USA > Illinois > Woodford County > History of Woodford County > Part 11
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Simpson erected new elevators to take the place of the smaller ones they had previously used. The remaining dealers are U. B. Memmen and O. M. Davison.
Kappa was an important grain market before many of the other towns were founded. It was no unusual occurrence for a hundred teams to be there with grain in a day. Prob- ably the first dealer was Fred Niergarth, who had a small warehouse there, but a number of men bought grain at dif- ferent times. There was, however, no elevator there. The Illinois Central built a large store house, which was later turned into an elevator by William Casenwinkle. This was destroyed by fire. In 1883 the first elevator was built by J. B. Drake and George Lallman. The latter entered other lines of business, but Mr. Drake retained possession until recent years. Three years ago the property was purchased by Summers Bros., who own it at this time. Ed. S. Sum- mers has charge of it.
Panola has prospered in the grain business since its foundation. It originally drew from a wide expanse of ter- ritory in both Panola and Greene townships. As in the ease of Kappa, there were frequently scores of teams with grain in town in a day. Samuel Bally relates the following in- teresting experience which will throw some light on the grain trade of Panola. At the time, he was living in Greene township and the Panola dealers were offering a better price for grain than other towns were paying. He was hauling for a neighbor and his team became stalled near Patton's bridge. It was necessary to double teams and be- fore they had gotten their wagons across the stream, there were twenty-four teams waiting. all bound for the Panola elevators. The grain business is now in the hands of F. S. Larison and the Rogers Grain Company.
The first grain sold in ElPaso, was bought by William M. Jenkins and his brother, Isaac. They did not have an elevator until a number of years after they had begun busi- ness. The first was built by George \V. Fridley in 1860, at a.
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IHISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
cost of $6,000. Graft and Webster also built one shortly afterward. This was destroyed by fire in 1863, and was soon rebuilt. In 1871, William Jenkins built an elevator with a capacity of 12.000 bushels of grain. and in 1874 MeClellan and Seery erected one. In 1875 Webster and Graft suffered the loss of their second building. The city now has three large elevators, each of which does an extensive business. Miles L. Miller owns one of these while F. S. Larison owns another. The third is owned by the ElPaso elevator com- pany. During the last few years several companies have been formed among the farmers for the purchase of grain. They have erected three large elevators at different points in the county, the company at ElPaso owning one of these. It was organized in 1903 with a capital stock of $16,000. The following are officers : President, Omer North ; secretary, Charles Gull ; treasurer. J. T. Cleary ; directors, James Wil- key, Louis Kingdon, M. JJ. Cleary, George Scheer, Charles Armstrong and John Pleasants. F. J. Koerner has been manager the past three years.
For a number of years after the railroad was built thru Eureka, there was no elevator in the town, altho there were several warehouses for the handling of grain. In 1863 JJ. M. Murray erected the elevator on Callender street. It remain- ed in his possession until he wished to retire from active business, in 1901, when it was purchased by T. J. McGuire, who now owns it. In 1901 P. A. Felter erected a large ele- vator on College street, and has conducted it since that time.
Roanoke has always been a good grain point. Situated in the heart of a rich prairie region it has been prosperous as a result of the wealth of the surrounding country. Soon after the completion of the railroad in 1872, the first elevator was erected by William and Peter Crow. but it soon passed into the hands of Samuel Hollenback and W. B. Rickey. This elevator was afterwards purchased by Bartlett Frazier & Co., who sold to N. R. Moore. The property is now owned by J. P. Garber. The second elevator was soon erected by
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C. K. Snyder. A third grain house was erected on the west side by John Wren, of Washington, in 1895, and it is still owned by Mr. Wren. The first grain elevator in Secor was built by Peter Crow. There are now three in town, one of which is not in operation at present. In 1908 N. N. Ilet- tinger purchased the building erected by J. M. Murray in 1901. This has a capacity of 100,000 bushels. The most recent enterprise is the Farmers' Elevator Company. It is capitalized at $8,000 and pays 10 per cent dividends. The following are officers : President, W. II. Armstrong; vice- president, John Zeiger; secretary, C. W. Frey; treasurer, L. R. Deiner; directors, C. M. Colburn, John Hunsinger and Gottlieb Stoler. The present manager, Wm. Greiner, as- sumed control June 15, 1903.
On the completion of the Santa Fe, Benson offered an inviting field for investment. . In 1873, Samuel Peterson erected the first elevator in Benson, the building being the one owned by S. L. Peterson. The following year a company, composed of J. B. Miller, A. H. Brubaker and F. D. Learn- ed, erected the elevator now owned by J. E. Eckhart. In 1874 George Fritze & Co., built the third building for handl- ing grain, which was operated by W. A. Pickernell and T. E. Coleman. This finally passed into the hands of James Shields. It has been replaced by a modern elevator that is still owned by Mr. Shields.
Among the earliest grain dealers in Metamora was Peter Willard, who was a member of the firm of Scott and Munn in Spring Bay. This firm did an extensive shipping trade. It was not until after the building of the railroad thru the town that the first elevator was erected by Peter Schertz. There are now two elevators in the town, one owned by J. R. Wagner and the other by II. Wykle.
The building of the Chicago and Alton road opened several good grain markets. The first elevator was built at Low Point in 1874 by Piper, Bayne & Co. It remained in the hands of a company for a number of years, but finally be-
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
came the property of Banta Bros. & Co. The firm has a well equippe l building.
In Is71. W. O. Hammers & Co .. Proste I the first elevator in Cazenovia. This was destroyed by fire an i was rebuilt by Perer Sehertz. This elevator was purchased in ledi by Bal man Bres .. who still control the grain business there. In 1900. they eret l = m Jern Willing.
There is a new ims bo handling gram auf Woodford. Pristel in 1907 by J. A. Singend repres Di ovner. It is m. l rn. welepappel en! bon rxn-ivriral.
When the L. E. and W. raffreol was built chru the connry. Elevators were ericbol at both Goodn-Id an I Conger ville. The arst garin dealer ar Chne ryill- was J. F. Tobias. wbw beran Siesin >> > z after the establishment vf the town in [ .... The -legater - now wn I by Leslie Reel. The eriin business own J in fromeineni wes establishel the sam . year an l is now owned by Sin Nafizinger.
There are www wleyaturs at Cruger. the one owned by Ramsey. More & Co. And min cel by E. J. Perrine. the other own- I by the Farmers' ElMutor Company an I manag-
Martin Vorhees : < - rotary. F. H. Kaufman : treasurer. John Derward: Director- Joon Ding in : W. E. Bruke. Joomrs Stormer. John Bhimesshe -. Joel Riel. D. D. Wischaff.
In 1-70 1L- first plerstor was built in Washburn. by S. W. MAVillo L. TL- Proin business wi that city is now in
BANKING.
The Banking interests of Woodford county have kept wealth of it- port -. Fiz many years there was norskenic in ib- wenty. Ani the first steps taken howard the estall Sument of soll institution- were male by men connectel wird sim orker lin- of An-iness an I who took banking up as a Ble Kaste. During the past forty years There has been ernst in price in the dow ing invested in the
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banks of the county, and a correspondingly great increase in the confidence of the people i ther saffy. Duly wi- have the depositors in Woolf rel county tanks feet tallel upon to suffer from the malility of "bese Baring Der mon-) to pay their checks when presented.
ElPaso has extensive banking interests. in 1:00 the Bank of ElPaso was organized by John G. Ferguson and E. T. Disonary. Later the firm. name was changed to their. Ferguson & Co .. and in Icos another eLang: Was male. the firm being known from that time as Suur. Temples & L ...
In 1872 this company erected the magnizcent Eagle Block at a cost of $00.000. This was destroyed by dre in July. 1894. In 1ss3. this bank fallej. Imme Lately after the failure steps were taken for the organization -i the First National Bank of ElPaso. July 10th, the charter was Leded and the bank opened for business with the tou.wing of- cers: President, A. S. MeKinn-y: vice-president. J. Q. Adams: cashier, S. T. Rogers : bookkeeper. naries Locke_ F. B. Stitt soon assumed charge vi the books and Las re- mained with the institution since that time. The institution is capitalized at $50.000. and has a surplus uf $40.000.
The following are offers. President. A. S. Mckinney : vice-president. Robert Hitch: cashier. F. B. stitt: assistant cashier. L. K. Evans : Directors. A. H. Waire. J. Gilmore. and M. A. Adams. The Woodford County National Bank open- ed for business September 3rd. 1900. with a capital stock of $50.000. and it now has added a surplus and un divided profit of $15.000. The following are Meers: President. J. F. Shepard: vice-president. J. G. Baker: casier. J. F. Sturgeon : directors. George Sebuman. Peter TL.metz. Irvin Beale and F. S. Larison.
The early banking interests of Eireka were in the hands of J. A. Davis. In isos. he openel a bank a: the Eureka Mills under the firm name of J. A. Davis & Om. Later Mr. Davis assumed complete control and soon opened a place .f
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business in the building now occupied by the Woodford County Republican. He amassed a large fortune and on his death left a large amount to different benevolent institu- tions. On the death of Mr. Davis in 1892, the bank was closed.
In 1882, John Darst organized the Farmers' Bank and the institution has been controlled wholly or in part by mem- bers of the Darst family since that time. At present this in- stitution is managed by J. P. Darst and J. A. McGuire.
The State Bank of Eureka was organized under the di- rection of John Freeman, in 1895. Later Mr. Freeman moved to Mason City and Lyon Karr assumed control of the affairs of the institution. It is capitalized at $50,000, and is managed by the following directors : Lyon Karr, Ed. C. Engel, W. M. Meek, C. J. Gibson and Jacob Rich.
In 1869, the Minonk Bank was founded by Geo. T. Baker, who was later succeeded by Jenkins, Dun & Co. In 1873, the Danforth Bank opened, and bought out JJen- kins, Dunn & Co., in 1895. The institution is operated by C. R. Danforth & Co, and has been very successful. It is cap- italized at $50,000.
Another bank was opened there about 1903, thru the in- strumentality of L. A. Buchner and others, but it continued in business but a few months.
In 1909, an institution was organized known as the Mi- nonk National Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, and opened for business in january, following. John F. Shepard is cashier of the new institution. The circulation at present is $12,500.
Altho Benson is one of the smaller towns of the county its banks are very important institutions. The deposits at the present time are about $400,000.
The Benson Bank was opened in 1880, by B. F. Zinser, who operated it for a number of years. In 1900, the name was changed to the First State Bank of Benson. It has a capital stock of $25,000 and a surplus of $20,000. The of-
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fieers are as follows: President, S. L. Peterson; vice-presi- dent, Joseph Pickard; cashier, F. N. Tallyn; assistant cash- ier, F. C. Tucker.
A second bank was organized in 1904, by A. H. Bru- baker & Co., known as the Farmers' Bank. It is capitalized at $25,000, and has been liberally patronized since its organ- ization. It is conducted by the following officers : President, A. H. Brubaker; cashier, M. C. Brubaker; assistant eashier, h. C. Ficken.
The banking interests have grown to be quite exten- sive in Washburn. In 1869, Frank N. Ireland organized a bank, that has been in operation since that time. Mr. Ire- land came to Woodford county in 1855 and has been one of the leading men of the county since that time.
In June, 1908, the People's Bank of Washburn was organized with the following officers: President, Wm. G. West; vice-president, J. F. Shepard; cashier, L. F. Shepard. It is capitalized at $50,000.
The banking interests of Metamora have been of more recent development than other features of its history. In the days prior to the organization of the Schertz institution, Isaac Wykoff founded a bank in connection with his drug business. In 1873, the Metamora Bank was established by James F. Earl, and in a couple of years it passed into the hands of John W. and Adino Page. In 1885, Peter and David Sehertz assumed charge of it, and continued in con- trol for a number of years. In September, 1902, Heiple and Kingsbury purchased the bank and continued to control it from that time, until December 15th, 1908, when it was purchased by Snyder Brothers.
The first banking interests in Secor were in the hands of Henry Dierking. January 1st, 1902, the First National Bank of Seeor was organized. The following are the offi- cers: President, F. B. Stitt; vice-president, C. W. Frey ; cashier, E. J. IIarseim ; directors, J. Gilmore, Robert Hitch, John VanSeyoe and George Burster. It is capitalized at
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
$25,000, and has $4,500 surplus.
The banking interests of Roanoke have grown to be of great importance. The early banking was in the hands of IFerbst, Altofer and Sander, but in 1895 the Farmers' Bank was organized. It has prospered and is now controlled by the following officers; President, II. D. Harms; cashier, L. W. Harms; assistant cashier, H. D. Hollenback.
Low Point has a bank conducted by Banta Bros. & Co., and connected with their other extensive business interests. It belongs to the Bankers Association. Bachman Bros., at Cazenovia also do some banking business.
These fifteen institutions, thirteen of which have sepa- rate banking establishments, represent the banking interests of Woodford county. They represent an investment of more than half a million in capital stock, while an addi- tional one hundred thousand is represented in the surphis and undivided profits of the institutions. It is estimated from the report of the Bankers' Directory of 1908, that the deposits at the present time approach two million dollars.
THIE PRESS.
No single influence has been more potent in developing the county than has the press. It has invariably stood for progressive movements, and, with a few exceptions, a high moral standard has been maintained. There are now nine weekly papers published in the county. The first was es- tablished at Metamora in 1854, altho the earlier issues were not printed there. The greater number of these are non- partisan, but the center of the political arena is the county seat, where each of the leading political parties has an ex- ponent of its doctrines, the democratic party being repre- sented by The Democrat-Journal, while the republican ideas are championed by the Woodford County Republican.
In 1854, the Woodford County Times was established. It was published in Peoria by Phattonberg and Mann and was brought to Metamora for distribution. As the wagon
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fastened to a pole and carried as a flag. The paper was later published by Calvin MeKenzie and Mark Aiken. The first press was of the army style, which consisted of a flat bed and a small cylinder. that, when revolved, drew the bed and type beneath it, making an impression. No roller was used and the ink was merely daubed on the type. The paper, which became known as the Woodford Sentinel, changed hands several times, passing into the possession of W. B. Whiffen in 1860, and was published by him until 1866. In that year Power & Ilarl assumed control of it. Later Mr. Power sold out and Mr. Ilarl continued its publication. In 1889, A. L. Hereford began the publication of the IIerald. It was continued for a short time and John Knoblauch purchas- ed both papers and united them. It was later published by Miss Henrietta Knoblauch and her sister. November 10, 1904, W. Ryan purchased the plant and paper. He has in- troduced a number of new features, among them, occasional historical sketches, that have been both interesting and valuable.
Washburn has for a number of years had a paper that has done much for the town, as will be seen by the follow- ing. It has been at various time the property of a number of different owners.
S. C. Bruce began the publication of the Washburn News in 1877, but it was not continued long. In 1879,the Washburn Revelie was issued by the Sparland Chroniele, and at a later date the Woodford County Sentinel published a Washburn edition. In 1882 the Washburn Times was published by Matthiessen and Snow, and in 1890 the Wash- burn Leader was established, under the management of Win. Rowley, later Rowley and Crane. J. II. Schultze and George Weinteer in turn owned the paper, and in 1905, it passed into the hands of its present owner, R. E. Patterson.
Eureka has had several newspapers, and various editors have from time to time sought to mold the opinions of the people. December 10th, 1867, John W. Karr issued the first
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
copy of the Woodford Journal. After several changes in ownership this paper passed into the hands of R. N. Rad- ford and was operated by Mr. Radford and the firm of Rad- ford and Davidson for many years. It is still in the hands of the Radford family, being owned by Dr. B. J. Radford and published by B. J. Radford, Jr. The name was changed to the Eureka Journal and continued as such until the con- solidation of that paper with the Woodford County Demo- crat, a paper founded by J. D. Clark, and that later passed into the hands of J. A. Schaffer. It was then changed to the Democrat-Journal. In 1896, M. T. IIyer started the Wood- ford County Republican. This paper ultimately passed into the hands of P. E. Low who still publishes it. Another paper that had a brief, tho prosperous career in the city, was the Eureka Progress, published by J. P. Slyter. It was founded by F. M. Bolt, about 1888, and was owned at one time by Kennith Coleson. The plant was finally removed to Deer Creek, where it is still published.
The publications of Minonk have undergone numerous changes. In the early seventies there were two papers. The Minonk Journal, published by G. II. Jenkins, and The Mi- nonk Index, published by M. A. Cushing. Neither of these papers were continued long. In 1874, Irving Carrier began the publication of the Minonk Blade. At a later date J. M. Fort assumed control of the paper. The name of the publi- cation was changed to The Minonk Register after Mr. Fort disposed of it, and was again changed by Mr. C. R. Denson, the present proprietor, to the Minonk Dispatch. In 1877 a second paper was established by S. C. Bruce who came there from Washburn. The new publication was known as the Mi- nonk News and has been published under that name since its establishment, altho it has been owned by various parties. It is now owned and published by George Werkheiser.
The Benson Bee is a weekly publication edited by H. D. Lewis. In 1895, B. W. Kinsey began the publication of the Benson Post. In a short time he sold his interest to D. Davis,
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C. SCHAFER, ElPaso.
REV. D. M. FICKEN, Linn Township.
JACOB RAY, Eureka.
JOSEPH VOGEL. Clayton Township.
R. D. TOMB, Cruger Township.
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ISAAC B. HAMMERS. ElPaso, Il1.
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who later transferred the paper to Minonk. In 1899, H. D. Lewis came to Benson from Eureka and began the publica- tion of the Bee, which he has continued to this time.
The first newspaper published in ElPaso was The Ga- zette, a little 10x14 four page publication, founded by Rob- ert Couch. The present owner of the Journal, Mr. George W. Curtiss has a copy of the first issue of that paper. Its publication was begun Febuary 1st, 1863. In April, 1865, the ElPaso Journal was launched. The question as to who established it is in dispute. The anniversary edition of the Journal, published February 6th, 1909, names John S. Harp- er as its founder. The History of '78 names John S. Ilarper and D. B. Fisk as its founders. Be that as it may the issue of November 8, 1865, bears the name J. W. Wolfe. The first few years of its existence recorded a number of changes in ownership. It passed thru many experiences, un- til in 1889, it came under the control of G. R. Curtiss and R. of the leading papers in Central Illinois. Mr. Curtiss has of the leading papers in Central Illinois Mr. Curtiss Las recently celebrated the twentieth anniversary of his control of the paper. It has been operated under the same name longer than any other paper in the county. There have been various other publications, but they have been of short dura- tion. Among these was the Woodford County Republican that was first published there, but was later removed to Eu- reka by M. T. Hyer. Another was the Patriot published in the '60's by D. B. Fiske. The last publication was the El Paso Press published by Beard of Chenoa.
The Roanoke Call began the nineteenth year of its pub- lication in July, of the present year. It was established by P. B. Hobbs, who still retains possession of it and it has eu- joyed a healthy growth. Priar to the founding of the Call there had been a paper there known as the Roanoke Era. It was established at the time of the county seat contest in 1883, and when the election failed to remove the county seat its publication was abandoned.
SEBASTIAN VOGEL, Greene Tp.
D. P. KENYON, Minonk.
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SAMUEL PETERSON, Clayton Township.
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MINING.
Woodford county also belongs to that part of Illinois that is underlain by rich deposits of coal, at varying depths, in veins of sufficient thickness to make mining a paying in- vestment. The first mine sunk was at Minonk, in 1869. It was inaugurated by a stock company. The first board of di- rectors consisted of Frank Burt, H. R. Kipp, M. L. Newell, J. D. Webber, H. C. Dent, Chas. Whittaker and Samuel Ewers. The mine was first sunk 329 feet, at which depth it was found that it could not be operated on a paying basis. The com- pany was reorganized and the shaft was sunk to the depth of about 550 feet. It finally turned its interest over to Minor T. Ames, of Chicago, who operated it under the name of the Minonk and Chicago Coal and Coke Company, with great success for many years. Later a second shaft was sunk. The property is now in the possession of Mrs. Ames, but it is operated under a lease. For several years before passing into the possession of its present owners it was in litigation.
The second shaft in the county was sunk at Roanoke in 1881. A company was organized to sink it, in which Isaac Snyder, Peter Kennell, and Peter Belsley were the chief in- vestors. A shaft was sunk in the east part of town to the depth of 480 feet. A vein of fine quality was reached at this depth. Two other veins had been reached before but these did not give promise of such rich returns, and were passed. The mine produces about 500 tons of coal per day and em- ploys about three hundred men. In 1899 the property was sold to the Roanoke Coal Mining Company, and it is now owned and operated by Duggan Bros., under the above name.
A number of unsuccessful attempts have been made to sink mines at different points. Among these was the Pan- ola mine, which was started forty years ago. The workmen reached a depth of seventy-five feet, but were unable to go on, altho the prospectings had shown coal in paying quan- tities.
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An attempt was made a number of years ago to sink a coal shaft at Enreka. The company was organized in 1881, and several thousand dollars were raised for the work. Prospectors found a vein of coal at a depth of 205 feet. At the depth of 281 feet a thicker vein, and the best vein at the depth of 380 feet. The shaft was sunk to the depth of about 100 feet, when it became impossible to continue the work, and the shaft was abandoned.
An attempt was made a number of years ago to sink a shaft at Metamora. It was sank to the depth of 130 feet and abandoned. At a little over fifty feet a seam of coal was found a foot thick and at a somewhat greater depth another thin vein, and finally a vein of three and half feet in thick- ness was struck, but only a small part of this was market- able.
One of the most extensive canning factories in Illinois is located at Eureka and is owned by Dickinson and Company In 1895, a stock company was organized and capitalized at $10,000, for the purpose of erecting a canning factory. A plant was put up cast of town, and it was operated one year. The company lost heavily on the first season's pack, and the factory was idle until 1898, when R. B. Dickinson & Son purchased it and operated it with great success. The year following, the firm of Dickinson and Company erected their large plant where it now stands. Since the building of the original plant, thousands of dollars have been expended in improvements. The company cans peas, corn and pump- kins, and the season's pack exceeds three and half million cans. They raise a large part of their own products, but a portion of the corn is raised by farmers under contract. They employ 300 people during the busy season, and have 15 men employed by the year. Their stock is sold all over the United States, much of it being shipped to neighboring states. California receives a number of cars of their goods every year. In the fall of 1909 the company entered into an arrangement for a factory at Washington, similar to the
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