economical administra- tion and the business is conducted exclusively for the benefit of its membership. Having large de- mands for loans, we do not force our stockholders to borrow or withdraw. Since its organization, the officers of this Association have sought to regn- late its affairs in such a way as to make and keep its membership satisfied. Any borrower can repay his ioans at any time, without notice, in sums of one hundred dollars and muitlpies thereof.
Stock in each of the serles is issued in January and Jnly of each year. No entrance fee is charged. Three classes of loans are made to the patrons of the Association :
Class B, to borrowers, with a monthly payment of $1.70 per share ; to investors at $1.10 per share.
Class C, to borrowers, with a monthly payment of $1.35 per share; to investors at 75 cents per share.
Class D, to borrowers, with a monthly payment of $1.10 per share; to investors at 50 cents per share.
Popular Series "E," for investors alone, calls for a singie payment of $75.00 per share, to be paid on date of issue. Withdrawals before ma- turity on thirty days notice are paid with Interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum.
The methods empioyed in this Association are such as to cause Increasing demands for loans to its membership, much iu excess of its receipts.
.
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
The Springfield City Savings and Loan Asso- ciation was organized on the Twelfth of January, A. D. 1888. This organization was promoted by the following gentlemen, who became the first Board of Directors: John C. Hayes, Charles Bressmer, Geo. S. Connelly, Henry L. Van Hoff, Richard Beet, Stuart Brown, Julius Pederseu, Chas. F. Lape, Daniel O'Crowiey, James T. Jones, W. J. M. Oakman, Edwin A. Wilson.
The capital stock of this Association was fixed at $1,000,000, divided into 10,000 shares of one hundred dollars each. In January, 1890, the capital stock was increased to $10,000,000, divided into 100.000 shares of one hundred dollars each.
The first officers were composed of the following named gentlemen : George S. Connelly, President ; Edwin A. Wilson, Vice-President ; George J. Bar- rett, Secretary ; Ernest H. Helmle, Treasurer.
The office of the Association was located in the Marine Bank Building, and the Springfield Marine Bank designated as the depository at the first meeting of the Directors. The President, George S. Connelly, and the Vice-President, Edwin A. Wilson, have each year been elected as their own successors. The firm of Brown, Wheeler, Brown & Hay were elected counsei at the organization, and have remained as such to this time.
The first Committee on loans and securitles consisted of three members of Board of Directors ; Edwin A. Wilson, John C. Hayes, and James T. Jones, and Messrs. Wilson and Jones have served in this capacity for over twenty-two years. The present committee consists of the following : Ed- win A. Wilson, James T. Jones, and Benj. Rich. At this same meeting, the Board designated as Attorney for the Association, Vice-President Ed- win A. Wiison, who has also served without change in this capacity from the organization.
In the more than twenty-two years of the Association's history, there have been but two Secretaries. Owing to the death of the first Incumbent in August, 1902, his successor, William J. Aurelius, was elected and continues to fiil the office to the satisfaction of the Association.
The Springfield City Saving and Loan Associ- atlon has been conservative in its administration and has not sought to eclipse others or even to keep abreast of the foremost. The following synopsis will show a steady heaithy growth, and is presented with pardonable pride by its direc- tory :
ASSETS.
Fifth Year
1893
$147,634.71
Tenth Year
1898
200,672.49
Fifteenth Year
1903
203,476.78
Twentieth Year
1908
234,615.87
Twenty-secoud Year. . 1910
236,971.35
The present Board of Directors presents only such changes from the original Board as have occurred through death and removal from the city :
1
DIRECTORS .- W. W. Swett, Jr., J. E. Hemmick, Geo. S. Connelly, Benjamin Rich, Dr. C. M. Bowcock, Stuart Brown, S. M. Rogers, Wm. Young, J. H. McCreery, Jas. T. Jones, P. W. Harts, Edwin A. Wilson.
OFFICERS .- George S. Connelly, President ; Edwin A. Wiison, Vice-President; W. J. Aure- llus, Secretary ; Shelby C. Dorwin, Treasurer.
BUILDING, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS .-- Springfield is particularly rich in the number of its Building, Savings and Loan Associations, which have proved an important factor in pro- moting the development and prosperity of the city. In consequence of the lack of further data, it is possible in this connection only to give the names and location of the following :
Citizens Savings & Loan Association, 50516 East Monroe Street.
German-American Savings & Loau Associa- tion, 317 South Fifth Street.
Home Building & Loan Association, 318 South Fifth Street.
Sangamon Savings & Homstead Association, 327 South Fifth Street.
Security Improvement & Loan Association, 205 Odd Feliows Building.
Springfield Building & Loan Association, 312 South Fifth Street.
Springfield Homestead Association, 208 Farm- ers National Bank Building.
Washington Park Building & Savings Asso- ciation, 308-310 Unity Building.
Workingmen's Savings & Homstead Associa- tion, 319 South Fifth Street.
Workman's Building & Loan Association, 44- 45 Iilinois National Bank Building.
VILLAGE BANKS IN SANGAMON COUNTY.
Evidence of business activity in the rural dis- tricts is furnished in the number of banks in the villages of Sangamon-County, of which there
1
769
770
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
are seventeen in thirteen villages, four of these having each two bauks. The following is a list of the several village banks, with the principal officers of each :
AUBURN .- Has two State Banks, viz .: An- burn State Bank, established in 1874-J. F. Smith, President; B. F. Workman, Vice-Presi- dent ; A. O. Merriam, Cashier; and II. Landon, Assistant Cashier : The Farmers State Bank, established in 1891-J. W. Bronanghi, President ; Ezra Barnes, Vice-President ; Sam S. McElvain, Cashler; and C. O. Fletcher, Assistant Cashier ; eapital stock of each, $25,000.
BUFFALO .- One Private Bank, established in 1895-Arthur A. Pickrell, President, and George B. Conover, Cashier. A second bank, the Farm- ers State Bank, was established at Buffalo, De- cember 16, 1911, with Jobn Garvey President and J. E. McCann, Cashier.
CHATHAM .- Caldwell State Bank, established in 1896-L. T. Souther, President: W. I. Al- drich, Vice-President ; Frank T. Smilth, Cashier ; Edward J. Andrews, Assistant Cashier-capital stock, $25,000.
DIVERNON-One Private Bank, Divernon Bank, established in 18SS-Charles G. Brown, Presi- dent ; George R. Brown, Vice-President ; P. M. Wells, Casbier; F. A. Stutsman, Assistant Cashier.
ILLIOPOLIS .- Farmers State Bank, established in 1890, capital stoek, $40,000: Isaac C. Loose, President ; W. F. Correll, Vice-President ; John Sheller, Cashier; John C. Fort, Assistant Cash- ier.
LOAMI .- Two State Banks. viz. : Farmers State Bank, established in 1907-A. Wasbburn, President ; Wm. G. Miller, Vice-President ; Fred A. Horn, Cashler. The Loami State Bank, es- tablished in 1900-P. Vredenburgh, President ; George Basse, Vice-President ; II. A. Deweese, Cashler ; eapital stock of each, $25,000.
MECIIANICSBURG .- One Private Bank. A. T. Thompson & Co .. established in 1873-John E. Fullenwider, Cashier.
NEW BERLIN .- Two State Banks: First State Bank, established in 1903-C. Y. Elllott, Presi- dent; A. G. Burr, Vice-President ; E. C. Metz- ger, Cashier; Jolin F. Horn, Assistant Cashler. The Warren-Boynton State Bauk, established in 1877-E. D. Boynton, President ; E. B. Warren, Vice-President ; C. B. Warren, Cashier; W. M. Pfeffer, Assistant Casbier; capital stock, each $25,000.
PAWNEE .- One National and one State Bank, viz. : National Bank of Pawnee, established 1897, capital stock, $50,000-L. M. Babb, Presi- dent ; Thomas Carswell, Vice-President; George W. Lemmon, Cashier; L. M. Spragne, Assistant Cashier : The Pawnee State Bank, established in 1909, capital stock, $25,000-T. A. Shepherd, President ; Ed. A. Baxter, Vice-President; M. C. White, Cashier ; Preston Landers, Assistant Cashier.
PLEASANT PLAINS .- Pleasant Plalns State Bank, established 1879, eapital stock, $30,000- A. Atherton, President ; J. II. Irwin, Viee-Presi- dent ; A. Q. Irwin, Cashier ; E. J. Atherton, As- sistant Cashier.
RIVERTON .- Bank of Riverton (private), es- tablished in 1907; J. A. Easley, President, and Fred R. Dickerson, Cashier.
ROCHIESTER .- Bank of Rochester (private), es- tablished in 1900; Wm. C. Brown & Co., propri- etors and operators. This bank has recently been incorporated as a State Bank.
WILLIAMSVILLE .- Williamsville Bank (pri- vate), established 1890; J. F. Prather, Presi- dent ; W. L. Perce, Cashier ; Harold C. Groves, Assistant Cashier.
The aggregate capitalization of the seven Na- tional and State Banks in the city of Spring- field is $1,850,000, and that of the eleven conn- try banks (exclusive of private banks), $320,- 000, making a total for the whole of Sangamon County of $2,170,000.
CHAPTER XXII.
RAILROADS.
RAILWAY HISTORY IN SANGAMON COUNTY-EARLY CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF IIALF A CEN- TURY-CHANGES WROUGIIT BY THE INTRODUC- TION OF RAILROADS, STEAMBOATS AND TELE- GRAPH LINES-PROGRESS IN THE PRAIRIES OF ILLINOIS-COMPARISON OF PRAIRIE SOIL AND CALIFORNIA GOLD FIELDS-SUMMARY OF RAIL- ROAD HISTORY-THE NORTIIERN CROSS RAILROAD THE FIRST CONSTRUCTED IN ILLINOIS- IT BE- COMES TIIE WABASH OF TODAY- TIIE ALTON &
John J. Simon
771
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
SANGAMON THIE FORERUNNER OF TIIE CHICAGO & ALTON-THE GILMAN, CLINTON & SPRINGFIELD NOW A PART OF THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL-OTIIER LINES OF A LATER PERIOD-EIGHT STEAM ROAD LINES ENTER SANGAMON COUNTY TERRITORY- INTERURBAN LINES.
(By J. H. Lord, District Passenger Agent, Illinois Central Rallroad.)
The history of any part of the clvliized world would indeed be incomplete withont some men- tion of raliroads and transportation lines.
In undertaking the task of writing an article on the Railroads and Transportation Lines of Sangamon County, I find that the subject pre- sents many difficuit features. for the reason that, singniar as it may seem, there are very few of the oid pioneers of the county living to- day, who are abie to give exact dates as to when the different railroads were constructed, or what the feelings of the people were who were 30 anxlonsly awaiting the buliding and deveiop- ment of our railroads and transportation lines.
In conversing with the old settlers now living, they will recount the many trlais and hardships endnred by the early settiers of Sangamon Com- ty, and how wearily their minds wili wander back over the days of long ago, when man's burdens were so arduous and manifoid that the great struggie for existence calied forth all the physical and mental resources of the human famliy, and many are the scars and disfigure- ments plainiy visible on the hands aud faces of the very few who are left to tell the story of the pioneer days of Illinois and Sangamon County. One old timer, with whom the writer has many times conversed, grows very eloquent in his vivid description of how, in his younger days, he would seek some hili or high elevation, and there for hours would look out over the roiling pralries covered with a profuse growth of natlve grass, which very much resembled the rolling waves of a mighty ocean, and while thus musing upon these dreamy scenes, he would picture in his imagination the coming of the days when these broad pralries would be converted into fertiie fields of growing crops, and how these struggling farmers and tliiers of the soil would be able to transport their products to the va- rious markets.
In those early days so iittie was known of the possibilities of rallroads, that our ploneer friend, in drawing his picture of time great development
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