USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 13
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The bank occupies the Ulrich Block at the corner of North Water and East Prairie streets. A substantial, three-story brick building. Recently this bank has made a complete change in the interior appoint- ments, giving it furnishings entirely modern in every department of its business. Its capitalization is $100,000; the undivided profits and surplus are $125,000. Its de- posits are very heavy. The officers are K. H. Roby, president; D. S. Shellabarger, vice-president ; B. O. McReynolds, cashier ; George W. Bright, assistant cashier.
L. Burrows & Co. Bank.
In 1852, when Peddecord & Burrows were conducting a general store in Decatur, they had a safe, the only one in town, in which the farmers deposited their money in sacks. The firm being custodian of much of the money of the community, quite an extensive exchange business was carried on through it. This finally resulted in the establish- ment of a bank under the firm name of Ped- decord & Burrows. In July, 1899, at the death of Mr. Peddecord, the name of the bank was changed to L. Burrows & Co. It is one of the oldest enterprises in the city, vet has lost none of its original pres- tige. The officers are: L. Burrows, presi- dent ; L. L. Burrows, cashier. This bank occupies the first floor of the three-story brick building at the corner of South Park and North Water streets.
PAST AND PRESENT OF \\\ \
The Decatur Traction & Electric Company.
The first street railways in Decatur were equipped with small cars with benches for passengers along the side. Horses or males. equipped with warning bells, furnished the motive power. The management, however, becoming too progressive for these condi- tions, was the first in the state to adopt electricity as its motor.
The people doubted the feasibility of the plan and when the initiatory trial was made. at the old square, a large crowd assembled to witness the start. The trial was success- ful, but some thought there was danger of receiving shocks, others that the motorman would lose control, and still others that the current would stop the watches of the pas- sengers. But soon these illusions were dis- pelled and everybody rode. The manage- ment deserves unstinted praise for the pres- ent efficiency of the road.
While the name of the company has not always been the same, yet it has never really been out of the hands of the original promoters until July, 103. when it was sold to the Interurban Company. The company has recently been incorporated for $225,000, the greater portion being used in laying the tracks and erecting and equipping a new power plant.
The company now has about fifteen miles of track, thirty cars, a first-class power house, a spacious, well equipped car barn and a handsome transfer station. The cars are of the latest patterns with electric heat- ers, electric lights, electric signal bells, illu- minated signs, cross seats and vestibules. Fach car is propelled by a twenty-five horse power motor,
The power station, costing $10,000, is a large substantial brick building, modern in all its appointments It contains two three hundred and fifty horse power Bates Corliss engines, two two hundred and fifty Kilowatt general electric generators, two three hun dred and fifty Sterling water tube boilers,
and sufficient space in the binding to duph- cate its components.
The transfer station, located on Lincoln Square, the center of the original town of Decatur, is a feature of the system that is not found in any other city of the state. In surveying the crossing of the two main streets, a square was cut out of the corner of each of the four adjacent blocks, forming quite a large square ; this in carly times was used by the farmers for a hitching place for teams, also for a show ground and a general loating or gathering place ; it finally de- veloped into a nuisance, which was event- nally supplanted by an octagonal stone structure, fashioned after a Chinese pagoda. The first floor contains a waiting room and the company's office, over this is a band room ; the roof extends sufficiently to pro- tect the passengers from the sun and rain ; surrounding the building is a wide, circular walk of granitoid.
All in all you will find no better system in any town the size of Decatur, and it is doubtful whether any in the state surpass it.
MANUFACTORIES AND INCORPO- RATIONS.
The Decatur Coffin Company, corner North and Morgan streets, was established in 18-2, being one of the oldest com- panies in the city carried on continuously under the same management. This com- pany was incorporated in 1882. It has con- stantly lived up to its reputation of careful, successful, honorable, businesslike dealing. The company makes burial caskets, burial robes and wholesale undertakers' supplies. It- Silesmen visit and sell goods in all the leading cities of the United States. It takes the lead in burial garments, and is conside ered the most important of its kind in the country It made some new departures in this hne recently, which changed the mate- rial and manner of making burial garments, thus giving the company a place at the head
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
of the country's trade. A large number of skilled mechanics and experienced dress- makers constitute the working force. The officers are: O. Z. Greene, president ; George E. Moeller, vice-president; T. T. Roberts, secretary and treasurer.
The F. B. Tait Manufacturing Company, located on East Cerro Gordo street, occu- pies an entire block of ground 260 by 150 feet. It fronts Cerro Gordo street and also skirts the Wabash right-of-way which af- fords excellent transfer facilities. The main building, containing offices, sample rooms and warehouse, has four stories and a base- ment; this was opened in March, 1902, and is one of the most handsome business houses in central Illinois. The machine shop, foundry and blacksmith shop are of brick and well equipped with all the neces- sary machinery.
From eighty to one hundred men are em- ployed by this company, eight traveling men are constantly in the field. They man- ufacture the Decatur corn planter, the three row corn planter, land rollers, steel-frame lever harrows and gate seeders, shoveling boards, surface cultivators, the New Deca- tur and Easy corn sheller, Tait check row- ers, Buckeye harrow and pulverizer, stalk rakes, wagon seats and single-tongue sweep rakes. They also handle buggies, carriages, wagons, general farm implements and gas- oline engines.
The F. B. Tait Company has a capital stock of $100,000, and was organized in 1897 to succeed F. B. Tait & Company, which firm was organized in 1882. The officers are: F. B. Tait, president and treasurer ; D. B. Tait, vice-president ; E. C. Bassey, secretary.
The plant of the Decatur Lumber and Manufacturing Company, on North Water street, occupies eight lots of space skirting the Wabash Railroad. They manufacture all kinds of interior finish for stores, resi- dences and office-fittings, sash. doors,
moulding and stair work in all kinds of wood, including mahogany, walnut, cherry, quarter-sawed oak and cypress. In bank and store fixtures they both make and fit, employing first-class workmen in that line of work. The factory and planing mill is a four-story brick building 60 by 80 feet, equipped with all of the latest and best machinery. This company handles a full line of lumber in all of the woods usually found in a first-class lumber yard, also lath and shingles. The company started in business in 1880 with a capital of $50,000, and in 1892 increased the stock to $100,000. The officers are: Thomas V. Jones, presi- dent : J. B. Good. vice-president ; H. M. Prescott, treasurer : A. S. Knouff, secre- tary.
The Haworth and Sons Manufacturing Company is the oldest plant of its kind in Decatur, having had its origin in 1870, then known as Haworth & Sons. The present management was inaugurated two years ago. They make corn planters, check row- ers, grain drills and scoop-boards, and also do a jobbing business in buggies and wagons. They own the patents on most of the machinery which they make. The check rower is the only cross-wire rower made, it being the invention of George D. Haw- orth, and the first ever patented. This plant was built in 1872, and is located at the corner of East Cerro Gordo and Eldo- rado streets, extending back to the Wabash tracks covering a block of ground, making a large railroad frontage which affords fine shipping facilities. The building contains three stories and a basement and is mod- ern in all its furnishings. The number of men employed is from seventy-five to one hundred, a number of traveling men are always on the road.
The Decatur Monument Company, or- ganized by John H. Culver, was, in 1896, changed to the firm of Brown & Son, now located in the 400 block on North Main
PAST AND PRESENT OF MACOS COLA)
street. This firm keeps in stock a full line of monuments both in style and quality. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Massa- chusetts and Scotch grantes, as well as the leading varieties of marble are carried. The territory covered by their sales includes Decatur and its adjacent country. N. F. Brown, the senior partner of the firm, is an old resident of this county, having settled near Bloody in 1850.
The Palace of Sweets, located in the Free Wilson building in the 300 block on North Main street, was established by J. W. Keckley in August. 1002. It was capital ized for $2,500; for the purpose of manufac turing a general hne of confectionery and ice cream, melding a jobbing business in the same.
The U'nion Iron Works was instituted in If by James Millikin and C. C. Burrows. It was devoted largely to building engines up to 1880. Engines and mill machinery We're its entire products until 1875. The company was incorporated in 1882, the stock being held by James Millikin, .A. R. Montgomery and Mrs. A. R. Montgomery. The management is principally in the hands of 1. R. Montgomery, who has shown marked business ability in establishing its enviable reputation. The trade grew from milling machinery to elevator supplies, this led to the corn sheller, which proved a for tune to the firm. They have furnished the major part of the shelling machinery of the United States; this firm has more shel- lers in operation in warehouses than all other makes combined ; in 1875 everything but elevator supplies was abandoned. Hur- ing the last decade they have won a repu- tation on their portable corn sheller that has made them leaders in that line; their territory not only covers the United States. but reaches over into Mexico and Canada. A general machine shop and foundry is also profitably carried on. Over a hundred men find employment here the year round. and
every branch requires skilled labor for which high prices are paid. The point burned August 5. 1895, twenty four days later the factory was rebuilt, larger and bet ier than before, taking on an increased num bug of workmen. Since then a large addi tion has been built, making it the largest foundry in the city. James Millikin is pres- ident and A. R. Montgomery is secretary. treasurer and general manager.
The plant of the Satley Manufacturing Company, located on the Wabash Railroad between Jasper and North Lowber streets. is the foundry department of the above named company which is in Springfield. The business of the plant is to make the gray and malleable iron castings used by the Springfield company, and to do a gen eral line of job work. From the time the in dry was open for business it was crowded with orders. The majority of the manufactories in the city, especially those making implements, found it convenient and profitable to have their malleable iron castings made by this firm ; many orders from the outside are constantly coming in. At the start but fifty men were needed. while at present over two hundred are em- ployed during the busy season. Its capac ity has been increased at short intervals during the last three years by building more annealing ovens, placing larger en- gines, building additional rooms and by mumerous other improvements. It has done much good for Decatur by reestab fishing business in an abandoned locality and furnishing labor for a large number of idle men. 6. 1. Hackett is the local man- ager .
The Decatur Coal Company is one of the largest employers of labor in the city: the company has two shafts, known as the old and the new. The mine. at first, was oper- ated by private parties and had but the old shaft. In 1882 the Decatur Coal Company was incorporated, and a new shaft opened.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
The old shaft is on the Wabash, and the new is on the Central; the mines are con- nected under ground. An excellent quality of bituminous coal is produced, which is not only sold in the local market, but at numerous points outside. Over three hun- dred men are employed ; the mines have a capacity of about 1,200 tons per day of eight hours each. This company also owns a mine in Niantic, in which machinery for mining coal is used. The officers of the company are : H. W. Hill, president ; O. B. Gorin, secretary and treasurer; W. C. Arm- strong, general manager.
The John A. Keck Company, corner West Wood and South Church street, manufac- tures cigar and paper boxes. The firm was established in 1881. It is managed and principally owned by John A. Keck. Its saws, planes and presses are kept in con- tinual use by its employes, who number about seventeen the year round. Paper boxes for the local trade and cigar boxes for both local and outside manufacturers are made. This establishment has been very successful in securing and maintain- ing a lucrative business.
The Chambers, Bering & Quinlan Com- pany, among the oldest manufactories in the city, located on Jasper street and front- ing the Wabash Railroad, makes corn planters, check rowers, hay loaders, side delivery rakes and other farm machinery. The firm sprung into existence in 1876 by the partnership entered into on the part of William B. Chambers, J. E. Bering and William J. Quinlan. A few years ago W. B. Chambers retired and Wilson M. Bering took his place. This company manufac- tured the first wire check rower, which has proven an entire success, both as a mechan- ical device and as a money maker. A short time ago the plant was destroyed by fire, but out of the ashes sprung a building of newer design with all the modern conven- iences and the latest and best machinery.
From seventy-five to one hundred men find work here. The officers are : J. E. Ber- ing, president; William M. Bering, vice- president; William J. Quinlan, secretary and treasurer.
The F. H. Bushway Flavoring Extract Company, located at 949-51 North Water street, was incorporated in 1893. The plant occupies three floors and manufac- tures all kinds of flavoring extracts. The firm also handles teas and coffees on a large scale. They employ sixteen workmen the year round. The members of the firm are J. O. Henry and J. B. Ilenry. Their goods are reliable and are shipped to many outside points.
The firm of W. H. Grindol & Son, corner of East Main and Franklin streets, was es- tablished in 1865 by W. H. Grindol. In 1890 John Grindol became a member of the firm. The work turned out at present is made by machinery, consisting of a pol- isher, a cutter, a pneumatic hammer and other accessory tools. All light carving, cutting and engraving is executed with a pneumatic hammer. The granite is all worked from the rough and is received in car-load lots. Ten men are continuously employed. The firm owns the buildings and grounds occupied by the plant.
The Frank Curtis Company is the oldest firm in the state that manufactures, whole- sales and retails jewelry. The firm was es- tablished thirty years ago as Otto E. Cur- tis & Company, and was later known as Otto E. Curtis & Brother. At the death of Otto E. Curtis the business was managed by Frank Curtis. In 1899 a corporation was formed known as the Frank Curtis Company. The stockholders are Frank Curtis, Mrs. A. T. Curtis, Mrs. J. T. Dur- fee and Miss Mabel Durfee. The incorpo- rate stock is $30,000. This business has been carried on in the same rooms since it was organized. They do a wholesale as well as a retail business in diamonds,
Watches, clocks and all kinds of jewelry. The ground floor at 150 Fast Main street is devoted entirely to the jewelry business, the second floor is used for the china ware, the basement is used for storage and the third foor is used for manufacturing and repairing work They employ twelve per- sons and do all their own repairing and difficult job work which most jewelers send to the large cities. The officers are Frank Curtis, president. Miss Mabel V. Durice. secretary and treasurer.
The t. J. Hartley Company, located at the corner of Franklin and Decatur streets on the Alimon Central Railroad, was known as the Warren & Durite Company from 1885 to 185, when it was transferred to C. J liarthey and his son Arthur Hartley. The main Mulling to 30 by on feet and is two Stories high; the wing to this 15 40 by 100 icet. the warehouse 30 by two feet. This firm manufactures wagon and buggy jacks, also the C. J. Hartley gram weigher, on which the firm owns the patents. General contract work is done, and in the machine shop repairing and rebuilding engines is made a specialty. The company was HI- corporated March 17. 1002, for SSD. The officers are Joseph Stocks, president : C. J. Harvey, secretary and treasurer, Arthur Hartley, superintendent.
The Wayne Sulkyette Company, located at the corner of Last Prairie and North Frankly streets, has done much to adver- the Decatur abroad. The company manu- factures high grade fire apparat is, police patred wagons, hose wagons, chemical en- gines confined chemical and lese wagons, hook and ladder trucks, and rubber ured vehicles of all kinds, melding racing carts, road wagons, buggies and pont carts and wagons This company was awarded a medal at the World's Calmablan Esposi- tion for the finest police patrol was 015 all | other vehicles. The book and hadder truck and Hove way ans of the 1 aur fir depart
ment were built by this company, as Was also the police patrol wagon. The effects are, D. W. Brenna nan, president, W. J. Wayne, wie president and general man- ager. W. I. Shade, secretary and treasurer.
The Decatur Cornice and Rooting Works, located on North Main street, Just south of the Wabash Railroad, was estab Ished by W. 11 Stewart m 1882. The steady growth of the business has enabled the firm to gain a foothold in most of the lead ing cities of the country. "Perfect" is the trade mark under which all the leading specialties are manufactured. All the job- bing houses carry, regularly, on their cata logues the "Perfect" radiator and register shield. Among the specialties made by them are copper and zine caskets, slate and steel roofing, furnaces, sheet metal statu ary, sky-lights, tar, gravel and asphalt roof ing. They also do general contract work on metal work, roofing and cornice. The sheet-metal, slate and tile roofing and cop per work on the new Wabash depot was done by them.
The Decatur Novelty Works, located at the corner of Morgan and William streets, owned and managed by Witham 1. Maken. manufactures steam engines, gas engines, oil engines, steam boilers, steam pumps and feed water heaters. A large stock of general supplies for steam users is carried by the firm. The trade is principally local. Thirty five persons are furnished employ- ment. The business was established in IN-8.
The Decatur Brewing Company is one of the earliest established institutions of the its, it was started by John falls, in the latter part of the hitis, who was succeeded in the busines by B. B. Richards, Mark Simpson and Nicholas Weber, who in turn wold the Brewery to b. Harpstrite and II. Shlmedthan in 1802, by whom it was con Leted for twenty two years In 1884 11. Shlanceman bought his partner's interet
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
and, with the co-operation of his sons, has successfully carried on the business since then. The plant is located at 604 East Cen- tral street. The main building is 100 by 135 feet ; part of it is three stories and part is five stories. There is a malting capacity of 15,000 barrels of beer annually. In the manufacture of beer the best Minnesota barley and New York and Pacific Coast hops only, are used. The cellars are cooled with a consolidated Ice Company machine, the capacity of which is ten tons per day, and a Westinghouse machine, having a capacity of twenty-five tons. The build- ings are lighted by the company's electric light plant. Glass-enameled steel casks are used in the vacuum process of aging and ripening the beer. A number of deep wells have been sunk, affording an abundance of pure water for brewing. The plant is equipped throughout with the newest and best appurtenances. This firm sells beer all over the state, and seven-eighths of the beer used in Decatur is of this company's make. The bottling works, which is a part of the plant, is a two-story brick structure 25 by 75 feet. Twenty-one men are em- ployed in the brewery and twelve in the bottling works. The officers are: Henry Shlaudeman, president ; Frank Shlaudeman, vice-president ; Harry Shlaudeman, secre- tary and treasurer.
The Stuart Dry Goods Company was or- ganized in 1897. This store is located in the two hundred block on North Water street, in an elegant three-story brick build- ing, by Mr. Fenton, adapted to the especial needs of this company. Besides handling a regular dry goods business, dress making, cloak making and remodeling of fur gar- ments is also carried on. All the members of this firm are experienced dry goods men, having come up from clerkships; the suc- cess of the business reflects the ability of its promoters. About forty persons are employed in this store. An extensive stock
of well selected millinery has also been car- ried in store by the firm for the last few years.
The Decatur Lime and Cement Com- pany, at the old David Martin stand, 600 North Morgan street, the oldest lime house in central Illinois, is now owned and man- aged by Dan Macnct. He carries lime, ce- ment, flue-linings, wall-copings, fire-brick, fire-clay, sewer-pipe, hard and soft coal. The trade is about equally divided between local and outside territory, reaching fifty miles in every direction from Decatur.
The Electric Supply and Fixture Com- pany was incorporated May 31, 1898, cap- ital stock, $2,500. This company does general contracting work ; jobbing in dyna- mos, motors, watchmen's time detectors, and manufactures electrical specialties. The offices are in the Powers' building. The officers are: E. E. Gibson, president and treasurer ; E. T. Coleman, vice-president ; M. M. Holmes, secretary.
The Standard Manufacturing Company, located in the Columbia Building, on North Main street, was incorporated in July, 1901 ; capitalized for $12,000. It manufactures and wholesales flavoring extracts, perfumes and toilet preparations. The officers are : F. A. Bushway, president; C. M. Goltra, vice-president; J. M. Eaton, secretary ; C. W. Hastings, treasurer and manager.
The J. L. Drake Hardware store, the former site of the Griswold store, at the corner of South Water and East Main streets, the oldest hardware stand in De- cattir, carries a general line of hardware, paints and sporting goods. He manufac- tures special lines of metal work.
The F. H. Cole Shoe Company is located in the 100 block on East Main street. They carry a full line of men's, ladies' and chil- dren's shoes, also a complete line of rub- ber goods usually carried with a well se- lected stock of this magnitude. Their stock has thus far assured them a remunerative
PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
business. The officers are: Joseph Lap- ham, president ; I. E. Lapham, vice-presi- dent. Charles E. Martin, secretary ; Charles 1). Jones, treasurer.
J. P. Fckles & Company, located at 222 North Main street, carries hardware, tin- ware, paints and oils and manufactures spe- cialties in sheet metals.
C. J. Fargeson, located at 054-058, car- ries a general line of hardware and furni- ture, and also manufactures tinner's sup- plies.
B. M. Dennis, located at of North Water street, carries on a general hardware busi- ness, and manufactures sheet metal sup- plies.
.A. F. Gebhart, located at 1135-1139 North Water street, does a general hardware bus- mess, and manufactures special supplies for the trade.
Michael Fahay, located at 1102-1106 East Eldorado, does a general hardware busi- ness, and mannfactures his supplemental supplies.
The Decatur Gas and Electric Company supplies the citizens of Decatur with elec- tric and gas light, also electric power and inel gas. The first plant was instituted in 1808; it was originally known as the Deca- tur Gas, Light and Coke Company, and later as the Decatur Light, Heat and Power Company. When purchased by Messrs. Danforth and McCoy and united with the C'ulver Electric Light Plant, it assumed its present cognomen, and was incorporated for Spoon. In 18m) an eastern syndicate bought the plant. The officers of the com- pany are: J. Manchester Haynes, of Au- gusta, Maine, president ; George E. Macom- ber, of Angusta. Maine, treasurer ; W. ... Bixby, manager. Since going into the hands of these parties many thousands of dollars have been expended in its better- ment. The lower water gas system has been introduced, and the plant on Fast Wood street has been increased to the
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