USA > Illinois > Williamson County > Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War : containing a brief review of the World War-complete history of Williamson County's activities-photographs and service records of Williamson County's soldiers, sailors and marines > Part 36
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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
ALDERMAN H. A. COWAN
321
First National Bank
THE large resources and deposits of this bank has given it the reputation as being the strongest financial institution in Southern Illinois, and has builded its reputation on strictly adhering to conservative and legiti- mate banking rules and policies.
The First Na- tional Bank was organized in 1900, with a capital of $25,- 000, at which time it suc- ceeded the Ex- change Bank, a private bank owned by D. R. Harrison, who became the first president of the First National Bank. The other officers at this time were Ephriam Her- rin, Vice-Presi- dent; and John Herrin, Cashier, and the di- rectors were D. R. Harrison, G. H. Harrison, Ephriam Herrin, J. D. Peters, and Ed. A. Ellis. In 1904 the capital stock was increased to $50,000, which is the present capital.
The present officers are Geo. H. Harrison, President; A. K. Elles, Vice-President; John
Herrin, cashier; H. A. Whittenberg and J. P. Adams, assistant cashiers.
The efficient cashier, John Herrin, has been . the cashier since the organization, and the rapid rise from a small bank of only $25,000 to the leading banking institution of Southern Illinois, with total resources of $1,920,564 at last report, is principally due to his adminis- tration. Mr. Herrin was co- chairman with Earl Jackson of Marion, in the Liberty Loan campaigns of the late war, and their ef- forts were mainly respon- sible for Wil- liamson county going over the top on every loan-on every Liberty Loan.
The bank building occupied by the First National Bank is the same building in which the bank was established. It is equipped with modern vaults and safes and also electric bur- glar alarm system, in fact, every safeguard is thrown around their depositors' money.
322
Geo. K. Crichton, Attorney
TTERRIN has always been called a young man's town, because the young man has his opportunity here to an appa- rently greater degree than in other cities that boast of years and learned and aged men. That this is quite true is borne out by the career of a single young man who seized opportunity at the flood tide -Attorney George K. Crich- ton, twice city attorney and once mayor of the city and still counting his years this side of thirty-three.
Attorney Crichton is of direct and pure Scotch de- scent, born in Staunton, Ill., later residing in Taylorville, where he attended high school, and afterward re- moving with his parents to Herrin 1906, where for a time he was employed in the mines earning money with which to attend college.
At the age of nineteen, he entered Washington Uni- versity, St. Louis, Mo., and was graduated from the law department of that institu- tion in 1909. He successfully passed the Illinois bar examination that same year and located a law office in Herrin shortly after- ward.
He fell into the political life of the com- munity quite naturally. Before he was old enough to hold office, he was well under way running a winning race for city judge of Herrin. The fact of his age was found to be against him holding the office, led him to withdraw with election a certainty, but was honored with an appointment as master in chancery of the first city court Herrin ever had.
In 1911 at the age of twenty-four, he was nominated and elected city attorney and suc- ceeded himself two years later for an- other term. He proved himself well fitted for this important position and served through some of the most critical periods of the city's history and at a time when some of the greatest local improve- ment work was under way. After leaving the city attor- ney's office, he devoted his entire time to the practice of his profession.
A committee of prom- inent citizens waited on him when the selection of a can- didate for mayor was a problem in the spring of 1917 and presuaded him to pitch his hat in the ring, which he finally consented to do with the result that he was elected by a big ma- jority. He served from April, 1917, to April of this year, and had a most har- monious council throughout his entire administration as well as a successful term.
It was his intention several times to resign and join the colors, but the state and city affairs did not permit it, his best friends argued. He finally decided to serve out his term and retire and enter the army, but the signing of the armistice precluded this also. Throughout the war period Attorney Creigh- ton, then mayor, rendered much service to the local and legal advisory boards.
In the fall of 1918, he was married to Miss Gertrude Fleming of Olney, Ill., who at this time was a member of the faculty of the Southern Illinois Normal University at Car- bondale.
323
Judge Ambert D. Morgan
A LEADING representative of his profes- sion at Herrin is Ambert D. Morgan, who was a graduate in 1909 from the Illinois College of Law of Chicago, admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1909 and has since been practicing in Herrin. He stands high in the Williamson County Bar, and has an excel- lent practice throughout the county.
Ambert D. Morgan was born at Hamp- shire, Illinois, Octo- ber 29, 1885, a son of L. D. and Eliza- beth (Helmer) Mor- gan. His father is now seventy and his mother sixty - one. The great - grand- father Morgan was a prominent citizen of Syracuse, New York, while grandfather Morgan came from that state to Illinois and was one of the early settlers of Mc- Henry County, fol- lowing a career as a farmer. D. D. 'Mor- gan, a Civil War vet- eran, was born near Marengo in McHenry County. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom Judge A. D. Morgan of Herrin, Illinois, is the fifth.
Judge Morgan received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Kane County, attended the Elgin, Illinois, High School for two years, was a student in the University of Illinois in the science department, and spent three years at the Illinois College of Law, Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of the County Bar Association, has served on the township high school board, and has fraternal affiliations with the Mississippi Valley Con- sistory, the Scottish Rite Temple, East St.
Louis, Illinois, the Royal Arch Chapter of Masonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. On December 25, 1910, he married Miss Alberta Eubank of Centralia, Illinois, daugh- ter of James S. and Olive Eubank of Cen- tralia. They have two children, Lillian Eugenia Morgan, born in 1912, and Harriet Elizabeth, in 1914.
In August, 1918, Judge Morgan was elected judge of the city court of Herrin, which position he now holds. He has on several occasions been called to Cook County, Illinois, to hold circuit court in the city of Chicago.
During the period of the war, Judge Morgan was among the most patriotic of his profession in this county. Under his supervision and sug- gestion, the first cele- bration following the declaration of war held in this county was given in this city, and he got up the first send-off picnic for the departing soldiers. When the draft law was passed, Judge Morgan was getting up a company of volunteers and giving them preliminary drills on the street at night. All through the war he served as chairman of the legal ad- visory board and directed the arduous task of handling the questionnaire board. His office during the war was open to free counsel of every soldier and his relatives. .
Judge Morgan is a prominent member of the Herrin Improvement Association and takes a keen interest in all matters that per- tain to the civic welfare of Herrin.
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324
City National Bank
THE City National Bank was organized in 1907, with a capital of $50,000, to meet the needs of another national bank for the rapidly growing city of Herrin. Business was conducted in C. H. Pope's furniture store until a new building could be completed, which was de- stined to house one of the most popular bank- ing institutions in the county. The building was erected at a cost of $25,- 000 on the cor- ner of Park and Monroe Streets. The officers at the time of or- ganization were: John Alexander, President; R. A. Karr, Vice- President; Paul D. Herrin, Cashier; Alex. Frazer, Asst. Cashier. The first Board of Directors other than officers: Louis Dell 'Era, C. H. Pope, John Rollo, W. C. Alexander, Fred Stotlar, R. T. Cook and J. D. Peters.
Modern banking methods and the good will of the clients have caused the business to grow rapidly until the present assets amount to approximately $900,000.00.
Joe P. Benson, the present cashier, started in the bank as bookkeeper in 1912, and dur- ing the time that Mr. Frank Chew, who suc- ceeded Paul D. Herrin as cashier, he was assistant cashier and held this position until elected cashier in January, 1917. Mr. Ben-
son has been connected with the bank con- tinuously since 1912, with the exception of a few months when in army service in 1918. At the time of the first draft R. F. Mooney- ham, Asst. Cashier, was selected as one of the first four- teen drafted men sent to Camp Taylor. During the two years he was in service, he arose to the rank of captain.
Loren C. Margrave suc- ceeded Mr. Mooneyham, but was also called to the colors and served with the A. E. F. Upon his return he was given posi- tion of assist- ant bookkeep- er, butlater was offered a similar position in a bank at Gorham.
The present officers are John Alexander, President; R. A. Karr, Vice-President; Joe P. Benson, Cashier; Geo. G. Otey, Asst. Cash- ier; R. F. Mooneyham, Asst. Cashier; Miss Pearl Lynn, Bookkeeper. Directors other than the officers: W. C. Alexander, Joseph Berra, C. H. Pope, A. J. Will, and Geo. W. Bradshaw.
The City National bank building at the corner of N. Park Ave. and E. Monroe St., is one of the busiest spots in Herrin and oc- cupies one of the most valuable corners. The bank building was the first business of any size to venture this far north on Park Ave.
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325
6
Albert G. Storme, Funeral Director
1
THE business personnel of Herrin is to a large extent made up from men who rose from the ranks, very few coming to Herrin with capital, and in this class may be placed Albert G. Storme, one of the successful men who by his own efforts has won an enviable reputation as head of the undertaking estab- lishment that bears his name.
Before starting in business, Mr. Storme was employed in the mines for five years, and served as financial secretary of his Local Union during the entire time. He attended every state convention of the U. M. W. of A. as delegate during this period, and two national conventions.
His first business experience was in 1896 with the Elles Store Company in a respon- sible position as manager of the Cambria branch store. After serving for five years, he decided there was an opening in Herrin in the undertaking and embalming business. To properly fit himself in this profession, he attended the Barnes College of Anatomy at Chicago, and after graduting and securing a state embalmer's license, he opened his un- dertaking parlors in Herrin 1902, and success
has come to him in a large deserved degree.
His popularity is attested by the fact that he has held several public offices-city alder- man 'of Ward 1, and at the present town clerk of Herrin township. During the war period, he was chairman of the Herrin town- ship Liberty Loan organization and did effective work in helping to put the township "over the top" on the different drives.
Mr. Storme was married to Miss Hallie Crowell, daughter of A. S. Crowell of Cambria, March, 1907. They have two daughters, Marie, born March, 1909, and Hugh Wilmar, February, 1917.
In fraternal work, he is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Modern Wood- men, K. of P. and the Red Men, and takes an active par tin civic affairs.
Mr. Storme's funeral equipment is prob- ably the largest and most complete in South- ern Illinois. He maintains elegant parlors at 105 N. 16th Street. He operates two mod- ern motor hearses, one the latest product of the famous Sayers & Scoville, pictured here, and also a late style ambulance-all finished in a two-tone gray.
326
Herrin State Savings Bank
THE rapid growth of Herrin soon called for an increased banking facilities, and the second bank to be organized was the Herrin State Savings Bank in 1904. The first officers were Thomas Stotlar, President; Will Stotlar, Vice-President; N. P. Lewis, Cashier. Directors other than the officers: E. N. Dillard, Ed. Stotlar, Wm. Mornin, and
The later success of this bank is attributed to modern banking methods, new and modern equipment being installed to better protect the ever increasing deposits and facilitating the handling of business.
This institution has the very latest burglar- proof safe, made by the Mosler Safe Com- pany, and many new safety deposit boxes.
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Dr. W. H. Ford. The capital stock was at this time $25,000.00. At present it is $50,- 000.00, with a surplus fund of $10,000.00, and total assets close to half a million. The original bank building burned in 1912, but was at once replaced practically as before.
In 1917 O. W. Lyerla, the present cashier, became identified with the bank, purchasing a large amount of stock, and began to put new life in the business. Up to this time, he has been cashier only eighteen months, and during this short period the deposits have increased more than $200,000,.00.
This bank was among the first in the county to install the new mechanical book- keeping method, which reduces bookkeeping to an economic system, making it possible to balance depositor's pass books and render the daily balance in a few minutes, where it for- merly took hours.
The present officers are: E. N. Dillard, President; E. M. Stotlar, Vice-President; O. W. Lyerla, Cashier; W. C. McCormick, Assistant Cashier. Directors other than offi- cers: J. J. Dillard, Sarah Stotlar, Nora Ford.
327
M. P. Zwick
HILE Herrin was still a prairie town with only a few houses and no railroad, there came to this section a young Russian, who immigrated to this county when only 19 years of age and traded with the citizens by carrying his stock with him from house to
clothing for every member of the family.
In September, 1917, seventeen years from starting his first small store, he leased a big store room in the new Herrin Building at the principal business corner at Park Avenue and Cherry, where he moved his men's cloth-
5
house. The merchan- dising knowledge thus gained by hard experi- ence showed this young merchant, M. P. Zwick, that Herrin was a com- ing city. Having ac- cumulated sufficient cap- ital to buy a small stock of goods, he started in business in 1900, at the corner of Monroe and 14th, where he remained for two years, and then moved to the Elles building for two years. By this time his trade had increased to the extent that he could build for himself, and he bought a business lot on the corner of Park and Monroe and erected a building 25x80 feet.
Six years later it was necessary to increase the floor space, so he bought the adjoining lot and remodeled the building into a hand- some two-story structure shown here in lower picture as the ladies' store. Durnig this time his stock consisted of general dry goods and
ing and furnishing stock. He now has one of the most modern men's stores in Southern Illinois. Mrs. Zwick, who has always been a real helpmate, still manages the ladies' store. Just recently a branch store has been opened at Carterville.
Mr. and Mrs. Zwick are the parents of five children; Bessie, Julius, Leon, Evelyn, and Sander. The two oldest boys only fourteen and fifteen years of age, are already taking an active interest in the stores.
328
5
European Hotel and Cafe
THIS representative industry is the result of the indomitable spirit of one of Her- rin's leading citizens, Louis Dell-Era, de- ceased, but who leaves behind a heritage that shows his success as a business man, father and leader of men. Mr. Dell-Era was born in Cuggiono, Milan, Italy, February 8, 1866. While yet a young man, he crossed the Alps into France, where he be- came proficient in the French language. The longing for his native country caused him to return and en- ter the engineer corps of the army. This army experi- ence was the foundation of a profession which took him to Egypt, Abys- sinia, and later to the Congo Free State, Africa. After two years on rail- road engineering work there, he accepted a contract for similar work in Salonika, Tur- key. Having friends in America, he then decided to try his fortune in this land of the frce, his first business venture being in Mur- physboro, where he formed a partnership with Joseph Berra, which became known as Berra & Dell-Era. At this time the news of the new coal fields opening up in William-
son county attracted him to start in business with his partner in Herrin, which was then just booming. Success crowned their efforts from the start. With his partner he invested heavily in real estate and kept up his reputa- tion as a builder. Franklin, four miles north of Herrin, a fifty-two acre plat, and Dell- Era of sixteen acres, besides a three-story brick opera house destroyed by fire in 1918, and the present European Hotel and Cafe are a few examples of the result of this partner- ship. THE
THE
Before com- ing to this coun- HOTEL try Mr. Dell- Era was mar- ried June 17, 1893, to Dora Biotti. The children born were Joseph, who was a lieu- tenant in the world war, and Aida and William.
The firm of Berra & Dell-Era continued until the return of Joseph from the army in February, 1919. The holdings of Mr. Dell-Era are now managed by the estate of Louis Dell-Era. The Hotel and Cafe is man- aged by Joseph, who it is believed will con- tinue building the business left as a heritage by his worthy sire.
329
1909-Herrin Supply Co .- 1919
Herrin, Ill.
WAR HISTORY
TEN years old this year!
Could we do anything for the war? Well, we sent forth two first lieutenants, one sergeant, one corporal and two privates: We supplied Red Cross workers, workers in every drive for Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., in every Liberty Loan drive and furnished Local Board No. 2 with a government appeal agent; we also supplied the citizens of the county with nearly three-quarters of a mil- lion dollars worth of merchandise in 1918 at a uniformly low price consid- ering the prevailing high prices.
To readers of this review, if you are not a customer of ours, try us and you will be. "We sell everything under the sun." If you don't believe us call on us and we will prove it.
When you are in Herrin, Mur- physboro, Carbondale, Hillsboro, West Frankfort, Eldorado or Ben- ton, ask for Herrin Supply Co.'s stores-trade at them and you will come out ahead.
Don't fail to read about Elles Store Co. on page 367 and Marion Supply Co. on page 394 -we are kin.
WE THANK YOU.
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HERREN
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THE HERRIN STORES
330
Big Muddy Land & Lumber Co. .
THIS large industry, dealing in every kind of building material, was organized in 1907, by Ed. A. Elles, Walter C. Krieckhaus and G. W. Bevard-the first plant being opened in Royalton. The business grew rapidly and a new building was completed in Herrin in 1910, and a new plant estab- lished. Mr. Krieckhaus purchased Mr. Be- vard's interest in 1909, and from that time the business was controlled by Elles & Kreick- haus, operated under the firm name of Big Muddy Land & Lumber Co. The business was sold to the Park Lumber Co., September, 1919.
SANITARY PLUMBING & HEATING CO. was organized by Fred Krieckhaus, Ed. A. Elles and Walter C. Krieckhaus in July, 1913, to complete the plan to sell, build and install complete materials for all kinds of construc- tion work. Walter C. Krieckhaus soon pur- chased his brother's interest and the modern building pictured herein was erected. Some
of their large contracts are as follows: Herrin City Hall, Carterville School, Berra & Dell' 'Era hotel and a theater building at Sesser, Herrin Building, Kahn Building, European Hotel, Commercial Hotel and Boyd Hotel. The business was sold and building leased to the Park Sanitary Plumb- ing & Heating Co., composed of Herrin capital, Sept. 1, 1919.
HERRIN CONSTRUCTION CO .- Some of the largest contracts on construction work in Herrin and vicinity have been done by the Herrin Construction Co., composed of Ed. A. Elles, Walter C. Krieckhaus and A. K. Elles, which created the construction end of the above combination. Their largest con- tracts was the South Side School, New South Side School and the paving for district No. 1, Herrin. The superintending of construc- tion was done by Walter C. Krieckhaus, who has gained a reputation as a thorough and efficient contractor and builder.
331
5
The Hippodrome Theatre
5
PAOLOP
THERE have been any number of theater exploits
in this section of the state and Herrin has in the years that have passed, had lier share of them. It remained, apparently for John Marlow, manager of the Hippodrome, to have the right plans and put them in force and succeed. At a cost of $65,000 he built the Hippodrome, which was opened for business November 24, 1917. It is the largest ground floor theater of its kind in Illinois, having a seating capacity of 1,500. The stage is large enough to accommodate any road show that travels between cities in this portion of the country. Every device and improvement known in theater building was put to use in the construction of this playhouse by the builder, Pete Cardani. A big pipe organ was in- stalled at a cost of $5,000, and a ventilating system costing $10,000.
No sooner had Mr. Marlow got well under way with managing the Hippodrome, than he saw the need of theaters of like nature, reasoning that a string of good houses in this end of the state would attract a better class of shows. He purchased one of the choicest business sites in Murphysboro early this year and will open the doors of a fine $90,000 theater in that city some time in December, a sister house to the Hippodrome. Booking arrangements have been made with other houses in southern Illi- nois that will practically place Mr. Marlow in a position of dictating the routing of the best shows
that venture into this section of Illinois.
A few months ago, Mr. Marlow bought the valu- able lot just west of the Hippodrome, with a 100 foot frontage on Park Avenue, and is erecting an annex theater there which will be devoted exclu- sively to high grade pictures. This house will be ready to open early next year.
The Hippodrome has made Herrin the capital city in Theaterdom by the high class attractions, both in pictures, artists and plays offered. Last season's bill at the Hippodrome offered Madame Schumann- Heink, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Frank La Forge, and others. Fully as great artists are to be booked for the next season.
The Hippodrome is owned and controlled by the Grand Opera Company, incorporated, consisting of the Marlow brothers, who are, John, George and James Marlow, and Paul Columbo.
Manager Marlow was born on December 12, 1885, at Pilot Knob, Mo. He came to Herrin with his parents when a small boy. For a time he was in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Marlow Brothers. He foresaw the need of an opera house in Herrin and success has crowned his efforts from the first.
Many times during the war period, the Hippo- drome was thrown open for benefit shows. The theater in this manner performed its bit very pa- triotically on many occasions.
332
J. B. Kahn
1906
STORE
THE
AMONG the merchants of Herrin who have done much to put this city on the map as a shopping center, is J. B. Kahn, founder of the Kahn Store, who came here in August, 1907, from St. Louis, and located the "busy store on the corner" at 16th and Cherry Streets. For the first three years Mr. Kahn was building up his business as outfitter for man, woman and child to the proportions, which in his judgment would make for the most economical merchandising. Since that time, he maintained about the same amount of stock which had proved was the correct amount to carry to keep the overhead costs at the minimum. His success as a business man has proved that his system was right and did reduce to the selling price, to his numerous customers who "walk a block and save a dollar" and is evidence a plenty that they are finding real merchandising values. Mr. Kahn has also been very successful
in other business enterprises in Herrin, as his large real estate investments and holdings have shown.
At the time of this review, Mr. Kahn had just finished negotiations for a third interest in the Paris Style Garment Company, a large wholesale institution in St. Louis, and will reside in that city in the future, but will continue his store here with W. J. Harmon, who has been manager since 1917, in charge.
The evidence of good fellowship of Mr. Kahn is shown by the fact that he is a mem- ber of several of the leading fraternal organi- zations: Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Red Men, Modern Woodmen, and others.
The many friends and customers of Mr. Kahn wish him success in his new efforts and know that with the same reliable business principles as he has shown in Herrin, that the wholesale institution will prosper under his wise and careful management.
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