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 12
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57
HENRY WEILBACHER AND SONS, INC.
Leo A. Weilbacher, Sr., manager of Henry Weilbacher and Sons, Inc., began his business career with the Co- lumbia Mercantile Co. in 1909, now occupied by Weil- bachers Uptown Grocery. Hy. Weilbacher and his family started business in February of 1914 with an ice cream parlor located then where George Van Luik now lives. Groceries, dry goods, hardware, paints and household utensils were added later. Mr. and Mrs. Weilbacher, Leo, Cornelius, Elmer, Mary and Josephine all helped in the store, A larger business became a necessity so the Pfeffer Store Building, then the Columbia Mercantile Co., was purchased in 1921. In 1922 the stock of the Columbia Mercantile Co. was absorbed by Weilbachers and they moved to this location.
Leo Weilbacher and his wife, nee Lee Huhn, were firm believers in the efficacy of advertising. Their belief was justified and by 1928 the building was too small, and they purchased a site at Main and Locust streets, Its present location. This site of old was called the "Phelps Corner," later it was owned by George B. Schoen- ing. By 1929 the new store was finished and opened to the public.
In 1926 the force was enlarged to twelve employes, including Urban Schmidt, Julius Kuehner and Laura Kremmel and members of the Weilbacher family. An appliance store was planned in 1941, but due to diffi- culties during war years construction was postponed. How- ever in April of 1948 construction began on the appliance store and in June, 1948 it opened.
In November of 1941 Henry Weilbacher passed away and Leo Weilbacher, Sr. was called upon to take over the leadership of the store in which capacity he serves today. In 1958 a modern super-market was erected on the former James Warnock property on Main street ad- joining the main store. A very large parking lot offers convenience to shoppers. At this time Weilbachers' em- ployes number regularly about 40 and in peak times, up to 50.
COLUMBIA KOMMUNITY STORE
The Columbia Kommunity Store was organized in 1920 by Mrs. Elizabeth Vogt as a small confectionery, and has remained in the same location since the open- ing day. Mrs. Vogt's husband, the late Lorenz A. Vogt, was a school teacher in the Columbia school and in the Columbia area. He continued teaching while Mrs. Vogt operated the store.
In 1925 an addition was built to the store and gro- ceries and dry goods added. In the years that followed the Vogt children, Alfred, Herbert, Ardel, Marie, Agnes and Edward, all at one time or another were employed in the store. In later years the daughters married and Herbert J. Vogt established his own business, the Colum- bia Grain and Seed Co. The store was enlarged in 1927 and 1930. In 1946 Alfred and Edward Vogt purchased the business from their mother and the store became an IGA Supermarket with self-service. The brothers operated the store until 1953 when Alfred Vogt passed away. Upon his death his wife, Mrs. Magdalen Vogt, and her two daughters, Jeanette and Mrs. William Hannon and Edward Vogt and members of his family have been the proprietors.
On April 1, 1959 Edward Vogt became the sole owner of the store. He is assisted by his son James and daugh- ters Carol and Judy; Jeanette Vogt, Alphonse Vogt, Mar- tin Oexner, Bertha Acker, Louis Osick and Adolph Steppig, Jr. The name of the store remains the Columbia Kom- munity Store.
KRUSE CHEVROLET COMPANY
The Kruse Chevrolet Company was organized by Mr. Arthur Kruse in August 1932, and has been under the same management ever since. It is located at 431 North Main on the corner of Main and Monroe Streets. Mr. Kruse has been selling Chevrolet Cars and Trucks, Buicks, Stand- ard Oil Products, Goodyear Tires and many other widely advertised items throughout these twenty-seven years.
The Kruse Chevrolet Company started out during the depression with only Mr. Kruse and three other employees and has since that time grown many times its size. His records show that he has sold thousands of Chevrolet Cars and Trucks and many more used cars, actually more than are in this area now. At the present time Mr. Kruse is ac- tive in his business and has nineteen employees engaged in selling or servicing automobiles.
Following are the people who are employed by him: Mrs. Evelyn Ludwig Schnell, Wilbur Ludwig, Oliver Riech- mann, Oliver Hoffmann, Albert Josten, Richard Roos, Har- old Stumpf, Bernard Roeber. Joseph Tebbenhof, Herman Huch, Earl Kruse, Ted Hankammer, Glenn Bequette, Mrs. Virginia Buehler, Harry Breitenstein, Jr., Melvin Hoffmann, Bill Schaeffer and Harry Sandhagen of St. Louis who has been the company auditor since the business began. The years of service for the above employees amounts to ap- proximately 222 years for the same company.
Mr. Kruse is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Casper Kruse and has lived in the vicinity of Columbia all his life. At present time his home is at 344 West Liberty Street. He was married on October 3, 1933, to Miss Thekla Roos, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Roos of Millstadt. They have 3 children-Earl who is employed with his father, Margaret Ann who is a student at St. Louis University and Rosemary a pupil at Immaculate Conception School. His daughter, Margaret Ann, is a candidate for the "Miss Co- lumbia" contest being sponsored by the Chamber of Com- merce as a centennial feature.
Mr. Kruse and his staff of workers hope to continue serving the public for many years to come.
COLUMBIA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
The Columbia Development Co., Incorporated recently formed and incorporated with the State of Illinois, has purchased Cascade Hills Subdivision from the G. and B. Realty Company of St. Louis.
The G. and B. Company purchased the tract of land some time ago from Fred Bruenig for construction of homes, but the project was halted after some grading was done. The area consists of approximately 87 acres and is all in the city limits of Columbia with access to city water, sewer, natural gas, city fire protection and police protection.
Officers of the company are Herbert Schueler, presi- dent; Herman G. Frierdich, vice president; and William H. Cash, secretary-treasurer.
Plans for the new homes include 2 and 3 bedroom brick veneer houses and are expected to be in the $15,500 class for 2 bedrooms and $17,500 for 3 bedrooms. All homes will have concrete basements, hardwood floors in all rooms except kitchen and bath which will have tile floors, kitchen cabinets space, double bowl sink and all will be plastered throughout.
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MAYOR AND MRS. HENRY JOHN KUNZ
BELOW MAYOR AND MRS. HENRY N. KUNZ ON THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING DAY
HENRY J. KUNZ, SR.
Henry John Kunz, Sr., served as mayor of Columbia, and he also served as a member of the town board. He was born in Zurich, Switzerland on June 10, 1847. 11e came to this country in 1852 when he was five with his parents, coming by way of New Orleans. The family set- tled in St. Louis where Henry John Kunz learned the cigar making trade. On September 21, 1869, he was married to Miss Emelie Steffenauer and located on the old Steffen- nuer farm, afterwards the Gross place, then IIllis Castle and now owned by the Moallankamps. In 1870 the family moved to Columbia where he lived until his untimely death In 1898. Ile was a successful business man and he built a large, comfortable home on Centerville Road in Columbia. He was prominent in public affairs and served on the school board for a number of years. He was frank and fearless and made an excellent mayor and public ser- vant. Mr. and Mrs. Kunz had eight children, four of them passing on in their early youth. The surviving children are Minnie, now Mrs. Joseph Weisenstein of Belleville, Emilie Julia Lotz of Waterloo, widow of Julius Lotz; and Bertha Anna Kunz now Mrs. Harry Arnin. A son, Henry N. Kunz died March 30, 1943. He was a member of the A. O. U. W .. Turnverein, the Fire Company, the Odd Fellows and St. Paul's Evangelical Church. Columbians deeply mourned the passing of these exemplary citizens.
HENRY N. KUNZ
Henry N. Kunz served as Mayor of Columbia from Ap- ril 19, 1904 to April 1909.
He served during the transition period when Columbia was emerging from its role of a sleepy little country town to a modern small city.
Henry N. Kunz was born on July 17, 1870, in New Hanover precinct, a son of Henry John Kunz and his wife Emelie, nee Steffenauer. His father, Henry, came from Switzerland. Henry N. Kunz, Jr. married Miss Ida Niemeier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Niemeier. They had four children, Robert, Hilda, now Mrs. William Kassing of St. Louis, Florence, wife of Oliver C. Breidecker of East St. Louis; one son died in infancy, and Robert C. Kunz, his oldest son, died in 1958.
The picture shown was taken on Mr. and Mrs. Kunz's Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Through the years with his good wife at his side, counseling and helping him, Mr. Kunz had become one of Columbia's outstanding citizens. He was a self-made man, As a boy he worked at the old M. and O. Depot as a teleg- rapher. He was the bookkeeper at the Hluch mill whcih at that time served as a bank. He was President of the First National Bank and a director. As mayor, he was pro- gressive and the city showed much progress during his tenure of office. Our first concrete sidewalks, much need- ed, were one of his projects.
He was president of the school board, helped organ- ize the Columbia Commercial Club, and the Monroe Coun- ty Bankers Association; a Turner, and a charter member of the Monroe County Title and Abstract Co.
He was active in his church, the St. Paul Evangelical Church, was president of the Church Council, and presi- dent of the Church Brotherhood.
lie was active in Masonic circles, being master of the lodge for many years, a Shriner, and a permanent con- tributing member of the Shriner's liospital for Crippled Children, St. Louis.
Far-seeing, he was an active member of the Regional Planning Assn. Hle also was secretary-treasurer of the old Christian Welfare Hospital.
He died on March 30, 1943, after a long, busy and use- ful life.
59
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MAYOR AND MRS FRED G. RAPP ON THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING DAY
FRED G. RAPP
Fred G. Rapp, Mayor of Columbia, Illinois from 1909 to 1933 born in Central, Illinois, December 6, 1871, the son of Rev. and Mrs. John T. Rapp. He came to Columbia in 1890 after receiving his education in Waterloo.
The above picture of former Mayor and Mrs. Fred G. Rapp was taken on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Fred G. Rapp and Miss Lydia Schneider were married on April 26, 1896 at St. Paul Evangelical Church, Colum- bia. Mr. Rapp was mayor of Columbia for 24 consecutive years. During his administration a water and sewer system was put in and many improvements made in the streets. In fact, the city was just beginning to change from a sleepy little village to a hustling small city.
Mayor Rapp had the happy faculty of making friends and of selling Columbia. His objective, as he so often stated in the addresses he made, was to foster religious and political toleration among our citizens. He explained that we have in Columbia the advantages of the friendly. hospitable country town, and yet the pleasure of living In the St. Louis metropolitan area with its many cultural advantages.
Both the press and the radio recognized Columbia as an unusual city - a elty as Mr. Rapp christened it, of gardens and homes, with a reputation of good gov- ernment that was, and is, the despair of Egypt, as Southern Illinois is called.
Mr. Rapp and his son Walter were heads of the Fred
G. Rapp and Son Insurance Agency. Mr. Rapp was a teacher by profession with an insurance agency on the side. He taught for eighteen years at the Mueller School, but gave up teaching when the company he represented made him district agent in Monroe and adjoining coun- ties, reaching from Cairo to Jacksonville.
As Mr. Rapp sold insurance he sold Columbia. His friends were legion. Once three street cars brought St. Louis business men, at Mr. Rapp's invitation, to Columbia, to get acquainted and help us with our school pienie. Their bands joined forces with ours, and to use an old cliche, "a good time was had by ail."
Mr. Rapp was a member of the Board of Education for thirty years, serving as its secretary for twenty-nine years. He helped organize the Columbia Commercial Club and was Its president. Ilis church affiliation was the St. Paul Evangelical Church and he served as superintendent of the Sunday School for thirty years, and was a member of the pension board.
He was very active in Masonic circles, a member of Columbia Lodge 474 A. F. and A. M., the Mississippi Vai- ley Consistory, the Eastern Stars and a life member of the Shrine Hospital. He was a member of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge Association and the Regional Planning Association. He was the head of the Columbia Red Cross for thirty years. He died at the age of 80 after a two day iliness. His lovely wife, Lydia, died several years later. She was his helpmeet in every way, loved and respected for her charity, her work in the community and her practical Christianity.
61
MAYOR AND MRS. ALBERT C. METTER
Mayor Albert Charles Metter was born in Sugar Loaf Township, St. Clair County on September 22, 1895, a son of Charles and Maria Metter, nee Doerr.
He was educated in the Metter School and Belleville Township High School. His early life was spent on the Metter farm, which has been in the family for six genera- tions.
He served as an Infantry First Sergeant in France in World War I for two years.
After the war he attended Dodge's Institute of Teleg- raphy and Railway Accounting at Valparaiso, Indiana; Western Union Telegraph Company Managers School at Niles, Michigan; La Salle Extension University at Chicago and City College of Law and Finance, St. Louis. In 1930 he became a Registered Practitioner before the Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, D. C.
In 1923 he was married to Cora M. Baltz, daughter of Leonard H. and Caroline Baltz, nee Arras of Columbia. They have one daughter, Florence, wife of Clifford Haber], and one grandson, Eugene Haberl of Columbia.
During his industrial career Mr. Metter was acsot ated with the Western Union Telegraph Company; the Tenn- sylvania R. R. Company and the Frisco R. R. Company, St. Louis.
Since 1928 he has been the General Purchasing Agent and General Traffic Manager of the Midwest Rubber Re- claiming Company, Monsanto, Illinois and functions in the same capacity for the branch plants at Barberton, Ohio; Chester, Penn. and Paramount, Cal.
Mr. Metter is a life long member of United Church of Christ; has served as president of the Church Council and vice president of Southern Illinois Churchmen's Brother- hood Federation.
He is a 32d degree Mason and a Shriner; a member of Columbia Lodge A. F. and A M. No. 474; Scottish Rite bodies and Ainad Temple, East St. Louis; member of Mon- roe Chapter 597 Order of the Eastern Star; and a perma- nent contributing member of the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, St. Louis.
In 1920 Mr. Metter helped organize Columbia Ameri- can Legion Post 581, and in 1923 and 24 served as post commander. He holds a 40 year continuous membership in the Legion. He served as local, county and district grave
registrar, and was a member of the State Grave Registra- tion Department for five years; in 1935 he was appointed chairman. He sponsored a Grave Registration bill which was brought before the State Legislature. It is now a Jaw. Similar laws were adopted in several other states. He is a member of Voiture 40 and 8 and Egyptian Post Comman- der's Club of southern Illinois. In 1923 under Legion spon- sorship he became a Scoutmaster and served for several years.
During World War II Governor Dwight HI. Green ap- pointed him Monroe County Director of the Illinois State War Council of Defense, and in this capacity served three years.
Mr. Metter was one of the original Illinois elvic and business leaders in the promotion, location and construc- tion of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge across the Mississip- pi, connecting lllinois and Missouri. He served as Ist vice president of the original Lindbergh Bridge Association nnd its successor, the present Jefferson Barracks Bridge Asso- ciation at the time of its dedication on December 9, 1944. Mr. Metter was president of the Bridge Association from 1947-49 and is at present a member of the executive board.
In 1930 when Columbia's municipal waterworks start- ed with water shortages due to droughts, Mr. Metter was elected alderman for two terms. April 18, 1933 he was elected Mayor. He Is now serving his eighth term, having served consecutively for twenty-six years.
During his administration the City Code of Ordinances were revised; a new accounting system was installed, and many Important publie improvements were constructed and placed into operation.
Mr. Metter serves on the Board of Directors of the Co- lumbia Centennial Association; is n member of the Board of Directors of the Belleville Memorial Hospital; member of the Chamber of Commerce, Turners, National Industri- al Traffic League, Washington, D. C., Transportation Trowel Club of St. Louis; National Association of Purchas. ing Agents; St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Manufacturers Association. He is also chairman of the Monroe County-St. Louis Planning Commission, Chairman General Traffle Committee, Rubber Reclaimers Associa- tlon. New York and vice president of the St. Louis-East St. Louis Traffic Conference.
63
COLUMBIA CENTENNIAL PAGEANT COMMITTEE PRESENTS
HAIL, COLUMBIA IN 10 ACTS
PROLOGUE
ACT I WHITESIDE STATION (1788-1795)
ACT II HOUSE RAISING 1795
ACT III KASKASKIA TRAIL
ACT IV EARLY CULTURAL INFLUENCES
ACT V THE GERMAN SETTLERS
ACT VI FIRST COUNCIL MEETS (1859)
ACT VII TURNVEREIN (1866)
ACT VIII COLUMBIA DAY AT THE WORLD'S FAIR 1904
ACT IX SHOP AND GOSSIP
ACT X WE CHERISH OUR FREEDOM
FINALE
July 3 and 4, 1959 AT 8:30 P. M.
BETWEEN LOCUST AND WHITESIDE STREETS COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS
€5
PAGEANT COMMITTEE: B. D. Middleton, Chairman, Uhl O. Sackman, Mrs. Ralph Mathews, George (Jack) Brucker, Mrs. Fred Henckler, Miss Dolores Fiege, Walter Frierdich,
Frederick C. Young, Mrs. Gerard Dundon, Mrs. B. D. Mid- dleton, Walter Giffhorn, Jr. and L. A. Weilbacher, Jr.
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AN EAGLE EYE'S VIEW OF COLUMBIA
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Columbia Families . . .
One hundred years of the history of Columbia would be incomplete and unsatisfying if the life storles of pioneer settlers and their children were not chronicled.
We regret that every Columbian's family history could not have been included, but that was, obviously, impossible. Though all are equally important we could not include them all because of lack of space.
In the main we selected the history of families from which some phase of the history of Columbia could be interpreted, taking in as many family groups as possible.
Our sincere thanks goes to all who helped us in any way. We are especially grateful for the many val- uable old history and atlases, for the many pictures lent to us, and for the unfailing patience our long-suffer- . Ing friends exhibited when we asked for information. We wish especially to thank the Mayor and City fathers for Sending us their century of records, and to all organizations who let us peruse their minutes. It was our purpose to use official records whenever possible. Even with this care in writing, there will be errors, for which we crave your indulgence. The history was long and the time to prepare it, short.
CONSUELO J. VOLKERT, Historian and Editor.
ERNESTINE C. SMITH, Assistant Historian.
67
DR. A. H. MAEYS
Dr. A. H. Maeys is the son of William Maeys and his wife, Margaret, nee Studt. Dr. Maeys' grandfather was George Maeys, whose wife was Elizabeth Reub. He came from the City of Oggerheim, in New Bavaria, where he was born in 1828. He came to America with his family, landing at New York, and settling in Pennsylvania in the Cumberland Valley. He and his family came to Mon- roe County, locating a mile and a half southwest of Co- lumbia, moving later to the Lawson farm in the Bottom near Columbia. The high water in 1844 flooded out the family and they moved to a farm near Maeystown. There the father, George Maeys, died leaving behind a family of six children. Jacob, the oldest boy, took over and kept the family together until such time as they could get on their own feet.
William Maeys was a storekeeper in Maeystown. He was the brother of Jacob Maeys who founded Maeystown.
Dr. Maeys is a graduate of the Barnes School of Med- icine. He located at Clayton, Missouri.
He enlisted in the United States Army as a medical officer in World War I in 1917, was a 1st Lieutenant, and was assigned to the British army. He saw front line ser- vice in some of the severe battles of the war. He served for twenty-five months. He served with honor and dis- tinction and was awarded the British Military Cross for valor and was advanced to the rank of major.
In September of 1919 he went to Maeystown where he opened an office. In October of 1933 he came to Co- lumbia and has resided here ever since.
He was married to Miss Anna Hirsch, daughter of Gustav and Catherine Hirsch. To this union three chil- dren were born-one boy, Billy, passing on at the age of two years and seven months. Their daughter, Jean, is a teacher in California. Their son, Al, is a law graduate of St. Louis University.
Dr. and Mrs. Maeys are faithful members of the Unit- ed Church of Christ. He is also a Mason and Shriner.
ELMER ALBERT JANSON
Elmer Albert Janson, member of the Columbia Cen- tennial Historical Committee, is the son of Valentine and Mary Janson nee Frierdich. In 1835 John Beckerle and Valentine Janson, brothers-in-law came to the Columbia area from Hesse Darmstadt. This Valentine Janson was Elmer's great grandfather. In Germany he married Eliza- beth nee Seibert and came to Monroe county to Section 26 in the Shoemaker School District.
There were seven children born to this union, John, born in Monroe county in 1839. John when grown up married Eliza, daughter of John and Hannah Weilbacher. John and Eliza had five sons and four daughters: John, Mary, Peter, Elizabeth, Catherine, Philip, Christian, Emma and Herman. The son Philip, and Elizabeth Janson were Elmer's paternal grandparents; Adam A. and Louise Frier- dich his maternal grandparents.
Elmer's grandfather came to Monroe County in 1853 and his grandmother in 1852. They farmed in Section 26.
Elmer was born in Columbia, educated in the Immac- ulate Conception School and attended high school in Columbia. He belongs to Immaculate Conception Church. He was city alderman from 1941-54. He is a past presi- dent and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
He is employed as the Clothing manager of Weil- bacher's Store, having been in their employ for 26 years. He is married to Regina Besse Janson and they have been blessed with seven children: James, Edward, Robert, Marilyn, Carolyn, Joan and Jean. Elmer has four brothers
and sisters: Milton Janson of Columbia; William of Mill- stadt, Miss Lillian Janson of Columbia and Mrs. Milly Koch of St. Louis.
The Jansons were vitally interested in education -- Valentine Janson serving on the school board of Shoe- maker School in 1870, in-1871, 1873 and 1874, Philip Janson, Elmer's grandfather serving in this capacity and in 1876-90 and 1896-97 Valentine Janson served there too. Schools were in session in these days only from Octo- ber to April to give farm boys a chance to work on the farm.
FRED WILLIAM WEINEL
Fred William Weinel, member of the Centennial His- torical Committee, was born in Columbia. He was the ofdest son of August F. Weinel and Bertha Grosse Weinel.
The Weinels and the Grosses were early business people of Columbia. A. F. Weinel and Mr. Grosse were proprietors of the old Franklin Inn, the old name of the Juengling Tavern. Under the Grosse and Weinel man- agement it was known as the Buck Tavern. Deer Antlers were placed over the sign. It was the stopping place for the old Stage Coach and it was known all over the Kas- kaskia Trail for its fine hospitality. Later A. F. Weinel started a lumber yard and a livery stable in Columbia which grew and prospered. A son, Ernst A. Wemel, start- ed the E. A. Weinel Hardware Company, and it too, grew and prospered. After his death another son L. Philip Weinel became the manager. It was sold to Alois Riebe- ling who conducts the business now.
The Weinel family was famous for their fine hospital- ity and the beauty of their home and gardens. They were from Germany and reflected the best of German culture.
William Weinel attended school here and the Manual Training School of Washington University of St. Louis. Mr. Weinel is a member of the United Church of Christ, Co- lumbia, a member of Columbia Lodge No. 474 AF and AM since 1905, also the Mississippi Valley Consistory at East St. Louis and Ainad Temple Mystic Shrine and Monroe Chapter 597 O. E. S.
He is president of the August F. Weinel Lumber Co. which was started by August F. Weinel in 1875. He is also president of the Dupo Lumber and Hardware Co. of Dupo; he assisted in organizing the Columbia Building and Loan Assn. in 1914 and has been a director thereof ever since. He has been the secretary since 1933. He is past president of the Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Assn. and also past director of the Illinois Savings and Loan League.
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