USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois, 1810-1962 > Part 3
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In 1928 the Mt. Vernon Can Manufacturing Company purchased the J. P. Devine Company that was Located in Buffalo, New York, and moved it to lift. Vernon. This plant could be used to build equipment that the Can Company needed for its operations and also could provide additional employment for many more men. At one time this company negotiated with the Pullman Car Company, but for some reason they did not get any contracts.
The H, K. Porter Company operated the Car Shops for only a few years, then sold the property to Pressed Steel, Inc. This firm operated the plant until the year of 1954, when it was permanently closed. The gates of Mt. Vernon's mammoth industry have been closed to future generations, but the memory of this enterprise that during its period of existence poured many millions of dollars into the community and thus assisted materially in the economic, social and cultural growth of the area will long be remembered. There is not an adult among the present generation who grew up in Mt. Vernon but who can relate many outstanding and interesting episodes which occurred at this giant plant.
Today the can shop buildings are being torn down for salvage and we shall have to wait a while to know what will be done with the many acres of valuable land. It hardly seems possible that any one industry will ever again have the influence on the impact on the lift. Vernon area that was enjoyed by the Mt. Vernon Can Manufac- turing Company.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MT. VERNON
The articles of association organizing the First National Bank of Mount Vernon were adopted by the stockholders on November 14, 1933. The bank opened for business on December 13, 1933, in its present quarters at 101 South Tenth Street.
The following board of directors were named: J. E. Davidson, C. J. DeVitt, Louis L. Emmerson, J. H. Gilbert, R. O. Kaufman, John Rackaway, Carl Schweinfurth, Lester E. Stann, H. B. P. Ward, Fred P. Watson, R. K. Weben and Guy A. Wood. The bank became a member of the
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American Bankers Association at its start and is today a member in good standing.
The first officers elected were R. O. Kaufman, president; John H. Rackaway, vice president; Marlin Rich, cashier, and J. C. Jarrell, assistant cashier. The capital stock was $100, 000 and was divided into shares of $20.00 each. The total resources on December 31, 1933 were $789, 546. 24.
It is interesting to note that Louis L. Emmerson, named above as one of the original directors, served three terms from 1916 to 1928 as Secretary of State of Illinois and then served as Governor of Illinois from 1928 to 1932. Mr. Emmerson was a great asset to his country, state and city, and served faithfully as a director of this bank until his death on February 4, 1941.
On December 31, 1939, after six years of progress, the total resources of the bank were in excess of two million dollars. Both checking and savings accounts had grown considerably, and the bank was serving the community in a more general way as its growth indi- cated,
In the years it has served Mt. Vernon and the surrounding area the bank has had four presidents: R. O. Kaufman, mentioned above, served until his death on May 2, 1949. Charles Croup served until August, 1957. Lester Starn succeeded him and served until April, 1958. Edward Cuntis was elected on April 1, 1958, and is now serving as the bank's president.
Cashiers of the bank over the years have been: Marlin Rich from its beginning to August, 1943; H. C. Ransburgh to January, 1946; Charles Croup to May, 1949; Lacey Payne to January, 1961; C. Wayne Highsmith was then appointed and is presently serving as cashier.
During the years of World War Two, the bank cooperated fully with the United States Government and the Treasury Department in their efforts in the sale of war bonds of all kinds and also in the purchase of short term government securities. Fourteen of the bank's employees saw service during World War Two.
As early as 1954, a building committee was appointed to investigate improving the bank building and lobby. After many months of planning it eventually resulted in the purchasing of land west of
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the bank building and the building of three beautiful, modern and con- venient drive-in windows. Below these windows is a large basement area having the present bookkeeping department, proof department and supply room. The new facilities were opened to the public in June of 1958. At that time also, practically full-scale automation of equip- ment was put into operation with three Burroughs sensi-tronic book- keeping machines, Burroughs proof machine and the account numbering system being installed. The Lobby also at that time was modernized. In May of 1959, both state and federal authorities granted full trust powers to the bank, another important step in fulfilling customers' needs. Boyce Huson was appointed Trust Officer and Norman Murphy as Assistant Trust Officer. The Trust Department from its inception has grown and continued to grow at a rapid pace and has proven to be a valuable asset to the bank and its customers.
The history of the bank is much the same as reading the recent history of lit, Vernon and Jefferson County, as most of the officers and directors have been active community leaders who are greatly interested in the growth of the community. Each year for several years past officers have been sent to schools, including: School of Banking at liladison, Wisconsin; National Trust School of Northwestern University; School of Banking of the South, Louisiana State University; Illinois Banker's School for Development of Junion Executives; Southern Illinois University; F. P. R. A. School, North- western University, as well as many courses offered by the American Institute of Banking. The advance training of these officers puts the bank in a favorable position to serve the public and serve it well.
The present directors of the bank are: C. & Brehm, Edward E. Curtis, John A. Davidson, Charles ]. DeVitt, William A. Garber, John A. Kirk, Jack Mitchell, Harold A. Myers, J. Edwin Rackaway, Carl Schweinfurth, Charles S. Ward, and Harold G. Watson. Two of these mentioned, Carl Schweinfurth and Charles ]. Delitt, are members of the original board of directors.
The present officers are: Edward Curtis, president; Boyce Huson, executive vice president and trust officer; Edsel Rightnowan, vice president and assistant trust officer; Lacey Payne, vice president; Luther Becheren, assistant vice president; C. Wayne Highsmith, cashier
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and assistant trust officer; Mabel Ewing and Robert Melcher, assistant cashiers.
In 1933, eight employees were needed to serve the needs of the bank and its customers. Today, the number has grown to thirty- four. The following illustration, setting forth the total assets of the bank for the years indicated, is proof of the growth of the First National Bank over the years: 1933, $789, 546. 24; 1938, $2, 227, 574. 07; 1943, $5, 294, 486.78; 1948, $8, 878, 514. 02; 1953, $11, 632, 415.70; 1958, $14, 480, 033. 96; 1961, $16, 211, 880. 47.
-Robert A. Melcher, Assistant Cashier
BLOCK SCHOOL MEMORIES
(Taken from an article written in the lit. Vernon Register- News by Addison Hapeman. Block School was destroyed in the tornado of December, 1957. )
Another of the things that have vanished into the limbo of the past are the "literanies" that were held one night each week of school season at the old Block School. These were not "play parties;" these meetings were " eddicational."
An average of fifty on sixty people gathered at the school house each meeting night, coming in wagons on buggies on on foot on. horseback. By starting time the yard was well filled with assorted vehicles, with the teams unhitched and one horse tied to a wheel on each side.
First on the evening's program were songs by the school children, solo and in groups. These were the old familiar school song-book airs, and what they lacked in harmony they made up in varia- tion. After all the singers had been given a chance, the necitations began.
These "pieces" varied in length with the age and daring of the young person doing the reciting. Some went in for such works as "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, " on some of the classics; others stuck to something they could mone nearly handle. One man still remembers the vense he recited nearly eighty years ago. Six years old at the
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time, he marched up the aisle, squared away before the audience, and declaimed:
"If older boys can make a speech, We little boys can too. Although we may not say so much, Yet we've a word for you. This world is large and full of room, There is a place for all, The rich, the poor, the wise, the good, The lange as well as small. "
As soon as he had finished he ran back down the aisle and buried his face in the lap of his mother, who patted him on the head and gazed proudly around to receive the plaudits of her neighbors.
After the last faltering recitation was finished there was a sort of musical interlude, perhaps to soothe shattered nerves. Usually the orchestra consisted of a violin, guitar, banjo, tambourine and rattle-bones, "Dutch" Pigg was the tambourine virtuoso, shaking the instrument in a knee to hip, around the shoulder and over the head routine that would have anoused the envy of the most expert gypsy. Pigg was also expert on the "bones," being "so hot he didn't dane play long, at a time on he'd set the place on fine."
These rattle-bones (actually, in this case, pour short lengths of this wood) furnished a sharp and syncopated rhythm as a background for such tunes as "Little Fisher liaiden, " "Red "ing," "Pop Goes the leasel, " "Dixie" and other Civil War songs, and any others that most of the players could fill in with most of the tune.
Following this musical period, there was usually a debate, the leaders "choosing up" six on seven men to a side. The debated subjects were varied and covered everything from "What influenced the growth of the nation most: the plow on the printing press?" thru "What had the most nights: Indian on white man?" to a momentous dis- cussion as to "Which habit cost the most; coffee on tobacco?"
The coffee debate cost one man an all-time high in fines for getting out of order. The group had a rigid set of rules for be- havious during these sessions, and any infraction of the rules brought a ine o ten cents. During the coffee-tobacco discussion one man was nathen carried away in praising the strength of his wife's coffee, and
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became a little too specific. The audience howled with laughter, but the judges fined him fifteen cents.
These fines were used to buy kerosene for the reflector- equipped wall Lamps, and were the only expense connected with the meetings, since the wood used to heat the building was cut in the early 'all in a community "working." But when the coal-oil fund ran low "you didn't hardly dane open your mouth on they'd slap a fine on you." Sometimes a mock trial was held instead of the debate. There were usually one on two young men who were reading Law who were willing to ain their knowledge, so the affair had some resemblance to the real thing. This resemblance, however, was only fleeting, and usually the proceedings would have made Blackstone spin in his grave.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF IMT. VERNON
According to a paper on "Early Churches of Jefferson County," written in 1947 by Rev. C. H. Todd, paston of the First Methodist Church at the time, the Baptists held the first chunch organization in the territory that now comprises the city limits of hit. Vernon. CENTROAL IT; The methodists met earlier, but outside the city. limits. ) A lin. Carpenter held a meeting in the old court house and organized a Society of Baptists in 1820. Services continued in the court house, near the creek, this being neanen the center of popu- lation at that time. Among the names associated with this early Fellowship were Nonton, Hanlow and Jordan.
Despite the proximity of an abundance of water, frequent floods soon convinced those pioneer Baptists that this was not the most desirable location for a place of worship, and the Society moved to the residence of William Hicks, where services were held for five on six years.
In the meantime, Thomas Pace and other settlers had cleaned a trail down southeast through what was at one time the old pain grounds, to a deep hole in the creek where they could water their horses even in dry weather. Nean this Location, called "Horse itole," the Baptists erected a spacious (for those days) place of worship. Puncheon seats were provided and services were held under the trees whenever possible. Here the first Baptist Association in Jefferson
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County was held in the fall of 1829. Rev. Carpenter, who organized the Society, continued as pastor. Rarely in those days did the Bap- tists call any one from far away from their location as paston. The building erected near "Horse Hole" was used as a worship center until about 1835 on 1836.
A second Baptist church was built "up the creek, " about a half mile north of what is now the Fairfield Road, in the year 1833. This worship center consisted of four Lange cabins about ten feet apart forning a rectangle, the largest cabin being used for worship and the others for sleeping purposes during camp meeting occasions on other services. Members and friends from Mt. Vernon found their way down a trail for services and for sessions of foot washing, which was con- scientiously observed,
In the early 1860's a "sainted mother in Israel, " the wife of jeweler G. W. Morgan, began to invite some children who did not attend Sunday School at any church to meet in her dining room (they lived at on near Ninth and Jordan Streets, probably about the site of the old Mahaffey House), and she also invited other children who were regular pupils in other Sunday Schools to keep them company. livs. Morgan herself attended the liethodist and Presbyterian services. Some of the churches held Sunday School in the morning, others in the after- noon, so a good many people attended more than one session, partly be- cause there wasn't much else to do. The group grew too large for the dining room and Mrs. Morgan's brother, Mr. Sturgis, offered his car- penten shop as a meeting place.
The early Baptists, previously mentioned, were evidently of the "Hard Shell" on Primitive variety, and the group in the carpenter shop were apparently the first organization of Missionary Baptists in lit. Vernon, These Missionary Baptists organized a church in 1868 and soon built a plain frame house on South Ninth Street at a cost of approximately $4000. This Location was south of Jordan Street and just south of the old Mahaffey House lot.
A story of the organization of the First Baptist Church of lit. Vernon, Illinois, is eloquently told in a few words, by the Minutes of the Organizational Meetings, which have been faithfully copied into each of the Church Minute Books, as follows:
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"July 17, 1868 Mit. Vernon Jefferson County Illinois
Pursuant to arrangements, we, the undersigned, met at the Campbellite Church for the purpose of organizing ourselves into a church, Brother J. W. Brooks of Ashley presided over the meeting. The object of the meeting being announced, those desining membership in this branch of Zion were requested to come forward. The following brethren presented their names;
Bro, R. A. Grant; Bro. G. W. Morgan; Bro. D. Sturgis; Bro. J. Mitchell; Bro. G. J. Mayhew; Sisten & D. Grant; Sister D. A. Morgan; Sister A. A. Sturgis; Sister Sarah Grey; Sister Martha D. Haney; Sisten Martha Play- non; Sister Mary Mckee; Sister Sarah Malone; Sister Mary Mitchell. After presenting their names, we proceeded to business by electing Bro. Brooks, Moderator and Bro. D. Sturgis, Clerk, Brother Grant moved that Bro, Brooks read the Church Covenant. The motion was sustained. Bro. Brooks suggested that a Committee be appointed to invite three on more Eldens to sit in council on Thursday, previous to the second Sab- both in August to ratify the proceedings of the meeting. Brother Grant moved that Bro. Brooks, Bro. Morgan, and Bro, Mayhew be the committee. The motion was sustained. No further business presenting itself, the meeting was closed with a very appropriate prayer and benediction.
Bro. J. W. Brooks, Moderator Bro. D. Sturgis, Clerk"
On August 6, 1868, the "members of the regular Baptist Church of this place and vicinity" met at the Presbyterian Church and proceeded to organize what they decided to call the First Baptist Church of Int. Vernon, Illinois. The "Campbellite Church" mentioned in the Minutes (officially then as now the Church of Christ) was apparently also known as Heiserman's Hall and was on the second floor above Heiserman's Bakery on the southeast corner of Ninth and Jordan which was later the location of Herrins' Grocery (the Herning were prominent early members of the First Baptist Church), one of our earliest movie houses and Lipps' Grocery. The Presbyterian Church, where the actual organization meeting was held, was apparently on Fourteenth Street between liain and Broadway and just across the street south from the Appellate Court. Bro. J. W. Brooks was elected as the first paston of the church on September 21, 1868, with Bro. Grant and Bro. Mayhew as the first dea- cons and Bro. D. Sturgis as clerk Mrs. Amelia Poole was the first person baptized into the fellowship of the new church, and for about seventy years she continued as one of the most faithful members of the church.
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Immediately after the organization, the first place of worship was an old carpenter shop (possibly the same one where the Sunday School was held). Two classes constituted the Sunday School, and eighteen was considered to be a good attendance, with preaching once a month, But as some one has said, "They grow and as they grew they built. " In 1871, Lots 9, 10 and 12 in Black 3 in Storms Survey were purchased. These lots were in the block south of Jordan Street with Lots 9 and 12 Lacint on Ninth Street and Lot 10 facing Tenth Street. A church was built on Lot 9 with the parsonage either next door on as a part of the church building, Bro. D. Sturgis was Daniel Sturgis who died in the fall of 1912 (the last of the Charter Members). He had lumber to build a home on the southwest corner of Ninth and Jordan but contributed it for use in building the new church and waited several years before he was able to build his own home.
The congregation worshiped at this Location until the cyclone of 1888, which destroyed the church and parsonage. On March 26, 1888, the trustees purchased a tract on the southwest conner of Block 12 in Greens' Addition (8th and Jordan) from Dr. W. Duff Green and his wife Corinna, and on October 6 of that year the trustees deeded the property to the First Baptist Church; a new church was erected and dedicated in the fall of 1888 with Dr. John Broadus, President of the Louisville Theological Seminary, preaching the dedicatony sermon. The "new" church in time proved too small, and extensive remodeling and enlarging was done in 1904, 1909 and 1916.
This church is now engaged in a new church building program which calls for a new location and a new church building in the near future. A beautiful site has been purchased near the north edge of the city, the foundation has been laid, plans are almost complete, and a considerable portion of the money is already available.
Pastons of the First Baptist Church have been: 1868, Rev. J. W. Brooks, the first paston; 1869, no paston reported to the State Convention non to the Salem South Association. The Church Clerk was D. Sturgis; 1870-1871, D. W. Morgan (we wonder if this could have been the Delilah Morgan who started the Sunday School); 1872, J. F. James; 1873-1875, W. Sanfond Gee; 1876, B. C. Crawfond; 1877-1878, Calvin Allen; 1879, C. Davis; 1880, no paston reported to the State Convention
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on to Salem South Association; 1881, W. B. Vassar; 1882, Dismissed from State Convention by request of church; 1883-1886, J. J. Midkiff; 1887-1889, W. D. Throgmonton; 1890, H. W. Thiele; 1891-1892, J. D. Hooker; 1893, George P. Hoster; 1894, J. D. Hooker; September, 1894- October 19, 1896, J. C. Hanriss; December 16, 1896-July 3, 1898, J. N. Monroe; October 12, 1898-August 2, 1899, A. W. Claxon; October 1, 1899- November 27, 1901, W. C. McCall; March 5, 1902-December 2, 1903, J. P. Langley; January 12, 1904-January 1, 1908, A. A. Todd; April 15, 1908- September 27, 1911, W. L. Dorgan; March 3, 1912-March 15, 1919, Jesse H. Wells; October 16, 1919-April 1, 1925, H. E. Truex; June 28, 1926- April 15, 1929, F. O. Criminger; September 15, 1929-October 1, 1935, W. B. Morris; February 16, 1936-September 5, 1944, Robert & Larson; March 4, 1945-August 11, 1947, W. W. Harvey; June 1, 1948-July 21, 1955, Andrew J. Caraker; September 11, 1955-June 3, 1956, Daniel Heit- meyen (Interim Paston); June 17, 1956-present, Eugene L. Holcon." -Prepared by: Harold ? Howard
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MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS
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CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
The first congregation of the Church of Christ in Mt. Vernon was organized on October 3, 1853 with twenty-one members. Ministers present were J. C. Ashley, John E. MeBryan, John A. Williams and Horace Watrons. Carefully preserved to this day is the first written record of the occasion, all inscribed in the hand of Harvey T. Pace, the first clerk of the congregation.
The names of the chanter members follow: Alfred Morgan, Moses Baugh, Solomon Fond, John Stewart, John Baugh, William Baugh, John Bough, Jr., Harvey T. Pace, Nancy Wells, Polly Baugh, Rosan Baugh, Elizabeth Hart, Sarah Fond, Priscilla Nelchen, Nancy Pace, Jane loone, Mary Stewart, John W. Lee, Lea N. Lee, Susan Branchcomb, and Nancy Wallace.
The work of organizing a local church was principally Led by Mr and Mrs. Harvey T. Pace. It was their deep conviction that the Church must flourish in unity "upon the Word of God alone as the rule of faith and practice. " In addition to serving as the congregation's first clerk, Mr. Pace purchased and maintained with his private means the first house of worship. From the day of its organization, the congregation had been meeting in the Jefferson County Court House. It was the county's second judicial center, having been built in 1840. The structure was forty feet square, with a square roof. The court room, used by the Church of Christ on Sunday, was on the first floor with four offices above. Doors opened on the south, east, and west, making quite a formidable appearance. Here the congregation met for several months.
On November 3, 1853, exactly one month after the church's organization, Mr. Pace negotiated for the purchase of the old frame building belonging to the Mt. Vernon Society of the Methodist Epis copal Church for the sum of $345. The structure was one of historical significance. It was the first church building in lilt. Vernon, being erected in the year 1834. In 1840 it was remodeled with an additional twelve feet added to its overall length. Lt. Gov. Zadok Casey pre- sented a bell which hung in the church's belfry for many years. About this time the building was the scene of a political discussion between Abraham Lincoln and John A. Mc(Lennand, the meeting being held in the
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church due to the court house's temporary inadequate condition. By the summer of 1854, shortly following Mir. Pace's purchase of the property, the structure was satisfactionily renovated for use and the Church of Christ moved in Here, in its first home, the congregation met for twenty years, growing with prestige in the community at times, and weakening at others.
With a serious loss of numbers through death and removals, the congregation fell into difficult times, and in 1874 was forced to disband, with the last recorded additions made on August 9 of that year, Following the death of Mrs. Pace in 1875 and Harvey T. Pace in 1876, the property fell into the hands of those who, on one occasion, made it available to the local military company. A Mt. Vernon news- papen remarked concerning the transaction: "The Christian Church building has been rented by the owner of Co. D as an armony. Many delightful memories cluster around this old land-mark, and it seems strange to see the house, whose walls for so many years resounded to the teaching of the Prince of Peace, occupied by a military company, and filled with the accoutenments of war. " For the next twelve years, the Church of Christ was inactive.
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