USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 32
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"They furnished each member with a badge that admitted him at the gate. The first year, the receipts were :-
For membership, $ 611.00
Donations,
181.90
Entry fees, 63.00
Refreshment stands 4.00
Admission tickets sold at gate, 215.15
Total. $1,075.05
"The expenses this year were $997.91, which left a balance of $71.14. The Finance Com- mittee, after giving these figures, close with the following: 'The committee do not believe that they will overstep the task assigned to them, if they, as they herewith do, bear witness to the disinterested activity and careful zeal which all entrusted with the management of the fair have shown in carrying on their often laborious parts. They are certain of your and the whole Society's approbation when they ex- press, in the name of the Society, their grateful acknowledgment to the great number of mem- bers who, by paying more than their regular contribution fee, have enabled the Society to look to the next fair not only free of debt, but with a cash balance on hand. To the mem- bers of the committees, who have faithfully ap- plied their time and energy to the work laid upon them, and, conspicuously among them, to the Superintendent; to many successful com- petitors who have generously remitted their premium money to the society; to the citizens who gave the gratuitous use of the fair grounds; and to the public generally, who have made the kindest allowance for all the defects in the first efforts of the Society, they confi- dently predict that the next fair will be a fuller and better exhibition of what old St. Clair can show in the products of agriculture and all branches of industry.
" 'Respectfully submitted by " 'Anthony Schott, " 'Russell Hinckley, " 'Committee.'
"From the above, it appears that their expec- tations had been realized, but there is no doubt that they worked hard to make it a success. I find that they offered that year $94 in pre- miums, besides some diplomas. Of this $94 offered, $76 were taken; but, from the finance committee's report it appears that but $39 were
1
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
paid out, which shows that $37 had been do- nated by the exhibitors.
"On September 16, before the fair, W. Lorey resigned as Treasurer, and Mr. Russel Hinckley was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the same meeting, S. B. Chandler was appointed Superin- tendent. The second fair was held October 3 and 4, 1855. There was no change in officers, except that the office of Register and Superin- tendent was divided. Mr. Chandler continued as Register and Felix Scott was appointed Su- perintendent. They appropriated $500 for pre- miums, which were to be given in silverware and books. In addition to this, they offered di- plomas in many of the departments. This premium list was a very creditable one.
"From the report of the finance committee, after the fair of 1855, it appears there was a deficiency of over $60. This would probably have been discouraging, but for the fact that on the second morning of the fair, the ground was covered with snow. This, of course, made the attendance much smaller than it would otherwise have been. At the meeting in March 1, 1856, John T. Lemen was elected President. At this meeting, there were several changes made in the constitution. The snow-storm dur- ing the fair had, no doubt, been the cause of one change. The constitution provided that an- nual fairs be held in October. At this meeting, the word 'October' was stricken out, and it was decided to hold the fair of 1856 on September 17 and 18. It was also resolved that members living in the counties of Madison, Clinton, Wash- ington, Randolph, and Monroe be entitled to all rights and privileges of members of this county. Up to this time, it was strictly a county fair. A committee was appointed to as- certain whether, and on what terms, a piece of land suitable for a fair ground could be pro- cured in the neighborhood of Belleville. That committee was composed of S. B. Chandler, B. J. West, Felix Scott, T. A. Harrison, and Sam- uel Stookey. This committee made a report June 3, 1856, that was received and placed on file. What the report was, I am unable to learn. The fair of 1856 was more successful than any of the preceding ones. At the meet- ing, January 17, 1857, I find the following reso- lutions offered by Mr. Chandler:
"'Resolved, That the experience of the last two years at our annual county fairs has dem- onstrated to us the absolute necessity of an
enlargement to our present fair ground, or the procuring of another tract of land of a larger size, for the permanent use of the farming and industrial interests of our county.
"'Resolved, That the President appoint a committee of seven members, to procure a tract of land by gift or purchase, for the use of the Society, not less than ten nor more than twenty acres.
"'Resolved, That the committee make their report to the annual meeting of the society on the second Monday of March next; and that any contract made by said committee be made subject to the approval of said general meeting.'
"These resolutions were adopted and the fol- lowing committee was appointed : Aaron Stookey, Jacob Knoebel, E. W. West, Edward Abend, B. J. West, R. B. Moore and Conrad Bornman.
"For the third fair, there was a class for field crops. This class remained in the list for several years; but, strange to say, after a few years, all interest in it was lost, no one com- peting for the premiums, until finally it was stricken from the list. At this time, they had a winter meeting at which awards were made on field crops and winter fruit, and the fol- lowing is a list of awards on field crops made February 28, 1857:
"First premium, $10, to Felix Scott, for five acres wheat, 211 bushels and 11 pounds.
"Second premium, $8, to Jacob Knoebel, for 4.21 acres wheat, 137 bushels.
"First premium $10, to Jacob Knoebel, for 4.96 acres, wheat 215 bushels.
"First premium, $5, to Jacob Knoebel, for 9.29 acres oats, 398 bushels.
"It will be seen from the above that the first premium wheat made over forty-two bushels per acre. This would be considered a fine yield at this time, when farmers have so many ad- vantages that they did not have then.
"The committee selected to procure grounds made a report to this meeting, in which they say they have examined several tracts of land and would suggest that a tract of land offered by Mr. E. W. West, lying east of the city, com- bines as many good qualities as any they have found. They say that Mr. West had accepted their proposition, which was $100 per acre for 15 acres, paying in one, two and three years, with ten per cent interest per annum.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
"The question was now raised whether they could hold real estate, when, upon the motion of Mr. John Murray, the President and Corre- sponding Secretary were appointed a committee to confer with Messrs. Underwood, Trumbull and Koerner on that subject, and report at next meeting. At this meeting, Mr. R. A. Moore was elected President, and the fair was to be held on September 16, 17, and 18. They also provided for a Superintendent of the different departments and for a General Superintendent. Article IV. of the constitution, which provided that 'Any individual by subscribing to this con- stitution, etc.,' could become a member, was amended by inserting the word 'white' before 'individual.'
"At an adjourned meeting, April 20, the com- mittee reported that they had learned that the last Legislature had passed an act prescribing how agricultural societies could incorporate so as to hold real estate.
"The committee now recommended the pur- chase of lands from Mrs. Abend, Edward Abend and Mr. Christy, which they said could be bought for $150 per acre. The committee was authorized to make the purchase, and a com- mittee was appointed to put the grounds in or- der for the coming fair. This purchase was a portion of the present fair grounds, where the fair has been held annually, except in 1878. Since the first purchase, there have been two or three small tracts added to the grounds, one of which Mr. Winkelman has added since he be- came the proprietor.
"The Society was changed into a joint stock company at a meeting held at the City Park, March 30, 1867. The capital stock was made $10,000, divided into shares of $5 each; and all persons who were, or ever had been, members of the Society, were credited with the amount they had paid as membership fee.
"It would be too tedious to give the financial standing of the Society after each fair. It is enough to know that $7,500 bonds were issued in February, 1876, and that the debt continued to increase, and the bondholders sold out the grounds to Mr. Winkelman two years ago.
"During the entire time, the Society has had but four Secretaries. Dr. Schott served until April 26, 1867, when he resigned on account of ill health. Since that time, Sebastian Fietsam, G. F. Hilgard, and Don Turner have served in that capacity.
"The following is the list of Presidents, but probably not in the exact order in which they were elected: Joseph Griffin, Amos Thompson, John T. Lemen, R. A. Moore, Conrad Bornman, Benjamin Scott, Joseph Penn, Joseph Ogle, Aaron Stookey, Sr., John Griffin, Anthony Schott, Jefferson Rainey, S. B. Chandler, M. T. Stookey, J. H. Scott, Thomas Winstanley. E. W. West, Fred Glaser, F. H. Pieper, Joseph Reichert.
"In conversation with some of our old friends, I find that some of them are of the opinion that there was no fair during the war. I find, how- ever, by the records, that they are mistaken. It appears that, in 1861, they did not conclude until late to hold a fair, as the following ex- tract from a report signed by A. Schott and S. B. Chandler, made March 10, 1862, will show:
"'If, in 1860, it had been doubtful whether it would be expedient to hold a fair under many adverse circumstances that threatened to make it a failure, the prospects were still more gloomy in 1861. The fair was not decided upon before July, and, as late as the end of Septem- ber, a motion was made to postpone it. But the fair has been held, and again, as in 1860, the results have proven that our fairs have taken strong root in the favor of a generous public, that they have become a fixed and cherished institution amongst us, and we can- not doubt that, in better times, they will be triumphantly sustained.' "
Thus ended the paper on early fairs, by Mr. Stookey read at the meeting, held August 11, 1883.
FAIRS 1882-1905 - STREET FAIRS .- Now we come to the history of later fairs, as taken piece-meal from the records kept by the Sec- retary of the Board of Directors of the St. Clair County Agricultural Society.
On April 17, 1882, this Society held its first meeting, elected officers, and adopted by-laws for the governing of the Society. The officers elected were: Joseph Reichert, President; J. H. Atkinson, Vice-President; M. T. Stookey, Treas- urer; Don Turner, Secretary; and Jefferson Rainey, General Superintendent. On motion of Mr. Rainey, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That the St. Clair County Agricultural Society do hold a fair on Octo- ber 10, 11, 12 and 13, of this year, at some point
818
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
in the county, to be hereafter located by said Society, where greatest inducements are of- fered."
On motion of Mr. Abend, the following reso- lution was adopted: "Resolved, That the Pres- ident, Superintendent and Secretary of this So- ciety, and John Gross and T. W. Eckert be ap- pointed a committee to secure a suitable place for holding the next fair, and, if possible, to get a lease for one year or more years for that pur- pose, and to report at the next meeting."
Article VIII. of the by-laws provided that "The Society shall hold an annual fair in the county of St. Clair, at such times as shall be designated by the Board of Directors, for the exhibition and competition of stock, agricul- tural, horticultural and mechanical produc- tions, etc."
Article XIII. provided that "the General Su- perintendent shall, during the fair, have the entire charge of the fair grounds, and the police therein; and he shall engage one or more mu- sic band, and will have straw provided for the use of the stalls and pens free, and corn, oats and hay at first cost; and shall sell applicants the privilege of keeping booths for refreshments on the fair grounds. Such sale to be public to the highest bidder after two weeks' notice by publication in a newspaper published in Belle- ville, of the time and place of sale.
In 1882 the Society voted, after carrying the discussion through several meetings, to lease the fair grounds from Mr. Winkelmann for the fair.
At the meeting held April 29, Captain W. Moore appeared and extended an invitation to the Society, and requested the Society to ex- tend an invitation to all old settlers of the county, to meet at the fair grounds on May 31.
They then set to work to prepare for the fair. A committee of three was appointed to arrange for printing a premium list, for soliciting, ar- ranging for, refusing and accepting special pre- miums, and for advertising. A dog-show was also provided for. A committee was appointed to wait upon the citizens of Belleville to ar- range for illuminating the city during fair week. A motion was made and carried at a meeting in September, that James Atkinson, Jefferson Rainey, and M. T. Stookey be ap- pointed delegates to the State Fair, with power to appoint alternates.
At a meeting held October 21, the following resolution was moved by Mr. Abend and sec- onded by Mr. Eckert: "Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Presi- dent to negotiate with Mr. Winkelmann about leasing his grounds for a term of years to hold a fair, and if the same cannot be leased, to look around and procure other grounds, and to report at next meeting." The President ap- pointed on such committee Edward Abend, Jo- seph E. Miller, and M. T. Stookey.
Then, on motion of Mr. Rainey, seconded by Mr. Miller, the following resolution was adopt. ed: "Resolved, That there be called a special meeting of the stockholders of said company, for the purpose of submitting to a vote of the stockholders the question of changing the name of said corporation and adopting the name, 'St. Clair Agricultural Board,' said meeting to be held in December." This resolution was later carried.
-
At a meeting held November 11, Mr. Rainey offered a resolution providing "That the full amount of capital stock be paid in," which was adopted, and it was resolved "That the Board of Directors declare a dividend of 100 per cent.," which the Board also adopted.
At a meeting held January 2, 1883, Mr. Rainey offered this resolution: "Resolved, That the Directors of the St. Clair County Agricultural Board be paid a salary of $50 for each and every fair held, including 1882, and that the Su- perintendents of the several departments each be paid $15 for services rendered during last fair, and that Don Turner be paid $25 for legal services rendered"; whereupon Mr. Turner moved to amend the resolution by allowing each Superintendent $25, which amendment was duly seconded, discussed, and adopted. The question as amended was then voted upon and adopted. On motion of Mr. Abend, a committee of three- Messrs. Abend, J. E. Miller and Don Turner- was appointed to investigate the books, ac- counts and vouchers of the Treasurer and re- port at the next meeting. On motion of Mr. Abend, the declaring of a dividend of fifty per cent. was voted upon and adopted.
At a meeting held January 13, the Vice-Presi- dent was allowed a salary of $25 for the last year. The committee to examine the Treas- urer's books, etc., reported that they had found them correct, and that there was $1,306.80 in
819
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
the treasury. The following officers were elected for the year: President, Joseph Reich- ert; Vice-President, James Atkinson; Secretary, Don Turner; Treasurer, M. T. Stookey. Mr. Turner then offered the following resolution:
"1. That the St. Clair County Agricultural Board hold a fair at some point in this county on October 9, 10, 11, and 12.
"2. That the President be hereby authorized to select and determine upon the place of hold- ing such fair, having regard to the most in- ducements.
"3. That he first make all reasonable efforts to rent the old Fair Grounds from their owner, Mr. Winkelman, for a term of one or more years, and to pay therefor a yearly rental of $1,000.
"4. That if the above grounds cannot be rented upon advantageous terms, he shall en- deavor to procure other grounds, either by pur- chase or lease."
This resolution was adopted.
After a number of meetings held from time to time, in which the Board could not come to an agreement with Mr. Winkelmann, an agree- ment was finally reached by which the Board leased the Fair Grounds. Upon the withdrawal of Mr. Eckert from the Board, Mr. Winkelman was elected to take his place. The Board then set to work appointing committees and prepar- ing to advertise the following fair. The members voted to charge an admission fee of fifty cents at the gate. The Board appropriated $150 toward a citizens' entertainment, to be held during the fair, providing the citizens raise $300 more.
On motion of Mr. Abend, all persons seventy years old, and upward, were invited to visit the fair free on the second day and to have an old citizens' reunion.
At a meeting held August 11, Mr. Stookey moved that the Society exclude from the next fair wheels of fortune and other gambling de- vices, which was carried. On motion of Mr. Winkelman, the Secretary was instructed to notify each Director to try to sell twelve shares of the increased capital stock of the company.
On motion of Mr. Tate, the Board resolved to invite all old soldiers of the Winnebago and Black Hawk Wars to meet with the old set- tlers at their reunion at the fair. The fact was noted that Ira Manville was the only Winnebago soldier still surviving in the county.
Mr. Stookey then read an address reviewing the early history of fairs held in St. Clair County. This address forms the first part of this article, as there noted.
At a meeting held September 1, the following resolution offered by Mr. Rainey was adopted: "Resolved, That all school children and their teachers, of St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Wash- ington, Randolph and Monroe Counties, be in- vited to attend the fair on the first day free, and that the Secretary give notice of the in- vitation through the press of the several coun- ties, that teachers must accompany their schools; and that soldiers be invited to attend the fair on the second day. The Board decided to extend the fair to include Saturday. The fair of 1883 was a decided and notable success. After the fair, the amount in the treasury was $7,333.25, and after the expenses had been paid there remained $1,651.
At an election held January 12, 1884, the fol- lowing Directors for the year were elected: Edward Abend, Jefferson Rainey, Joseph Reich- ert, M. T. Stookey, J. H. Atkinson, W. P. Smith, George R. Tate, W. J. Miller, John Gross, Au- gust Chenot, H. G. Weber, H. A. Kircher, Joseph Fuess, Henry Seiter, and Don Turner. The fol- lowing were elected officers: Joseph Reichert, President; J. H. Atkinson, Vice-President; M. T. Stookey, Treasurer; Mr. Rainey, General Superintendent. The Board then voted to de- clare a dividend of fifty per cent., to be paid to the old stockholders of the Society.
At a meeting held February 23, 1884, the Board voted to lease the fair grounds for the fair on the same terms as the year before. Mr. Dapperich appeared at this meeting and pre- vailed on the Board to appropriate $100 as pre- miums for school work, and to add an educa tional department. Mr. Dapperich was made Superintendent of this department.
At a meeting held March 8, 1884, several by- laws proposed by Mr. Turner were carried. These had reference to the appointment of committees, dealing with bills, the fining of Directors for absence and to order of business. Article XIII. provided that the President should, at the beginning of each year, appoint the fol- lowing standing committees, each to consist of three members: (1) On finance; (2) on premium list; (3) on printing; (4) on finance; (5) on fair grounds; (6) on transportation. The Secretary's salary was fixed at $600 a year,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
payable in monthly installments, and the Treas- urer's at $50 a year.
In spite of the fact that the weather was fine and all conditions seemingly propitious, the fair of 1884 was a failure, because-to quote the Secretary's account-"exhibitors did not ex- hibit, and visitors did not visit."
At the election of officers for 1885, the follow- ing Directors were elected: Abend, Atkinson, Chenot, Fuess, Gross, Kircher, Miller, Hein- felden, Reichert, Ploudre, Smith, Stookey, Tate, Turner, and Weber. The officers elected were J. H. Atkinson, President; Mr. Abend, Vice- President; Mr. Turner, Secretary; and Mr. Stookey, Treasurer.
Owing to the fact that Mr. Winkelmann would not agree to the Board's proposition for leasing the fair grounds at a reasonable rate, no fair was held in 1885. The officers of that year were re-elected in 1886. A fair was held in 1886 under much the same conditions as in 1884.
The Directors elected for 1887 were: Messrs. Atkinson, Reichert, Stookey, Weber, Heinfel- den, Miller, Gross, Rainey, Fuess, Smith, Kircher, Ploudre, Tiemann, Hartmann, and Romeiser. The officers of the previous two years were again elected. Fairs were held in 1887, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1895, 1896, 1897, and 1905. In 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1906, street fairs were held in Belleville.
CHAPTER XXVI.
FINANCIAL.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY - TRUST AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS-BANKS OF EAST ST. LOUIS: FIRST NATIONAL; SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NATIONAL; CITIZENS' SAVINGS AND TRUST COM- PANY; ILLINOIS STATE TRUST COMPANY; UNION TRUST AND SAVINGS; AND NATIONAL STOCK YARDS BANK - BELLEVILLE BANKS: BELLEVILLE SAVINGS; FIRST NATIONAL; BELLEVILLE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY-FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARISSA-BANKS OF O'FALLON AND LEBANON- OTHER LOAN ORGANIZATIONS.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF EAST ST. LOUIS derives its origin from the "East St. Louis
Real Estate and Savings Bank," which was organized under a special act of incorporation passed by the Illinois General Assembly and approved by Gov. Richard J. Oglesby, on Feb- ruary 16, 1865, with a capital of $100,000, and being the first banking institution established in East St. Louis. The list of incorporators embraced the names of Henry Jackiesch, Fran- cis Wittram, Samuel W. Toomer, Bernhard Goedde, William D. Griswold, Charles Parsons, former President of the State National Bank, St. Louis, Mo., and John B. Bowman.
The bank started in business on the corner of Third Street and Broadway, with Samuel W. Toomer as President, and Col. Theo. Meuman as Cashier, who served the bank in that capac- ity until 1887, when Paul W. Abt succeeded him as Cashier. In 1869 the Bank moved its quarters to their new building on the corner of Collinsville and Missouri Avenues, and changed the name to the "East St. Louis Bank."
Among its early officers were some of the oldest citizens, as Col. Vital Jarrot, Thomas Winstanley, John B. Bowman, Henry Obike, Henry Jackiesch and Louis Boismenue.
The Bank steadily increased its business un- til on June 1, 1891, the East St. Louis Bank was converted into a National Bank, under the title of the "First National Bank," with Paul W. Abt, President, Henry C. Fairbrother, Vice- President, and L. A. Battaile, Cashier, now Cashier of the Mechanics-American National Bank of St. Louis, Mo., and who resigned his place after serving the bank for a short time, when J. M. Woods, formerly connected with the National Bank of Commerce, St. Louis, became Cashier for the next ten years, and then be- came the Secretary of the Commonwealth Trust Company, St. Louis, Mo., after which J. J. McLean, Jr., succeeded him. Mr. J. C. Van Riper, President of the Illinois State Trust Company of this city, became President of this bank, upon the resignation of Paul W. Abt, who continues to serve the bank in the capacity of Vice-President. The business of the institu- tion having largely increased, it became neces- sary to increase its capital from $100,000 to $200,000 and the surplus $75,000, with a total surplus of $100,000.
Mr. Ben P. Goodwin, formally connected with the Merchants' Laclede National Bank, St. Louis, Mo., upon the resignation of J. J. Mc- Lean, became Cashier, and served the bank
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WEDNESDAY HRA SUNDAY Re: 3
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK, EAST ST. LOUIS.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
for two years, after which Mr. F. T. Joyner, President of the Carbondale National Bank, became its Cashier. Mr. Joyner has a very large acquaintance among the bankers of Southern Illinois, through which the bank has been able to secure a great many deposits from that section of the State.
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