USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
In September, 1909, Red Cross Lodge and Preux Chevalier Lodge purchased the building which was the old Methodist Church, at 514- 516 Jersey Street, and converted it into a beautiful Castle Hall, which has been the home of the Knights of Pythias of Quincy ever since. The building is controlled by a board of control consisting of five mem- bers, two appointed by each lodge and one selected by the four that
573
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
are appointed. The members of the first board of control were W. R. McCormick, R. E. Weeks, George E. Long, A. J. Neimeyer and .J. W. Schulte. The members of the present body are A. J. Neimeyer, Judge Curl Epler, A. R. Bush and Judge Lyman MeCarl.
THE ROYAL ARCANUM COUNCIL
Quincy Council No. 195, Royal Areanum, was organized in Novem- ber, 1897, with thirty-four charter members. Its first officers com- prised : Fry W. Thompson, regent; Edwin A. Clark, vice regent ; Daniel D. Merriam, past regent ; John A. Allen, orator; William D. Simpson, secretary; Henry C. Miller, collector. Charles C. Gruese is serving as present regent : Sidney T. Malem, vice regent : John F. W. Kipp, orator; Alex. C. Swartwout. secretary; John T. Tofall, col- leetor.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus organized Quincy Couneil No. 583 in June, 1901, and have now a local membership of 500. The charter members numbered thirty-six. Thomas A. Scherer was its first grand knight ; James H. O'Neill, deputy grand knight; John Bernbroek, financial secretary ; Thomas T. Brady, recording secretary : Ilarry J. Mulligan, chancellor; and Herman Heintz, treasurer. The successive grand knights of the council have been Thomas A. Scherer, Joseph N. Tibesar, Joseph J. Freiburg, John A. Connery. L. J. Jochem, John W. Kerkering, John B. Carroll, Theodore F. Ehrhart and John Blomer. James A. Schepers is serving as deputy grand knight : John A. Connery, financial secretary; Richard T. Lyons, recording secre- tary; Rome Wiskirchen, chancellor: Will J. Heintz, treasurer. The Knights of Columbus have their own building at Maine and Eighth streets, which was dedicated by Father A. Zurbonsen. chaplain, on September 12, 1912. It was built on the industrial and cooperative plan. The Columbus Home Association was granted a charter by the state to ereet and conduct a elub house. Martin J. Geiso was the architeet. The total cost of building and grounds was $35.000 and the members of the association own all outstanding bonds of indebted- ness. Its president is Joseph J. Freiburg and secretary is Lawrence .J. Jochem.
WOODMEN OF THE WORLD
Phil Miller Camp No. 5. Woodmen of the World, was organized December 3, 1903, and a charter issued to the following: Henry Stein- metz, Dell Carr, D. S. Hunsaker. Albert Ryniker, Geo. N. Schmitt. W'm. Scheid, Wm. Hild, Jos. A. Roy, Fred Sanner, A. II. Byers. A. C. Hoffman, Clyde Cobb. F. W. Brinkoetter, J. A. Thompson, W. . J. F. Reiffert. H. W. Scott, II. O. Shunk, W. J. Bruening. R. E. Byers, Eugene Browne, Chas. F. Hardyman.
574
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
The home office of the W. O. W. is located at Omaha, Nebraska, having been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska in June, 1890. The local camp was organized with twenty-nine mem- bers, which have increased until at the present time there are 244 members in good standing. The first member of the local camp to die was Joseph A. Roy, whose death occurred November 3, 1906, since which time twenty-seven members have passed to the beyond. The twenty-eight members who have died were insured for the total sum of $31,000. Among the distinctive features of the Woodmen of the World is their erection, at the grave of every deceased member, of a monument at a cost of not to exceed $100, which cost is paid by the order in addition to the amount of insurance carried by the member. Another distinctive feature is the reserve fund of the order. The assessment rate being based upon the American Experience Table of Mortality, is fully adequate to mature each policy, and provide an expense and reserve fund. The by-laws providing that each month a certain per cent of all monies collected to be set aside as a reserve fund, which is invested only in government and municipal bonds. The present officers of the local camp are as follows: Past consul com- manders, Ralph L. George and Chas. F. Hardyman : adviser lieuten- ant, Frank J. Cate; banker, Geo. J. Hild ; clerk, F. W. Munroe; escort, John Hondyshell ; watchman, John B. Scobee ; sentry, Jos. J. Franke ; physicians, Dr. G. W. Burch and Dr. H. F. Litchfield; managers, W. C. Dingerson, John W. Wensing and Wm. J. Smith.
TRIBE OF BEN HUR
Quincy Court No. 20, Tribe of Ben Hur, was organized April 25, 1896, by Supreme Deputy B. H. Siepker, with the following officers : Past chief, Samuel Johnson; chief temple, H. Dunn; judge, India Bonesteel; teacher, E. K. Johnson ; seribe, R. W. Daniels; keeper of tribute, J. W. Stainer. The court has been well officered and man- aged since that time, and regular meetings have been held. The change to basis of fraternal congress rates in 1908 resulted in the loss of a number of members, but there has been some growth in member- ship upon the better basis for new members. A new feature of the organization is a monthly income and disability certificate which provides funeral benefits and a monthly income to the beneficiary ; also an old age disability benefit to the member, as well as other total or partial disability benefits. The present membership of Quincy Court is nearly 100 and its officers are: Past chief, R. B. Siepker ; chief, H. D. Condron ; judge, H. J. Thies ; teacher, Mrs. Clara Welch ; scribe, N. J. Hinton ; keeper of tribute, Mrs. Lois Hinton; captain, E. A. Welch ; guide, B. H. Siepker.
THE EAGLES IN QUINCY
The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 535, has also been waxing strong for a number of years past, and in the spring of 1918 completed
575
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
a massive building both for a home and as a business investment, on North Sixth Street. It was completed at a cost of $75,000. The aerie was organized November 15. 1903, and its charter issued January 1, 1904. Its first officers were: P. W. president, G. W. Vanden Boom; W. president. Joseph A. Roy; W. vice president, C. W. Harbin ; W. chap., Emmet Head ; secretary, Fred Terwische; treasurer, Wm. F. Bader : physician, Dr. George Rosenthal. The present officers are : P. W. president, P. W. Reardon; W. president, Charles E. Ross: W. vice president, B. J. Knf; W. chap., R. S. Benediet; W. cond., George Eberle ; secretary, Charles W. Zang; treasurer, Wm. F. Bader; physician, Dr. E. F. Stannus.
OTHER SOCIETIES
Among the organizations which also show vitality and growth may he mentioned the Improved Order of Red Men, Minnawanna Tribe No. 159; Knights of Maccabees, Globe Tent No. 97 and Quiney Tent No. 161: Modern Woodmen of America. Gem City Camp No. 219; Royal Neighbors of America, Oak Camp No. 543 and Queen of the West Camp No. 51 ; and Brotherhood Protective Order of Moose, Gem City Lodge No. 986.
Quiney's prominence as an industrial eenter is emphasized by the organization of the Trades and Labor Assembly, which is the eentral body of thirty or forty local unions. Its president is Theodore Bisser and its secretary, Bernhart Deters.
THE WESTERN CATHOLIC UNION
The Western Catholic Union was organized by J. J. Becher in Quiney, on October 6. 1877. A charter from the State of Illinois was issued on December 21. 1877, and was signed by Anton Henry Heine, Henry Steinkamp. Jacob Julius Becher, August Bernard Iellhake, Anton Binkert. George Terdenge, Joseph Jacoby. Lonis Stern. John Heine and Michael Ullmen. The first supreme president was Anton IIenry Heine who served from 1877 to 1880, followed by Alois Gatz, from 1880 to 1882; Anton Henry Heine again in 1883 ; John J. Metzger, 1884, 1885, 1886. 1887. 1888 and 1889: Henry Ording, 1890; Anton Henry Heine again in 1891, 1892 and 1893: John II. Wavering. 1894; Ben Heckle. 1895: Thos J. Manning, 1896. 1897, 1898. 1899. 1900 and 1901; Herman F. Jochem, 1902, 1903, 1904: F. Wm. Heckenkamp, 1905, 1906, 1907. 1908. 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913. 1914, 1915. 1916. 1917 and 1918.
From the date of its organization until 1895 each member was required to pay $1 at every death as a mortuary assessment and the beneficiary received $1 for every member in good standing at the time of his death, until July. 1890, when the membership reached 2.000. This was then made the limit that beneficiaries could draw on the death of a member. In 1905 a level rate was adopted and after that there were
576
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
two forms of certificates issued-one for $1,000 and one for $2,000. The members were grouped as follows: From 18 to 25 years of age, 70 cents per month per thousand; from 25 to 30, 80 cents; 30 to 35. 90 cents; 35 to 40, $1; from 40 to 45, which was the age limit, $1.20 per $1,000 per month. In 1904 a new schedule of rates was adopted, based almost entirely upon the fraternal congress rates of assessment. These rates were collected from all members who joined after January 1, 1905. All the members joining prior to the above date were assessed an additional 10 cents per month per $1,000. The age limit was extended from 45 years to 50 years and a $500 certificate was added, making three forms of certificates for the union-namely $500, $1,000 and $2,000. In 1906 the rates adopted in 1905 were applied to all members who joined prior to January 1, 1905, as of their age of entry with the exception of those who joined prior to 1890. These were assessed at the age they were in 1890, with the exception of those fifty years or older, who were assessed as of the age fifty. Several years later a $250 certificate was added. Beginning with January 1, 1913, women were admitted on a schedule of rates based on a table somewhat higher than the fraternal congress rates which were pro- nounced sufficient from an actuarial standpoint. In 1916 a sehedule of rates for men was adopted based upon the fraternal congress rates to be collected at the wish of the member either annually or monthly, and all members were placed thereon. Those, however, who joined prior to January 1, 1905, were given the option to join a division that was created and called the "term division," under which they could continue to pay their old rates they had been paying but with their term of insurance limited. This placed the Western Catholic Union upon an actuarily solvent basis. Thus the Western Catholic Union is one of the first societies in the United States that has placed itself and all its members on what is known as an adequate rate footing.
In 1918 a juvenile section was added to the Western Catholic Union under which children and immediate relatives of members can insure their children on standard rates prepared by the actuary of the Western Catholic Union, Abb Landis of Nashville, Tennessee. On December 21st, the Western Catholic Union celebrated its fortieth anniversary. At this time the 200 subordinate branches in the Union had a total insurance membership of approximately 11,500, of which number approximately 1,600 are women. The amount of money in the mortuary fund at interest is approximately $445,000. Of the signers of the original charter there are still living Anton Binkert, Jos. Jacoby, A. B. Hellhake and Henry Steinkamp. Of the former su- preme presidents three have died, namely, Anton Henry Heine, A. Gatz and Jno. Metzger. The union has paid out to the beneficiaries of 1.900 deceased members the amount of $3,000,000. Up to 1903 the supreme headquarters was in the home of the supreme secretary, then John Schauf. He held this office for twenty-five years and was succeeded by F. G. Hildenbrand for three years, who was then followed by William K. Ott, formerly of Chicago. The first offices rented were in the Binkert
577
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
Building, and, after ten years, the enlarged quarters now occupied were secured in the Illinois State Bank Building, where an up-to-date vault, with all necessary features to successfully conduet the manage- ment has been installed.
The matter of rates of assessments in the Western Catholic Union are entirely in the hands of an experienced actuary and everything pertaining to the rates is passed upon by him. The Western Catholic Union is one of the four oldest strictly fraternal societies in the United States and its financial standing is of such a character that its future is perpetuated. The total collections, all of which go through Quincy banks, amount to an average of almost $700 per day. The Western Catholic Union meets biennially and does business in the states of Illinois, Missouri, lowa and Kansas and preparations are being made to enter the states of Wisconsin and Indiana. Its present system of rates makes it eligible to practically every state in the Union. It has its own official organ since 1905. namely, the Catholic Record, which is sent to each member in the order every month. Most of its branches conduct a sick benefit fund for the relief of members during sickness. It is estimated that $300.000 has been distributed to mem- bers to aid them in sickness and distress by local branches. The Western Catholic Union differs from most other fraternals, first, that only practical Catholics can be admitted and retained : secondly, that it is on a solvent legal basis, and, thirdly, that it has no secret ritualistie work. The excentive offices are entrusted to the supreme of- ficers, namely, the supreme president, the supreme vice president, su- preme secretary, supreme treasurer and a board of seven trustees. The officers are elected biennially and the trustees have a term of four years. Its membership in Quiney is approximately 1,300 divided into nine men's branches and three ladies' branches. The first and oldest branch in the union is St. Nicholas No. 1. in St. Boniface Parish ; St. Pat- rick No. 3, in St. Peter's Parish ; St. Michael No. 4. in St. Francis Parish : St. Antonins No. 11. St. John's Parish : St. Peter No. 16, in St. Boniface Parish : St. Anthony No. 30, St. Mary's Parish ; St. Rose No. 52, St. Rose of Lima Parish: St. Andrew No. 54, St. Francis Parish : St. Agnes No. 192. St. Bonifare Parish ; St. Barbara No. 203. St. Francis Parish : St. Rita No. 197, St. John's Parish; and St. Antonius No. 51. St. Anthony's Parish, in the country. The present supreme officers are: F. Wm. Heckenkamp, supreme president : 1. . 1. Wilhelmi, supreme vice president : Wm. K. Ott, supreme secretary ; Jos. J. Freiburg, supreme treasurer ; Dr. M. J. Klein, supreme med- ical examiner: Walter J. Ruediger, chairman supreme trustees ; Frank Darius, secretary; and August Marx, John Koos, Andrew Zittel. Peter Lofy and Herman Ottens, trustees.
QUINCY TURN VEREIN
The Quincy Turn Verein, one of the old and substantial societies of the city, occupies a large building on Hampshire street between Vol. 1-3.
578
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
Ninth and Tenth streets, which was completed in 1885. As is well known by residents, the verein combines musical, social and physical advantages, and has always been supported by the German-American element of Quincy.
THE QUINCY COUNTRY CLUB
As early as 1897 there was an interest in golf in Quincy. A rude course was constructed in Lawndale and a solitary player could be seen occasionally hunting his ball in the high grass and clover.
In 1898 Dr. S. H. Dana, interested a large number of prominent Quincy men who met and formed the Quincy Country Club and selected the following men as directors: President, Charles H. Wil- liamson; vice president, Jos. W. Emery; secretary, Fred Wilms; treasurer, Edward J. Parker; C. H. Bull, J. W. Cassidy, J. A. Still- well, W. P. Upham, and S. B. Montgomery.
The club was properly incorporated and began a successful exist- ence at Twenty-fourth and Harrison streets. The course consisted of nine holes, namely, Devil's Ditch, 322 yards; Fair View, 337 yards; Bridge of Sighs, 135 yards; Westward Ho, 439 yards; Isle of Woe, 453 yards; Just Over, 367 yards; High Ball, 259 yards; Punch Bowl, 581 yards; Out of Sight, 198 yards. Total, 3,091 yards. A professional course man and club maker was secured. Quincy players quickly assumed a prominent place as golfers and have con- tinued until the present time to develop some of the best young golf players in the state.
A comfortable club house with locker rooms, dance hall, kitchen and porches was erected by the Quincy Country Club House Com- pany and the club still resides in this house although it is rapidly becoming too small for the membership. The club has a member- ship of 150 and a waiting list of twenty. At the present time it is a member of the Western Golf Association and the Central Illinois Country Club Association, which gives the Quiney members the privilege of all other clubs which are likewise members of these same associations. The yearly meeting of the latter association is par- ticularly enjoyable as the tourneys rotate from year to year, thus allowing the members of the different clubs to play on the courses and courts of all the other cities and meet their memberships. Quincy has been unusually fortunate in the large percentage of champion- ships she has won both in team play and individual play covering golf and tennis.
In 1918 the club leased the property at Twenty-fourth and State streets extending along the State Road to Thirtieth. New grounds will be developed here and a fine chib house will no doubt be erected after the close of the war. The 1918 officers and directorate include : President, Will A. Pfeiffer; vice president, Dr. Henry Whipple; sec- retary, T. E. Musselman; treasurer, Thomas Burrows.
CHAPTER XV
INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL
OLDEST EXISTING INDUSTRIES-CLASSIFICATION OF TODAY-THE QUINCY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-THE QUINCY FREIGHT BUREAU -THE BANKS OF QUINCY-BRANCH OF THE STATE BANK-FLAGG & SAVAGE OPEN A BANK-SEVERM, FAILURES-OLD BANK OF QUINCY-QUINCY SAVINGS BANK-JOHN WOOD AND II. F. J. RICKER-L. & C. H. BULL ENTER THE BANKING FIELD-E. J. PARKER'S BANK-ORDER OF SENIORITY-CONSOLIDATION OF THE BULL AND PARKER INTERESTS-STATE SAVINGS, LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY-ROBERT W. GARDNER AND EDWARD J. PARKER-DEATHE OF LORENZO BULL-THE RICKER NATIONAL BANK AND ITS FOUNDER-QUINCY NATIONAL BANK-ILLINOIS STATE BANK- OTHER BANKS.
The geographical position of Quiney, as well as the energetic and able character of its early merchants, manufacturers and bankers, was an assurance that the city was destined to earn and to hold a commanding commercial and industrial position in the Mississippi Valley. Its standing at first seemed to be solidly based on the industries and commerce identified with agricultural matters, and at quite an early day it became a leading grain shipping point and a live stock center. In the manufacture of four. Quiney was at one time a leader and the magnitude of the pork-packing industry and trade was noticeable. In the later '50s local mills were turning out over 100.000 barrels of flour. But as the West extended beyond the Mississippi Valley and the grain fields covered the rich prairies of the Dakotas, Nebraska, lowa and the further West, such industries and commerce were drawn to Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City. Local ambitions to found successful woolen factories wore smothered. New branches, however, shot out from Quiney, and those which at first were hardly considered as of any promise mounted to first place.
OLDEST EXISTING INDUSTRIES
As an illustration of this feature in the industrial history of the place, it is noteworthy that the oldest mannfactory of prominence now existing in Quincy is operated under the name of the Gardner Governor Company. In 1852 the late lamented Robert W. Gardner. then a young man of twenty, became an apprentice in the little
579
580
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
machine shop conducted by Edward G. Turner. Two years after- ward, with Henry Mitchell, he purchased the plant. In 1860 he seeured his first patent improving the governor of the steam engine, and upon that specialty he built a fortune, a fine name and his life work. J. W. Gardner, the son, is president of the great plant at South Front and the city limits now conducted by the Gardner Governor Company.
The Collins Plow Works is another representative of the few older industries which have endured. The factory is located on Hampshire Street and Eleventh, The original business was founded
COLLINS PLOW COMPANY WORKS
by the late William II. Collins in 1866. George W. Govert is now president.
CLASSIFICATION OF TODAY
As Quiney has now more than 140 manufactories, covering the range, in some way, of modern industrial lines, it would be mani- festly impossible to make even individual mention of them all. Gen- erally speaking. however, eleven factories are devoted to the manu- facture of stoves, furnaces and heaters; there are four flour mills : five manufactories of elothing, overalls, petticoats, ete .; four lime and eement plants; four establishments which turn out live stock foods and remedies; five works for the fabrication of metal special- ties ; five manufacturers of confeetioneries ; three plants which mami- facture incubators; three shops which make metal wheels; three manufactories of mineral water apparatus; three pattern makers, and three concerns which produce show cases and office fixtures and furniture.
The number of the various classified manufactories, however, conveys no definite idea of their comparative importance. This mat-
581
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
ter has been gauged by the best authority on the subject. Lewis B. Boswell, commissioner of the Freight Bureau, substantially as fol- lows: (1) Stoves, in which class are the Channon-Emery, Comstock- Castle, Excelsior and Gem City: (2) show cases and fixtures, includ- ing the Quiney and Knittel show case companies and the Warren Manufacturing Company: (3) wheels and tractors and (4) steam pumps and compressors, in both of which the Dayton-Dick Company is represented : (5) the Gardner Governor Company, in a class by itself; (6) elevators, Otis and Hollister-Whitney companies; (7) egg cases and fillers, North Star Egg Case Company : ( agricultural implements, hay presses, etc., represented by the Collins Plow C'om- pany as manufacturers and the International Harvester Company, as distributors: (9) dyes, the field occupied by the Monroe Drug Company, manufacturers of the Putman dyes and cleaners, oils and other chemicals: (10) saddles, harnesses, horse collars, etc .. Wolf Manufacturing Company and Schott Saddlery Company : (11) cereals, United Cereal Mills, operating two plants; (12) steel, Michel- mann Steel Construction Company and Modern Iron Works: (13) shoes, Gordon, Morris Brothers and Miller-Helhake shoe companies; (14) American Straw Board Company; (15) hog remedies, Moor- mann Manufacturing Company.
THE QUINCY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The first attempt made in Quincy to organize a board of trade or a chamber of commerce was in May, 1857, when a body under the former name was formed, with C. M. Pomeroy as president. Its life was but of a few years duration. Twenty years or more afterward was organized the Young Men's Business Association of Quincy, which was incorporated April 30, 1887, and from that organization de- veloped the Chamber of Commerce of Quincy. The name under which it is known was adopted on August 9, 1897.
Since its organization the Quiney Chamber of Commerce has ex- panded in vigor and broad usefulness. Its managements have not been content to confine their labors to the improvement of industrial and commercial conditions, but have given hearty support to social. moral and reformatory movements, especially those directly vital to the well being of Quiney. The chamber has been a strong and elevat- ing civie force. Of late it has given specially valuable aid to the Red Cross and all other war activities at home and has been in close co- operation with the useful and practical work accomplished among the farmers and rural communities of Adams County, through the Adams County Farm Improvement Association and its auxiliary, the Home Improvement Association. Since the completion of its fine modern building on South Fifth Street in July, 1915, its facilities for exten- sions of its work and influence have been greatly increased. The present membership of the chamber is 230 and it is composed of the best citizenship of Quincy.
582
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
During the last dozen years, which have been as important as any in the history of the chamber, Frank W. Osborn, H. G. Riggs, J. H. Bastert, W. Emery Lancaster and George D. Levi have served as president. During all that period, until his death in 1917, C. F. Perry was its untiring and efficient secretary. Truman T. Pierson, present incumbent, filled out his unexpired term.
THE QUINCY FREIGHT BUREAU
There is probably no other institution in Quincy of a private character which is so constantly patronized and so generally appre- ciated as the Quincy Freight Bureau, the commissioner, or executive officer of which has been Lewis B. Boswell for a period of twenty-one years, or virtually since its establishment. It was incorporated by the shippers of the city in May, 1897, with Chauncey H. Castle as its
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.