USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Columbia > History of Columbia and Columbia precinct, Monroe County, Illinois, 1859-1959 and centennial celebration, Columbia, Illinois, July 3-4-5, 1959 > Part 11
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The Commercial Club has changed its name to "The Columbia Chamber of Commerce". Present officers are. Clarence Schucier, President; Eugene Schorb, vice presi-
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dent; Wm. Cash, Secretary; Arthur P. Wink, treasurer.
The Chamber prepared and distributed a brochure advertising Columbia. The brochure is presented to new- comers when the Chamber's welcoming committee calls on new residents of Columbia. The Columbia Woman's Club appoints a committee for this purpose.
The Chamber sponsors Khoury League baseball and has a team in the field this year. The Chamber has taken over Christmas street decorations for the community Christmas celebration. It has also provided a baseball scoreboard in the Legion's new recreational area.
The Chamber is assisting in every way with the Co- lumbia Centennial celebration. George Wilde, Erwin With- um and William Cash comprise the solicitation committee; Arthur P. Wink heads the Centennial organization, with Leo Weilbacher Centennial Queen Committee Chairman.
On the agenda for the years ahead is county zoning and correction of stream pollution. As in the past the Chamber of Commerce will do its best to serve Columbia faithfully and help her solve her municipal problems.
COLUMBIA BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
The Columbia Building and Loan Association was organized on July 20, 1914.
The original capital stock of the organization was $500,000.
The first Board of Directors consisted of the fol- lowing: Emil H. Brucker, Henry Giffhorn, George Grob, Henry N. Kunz, Fred G. Rapp, Henry Reichenbach, George W. Smith, Ernst A. Weinel and F. W. Weinel.
G. W. Smith was the first president of the Board of Directors and served in this office until his death in 1924. Emil H. Brucker was the first secretary, and he served until his death in 1933. Mr. Brucker was succeeded by F. W. Weinel in 1933 and he has served continuously in that postion up until the present time. Mr. Weinel served on the first Board of Directors, and he is the last surviving member of that first Board.
The Columbia Commercial Club was vitally interested in the Columbia Building and Loan Association and helped to sell the first 448 shares of Building and Loan stock.
A Building and Loan Association is an asset to a community. It provides funds for many citizens to finance the purchase of a home; to save systematically or to finance the education of children. It also provides in- vestors a safe investment for their funds.
Since its inception in 1914 the Columbia Building and Loan has efficiently provided these services. It has a record for sound business operation, and has done much to promote the growth and welfare of Columbia.
The assets of the association as of the close of its last fiscal year on July 31, 1958 totalled $670,388.69.
Following is a list of the Officers and Directors as of July 31, 1958: A. W. Lepp, President; Wm. J. Thebus, Vice President; F. W. Weinel, Secretary; H. A. Lude, Treasurer. Directors: Arthur Beckmann, Walter F. Giff- horn, A. W. Lepp, H. A. Lude, Wm. A. Schulte, K. W. Simonds, Wm. J. Thebus, F. W. Weinel and John S. Huber, Attorney.
This association is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, Illinois Savings and Loan League and United Savings and Loan League.
From its inception in 1914 to 1933 the meetings were held in the First National Bank; after 1933 meetings were held in the A. F. Weinel Lumber Company office, where they now meet.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
The First National Bank of Columbia was chartered April 19, 1905 and opened in August of that year.
J. W. Perry of the National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis helped with the procurement of the charter, then later sold his interest to Henry Kolmer.
The Bank was capitalized for $25,000. The following officers served at its opening: President, E. F. Schoening; Vice President, August F. Weinel; Cashier, Henry N. Kunz. Directors were Charles Schuler, Adolph Lambrecht, Henry Kolmer and John A. Pfeffer.
Mr. Schoening served as president of the bank until 1912. He was succeeded by Charles Schuler in 1913 to 1933, the catastrophic year in financial circles all over America.
In 1933 after the bank holiday the bank reopened as the First National Bank in Columbia. Capital and surplus were $60,000. H. N. Kunz was elected president and served as president until 1942. He was succeeded by E. A. Weinel who served until 1947. Fred G. Rapp suc- ceeded Mr. Weinel. The last two presidents have been Robert C. Kunz and C. A. Hacker, Mr. Hacker being the president at present.
The original directors in the 1933 reorganization were H. N. Kunz, Fred G. Rapp, E. A. Weinel, William Vogt, E. H. Gundlach, Henry Kolmer and Henry Fischer.
The First National Bank Building was originally in the Schiemer Insurance Agency building. Rapid growth of business taxed the facilities of the bank and in 1953 construction of a new bank building began. The Masonic Hall property was purchased. This building had burned March 13, 1953 and had destroyed a large part of the in- terior.
This building was completely remodeled and redeco- rated. The banking facilities are on the first floor and ultra-modern apartments on the second floor. The third floor was not restored.
The bank is a handsome, beautifully decorated mod- ern structure, planned for the comfort and convenience of the customers. Parking space and a drive-in window are added features of the new bank.
Officers in the bank today include: C. A. Hacker, President; Herbert J. Vogt, Vice Pres .; D. W. Eppinger. Cashier; E. A. Hankamer, Asst. Cashier. Directors: Her- bert J. Vogt, Charles J. Grueninger, Richard Harres, Arthur Kolmer, Walter Rapp, Fred Schewe, Clarence A. Hacker.
HISTORY OF MONROE NATIONAL BANK
In 1920 nine citizens purchased the private bank oper- ated by E. F. Schoening, Louis Dehn and Robert Needles. This institution was located in a small frame building next to the present post office.
The new bank was organized as the Monroe County Savings Bank and Trust Company. Officers were: E. F. Schoening. President; Kilian Koerver, Vice President and Louis Dehn, Cashier. Directors were Charles J. Schiele, Henry Weilbacher, John C. Gummersheimer, Charles Diehl, Sr., John G. Schneider and E. L. Rauch.
This state banking institution was capitalized for $50,000 with $12,500 surplus.
The bank building became too small with the growth of the bank and it was moved to the present Post Office building now occupied by Dr. O. Kremer.
In 1933 the bank became a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The worst financial depres- sion the country ever had, caused a bank moratorium and after the bank re-opened deposits grew fast.
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The state bank was converted into a National Bank, and named Monroe National Bank, April 8, 1938.
With the growth of business the bank building again became too small and a new location was acquired in 1956. This location fronts on Main street from Mulberry street to Walnut street to a depth ranging from 155 to 195 feet. A new bank was built which is modern in design, with beautiful exterior and interior. It was built primarily for the comfort and convenience of its customers, with generous free parking facilities and drive-in service.
Since 1935 when footings were $424,000; in 1945, $2,- 000,000; in 1955 $3.500,000 and on January 1, 1959 the all- time peak of $6,157,177.89 was reached.
The present directors are: E. L. Rauch, Arthur P. Wink, Archie P. Weihl, Herman Heinrich, C. F. Weilbacher, Arthur Kruse, Charles Menner, John C. Gummersheimer.
Officers and employees are: E. L. Rauch, Chairman of the Board; Arthur P. Wink, President; Lester F. Deffen- baugh, Cashier; Ruth Kuergeleis, Assistant Cashier; Ken- neth G. Haller, Assistant Cashier; Victory Kuehner, Nancy Mitweide, Norine Pomeroy, Marie Kuehner, Bookkeeper- Tellers; Anna Marie Gummersheimer, Bookkeeper and An- na Lefholz, Custodian.
COLUMBIA GRAIN AND SEED COMPANY
Columbia Grain and Seed Company was organized on May S. 1939, with Edwin C. Giffhorn, Alfred H. Vogt and Herbert J. Vogt as partners. The business to be carried on by this partnership was to be that of buying, selling and trading grain, grain products, feeds, seeds and fer- tilizers. This business also does custom feed grinding and mixing.
This venture proved successful and additions to the original building were made in 1941, 1946 and again in 1950.
At the present time the business is being operated under the individual ownership of Herbert J. Vogt, who has purchased the Interest held in the business by the other partners.
This company is situated at 518 North Metter, with offices and mill in the same building.
HISTORY OF THE COLUMBIA QUARRY COMPANY
The company was organized in 1905; and the first purchase of quarry lands was the purchase of the Brown Quarry, located approximately two miles north of Colum- bia, Illinois. At the time of purchase, it was a very small plant and had the capacity of two twenty-ton cars per day. Most work was done on a hand basis with two- wheel carts pulled by mules as a source of haulage from the face to the small crushing plant. At that time, the quarry was located on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, which has since been incorporated into the G. M. & O. Railroad. This plant was increased in size, and in 1907, the company acquired the quarry east of Columbia which was later called Quarry No. 2 where most of the chemical stone was produced. Both plants were expanded from time to time; and the first plant, Quarry No. 1, burned in the summer of 1912. At that time, the plant had a capac- ity of In excess of 1,000 tons per day; and the No. 2 Quarry, about 300 tons per day.
During the first World War, a small part of the quarry site at Valmeyer, Illinois, was purchased from the Iron Mountain Railroad, now part of the Missourl Pacific system, and a small crushing plant installed.
From time to time, all plants were increased in size and capacity, but again fire destroyed our Quarry No. 1 in 1924. That was rebuilt the following year; and in that year, 1925, Quarry No. 2 was abandoned and expansions were made in the then remaining Columbia plant and the Valmeyer plant.
Both stone and sand and gravel properties were open- ed up in other parts of Southern Illinois, some retained, but mostly abandoned.
In the latter part of the depression, acquisitions were made in the vicinity of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois; and a small plant was established there. The Elsberry, Missourl. Quarry was started about 1943.
During the war years, the plant at Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, wns greatly enlarged; but, in '947, part of the property was sold to Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation to supply their needs for stone for their soda ash plant at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1947, the Columbia plant burned for the third time and was rebuilt the following уеаг.
In 1948, they bought the operating quarry located at Ullin, Illinois; in 1957 the quarry at Mermet, Illinois, and also the property in the vicinity of Dupo, Illinois. At the present time, equipment is being installed to establish a large quarry at the Dupo site.
In the fifty years that Columbia Quarry Company has been in existence it has become the largest limestone producer in Southern Illinois, the daily capacity being six or seven thousand tons; the yearly capacity 1,250,000 tons.
The Columbia Quarry employs 125 men, with Elmer Heise, Superintendent.
Officers in the company are: H. C. Krause, President; C. H. Krause, Vice President; W. E. Schmidt, Vice Presi- dent and Treasurer; A. J. Elliot, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer.
Under the efficient supervision of Elmer Heise, super- intendent of the plant, Quarry No. 1 has achieved a note-worthy safety record. The last lost time accident oc- curred on May 7, 1954. Manhours of exposure during this period approximately 1,100,000 hours. On May 7, 1959 it will be five years since the last lost time accident.
The previous outstanding record was from 1933 to 1938 inclusive for a period of over six years without a lost time case.
Quarry No. 1 was awarded the Explosives Engineer Plaque for clear records in 1935, 1936 and 1937 for the best safety record of all plants enrolled in the National Crushed Stone Association Safety Contest covering Quar- ries in the United States and Canada.
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HISTORY OF THE LUHR COMPANIES
The Luhr Companies and businesses of today are the outgrowth of a very small contracting business started by Eugene Luhr (deceased December 4, 1958) and Adel- heid Luhr, his wife, during the year 1939.
On March 1, 1946 a Partnership consisting of Eugene Luhr, Adelheid Luhr, and Alois Luhr was formed. This Partnership is still in existence, however, it is not active in the contracting business.
A Corporation known as Luhr Bros., Inc., was incor- porated on May 3, 1948 in the State of Illinois with the following officers - President, Eugene Luhr; Vice-Presi- dent, Alois Luhr; Secretary-Treasurer, Adelheid Luhr. On December 13, 1954, Harry H. Niemann was appointed As- sistant Secretary-Treasurer. These officers held their re- spective offices until the death of Eugene Luhr, after which the following officers were elected on January 31, 1959. President, Alois Luhr; Vice-President, W. H. Carder; Secretary-Treasurer, Adelheid Luhr; Assistant Secretary- Treasurer, Harry H. Niemann.
Eugene Luhr & Co., a Corporation, was incorporated in the State of Illinois on June 23, 1949 with the follow- ing officers - President, Eugene Luhr; First Vice-Presi- dent, G. N. Hall; Second Vice-President, Alois Luhr; Sec- retary-Treasurer, A. G. Hall. On March 11, 1952 Eugene Luhr, Alois Luhr, and Adelheid Luhr purchased the stock of A. G. Hall and G. N. Hall and the following officers were then elected. President, Eugene Luhr; Vice-Presi- dent, Alois Luhr; Secretary-Treasurer, Adelheid Luhr. On December 13, 1954, Harry H. Niemann was appointed As- sistant Secretary-Treasurer. These officers held their re- spective offices until the death of Eugene Luhr, after which the following officers were elected on January 31, 1959. President, Alois Luhr; Vice-President, W. H. Carder; Secretary-Treasurer, Adelheid Luhr; Assistant Secretary- Treasurer, Harry H. Niemann.
The two Corporations are presently licensed as For- eign Corporations to do business in the following four- teen states of the United States: Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Illinois.
During the past ten years they have completed projects in each of the fourteen states.
Following is a copy of a News Release from:
Office of The District Engineer
St. Louis District Corps of Engineers, US Army 1050 Boatmen's Bank Building Annex
420 Locust Street
St. Louis 2, Missouri
15 January 1953
NEWS RELEASE
"Colonel Fred E. Ressegieu, District Engineer, St. Louis District, Corps of Engineers, announced on 13 Jan- uary 1953 that a contract for the construction of under- seepage relief wells in the Columbia Drainage and Levee District and Prairie Du Rocher and vicinity, Monroe and Randolph Counties, Illinois, had been awarded to Luhr Bros., Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $172,935.
"The fact that Luhr Bros., Inc., Columbia, Illinois, was low bidder on this contract is indicative of the in- terest Earthwork Contractors are taking, and are encour- aged to take, in the underseepage relief program, which program involves installation of seepage wells to relieve the hydrostatic pressure during floods and thus safeguard the stability of the levees.
"Luhr Bros., Inc., is well known throughout the mid- west. The firm began construction work ón contracts un- der supervision of the Corps of Engineers, St. Louis Dis- trict, in 1944, and to date has completed, or is in the process of completing, approximately 30 contracts involv- ing the placement of some 25,000,000 cubic yards of earth fill in the construction of about 75 miles of levee along the Mississippi River and tributaries between Alton, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The earthwork con- struction was effected by the use of various types of earth moving equipment such as Tower Machine, drag- lines, varying in size from two to six yards, and scraper, Euclid and other types of haul equipment. In addition to the earthwork contracts, Luhr Bros., Inc. has con- structed other types of flood control structures such as concrete closure structures at railroad levee crossings, gravity drainage structures, and access roads on levee crown."
At the present time the companies employ from nine hundred to one thousand employees during the course of a years' time and maintain approximately sixty full time employees. They now have projects in progress Nebraska City, Nebraska; Muncie, Indiana; Valley Park, Missouri; Grafton, Illinois; Hecker, Illinois; Alton, Illinois; Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; Carlyle, Illinois; West Sacra- mento, California, and Beardstown, Illinois.
The companies have enjoyed a steady growth and have made great progress in their field of business since their beginning.
At the present time the Corporations deeply mourn the loss of their Founder and President. We feel the most fitting tribute and memorial that can be built in honor of him is to carry on and continue to build the firms at the same high level of business ethics as heretofore.
THE MON-CLAIR GRAIN AND SUPPLY CO. Formerly the Monroe Grain and Supply Co., Columbia Farmers' Cooperative Grain Co., and Columbia Star Milling Company
The Columbia Star Mill was built in 1856 by James and William Nimerick at a cost of about $25,000. It pro- duced about 150 barrels of flour a day. It was built of brick four stories high on a foundation 40 x 50 feet. An addition was built in 1880 and another in 1882. In 1883 it produced 300 barrels of flour a day.
The warehouse was of brick, three stories high and 45 feet square. Its storage capacity was 50,000 bushels of wheat. The cooper shop connected with the mill where barrels were made to hold the flour, employed 15 men and made 300 barrels daily.
In 1857 Warnock and Wilson bought and operated the mill, until 1867 when Henry Huch and Franz Bauer bought it. They operated it in partnership until 1874 when Henry Huch bought out Mr. Bauer. Mr. Huch and later Adolph Lambrecht operated the mill until E. F. Schoening bought it in 1896. Mr. Schoening owned it and operated it until 1926 when the Columbia Farmers' Cooperative Grain purchased it with John C. Gummers- heimer the manager. Its present manager for many years is Walter Reichert, and also for many years the president, Christian J. Diehl.
Under the cooperative, business grew steadily. Feed grinding and mixing became important and a grinder was added to the equipment.
Storage space was also insufficient, so in 1953 the mill and warehouse, an old Columbia landmark was razed. A large concrete storage elevator was erected. A new and modern, all concrete, office building was built with adjoining facilities for the feed and grain purchas- ing business.
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The name of the co-op was changed in 19-19 to the Monroe Grnin and Supply Co., with Walter Reichert, Mnn- ager and Christian Diehl, President, agnin. In 1959 the Monroe Grnin and Supply Co., and the Summerfield Grain Co-op of St. Clair County merged, the new name being Mon-Clair Grain and Supply Co.
The Columbia plant is installing bulk feed storage bins, the concrete base being finished and the steel work about to start.
Manager Reichert Inst year reported a net Income of $131,187.40. The company's net worth was $854,876.48 as reported on Nov. 30, 1958. They handled 1,562,652 bush- els of grain during the year; farm machinery sales totaled $252,907 26. Assistant Manager Alois Pieper reported a record volume of feed sales during the past year with 4,4S2 tons sold.
There are ten employes at the mill.
Directors from Monroe County are: Herbert A. Muel- Jer. Theodore Lohkamp, llarold Goeddel and Alvin Wort- man. The President is Christian J. Diehl and Manager, Walter Reichert.
COLUMBIA AMERICAN DISTILLERS
(which previously was called the Monroe Brewery)
The Monroe Brewery was a brick building built in 1856 by John Gundlach at a cost of about $30,000. John Gundlach, Mrs. E. H. Gundlach's grandfather and Philip Peter Gundlach, John's brother, who was Edward Gund- lach's father, were partners in the Brewery until Recon- struction Days following the Civil War, when the brother Philip Peter Gundlach sold his rights in the property and moved to Belleville.
In 1883 It was operated by Klausmann Brewery Co., of south St. Louis. Its annual capacity was 6,000 barrels of beer. Underneath the building were beer caves capable of storing 3500 barrels of beer There was also a malt house and mineral water establishment connected with the business.
A son of Philip Peter Gundlach, William, Jater be- came a partner. Following his death in 1893 the property was leased to Leonard Schoppe for six years, until 1903. In 1903 E. H. Gundlach took over, purchasing the brewery from Anna Wagner (nee Gundlach) and conducted the business for a number of years. When old machinery broke down the brewery was closed and the Revenue man. Mr. Walsh of Carlyle stood by while spoiled beer went down the drain into the Mississippi.
In 1933 came repeal of prohibition and E. H. Gund- Jach and a group of St. Louis men started building a new brewery. Costs of materials and construction were too high and construction was halted nearly four years. For four generations the Gundlachs had owned the property.
In 1937 a group of, Belleville men desirous of owning a distillery began organization and construction of the Gundlach property and in 1941 the Columbia American Distillers began operation in this building with added Incilities, and during the war made alcohol for the United States Government. They are now licensed as a dis- tillery, but are not operating at present. They distilled different brands of whiskey.
Officers and directors are Herman Lorenz, General Manager; Wm. Taake, 1st Vice President; August Hess, Od Vice President; Alois Lorenz, Secretary; Charles Men- ner, Treasurer. In addition to these, who serve also as directors are Edgar Hug and Hilmar Lindauer.
COLUMBIA NEWSPAPERS
Columbia is represented by two newspapers, The Co- lumbia Star, which was founded by George W. Smith in May 1906, nnd the Monroe County Clarion, founded by Guy lialtenhof in May 1939. The oldest paper printed In Columbia was the Columbia Gazette, founded by E. HI. Eliff. The first Issue was in February, 1880. The office was brought to Columbia from Red Bud. Five numbers were issued when the paper suspended. The office re- mained closed until May 5, 1881, when it wns purchased by Peter W. Baker, and from it issued the Voice of Mon- roe, Owing to the ill-health of Mr. Baker the paper sus- pended publication from Nov. 4, 1880 to May 6, 1881, when publication was resumed and continued to the close of 1882, Mr. Baker was a native of Canada. He learned the printer's trade in Cleveland, Ohio and came to Kaskaskia in 1849.
The Columbia Star changed ownership after the death of George W. Smith in April of 1924 his daughters, Miss Frnestine C. Smith and Mrs. Consuelo Volkert and C. L. Volkert took over the Columbia Star.
Harold Fischer and Roy P. Conrad established the Clarion Printing Co. in 1940 and in 1941 became the owners of the Monroe County Clarion, and at that time were also printing the Dupo Herald-Tribune. Raymond Fischer later joined the partnership.
Bryant B. Voris, George W. Miller and Roy P. Conrad in 19-17 organized a corporation known as Voris, Conrad & Miller, which corporation purchased both the Monroe County Clarion and the Columbia Star, with Roy P. Conrad business manager and editor until September 1955 when Conrad became sole owner of the printing plant and newspapers. George W. Miller died in 1952 and Mrs. Miller was represented in the corporation until the sale of the Columbia plant.
Mr. Conrad was born in New Design, November 19, 1910, the son of the late Gustav Conrad and Mrs. Amanda Heck Conrad. He began his printing career in the Water- loo Republican after the family moved to Waterloo, at the age of 14, and has been engaged in the trade for 35 years.
Ile married Georgianne Reis of Saint Louis who is a graduate of Saint Louis School of Nursing.
The family Ilved in Waterloo until 1953 when they purchased the Edward Schmidt home on North Metter and moved to Columbia.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad have eight children, William P., who is employed at the plant after having spent three years in the U. S. Navy, Michael G., in the Navy at Chincoteague, Virginia, Mary Kathryn, n student at Saint Teresa Academy, David a student at SS. Peter and Paul high school, Waterloo, John and Louise are students at Immaculate Conception School and Stephen and Lisa, be- low school age.
The family are all members of Immacuinte Con- ception Church.
Mr. Conrad is a past president and charter member of the Columbla Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Wa- terloo Council 1334 Knights of Columbus, Faithful Navi- gator Elect of the Fourth Degree Assembly, Mascoutnh Typographical Union No. 413, Columbia Gymnastic As- sociation, past president of Immaculate Conception Holy Name Society. In 1953 he wns awarded the George Khoury Award for meritorious service rendered the Khoury Base- ball Association.
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