977.354 
 P36 
 
 TME 
 
 CENTENARY 
 
 849 
 
 -1949 
 
 COMMEMORATING 
 TOO YEARS OF/ . 
 COMMUNITV PROGfth^ IN 
 THE CITY OF PEKJN, IU/nOIS
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 ATURBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 ILL. HIST. SURVEY
 
 /
 
 
 I849.1949 
 
 A SOUVENIR BOOK 
 
 Commemorating 100 years of 
 community progress in the City 
 of Pekin, Illinois. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 
 AT ur:,\na-champaign 
 
 ILL HIST. SURVEY 
 
 Compiled and printed as a service to 
 
 the people of Pekin under the auspices p/ 
 
 THE PEKIN ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE 
 
 BY ITS 
 
 CENTENARY COMMITTEE 
 
 Credits for its production go to 
 Thomas H. Harris, Chairman 
 
 Charles L. Dancey, TTie History 
 Miss fea Falkin and 
 Charlotte Rau, Other Articles 
 Marge Prenneman and 
 June Wieburg, The Advertising 
 
 W. Douglas Smith, The Pekin 
 Daily Times, Hank Stockert, The 
 Peoria Star and others, The 
 Photography, Lohnes print Shop, 
 The Book 
 
 -Printed in U.S.A.
 
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 The Frontier Community 
 
 Pekln became a city August 20, 1849, 
 after its birth 25 years earlier in the 
 rough and ready frontier tradition and 
 its development as a community in that 
 same atmosphere of violence and hard- 
 ship. 
 
 The river valley was dotted with 
 Indian villages and little else in 1824 
 when Jonathan Tharpe built the first 
 log cabin ever erected on the site of 
 the city of Pekin and began farming an 
 area including much of what is now 
 Pekin' s principal business district. 
 
 Only 10 years earlier there had been 
 organized warfare on both sides of the 
 river between Indians and American 
 troops and militia, ending in the with- 
 drawal of the troops. Even Port Clark, 
 temporarily erected at the site of 
 Peoria, had been abandoned and burned. 
 
 However, Tharpe had no trouble with 
 the Indians that roamed the area and 
 had camps and villages at Pekin, on 
 Ten Mile creek near what is now East 
 Peoria, and on the far side of the 
 river, and others followed him prompt- 
 ly. 
 
 Just three years after he built his 
 cabin, Mordecai Mobley brought in the 
 first consignment of goods and Jacob 
 Tharpe, Jonathan' s father, set up the 
 first store in his smoke house. That 
 year, William H. Hodge, the county sur- 
 veyor, made the original plat of Pekin. 
 He had no surveyor' s chain, and made 
 his survey with string, a fact which 
 accounts for the variety of measure- 
 ments engineers still discover when re- 
 surveying the original town properties 
 and blocks. 
 
 One year later, in 1828, just four 
 years after the first cabin went up, a 
 Methodist mission was established here, 
 and settlers began to move up to the 
 "river landing." Absolam and Joseph 
 Dillon moved to "Townsite", as it was 
 called, and Major Nathan Cromwell came 
 up from Sand Prairie vthere he had 
 settled, and Gideon Hawley, William 
 Haines and Dr. John Warner became 
 Tharpe' s neighbors. 
 
 The first steamship came chugging up 
 the river, churning water, blowing off 
 steam and tooting Its whistle, so that 
 
 old Jacob Tharpe thought the end of the 
 world had come and routed his family 
 out of their beds and summoned them to 
 prayer. 
 
 History records that one settler 
 took after the monster with his dog 
 and hunting rifle, and that it caused 
 fear and consternation throughout the 
 area. 
 
 And it was then, In 1829, apparent- 
 ly, that the settlers ceased to be 
 "squatters" and obtained legal title to 
 their lands here after a series of in- 
 cidents which resulted in the first 
 lots costing just 28 cents apiece. 
 
 The official plat was taken to 
 Springfield In that year and an auction 
 held to dispose of the property embrac- 
 ing much of what is now Pekln. The at- 
 mosphere of the land sale was typical 
 of the robust pioneer tradition. The 
 room was filled with men who were armed 
 to the teeth, eyeing each other watch- 
 fully, and from time to time making 
 threatening gestures and remarks. 
 
 When the sale opened on the final 
 day, a man identified only by the name 
 of Harrington, reportedly jumped to 
 his feet with pistol drawn and offered 
 a bid of $1.25 an acre, adding that he 
 would shoot the first man who raised 
 that bid. 
 
 Major Isaac Perkins paced the floor 
 in a threatening manner, guns promi- 
 nently displayed, and the room was 
 quiet and tense as the auctioneer pro- 
 ceeded but the lands were knocked down 
 to Harrington without another bid being 
 offered and without gunplay. 
 
 Harrington's bold victory'was short- 
 lived, however. Perkins permitted him 
 to complete the regulations and acquire 
 title to the lands, and then he and a 
 group of Pekin settlers virtually kid- 
 napped the interloper and forced him 
 to convey the lands over to them in 
 the original title deeds on which pre- 
 sent ownership of most Pekin properties 
 is still based. 
 
 History doesn' t record who was with 
 Perkins when they forced Harrington to 
 release Pekin properties, but the lands 
 turned up in the hands of Perkins, 
 Gideon Hawley, William Haines and Major
 
 History of Pekin's Water Service 
 
 The plant and distribution system 
 of the Pekin Water Works Company was 
 installed under a franchise granted 
 by the City of Pekin to Charles A. 
 Lamb. Chicago, Illinois, and Henry 
 S. Raymond, Galena, Illinois, under 
 date of May 24, 1886. A certificate 
 of Incorporation was issued by Henry 
 D. Dement, then Secretary of State 
 under date of July 12, 1886. 
 
 The stock of the company was 
 owned by Chicago interests and the 
 drilling of wells, installation of 
 steam pumping equipment, construc- 
 tion of a distribution system and 
 erection of storage tank was en- 
 gineered by E.S. Alexander, Chicago 
 Engineer. 
 
 The original installation in- 
 cluded 9 miles of cast iron mains 
 4 inch to 14 inch in diameter and 
 about 5 miles of wrought iron mains 
 from %" to 2" in diameter; 100 fire 
 hydrants and 32 line-valves. The 
 wells and pumping station were 
 located on the same tract now occu- 
 pied by the plant. By the end of the 
 year 1886 there were 189 customers 
 served from the system. 
 
 With a well capacity of 15 
 million gallons per day and a pump- 
 ing capacity of 8 million gallons 
 per day, the present plant is able 
 to amply meet all demands with 
 adequate reserves for future growth. 
 More than 350 fire hydrants provide 
 the necessary protection for the 
 entire city and over 950 line-valves 
 insure a minimum of uninterrupted 
 service. 
 
 The Pekin Water Works Company 
 has been a part of the history of 
 Pekin for the past 63 years and has 
 constantly adhered to a policy of 
 quality, service and low cost. The 
 owners and management have par- 
 ticipated freely in the support of 
 civic, educational and, charitable 
 interests and will continue to do 
 so in the hope that such policies 
 may contribute to making Pekin an 
 even more desirable city in which 
 to live. 
 
 In 1887 the company was purchased 
 by the American Water Works and 
 Guaranty Company, Ld. , of Muncie 
 Indiana and Mr. FYank C. Amsbary was 
 appointed local Superintendent. 
 During this year, the company was 
 at odds with the City Administra- 
 tion who claimed that the wells were 
 not drilled to "second vein" water, 
 as the franchise provided. The city 
 ordered a well digging firm from 
 
 Chicago to drill a test well and a 
 determination was made that "second 
 vein" water was only a myth and that 
 the company wells were located in a 
 very desirable bed of gravel washed 
 water. 
 
 During the year 1887, the company 
 could not earn its operating expense 
 and pay interest on bonds and in 
 January of 1888 the owners offered 
 the plant for sale, and the first 
 local Interest in the company was 
 introduced when Mr. Goerge H. Lucas 
 and Mr. Henry Lautz purchased the 
 controlling stock. Prom time to time 
 thereafter until 1901, several Pekin 
 business men invested in the company 
 but withdrew support when their 
 investment earned no return. Henry 
 Lautz, however, would not accept 
 failure and by 1901 he had purchased 
 all of the company stock and it has 
 remained the property of his heirs 
 since that date. 
 
 In 1908 the company set its first 
 meters and by 1918 all customers 
 were on a meter basis. Prior to 
 metering, rates were determined by 
 the number of persons, horses and 
 cows and the number of outlet taps 
 for each service. Water used for 
 sprinkling required a special rate 
 application. Contracts were drawn 
 with each customer in which the 
 above data was included and a fixed 
 yearly charge agreed upon. Contracts 
 were effective for one year and 
 billing and collecting was done door 
 to door. In 1914 the Illinois Comm- 
 erce Commission was established and 
 all privately owned water utilities 
 were required to establish rate 
 schedules with the Commission. 
 
 During the year 1909 a destruc- 
 tive fire burtied the roof off the 
 pumping station but service to the 
 City was maintained without inter- 
 ru p t i on . 
 
 The water works plant serving 
 Pekin today is a far cry from the 
 early plant. Four 25" concrete wells 
 have replaced the old 6" and 8" 
 wells and modern electric pumps are 
 now used in place of the old steam 
 driven type. The circular stone 
 tower that supported a steel tank 
 holding 180,000 gallons of reserve 
 water has been dismantled and re- 
 placed with a concrete covered 
 reservoir located on the East Bluff, 
 with a reserve capacity of 214 
 million gallons of water. Nearly 
 75 miles of main are in service and 
 over 6, 100 customers are served.
 
 Nathan Cromwell. When the deal was com- 
 pleted and the lands were laid out in 
 lots by these pioneers in 1830, it was 
 calculated that the lots had cost 28 
 cents each. 
 
 Perkins early sold his share to 
 Thomas Snell. a newcomer who became one 
 of the conmunity' s early builders. 
 
 It was then that Pekin was born AS 
 PEKIN. Mrs. Nathan Cromwell gave the 
 newly platted town that name, and is 
 also responsible for the early naming 
 of the streets and the unique designa- 
 tion of the east and west street series 
 with the names of women. 
 
 Apparently the town was hardly 
 platted before the first saloon made 
 its appearance, for records show the 
 county issued a liquor license that 
 year to George W. Hinch at Pekin. This 
 was 10 years before the appearance of 
 a bank, and one year before the first 
 school was organized. 
 
 In 1831, the first school house was 
 built at the corner of Elizabeth and 
 South Second streets, and John S. 
 Snell, son of Thomas, became its teach- 
 er. Before the year was out, Pekin was 
 designated as the county seat and the 
 school also became the court house, re- 
 placing that which had been used at 
 Mackinaw. 
 
 So, eight years after the erection 
 of the first cabin, Pekin boasted a 
 name, a store, a saloon, a school, and 
 had become the county seat. 
 
 In addition to the white settlement, 
 there were the wigwams and camp of 
 Shaubena, one of the major chiefs of 
 the Pottowatamie tribe located in what 
 is now the city of Pekin. The chief's 
 settlement was along the riverfront 
 just south of the landing place in the 
 vicinity of the old "Gashouse" hill and 
 down toward the Farmers' grain eleva- 
 tor. 
 
 A year later, news came to the new- 
 born settlement that Chief Black Hawk 
 had crossed the Mississippi with a 
 large force of warriors, and the organ- 
 ization of militia imnediately began, 
 with considerable suspicion and concern 
 among the settlers about the many 
 Indians in the neighborhood. 
 
 Unknown to the settlers. Black Hawk 
 had sent a message to Shaubena here at 
 Pekin, urging war against the whites, 
 but Shaubena, who had fought beside 
 Tecumseh at Tipplcanoe and knew of the 
 power of the white man' s arms, resist- 
 ed. 
 
 History records that Black Hawk told 
 Shaubena, "If the Pottowatamie nation 
 will rise, our warriors will number as 
 the trees of the forest." And Shaubena 
 replied, "If so, you will find that 
 white man's warriors will number as the 
 leaves on the trees of the forest." 
 
 Shaubena' s decision came at the risk 
 of his own life, and in fact, his son 
 
 was later killed by war-like and dissi- 
 dent Indians because of the charge that 
 Shaubena was "a friend of the whites". 
 At any rate, thanks to Shaubena, the 
 Indians along the Illinois river valley 
 did not take part in the Black Hawk 
 war, and no unfriendly force of red- 
 skins penetrated closer than 50 miles 
 from Pekin. 
 
 However, a militia company was form- 
 ed in this county and formally mustered 
 at Pekin, to march north against Black 
 Hawk. 
 
 Here at home, the settlers hastily 
 threw up a stockade "fort" around the 
 Snell school which was also the Court 
 house, and called it Fort Doolittle. 
 
 Several times, false reports of 
 Indian activity caused the people to 
 rush temporarily to the shelter of this 
 fort, which after a time they discover- 
 ed was aptly named, because little 
 could have been done in its defense. 
 Belatedly, the frontier settlers dis- 
 covered that they had provided for no 
 source of water within the fort, and 
 any prolonged defense would have been 
 impossible. Fortunately, Port Doolittle 
 never had occasion to be defended. 
 
 The men who marched north under 
 Capt. John G. Adams, after being 
 mustered at Pekin, were not so fortu- 
 nate. They joined companies from Peoria 
 Fulton, and McLean counties, and were 
 joined by other Pekinites, including 
 Major Isa£ic Perkins who played such a 
 key part in the original sale of Pekin 
 lands, Col. Daniel Bailey, W. S. Rankin, 
 David Alexander, and a lieutenant named 
 Alexander McNaughton. 
 
 They took part in the first clash of 
 the war, the Battle of Sycamore, often 
 called "Stillman's Run", because the 
 bulk of the militia force simply broke 
 and ran at the first contact with the 
 Indians, and only a handful stood and 
 fought and were killed. 
 
 It is significant that Capt. Adams 
 was among those who stood, and is 
 credited as the man who rallied the 
 only real fighting force at the Battle 
 of the Sycamore, and that he was killed 
 in action there. His wife, after whom 
 Jane street in Pekin is named, lost her 
 mind when told of his death. 
 
 It is also significant that of the 
 13 men killed in that fight, nine were 
 from the Tazewell county company that 
 was mustered at Pekin, and the other 
 four from Pulton, McLean and Peoria 
 counties. 
 
 Major Isaac Perkins of Pekin was 
 killed at Sycamore and his body badly 
 mangled by the Indians, indicating that 
 he had inflicted more than his share of 
 damage on them. He was killed just two 
 years after the mix-up over title to 
 Pekin lands. 
 
 The militia company continued to 
 serve through the three other more
 
 ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE PROGRESS 
 
 of the 
 
 CITY OP PEKIN 
 
 Radio Station WSIV 
 
 studios in the Arcade Bldg. 
 
 DEDICATED TO SERVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT 
 
 for 
 
 PEKIN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS 
 
 First on the air April 21, 1946 
 Increased power to lOCO watts Feb. 4. 194f 
 
 
 ii#vv 
 
 THE OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES OP RADIO 
 STATION WSIV SAY "CONGRATULATIONS, 
 PEKIN" ON THE OCCASION OP YOUR CENTENNIAL 
 CELEBRATION AND JOIN IN WISHING CONTINUED 
 EXPANSION AND PROSPERITY IN THE YEARS TO 
 COME. 
 
 W. Kenneth Patterson 
 Emil L. Prandoni 
 George C. Udry 
 and the entire staff
 
 successful battles of the Black Hawk 
 war, and returned home upon the capture 
 of the chief. Half the original re- 
 cruits from Pekin had been killed in 
 the fighting. The remainder received a 
 veteran's "bonus" of 80 acres of land 
 from the government. They had been paid 
 at a rate of 86 cents a day per man and 
 horse. 
 
 It was during the return from the 
 Black Hawk war that Abraham Lincoln 
 first visited Pekin, landing by canoe, 
 and having a meal of corn meal and fish 
 before proceeding on his way. 
 
 A year later, in 1,833, David Marks 
 arrived in Pekin and built the first 
 brick building in the city for business 
 purposes at the comer of Second and 
 Court streets. He was a very wealthy 
 man, and he and his family were 
 destined to play a big part in the 
 development of Pekin, continued today 
 in the administration of the so-called 
 "Cummings estate". 
 
 However, the following year came an 
 event more disastrous than the war. 
 Asiatic cholera struck, causing not 
 only wide-spread death and disease, but 
 also terror. Families abandoned the 
 town without even taking their belong- 
 ings with them. Boats refused to stop. 
 Travellers avoided the place. 
 
 The cemetery at that time was locat- 
 ed on what later became the Douglas 
 school grounds: and when it was dug up 
 and bodies removed, it was found that 
 many had been buried without coffins 
 and a number either buried hastily be- 
 fore they were dead or else buried In 
 such careless and fearful haste that 
 they were interred face down. 
 
 At about this time, a group of 
 wealthy Easterners laid out Tremont and 
 offered $2,000 and 20 acres for the 
 county seat, which was promptly removed 
 from Pekin and established at Treraont. 
 Ihis was low tide for Pekin. 
 Yet, in July of l§2i . the first 
 township election was held with J.C. 
 Morgan elected as president. The town 
 early took over operation of the 
 Illinois river ferry and has been in 
 the transportation business almost 
 ever since, but other ventures were 
 not so successful or enduring. 
 
 The state of Illinois launched a 
 railroad to go from Pekin to Blooming- 
 ton but abandoned it shortly after the 
 start of construction. 
 
 In 1839, the first newspaper, the 
 Tazewell Reporter was founded at Pekin, 
 and collapsed a few months later. In 
 1840, Col. Charles Oakley opened the 
 first bank in the Mark building, but 
 although Oakley was a success (he was 
 the man after whom Oakley avenue in 
 Chicago is named) the bank failed two 
 years later. 
 
 The most enduring step taken during 
 that period was the establishment of 
 
 the city's first church, the MetTiodist, 
 at 121 Margaret street. 
 
 In the meantime, the energies of its 
 foremost citizens were devoted to 
 carrying on .the county seat feud with 
 Tremont, a running political battle 
 carried on largely in the state legis- 
 lature, and causing a series of changes 
 in the size and division of the county. 
 It was while Pekin and Tremont 
 fought bitterly, that Peoria was es- 
 tablished and flourished. 
 
 Incidentally, it was just after the 
 Black Hawk war that the first land 
 sales were held for what was to become 
 the city of Chicago. 
 
 Two more prophetic steps were taken 
 in the early 1840' s. In 1840, John 
 Gridley, city clerk, was authorized to 
 purchase one fire ladder and two hooks, 
 and apparently this was to be the only 
 protection from fire available for 
 years- until disaster changed things. 
 
 The first township liquor license 
 was issued April 21, 1841, to Lawrence 
 Doyle and Henry Schwan for a fee of 
 $25. There were many more to follow 
 quickly. 
 
 In 1843, with all its misfortunes, 
 Pekin' s population had grown to 800; 
 and then in December of that year, 
 another epidemic struck. Fifty-two 
 persons died and 500 were ill during 
 that plague, only 300 of the entire 
 population escaping entirely. 
 
 Three years later came the Mexican 
 war, and again Pekin citizens rushed to 
 the colors, and again they served with 
 special distinction. 
 
 A company was mustered at Pekin 
 under Captain Edward Jones, and Lieu- 
 tenants William Knott and William 
 Tinney. They joined a division under 
 General Prank Shields, and landed with 
 Scott at Vera Cruz. 
 
 The entire force moved forward to 
 assault the Mexican strong-hold of 
 Cerro Gordo controlling the road to 
 Mexico city. There the main body of 
 the Americans faced the Mexicans and 
 engaged them in combat while Shields 
 division, Including the Pekin contin- 
 gent, made a wide encircling movement 
 through difficult country and fell 
 upon the Mexicans from the rear. 
 
 One group of Mexicans escaped the 
 Pekin company, abandoning in their 
 flight a buggy, a freshly cooked 
 chicken, and a bag of gold. The 
 Pekinites ate the chicken, turned 
 in the gold, and one Sgt. John Gill 
 of Pekin picked up in the buggy a 
 wooden leg which proved to be that 
 of the President of Mexico and General 
 of the Armies, Santa Anna. 
 
 It was later confirmed that among 
 the group who narrowly escaped the 
 Pekin company was the Mexican presi- 
 dent and general. His capture, so 
 narrowly missed, would undoubtedly have
 
 COTTINGHAM & SON 
 
 "Your Chevrolet Dealer Since 1916" 
 
 The firm of Cottingham & Son was 
 founded way back when the automobile 
 was just getting its start. In the 
 early days O.L. Cottingham sold such 
 makes as: Stutz, Glider, Apperson 
 JackRabbit, H.C.S. Special, Cole 8, 
 and Dixie Flyer. In the year 1916, 
 Mr. Cottingham started with Chev- 
 rolet and the name Cottingham and 
 Chevrolet in Pekin have gone down 
 through the years together. In those 
 early days the name Chevrolet was 
 not so well known but its popularity 
 has grown until for the past 18 
 years it has been America' s LEADER 
 in new car sales each year. 
 
 /( HKVROII I 
 
 Cottingham' s too have grown along 
 with Chevrolet and this is evidenced 
 by the upper photo as the firm ap- 
 peared in the 1920' s and then as it 
 appears today in the lower photo. 
 Today the firm employs seventeen 
 people and offers, in addition to 
 the new and used car sales depart- 
 ments, a complete stock of genuine 
 Chevrolet parts and a mechanical 
 staff to care for your every need, 
 a body and fender department and a 
 paint shop.
 
 ended the war at once, and brought an 
 undying place in history for the Pekin 
 men. 
 
 Gill brought Santa Anna's leg back 
 to Pekin after the war and later turned 
 it over to state authorities. It is now 
 displayed with other war relics at 
 Springf i eld. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Pekin unit continued 
 to storm the Mexican position at Cerro 
 Gordo after their brush with the 
 Mexican general. General Shields was 
 wounded in the action and was rescued 
 by Lieutenant William Tinney of Pekin, 
 who was awarded a gold medal for 
 he roism. 
 
 Shields' division, including the 
 Pekin group, seized the Mexican ar- 
 tillery and turned it on the Mexican's 
 main line and the battle turned into a 
 rout with complete victory for American 
 arms. 
 
 Tinney returned to Pekin where he 
 held a long series of public offices 
 and became an almost legendary figure. 
 
 The Mexican war veterans brought 
 back with them an unusual prize, a 
 church bell looted from a mexican 
 mission, which they turned over to the 
 Methodist church here, and which became 
 Pekin' s first church bell. 
 
 In 1848. about the time the Mexican 
 war heroes returned and 18 years after 
 the first tavern in the community, the 
 Sons of Temperance were organized. 
 
 The year 1849, just 100 years ago, 
 was the turning point in Pekin's 
 development. The Smith Wagon company, 
 an enterprise which was to become one 
 of the city's key enterprises and 
 builders came into being at 301 Mar- 
 garet street that year, and Jonathan 
 Haines invented an improved mechanical 
 reaper and built a reaper factory at 
 Broadway and Ninth streets, the fore- 
 runner of the great steel and farm 
 implement factories of this area. 
 
 The population grew. The first local 
 census taken August 7, revealed a 
 population of 1500 persons, so it was 
 determined that a general election 
 would be held to decide whether Pekin 
 should organize under a city charter. 
 
 The voting in that election was 
 unanimous, and Pekin became one of the 
 first cities in the State of Illinois, 
 at a time when the number of Illinois 
 cities could still be counted on the 
 fingers. That first election, 100 years 
 ago, was probably the first and last 
 unanimous election ever held here. Its 
 date was August 20, 1849. 
 
 A month later, September 24. the 
 first city election was held and 
 Bernard Bailey was elected mayor. 
 Aldermen were John Atkinson, David Ken- 
 yon, William Maus, and Jacob Riblet. 
 Ben S. Prettyman was city attorney; 
 Thomas Cloudas, city marshal; and John 
 Gridley. city clerk. 
 
 One of the first acts of the new 
 city was the construction of a city 
 jail, which was built by John S. Boone 
 that year, and which was apparently 
 badly needed in the rough frontier 
 town. 
 
 This was the birth of the city of 
 Pekin. 
 
 In 25 years, the community had sur- 
 vived its violent origin in the land 
 sales and transfers, two severe epi- 
 demics, an Indian war, the Mexican war, 
 flood, and its long political feud with 
 rich and aggressive Tremont. 
 
 Its population was a mixture of 
 original frontiersmen, Indians, veter- 
 ans of two wars, river men, farmers, 
 and the first few hard-working, thrifty 
 German immigrants who were to con- 
 tribute much to its future growth. 
 
 Its reputation was that of a disease 
 ridden, rowdy, and sometimes lawless 
 river town, rough even in comparison 
 with other frontier towns of the area. 
 
 Its population was 1500. It had more 
 than its share of taverns, dirt, and 
 violence; but there had iust begun to 
 appear a strong new element in the 
 organization and construction of two 
 churches, the organization of the Sons 
 of Temperance, the organization as a 
 city, and the construction of the city 
 jail. 
 
 One anecdote, set down as an example 
 of the way Pekin appeared to strangers 
 at this period, tells of the landing 
 by river steamer of a stranger who 
 sought lodging in a hotel here. 
 
 He came first to the Eagle hotel. 
 Proprietor Seth Kinman was sitting on 
 the front step sawing out "The Arkansas 
 Traveller" on his fiddle. The visitor 
 looked at Seth, glanced into the door 
 where there was dimly visible a scene 
 of wreckage, and inquired if it was 
 real ly a hotel. 
 
 "Sure", said Seth, "Jest throw yore 
 freight on the floor. The boys had a 
 little fun last night but if I kin find 
 a whole plate and a table that'll 
 stand, I' 11 rustle you something to 
 eat after a bit. " 
 
 The stranger beat a hasty retreat 
 and next approached the Taylor house. 
 Bill Tinney, the Mexican war veteran, 
 was its proprietor, and he didn't like 
 the strangers' looks. He said he looked 
 "like a dam yankee come west to fleece 
 honest folk", and without warning he 
 accosted the newcomer with an open 
 razor in hand and asked him if he 
 wanted to be shaved. 
 
 The visitor made as hasty an exit as 
 possible from the newly organized city 
 of Pekin. 
 
 The principal streets then were much 
 as they are laid out today, except of 
 course, that they were wider, made up 
 of little more than the native dirt 
 and mud, and that buildings were far 
 spaced.
 
 The Art of Plastering has stood the test of 
 time for hundreds of years. 
 
 Through the use of plaster, to finish and 
 decorate walls and ceilings, the culture and 
 artistic development of a people may be 
 measured. It' s use affords Permanence, Sani- 
 tation and Resistance to fire. 
 
 The artistry and beauty of a properly 
 applied plaster cannot be attained with any 
 other type of wall covering. 
 
 FORTY YEARS IN THE PLASTERING BUSINESS 
 
 JOHNS and LARSON 
 
 503 MARKET ST. 
 
 PEKIN ILL 
 
 Pekin Coal Mine Washing Plant 
 
 The Pekin Mine was purchased by 
 Mr. Fred Shaefer in May, 1939. It 
 is located one-half mile east of 
 Pekin on the Broadway road. The mine 
 was opened by two shafts 100 feet 
 deep and about 400 feet apart. It 
 was developed in the Illinois No. 5 
 
 coal bed which averaged 54 inches 
 in thickness. 
 
 The average daily production is 
 about 325 tons which is cut by 
 machines and loaded by hand into 
 mine cars. All stoker coals are 
 carefully prepared by one of the 
 most modern coal washing plants In 
 the middle west. The brand name for 
 our stoker, lump, egg and nut coal 
 is HOT-Test. The Pekin Coal Mining 
 Company will continue to supply 
 Central Illinois' coal needs with 
 the same dependable service as they 
 have in the past decade. 
 
 PEKIN COAL MINING COMPANY 
 
 10
 
 More imposing homes were surrounded 
 by extensive grounds and private lanes, 
 and at the other extreme were rude, 
 home-made log cabins surrounded by 
 gardens and yards. 
 
 A scattering of Indian wigwams re- 
 mained in the camp near the riverfront, 
 too, and the physical appearance of the 
 riverfront was far different. Besides 
 the greater height and width of the 
 undammed river, there stood a body of 
 water in the south-west part of town 
 known as Bitzer's lake. 
 
 It was so named after a shoemaker 
 and tavern- keeper whose combination 
 
 shoe-and-grog shop was located on the 
 banks of this lake at Third and St. 
 Mary streets. From that point a stream 
 ran northward along Third street and 
 emptied into the river at Catherine 
 street, passing through a 16-foot 
 ravine along the present riverfront 
 area. This was early spanned by a 
 wooden bridge. 
 
 All of this made up the not-too- 
 imposing picture of the city of PEKIN 
 in 1849 when it first received its 
 charter. 
 
 The future was not particularly 
 bright. 
 
 —^ '';■ ^-^'^'' 
 
 THE NEW CITY 
 
 While the true picture of Pekin as 
 it actually was in 1849 may be a dis- 
 appointing picture of what is tra- 
 ditionally glorified as the "brave new 
 world", this community with its mud, 
 its series of business failures, its 
 crude and boisterous life, and its 
 reputation as a pest-hole of disease, 
 had one priceless quality which it 
 shared with the rest of America-- free- 
 dom: and because of that it WAS a part 
 of a "brave new world" which beckoned 
 enslaved people everywhere. 
 
 Because of that one quality, muddy, 
 sprawling, disease-ridden Pekin was a 
 finer place than the neat, clean 
 villages of Germany. 
 
 For, in 1849. Prussia was just 
 starting to use the blood and iron 
 which was to "unify" Germany in a 
 series of shotgun weddings. In that 
 very year, her booted armies ripped 
 Schleswig and Holstein from the kingdom 
 of Denmark, and the shadow of her 
 spiked helmets fell across all the 
 Independent states of southern Germany. 
 
 Austria, as yet unaware that her 
 master-to-be was appearing in the 
 north, was busy making war on Hungary, 
 and Russia was Joining in to get her 
 share of the spoils. The Balkans were 
 all enslaved. 
 
 The British crown weighed heavily on 
 Ireland, whose miseries reached flew 
 depths in a great potato famine in 
 1849. and there was bitter fighting In 
 India where England was annexing new 
 territories. 
 
 Garibaldi had fled for his life from 
 Italy, and there was a new Inquisition 
 directed against his Republican follow- 
 ers there. 
 
 It was a world-wide joke in 1849. 
 when President Zachary Taylor, the 
 rough old Mexican war general, said at 
 his inauguration, "We are at peace with 
 the world--and with all mankind!" 
 
 The fools who ruled the nations of 
 the old world laughed that the new 
 chief executive of upstart America 
 should make a ridiculous repetative 
 sentence, revealing his cultural 
 ignorance. 
 
 But the people of the world did 
 not laugh. They were not concerned with 
 whether the language was correct. 
 America WAS then at peace, however the 
 words might be said, and the war-weary 
 tyrannized people of Europe longed to 
 come here. 
 
 So, even in 1849. Pekin was not just 
 a remote frontier town of 1500 souls 
 completely cut off from the flow of 
 world events. In fact, the policies of 
 Bismark, Germany's Iron Chancellor, had 
 more to do with the development of the 
 city of Pekin, perhaps, than did the 
 policies of President Taylor or the 
 local decision to become incorporated 
 as a city. 
 
 The builder of the German Elnplre did 
 much to build Pekin. For it was the 
 Germans mostly who came to Pekin in 
 their flight from old world tyranny. 
 There were a few Irish, and later a 
 good many Italians, but first cane the 
 
 11
 
 MORE'S STORE 
 
 400 COURT ST. 
 
 PHONE 183 
 
 More' s store, at the corner of 
 Court and Fourth streets, cannot 
 boast of growing up with Pekin, but 
 it does look forward to an estab- 
 lished future and continuous service 
 to people of this community. 
 
 R.H. More came to Pekin in 1945 
 because he liked this size and kind 
 of town. It compared with the town 
 in which he had lived and raised 
 his family. In Pekin he found that 
 people were friendly and cooperative 
 and that merchants couldn' t afford 
 to be anything except honest and 
 industrious. The town was located in 
 the heart of a prosperous farming 
 area and here were varied industries 
 necessary to keep a town growing. 
 
 At first, More' s dealt mostly in 
 auto supplies and tires with associ- 
 ated lines of hardware and house- 
 wares. As post-war production in- 
 
 creased, the store added new lines, 
 always with an eye to the practical 
 mindedness and thrift-controlled 
 purse of the customer. The toy 
 section was expanded to appeal to 
 the youngsters, and the useful gift 
 item stock was increased manyfold. 
 
 Careful attention was given to 
 displaying merchandise both in the 
 windows and in the store, and 
 Pekinites commented about the con- 
 tinual discovery of "new items" at 
 More' s. Customers learned to ap- 
 preciate the layaway and budget 
 plans that were installed. 
 
 Pekin lost a friend when Mr. More 
 passed away in 1948, but his son 
 and daughter fully intend to carry 
 on his policies which include a fair 
 mark-up, the same price to everyone, 
 and a friendly interest in every 
 sale, large or small, at More's. 
 
 GOLDEN RULE 
 
 Shoe Store 
 
 317 COURT ST. PEKIN 
 
 ESTABLISHED 193 3 
 
 KARL A. KREEB 
 Proprie tor 
 
 Featuring 
 
 QUALITY FOOTWEAR 
 
 FOR THE ENTIRE 
 
 FAMILY 
 
 KREEB'S 
 
 Men^s Wear 
 
 317^2 COURT ST. PEKIN 
 
 ESTABLISHED 1947 
 
 KARL A. KREEB 
 Proprietor 
 
 Featuring; 
 
 HART SCHAFFNER and MARX 
 Clothing 
 
 ARROW SHIRTS 
 
 DOBB' S HATS 
 
 INTERWOVEN SOCKS 
 
 12
 
 Germans, and in the years that followed 
 they literally flooded the town. 
 
 But not all at once. There had to be 
 an Abraham Lincoln, to phrase the phil- 
 osophy of Freedom in words that no man 
 could misunderstand, before the immi- 
 gration reached flood-tide. There was 
 a sprinkling about 1849 but there was 
 much more to come. 
 
 Teis Smith, who came here early and 
 had just started his Wagon shop, con- 
 tributed mightily to the influx of 
 Germans at that time. His friends, 
 relatives and former towns-people came 
 and were employed at the shop, in newer 
 enterprises and in special crafts and 
 trades. 
 
 His brother Henry Smith came over 
 with him in 1849, and brothers Fred and 
 Dietrich Smith followed, and the 
 following year their brother-in-law, 
 Luppe Luppen, came over from Germany. 
 Luppen invented an improved axle for 
 the wagons which made them among the 
 finest built, and Pekin' s first factory 
 soon became a busy and prosperous 
 en terpri se. 
 
 In 1850, the legislature returned 
 the county seat to Pekin from Tremont, 
 made the action "perpetual", and a new 
 Grecian style Court house was erected 
 at the present Court house site. 
 
 In that single year, Pekin' s popu- 
 lation jumped from 1500 to 1840. most 
 of the new Pekinites having come from 
 Germany. 
 
 That year, the first theater. The 
 Empire, was built. It was located at 
 327 Court street, the present site: but 
 the theater was on the second floor, 
 the ground floor being a dry-goods 
 store. 
 
 In 1851, the Velde lumber company 
 was established. The growing German 
 population organized the first Turn- 
 verein, and a year later the first 
 German language newspaper, Der Wach- 
 teram Illinois, made its appearance. 
 
 Rupert and Haines started the Platte 
 Valley bank, a "wildcat" operation 
 issuing paper money, which was to sur- 
 vive nine years, and the Germans con- 
 tinued to invade the city. 
 
 Sunday, April 16, 1852, Pekin' s 
 population increased by a somewhat 
 unusual method, when a large number of 
 people literally "blew into town". 
 
 The Prairie State, a river steamer 
 en route to St. Louis, was in the 
 process of docking at Pekin when her 
 boilers exploded. Many passengers were 
 killed and maimed in the explosion, 
 and others were scalded and drowned. 
 
 Pekin' s people opened their doors 
 to the injured, and almost every house 
 in Pekin was occupied by some victim of 
 the Prairie State explosion. Many of 
 them remained after their recovery, 
 among them the grandfather of Paul 
 Sallee, the present Pekin trouper. 
 He was on his way to St. Louis when the 
 explosion scalded him badly, and he was 
 
 TAZEWELL COUNTY COUFfT HOUSH PEKIN. ILLf 
 13
 
 CARPS 
 
 THE STORE WHERE YOU CAN DO BETTER 
 
 337 COURT ST. 
 
 For the past twenty years. Carps 
 Department store has been serving 
 Pekin and its surrounding communi- 
 ties. In 1929, its doors opened at 
 its present address, 337 Court 
 Street. At that time, the store con- 
 sisted of only the main floor and a 
 balcony for ladies ready-to-wear. 
 
 To meet the demands of a fast 
 growing community. Carps was in the 
 process of remodeling and expanding 
 when the building was completely 
 drstroyed by fire oi. February 9, 
 1944. Carps immediately began look- 
 ing for a temporary location, and 
 on March 9th business was resumed 
 
 in the building which now houses 
 the Court Motors, on the corner of 
 Capitol and Margaret streets. Work 
 began at once on erecting a modern 
 building at the old site, consist- 
 ing of a main floor, an enlarged 
 balcony, and a full basrment. 
 
 Bernard Carp is well known in 
 the Pekin community and his children 
 attended the Pekin schools. His 
 interest is always in the progress 
 of the city. 
 
 .J. J. Bottger, the manager, has 
 been associated with the Carps for 
 the past fourteen years. 
 
 Pekin Warehouse Company 
 
 The Pekin Warehouse Company, 
 operated as an Internal Revenue 
 Bonded Warehouse for the purpose of 
 storing bulk or barreled alcoholic 
 spirits, "In Bond" under the super- 
 vision of the Alcohol Tax Unit, U.S. 
 Revenue Department, is located west 
 of the 800 block South Second 
 Street, adjacent to Daileyville and 
 the former site of the old C. P. and 
 St. L. roundhouse. 
 
 The Pekin Warehouse Company, at 
 present one of the largest of its 
 kind in the country, was established 
 in 1936 and opened for business on 
 November 10, under the management 
 of Phil M. Kumpf, its present 
 manager, with one warehouse having 
 storage capacity of 20500 barrels. 
 With the increasing demand for 
 storage space a total of five ware- 
 houses were in operation by June of 
 1941 increasing storage capacity to 
 
 88100 barrels, or some 4,500,000 
 gallons of spirits. 
 
 The bui Idings, t ied into one 
 another, present the appearance of 
 one large warehouse 675 feet long 
 by 150 feet deep. 
 
 The company normally operating 
 with a complement of 12 employees, 
 along with two Government Officers, 
 acting in behalf of the U.S. 
 Internal Revenue Department, employs 
 as many as 60 people during seasonal 
 rushes. 
 
 Barreled spirits or whiskey is 
 accepted for storage from any 
 licensed Distiller or Importing Dis- 
 tributor. At present, the company 
 has merchandise stored for customers 
 throughout the whole United States. 
 
 The present officers of the 
 company are Mr. Herbig younge, Pres- 
 ident, Mr. Sidney Kessler, Vice- 
 President, and Mr. W.L. Rutherford, 
 Secretary. 
 
 14
 
 some months recovering in the care of 
 a Pekin family. When he recovered, he 
 married here and made Pekin his home. 
 
 The march of progress which started 
 with incorporation as a city continued, 
 and was reflected in many ways. 
 
 An indication of the heavy immi- 
 gration could be seen when there was 
 an ice jam in the river at Cairo in 
 January of 1854- It held up 14 steam- 
 boats loaded with some 2,000 German 
 ioinigrants. 
 
 The Germans built neat homes, and 
 were enthusiastic gardeners. They 
 located in large numbers in the north- 
 east part of Pekin. Their gardens gave 
 that part of the city a character all 
 its own, and it came to be called 
 "Bohnen Pertel" in German, later called 
 "Bean Town", for the same reason; and 
 with the passage of years "Bohnen 
 Fertel" became corrupted into Bonshe- 
 fiddle. 
 
 Though the gardens are long since 
 gone, Pekinites still refer to " bonshe- 
 fiddle" and "bean town" in speaking of 
 that part of the city. 
 
 Besides the appearance of the 
 Germans in ever increasing numbers, 
 the business growth, the Industrial 
 development, and booming trade, in part 
 caused by the newly completed Illinois- 
 Lake Michigan canal, there were other 
 new elements appearing in the life of 
 the city. 
 
 The stirrings of anti-slavery senti- 
 ment began to make their appearance, 
 largely among the German settlers. 
 Abraham Lincoln had succeeded in 
 getting a court order setting free 
 Black Nance, a slave of the same Nathan 
 Crorawells who had named Pekin; and in 
 1853, Lincoln represented the city of 
 Pekin in a lawsuit against H. Myers 
 and company. In 1853, the Baptist 
 church was organized and a building put 
 up at the present Elizabeth street 
 location. The Baptists were among the 
 faiths who had abolitionist sentiments. 
 
 Dr. Daniel Cheever, living at the 
 corner of Capitol and Court streets, 
 was a leading anti-slavery man; and 
 his home became a depot in the under- 
 ground railroad by which slaves were 
 stealthily moved north to safety and 
 freedom. 
 
 Samuel Woodrow, an original Pekin 
 settler, (Catherine street was named 
 for his wife) and his brother Hugh 
 Woodrow, (Amanda street was named for 
 his wife) were also active in the fight 
 against slavery and the business of 
 aiding slaves to escape, but they moved 
 their base of operations south of Pekin 
 to Circlevil le. 
 
 In spite of the fact that there were 
 these leaders in the movement, Pekin 
 was a pro-slave city for years. Some of 
 the original settlers bad been slave- 
 
 owners themselves, and the overwhelming 
 sentiment in Pekin was Democratic. 
 Stephen A.Douglas, not Abraham Lincoln, 
 was the local hero, although Lincoln 
 was well-liked, and had some German 
 fol lowing. 
 
 During this same period, the leader- 
 ship of a Pekin man and a meeting held 
 at 400 Haines avenue in Pekin, provided 
 the seed of what was to become the 
 present University of Chicago. About 
 1850, Pekin' s Baptist minister, the 
 Rev. Gilbert Bailey, summoned the Rev. 
 J.C. Burroughs of Chicago and the Rev. 
 H.G. Weston of Peoria to discuss the 
 need for a Baptist college. 
 
 As a result of that meeting in 
 Pekin, Stephen A. Douglas was contacted 
 and he arranged a grant of 10 acres of 
 government land which happened to be 
 available at Chicago. There the Douglas 
 University was started, which later 
 was re-organized with a large Rocke- 
 feller endowment as the University of 
 Chicago. 
 
 Meanwhile, Pekin' s growth became 
 faster and faster. In 1858, Bitzer' s 
 lake was drained to make right-of-way 
 for the new Peoria, Pekin and Jackson- 
 ville railroad (later the Chicago, 
 Peoria and St. Louis, and today the 
 Chicago and Illinois Midland). The 
 depot was built up on piling where 
 Bitzer' s lake had been, and much of the 
 track there was trestled. The 16-foot 
 ravine cutting across the river front 
 area was filled, and the bridge over 
 it destroyed. The city had subscribed 
 $100,000 to get the railroad and other 
 improvements. 
 
 That year Col. William Callendar 
 built the Hamburg, Pekin' s first dis- 
 tillery, which was the start of the 
 great distilling industry in this area. 
 A gas company was also formed that 
 year, and the Velde-Roelfs hardware 
 company was founded. 
 
 The biggest day in that particular 
 era came on July 4, 1859, when the 
 first train finally pulled into Pekin 
 on the new railroad tracks in the midst 
 of a city-wide celebration complete 
 with flags, bands, and a parade. 
 
 In 1859, Abraham Lincoln won the 
 presidential nomination of the Repub- 
 lican party, thanks to the efforts of 
 David Davis, a former Pekin resident 
 who headed the Illinois delegation. He 
 was later rewarded by an appointment to 
 the United States Supreme Court. Henry 
 H. Cole, Pekin' s pioneer photographer, 
 who died in 1925 at the age of 92. was 
 a visitor at that convention in the 
 "Wigwam" at Chicago, and he, with 
 hundreds of others, returned bare 
 headed having lost his silk hat In the 
 wild enthusiasm following Lincoln's 
 nomination. 
 
 Lincoln and Lyman Trumbull had 
 spoken before a good -sized crowd in 
 
 15
 
 Getz & Swisher Agency 
 
 Herget Bank Bldg. Phone 135 
 Reliable Insurance Service 
 
 Dwellings - Furniture 
 Mercantile Buildings & Contents 
 Automobile - Bonds - Plate Glass 
 Business Interruption - Liability & Farm Insurance 
 
 A partnership by B.E. Getz and 
 Nelle J. Swisher was organized in 
 Sept. 1945 when the agencies of B. 
 E. Getz and Robert S. Hornish were 
 consolidated. 
 
 Mr. Robert S. Hornish died Aug. 
 28, 1945- He had operated his agency 
 since Oct. 1, 1928 when he purchased 
 the John L. Smith Agency. In Aug. 
 1937 he added to his agency the 
 business of his brother Geo. B. 
 Hornish and in April, 1941 he pur- 
 chased the P.W. Soady Agency. 
 
 B.E. Getz commenced his insurance 
 business Nov. i, 1937 when he pur- 
 chased the Chas. P. Holland Agency 
 and in April 1939, he purchased the 
 B.P. Waltmire Agency. 
 
 Miss Nelle J. Swisher was associ- 
 ated with Mr. R. S. Hornish in the 
 insurance business since 1933. 
 
 As a result of the consolidation 
 of the above agencies and the 
 experience of the present partners, 
 the Getz & Swisher Agency is proud 
 of their contribution to Pekin's 
 business progress. 
 
 ^^ ^^ S17-S19 COURT aTRCI 
 
 EARL E. JONES 
 
 ORVILLE R. JONES 
 
 Jones Bros. Jewelers was founded 
 March 4, 1939, by Orville and Earl 
 Jones. It was started after many 
 years of preparation and study in 
 all fields of the jewelry business. 
 
 The actual start was in 1928, 
 when Earl started to study at Brad- 
 ley Horological Institute. A short 
 time later Orville took up the study 
 of Horology. There followed years 
 of practical experience in all 
 fields of the jewelry business. 
 Their combined experience includes 
 watch and jewelry repairing, jewelry 
 manufacturing, clock repairing, 
 diamond setting, engraving, and 
 jewelry designing. 
 
 Earl Jones took up the study of 
 Geraology, and in 1936 received the 
 title of Certified Gemologist and 
 Registered Jeweler of the American 
 Gem Society. He was president of 
 the Northern Ohio Guild of the A.G. 
 S. and has served as instructor at 
 their annual Conclaves for many 
 years. At present he serves on the 
 
 PEKIN, ILUINOIS 
 
 Board of Governors of the gemo- 
 logical Institute of America. 
 
 Earl was working as designer and 
 sample maker of Orange Blossom rings 
 at the Traub Manufacturing Company 
 and Orville was managing the watch 
 repair department at Wm. Taylor Son 
 & Company in Cleveland when they 
 decided to combine their talents. 
 
 In 1942 the Town and Country Gift 
 Shop was added, and 1947 the store 
 was completely remodeled and en- 
 larged to its present size. The 
 remodeled store includes a large 
 China and glass department in a 
 separate room, a gift shop, a new 
 silver department, and a much 
 larger jewelry section. The repair 
 department has grown to include 
 four watchmakers and three jewelers. 
 During the Christmas Season there 
 are as many as 20 employees. 
 
 Prom a small beginning in 1939 
 their store has grown to the largest 
 jewelry store and gift shop in 
 Central Illinois. 
 
 16
 
 IHIIIIlli 
 
 T/ 
 
 I 
 
 TAZEWELL HOUSE 
 
 Pekin' s court house square. October 6, 
 1858. 
 
 In 1858. Peter Weyrich was elected 
 mayor, another indication that the new 
 German citizens were moving into the 
 political as well as business life of 
 the city. 
 
 Thus, the first 10 years of Pekin' s 
 existence as a city brought a flood of 
 German immigrants who brought to Pekin 
 Its first factory, its first dis- 
 tillery, a number of new business 
 houses, new churches, its first rail- 
 road, and finally a changing attitude 
 toward slavery and a changing political 
 philosophy. 
 
 In I860, Pekin had grown from 1,860 
 people of the 1850 census to 5,023. 
 There were 742 houses, 49 stores, four 
 hotels. 26 industries and workshops, 
 half a dozen drug stores and $2,000,000 
 of taxable property. This year, George, 
 John, and Philip Herget started a 
 grocery store in Pekin. 
 
 There were also 11 churches and 12 
 schools, as compared with 25 saloons 
 and five pool halls, but apparently 
 that represented an improving con- 
 dition. There were 503 children attend- 
 ing the schools. 
 
 After these 10 years of almost un- 
 broken progress and prosperity came the 
 city's first major disaster since its 
 incorporation. 
 
 Fire equipment was apparently still 
 limited to the single fire ladder John 
 Gridley had purchased as town clerk a 
 decade before, and on March 22. 1860. 
 a fire broke out on downtown Court 
 
 n 
 
 street in the E. Grodenburg grocery 
 store. It swept unchecked down both 
 sides of Court street and razed the 
 entire block on both sides of the 
 street from Third to Capitol streets, 
 including the Tazewell Register build- 
 ing and equipment. The loss was 
 estimated at $150,000. However, that 
 block was all rebuilt, and this time 
 with brick buildings. 
 
 The fire had another by-product in 
 that it created a fever for the organi- 
 zation of fire companies in the city, 
 which, in turn produced new evidence of 
 the growing size and strength of the 
 German element and of the clash between 
 the new and the old citizens of Pekin. 
 A fire- fighting company was quickly 
 organized after the fire and made ap- 
 plication for a fire engine to be pur- 
 chased for their use. Then a group of 
 German population got together, and 
 they too organized a fire company and 
 made a similar request to the council. 
 Both asked to be designated as the 
 Number One company. 
 
 The arrival of the engines by steam- 
 boat was the occasion for a public 
 celebration. All the townspeople turned 
 out and the two companies donned their 
 uniforms, fell in. and marched down 
 Court street to the dock. There it was 
 found that the engine designated for 
 the German company had a big "No. I" 
 painted on it. and the engine designat- 
 ed for the original company was 
 similarly painted "No. 2". 
 
 At this discovery, the original com- 
 pany fell into ranks again, announced 
 that "Our engine isn't here", and
 
 ^mimmmmmm 
 
 POWER FOR PEKIN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS 
 
 The city of Pekin is served with 
 electricity and gas by the Central 
 Illinois Light Company. Since 1865, 
 when the first gas utility was or- 
 ganized in Pekin until the present 
 day, advancement of utilities have 
 been paralleled with the growth of 
 the city. 
 
 To trace the history of utilities 
 in Pekin, one must go back to Feb. 
 18, 1861, when an Act to Incorporate 
 the Pekin Gas Light Company was 
 approved by the General Assembly of 
 the State of Illinois. It was in 
 1865, however, before the Pekin 
 Gas Light Company was organized, 
 with Wm. Stansbury as president. 
 Mr. Stansbury served in this ca- 
 pacity until 1893, when this company 
 was sold to H.G. Herget. In 1866, on 
 Feb. 5, the first gas street lights 
 were turned on in Pekin and the old 
 lamp-light was a familiar figure 
 until 1888 when they were replaced 
 by electric street lights . In 1886, 
 the first electric utility was 
 organized and was known as the Ft. 
 Wayne Electric Light Company. One 
 year later, August 18, 1887, the 
 Jenny Electric Light Company of 
 Pekin was formed and acquired all 
 the interests of the Ft. Wayne Elec- 
 tric Light Corapany. The City of 
 Pekin Electric Light and Power 
 Corapany was organized in 1891. This 
 company continued operations until 
 it was dissolved on March 17, 1900. 
 
 In 1899, the name Pekin Gas Light 
 Company was changed to Pekin Light, 
 Heat and Power Company, bringing 
 together the gas and electric 
 properties of the city. Gas and 
 electric properties were again 
 separated in 1902. Gas was supplied 
 by the Pekin Light, Heat and Power 
 Company and electricity by the 
 Citizens Gas and Electric Company. 
 This separation coritinued until May 
 1, 1913, when the Central Illinois 
 Light Company was formed. This 
 company acquired all the interests 
 of the Citizens Gas and Electric 
 Company and leased the gas proper- 
 ties of the Pekin Light, Heat and 
 Power Company. In 1934, the Pekin 
 Light, Heat and Power Corapany vyas 
 dissolved and it wa.s at this tirae 
 that the Pekin Utilities became the 
 Pekin District of the Peoria Di- 
 vision of the Central Illinois Light 
 Company. 
 
 Much eraphasis has been put upon 
 the Pekin District in CILCO' S ex- 
 pansion prograra. New gas mains have 
 been laid and old ones repaired. The 
 generating capacity at its main 
 power station has been more than 
 doubled within the last ten years, 
 to keep abreast with the increasing 
 demand for its services. The Central 
 Illinois Light Company will continue 
 to grow to supply MORE POWER FOR 
 PEKIN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 
 
 Central Illinois Light Company 
 
 18
 
 marched away, leaving the unwanted "No. 
 2" sitting on the dock. 
 
 However, three fire companies in all 
 were organized and did operate shortly 
 after the original conflagration. They 
 were the Defiance fire company, the 
 Independent fire company, and the 
 Rescue fire company with a total mem- 
 bership of more than 200 men. 
 
 The fire companies proved to be 
 more social than anything else, staging 
 a grand parade once a year and a 
 victory celebration after each blaze; 
 and after a time these celebrations 
 came to be a problem too. The city 
 offered $10 to the company that was 
 first to reach a fire and douse it, and 
 at that time this was about the right 
 sum to stage a sizable victory party, 
 with liquor about 25 cents a gallon. 
 
 Immediately, the city was visited 
 with a record-breaking series of fires, 
 many of which started in a suspicious 
 manner. 
 
 It is said that a fire company that 
 felt a celebration was due would muster 
 its men, line them up at the ropes of 
 their engine, open the door, send out 
 a chosen member to start a fire, and 
 then stand by, waiting for the alarm to 
 come in. In this manner, the old com- 
 panies sometimes reached fires in a 
 remarkably short time. Pacing this sort 
 of practice, the city council withdrew 
 the $10 bonus, which was getting expen- 
 sive in more ways than one, and the 
 number of fires was promptly reduced. 
 
 It was in 1862 that the first fire 
 station was built. B.S. Prettyrnan was 
 then mayor. 
 
 The practice of independent fire 
 companies setting their own fires is 
 further proof that the flare for vio- 
 lence which was born in Pekin still 
 remained after 35 years, and there was 
 other evidence of it about that same 
 t ime. 
 
 A murderer named John Ott, who had 
 killed a woman and two children near 
 Delavan, had been sentenced to be 
 hanged in the Court house square, March 
 1. 1861. A stockade was erected around 
 the new scaffold to provide a private 
 execution. 
 
 The citizenry had a different idea 
 about the thing, and they poured into 
 Pekin the day before the hanging, and 
 did a lot of pouring after they arriv- 
 ed, too. That night, rowdy, drunken 
 mobs of people milled in the streets 
 and tore down the stockade. 
 
 A lynching was feared, and three 
 companies of troops were hastily 
 brought into Pekin and martial law was 
 declared In the city; but even with 
 martial law the scene of the hanging 
 proved to be a combination carnival 
 and Roman holiday. An estimated 10,000 
 people jaimed the streets of the city. 
 Business men built platforms on their 
 
 properties and sold space. Troops sur- 
 rounded the scaffold to prevent any 
 interference with the grim business 
 itself, but the crowd hooted at the 
 condemned man and crowded every avail- 
 able point of vantage. 
 
 One platform collapsed, injuring a 
 number of would-be spectators. Another 
 over-zealous onlooker plunged right out 
 of a second story window and was badly 
 hurt. People not only crowded in to 
 see, themselves, but many held small 
 children high above their heads to let 
 them see Ott hang. 
 
 Had they known it, most of the 
 families of this area were soon to have 
 all the violence they wanted for a long 
 while, because it was only a matter of 
 days after the disgraceful mob scene 
 at the Ott hanging that the first shots 
 of the Civil War were fired; and Pekin 
 and this area were to feel the effects 
 of that war as harshly as any sub- 
 sequent conflict, and in many ways 
 more so. 
 
 This era of Pekin' s history closed 
 with the city still much of a frontier 
 town, with much of its business still 
 transacted in the off-hand frontier 
 tradition. 
 
 The law was administered, for 
 example, largely without records and in 
 the rough hewn style of the frontier. 
 Attorneys needed little more than the 
 recognition of the court to practice 
 law, and many of the judges themselves 
 had little or no legal qualifications. 
 Juries were rounded up in a catch-as- 
 catch-can manner. 
 
 It is recorded that during the term 
 of Sheriff William Tinney (The Mexican 
 War veteran) a newcomer from the East 
 repeatedly challenged jurors in a case 
 at law here. Each objection caused 
 Sheriff Tinney the unpleasant task of 
 scouring the countryside for another 
 jury panel. The third time the newcomer 
 lodged his protest. Sheriff Tinney 
 knocked him unconscious with a chair, 
 and the court simply adjourned because 
 of the lack of response of the 
 attorney--who incidentally left town 
 after. 
 
 In spite of the evidences that rough 
 edges remained, however, there was 
 considerable physical change in Pekin. 
 
 The last of its Indian Population 
 had been moved westward to a Kansas 
 reservation during this period, and 
 with them went a few Pekin men who 
 had married squaws: and hundreds of 
 Germans more than took their place, 
 bringing with them something of the old 
 world civilization. 
 
 A DIVIDED CITY 
 
 With the outbreak of the Civil War, 
 
 Pekin citizens found themselves divided 
 
 in sentiment, and those who fought for 
 
 the Union found that this battle had to 
 
 19
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 TO PEKIN ON ITS 100th BIHTHDAY 
 
 Commonwealth Edison Company is proud and happy to 
 be a part of this progressive community. While it is true 
 that we haven't been here as long as many of you, we 
 still feel that we are a real part of the community and 
 join in celebrating its centennial anniversary. 
 
 It has been a pleasure to be instrumental in this com- 
 munity's development and we look forward to many, many 
 more years of pleasant association with its citizens. 
 
 Your neighbors at Powerton Station 
 COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY 
 
 20
 
 be fought here at home as well as on 
 the many battle-fields nf the war 
 itself. 
 
 While Pekin soldiers marched, even- 
 tually, from Cairo to the Gulf of 
 Mexico and eastward, with Sherman, " to 
 the sea", the Union symphatizers at 
 home had problems too. 
 
 The record shows that Tazewell 
 county sent 3,000 men to the colors in 
 the Union army in the Civil War, a 
 shockingly high number of soldiers in 
 proportion to the population of that 
 day- -a considerably higher percentage 
 than served even in World War II. 
 
 Perhaps because so many Union en- 
 thusiasts immediately left with the 
 Army, the secessionist element seemed 
 to have the upper hand here at home 
 during much of the Civil War. The 
 "Knights of the Golden Circle", an out- 
 right secessionist organization, met 
 openly, and were bold in their sympathy 
 to the rebel cause; while those who 
 believed in the Union spoke often in 
 whispers on Pekin streets and were 
 wary and often afraid. 
 
 The German domination suffered some- 
 thing of a blow in the face of the more 
 aggressive and unprincipled policies 
 of the secessionist group. They shied 
 at first from violence and the threat 
 of violence and gave way before the 
 rebel sympathizers here at home. 
 
 The condition was tolerated only for 
 a short while, however. On June 25, 
 1862, 11 men gathered secretly at 331 
 Court street for the purpose of organ- 
 izing a pro-Union campaign AT HOME. The 
 leaders were mostly those few "original 
 settlers" even at that time, but the 
 naturally more hesitant German element 
 soon took an active part. This organi- 
 zation was called the Union League, and 
 the idea behind it inspired a similar 
 meeting a short time later at Blooming- 
 ton, and later at Chicago, where John 
 Medill founder and publisher of the 
 Chicago Tribune took an active part, 
 and soon the Union League, launched by 
 11 men at Pekin on June 25, 1862, swept 
 the entire North and became a great and 
 powerful instrument for propaganda and 
 finance in support of the War. 
 
 In view of the great efforts to 
 bring about a "negotiated peace", the 
 Union League made a tremendous contri- 
 bution to Lincoln's policy of continu- 
 ing the war until the Union was secure. 
 The men who gave birth to that idea, 
 and held that first organization meet- 
 ing of the Union League were: the Rev. 
 James Vernon, Methodist minister at 
 Pekin; Levi Garrett, a Pekin Merchant 
 living at 335 Caroline street; Charles 
 Turner, Tazewell county's states 
 attorney, a Pekin lawyer; George Har- 
 low, a city alderman who lived at the 
 corner of Fourth and Prince streets; 
 Dr. Daniel Cheever, who lived at Court 
 
 and Capitol streets and had operated a 
 "depot" on the underground railroad 
 there; John W. Glasgow, a Justice of 
 the Peace, who lived at Third and Mar- 
 garet streets: Henrv Pratt, supervisor 
 from Delavan; Jonathan Merriam, Arming- 
 ton stock farmer; Alexander Small of 
 Deer Creek, and Major Richard Cullom 
 of Deer Creek. 
 
 The importance of their action, and 
 the prestige it gave them is reflected 
 in the future of the founders them- 
 selves. Turner became a Civil War 
 general; Harlow, secretary of State of 
 Illinois; Merriam, a Union Colonel and 
 a candidate for governor; and Cullom 
 was the father of Illinois Governor 
 Shelby Cullom. 
 
 It was also reflec-ted in the endur- 
 ance of the Union League long after the 
 Civil War, although its character 
 changed considerably. The Union League 
 persists in larger cities like Chicago, 
 New York and Boston, even today, al- 
 though these leagues are now largely 
 social organizations - wealthy, ex- 
 clusive, and with strong Republican 
 political sympathies. 
 
 In spite of the division in loyalty 
 reflected in Pekin during the war, 
 particularly in its earlier stages, the 
 city made a great contribution on the 
 battlefield as well. Hundreds of her 
 citizens were among the 3,000 soldiers 
 from Tazewell county, and at least two 
 companies were actually formed directly 
 at Pekin. 
 
 The 108th Regiment of Infantry. 
 Illinois volunteers, was commanded by 
 Col. (later General) Charles Turner of 
 Pekin. the same Charles Turner who was 
 a founder of the Union League. Company 
 B of that organization was formed at 
 Pekin under Capt. Richard B. Howell and 
 later Capt. Wilbur F. Henry. They ser- 
 ved under General Sherman, did heroic 
 work at Vicksburg, and suffered 
 terrific casualties both from disease 
 and the enemy. Their long confinement 
 on transports during the Mississippi 
 river campaign by which Grant first cut 
 the Confederacy in two caused the heavy 
 disease casualties. 
 
 First Lt. Philo W. Hill of Pekin was 
 among those who died. Other company 
 officers were Garrett G. Ruhaak and 
 Wilbur Franks and John J. Kellogg. 
 Kellogg was wounded in action. 
 
 Here is a roster of that company: S. 
 J. Bumstead; Benjamin Swayze (later be- 
 came a lieutenant); Edward J. Davis: 
 John Ledterman (later became an officer 
 commanding colored troops); Harlan 
 Gridley; Reuben W. Heyers (became 
 prisoner of war); Stephen B. Sallee; J. 
 W. Timbrell (drowned in service): M. B. 
 Williams; I.R. Brown; Samuel Rankin 
 (died in service); J.G. Stauffer; W. T. 
 Masters; E.L. Brown (died in service); 
 P.O. Bowers, (died); S.K. Bowers; 
 
 21
 
 YARD ESTASLISHED 185 1 
 
 VELDE LUMBER COMPANY 
 
 A CO-PARTNERSHIP 
 
 lutlding filaUrtalB 
 
 16 SOUTH SECOND STREET 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 In the spring of 1922 a Mr. Maus 
 residing in the Tremont house, 
 northeast corner of Court and Sixth 
 Streets, told Donald F. Velde at our 
 office that when he was nine years 
 old (1851) and living on a farm near 
 Tremont, he 'came to this corner with 
 his father to purchase lumber and it 
 has been a lumber yard ever since." 
 
 In the early days, we have been 
 told, this site was a lumber yard 
 operated by a Mr. Seeyle. 
 
 In 1890, D.F. Velde purchased the 
 interest of Mr. Henry Peltman which 
 changed the firm name of Velde & 
 Peltman (C.L. Velde and Mr. Feltman), 
 to C.L. Velde & Company. (The deed 
 dated October 6, 1890 conveying 
 Henry Peltman' s one-half interest to 
 
 D.F. Velde was notarized by the Hon. 
 Joseph V. Graff, Notary Public, and 
 recorded by John Fitzgerald, Clerk 
 of the Circuit Court.) 
 
 The firm was operated by C.L. 
 Velde and D.F. Velde under the name 
 of C.L. Velde & Company until April 
 of 1922 when D.F. Velde purchased 
 all the interest and the firm name 
 was changed to Velde Lumber Company. 
 D.F. Velde died in 1924 and since 
 then the ownership of the Velde 
 Lumber Company has been his widow, 
 Emma S. Velde, and sons, Donald F. 
 and H. R. Velde. • 
 
 On April 2, 1928, a fire com- 
 pletely destroyed the lumber yard, 
 but it was immediately rebuilt as 
 it stands today. 
 
 GOOD HOUSES DESERVE OUR GOOD MATERIALS 
 
 22
 
 William Bloom; H.C. Barnes; Thomas 
 Champion; Joseph Cockrell; Granville 
 Collins; Samuel Campman (prisoner); H. 
 L. Coggins; Leander Clark (died): Lean- 
 der Pish; J. A. Goodwin (died); W.P. 
 Goodwin (died); Jacob Holsopple; Edward 
 Holsopple (died); William Heilraan; 
 George Heilraan (died); J.R. Howell; 
 John Hubbard; Samuel Iwig; John Jones 
 (died in rebel prison camp); J.C. Jones 
 (died); Henry Kohler; Chris Kress 
 (died); John Kress (died); H. Ledterman 
 (killed at Tusello, Miss.): Thomas Mc- 
 Bride; G. W. McGinnis; Louis B. Mussel- 
 man; Jonathan Neavar (died); Jacob 
 Neavar (prisoner); Isaac Perkin; Thomas 
 Potter W.F. Perdue; John Rausch (died); 
 Samuel 'Rausch (died); W.H. Rich (died); 
 G.A. Rausch (died); J.R. Riblet; T.B. 
 Stewart (died); D.M. Stewart (died); 
 Henry Sanders; J.J. Sallee; Isaac 
 Stettler; W.H. Sipe; Wil 1 iaro Strlck- 
 faden; Joseph Shelton (died); C. T. 
 Sloat; H. S. Tobey; Vitruvius Trew; J.G. 
 Turner (died); C. S. Westerman; P.W. 
 Wehrle; Levi Wilcox; J.W. Webb; Adam 
 Bengal; J.H. Charles J.H. Castle; 
 William Colburn (died); George Cott- 
 rell; J.W. Damon; J.W. Draper; Alpheus 
 Dunnigan; Barnett Hoff; H.C. Kellogg; 
 H.J. McGrew; Robert McQuality; J.H. 
 Trumbull; Michael Wicks; and William 
 Watson (killed at Guntown, Miss.). 
 
 Pekinltes, in addition, were scat- 
 tered through more than 20 regiments of 
 Illinois volunteers. They served for 
 the most part under Generals Grant, 
 Sherman, and Sheridan, and helped give 
 the Union that series of victories in 
 the West which so much off-set the 
 repeated defeats in the East, until 
 these troops and their generals were 
 taken East where they brought the war 
 to a close. 
 
 The list of the battles of these 
 units includes Fort Donelson; Shiloh; 
 Pittsburgh Landing; Corinth; Vicksburg; 
 Chickamauga; Atlanta; Mission Ridge; 
 Missionary Ridge; Lookout Mountain; 
 Belmont; Mur f reesboro; Nashville; 
 Kenesaw Mountain; Jonesboro; and 
 various guerilla campaigns. 
 
 Several units containing large num- 
 bers of Pekin men marched with Sherman 
 from "Atlanta to the Sea" , the second 
 great maneuver cutting the Confederacy 
 in two from North to South as they had 
 earlier helped cut it in two from East 
 to West along the Mississippi. 
 
 Picked at random from these volum- 
 inous records are these names of Pekin 
 men: 
 
 William Bogardus, died of wounds, 
 serving with the 86th Infantry. 
 
 K.S. Conklin, an officer with the 
 Eighth Infantry, which fought clear 
 through five major battles of the Miss- 
 issippi campaign. 
 
 Henry Pratt and John Reardon, 
 captains in the 115th Infantry. 
 
 Jonathan Merriam, another of the 
 founders of the Union League, a Lt. 
 Col. commanding the 117th Infantry, and 
 among his officers was Benjamin Hier- 
 onymus, and there was also a private 
 named David Dempsey. 
 
 Dietrich Smith, brother of Teis 
 Smith and co-founder of the Wagon shop, 
 was a Caotain in the 139th Infantry. 
 
 Joseph S. Maus, Captain, 155th In- 
 fantry, with Lieutenants J.B. Ketchum 
 and Samuel Shellenberger. In that same 
 company there was a bugler Frank Smith, 
 who died of wounds, and a Fred Erlicher 
 who was killed at Pea Ridge, and a 
 private named L.L. Manker. 
 
 In the nth Cavalry, which rode with 
 Sheridan, fought at Shiloh and Corinth 
 in the West, conducted a campaign 
 against guerillas in the border states, 
 and finally rode with Sherman on his 
 march to the sea, there was a Pekin 
 company captained by William Olmstead 
 and Bernard Wagner. Lt. Richard Bums 
 was killed at Shiloh, and other 
 officers included David Cummings, John 
 Backus, Charles T. Maus, and David 
 Blair. 
 
 There was a Sgt. Sam Dusenberry, and 
 Pat and Elwood Hapenney served with 
 this company. 
 
 Other familiar names, enlisted from 
 Pekin, serving in the 11th Cavalry, 
 were Jonathan Boyer, Jonathan Sommers, 
 Jacob Graf, Adam Nievar, James Watson, 
 John Metz, David Edds, A.C. Powers, 
 William Cohenour, Patrick Curran, 
 Joshua Davis (died), Jacob Hays, 
 Nathaniel Hudson, D. H. Harmon (died), 
 John Kemp (died), George Miller, J.C. 
 Myers (died), Daniel Nelson (died), 
 Jonathan Slawbaw, L. A. Town, Joseph 
 Wagner, Charles Cunningham, William T. 
 Johnson, Edward McParland, Thomas 
 Powers (died), and George Hainline. 
 
 In addition to serving in the early 
 battles of the war in the West and 
 through the great campaigns that ended 
 in Lee' s surrender, Pekin troops were 
 among the handful who fought in the 
 last battle of the war. A group of 
 Pekin volunteers fought the battle of 
 Spanish Port in Texas, the last battle 
 of the Civil War, which took place long 
 after Lee's surrender at Appomattox and 
 considerably after Lincoln's assassi- 
 nation. Inasmuch as the Confederate 
 cause was a rebellion, there was no 
 treaty or formal peace made at the 
 Close of the Civil War. 
 
 Curiously, the Union troops were 
 beaten at the Spanish Port! 
 
 The Civil War, together with the 
 immigration which had preceded it, 
 changed the character of the city of 
 Pekin considerably. 
 
 Pekin had long been a Democratic 
 stronghold before the war. The Knights 
 of the Golden Circle had been powerful. 
 
 23
 
 EARLY HISTORY OF THE RAILROAD 
 
 The Chicago & Illinois Midland 
 Railway Company's present line 
 through Pekin was originally con- 
 structed in two sections; One lead- 
 ing from the south, having been 
 built from Virginia, Illinois (via 
 Havana) in 1853 by the Illinois 
 River Railroad, and the other from 
 Peoria on the north, having been 
 constructed about 1855 by the Peoria 
 & Hannibal Railroad. In 1864-1868 
 both of these roads were acquired by 
 the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville 
 Railroad which extended the south 
 line into Jacksonville, Illinois. 
 
 In 1881 and 1882 a road known as 
 the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific ac- 
 quired the Peoria, Pekin and Jack- 
 sonville, as well as a line from 
 Havana southward into Springfield 
 that had been constructed between 
 1873 and 1878 by the Springfield & 
 Northwestern Railway. Just prior to 
 the purchase by the Wabash, St. 
 Louis & Pacific, the ten mile con- 
 nection leading from Pekin to Peoria 
 on the west side of the river, was 
 released to the Peoria & Pekin 
 Union. 
 
 The well-known Chicago, Peoria 
 and St. Louis Railroad entered the 
 picture in 1888, when it acquired 
 the property. This road expanded its 
 operations until it had connections 
 into Alton and St. Louis. 
 
 For ten years, 1926 to 1936, the 
 Pekin-Springf ield line was owned by 
 the Springfield, Havana & Peoria 
 Railroad and leased to the Chicago & 
 Illinois Midland Railway. Finally in 
 1936, the Chicago & Illinois Mid- 
 land Railway took over ownership and 
 has owned and operated it since that 
 time. 
 
 During the operation of the 
 property by the present owner, the 
 Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway, 
 the property in the Pekin area has 
 undergone a complete modernization 
 of its plant until it now is fully 
 equipped to handle all local and 
 through business in a speedy and 
 efficient manner. 
 
 Among the facilities provided in 
 the city of Pekin are: 
 
 Main track 3. 20 miles 
 
 Sidings (43) 8.34 miles 
 
 Buildings: Passenger and freight 
 depot, water and coaling sta- 
 tion including concrete engine 
 inspection pit, and dispatching 
 office at Crescent Wye. 
 Among the industries served are; 
 Standard Brands, Quaker Oats, 
 Powerton Generating Station, Corn 
 Products Refining Co., Pekin Ware- 
 housing Co., as well as a number 
 of gasoline and fuel oil dis- 
 tributing companies, Phillip Rein- 
 hard & Son. and Velde Lumber Col- 
 material yards. 
 In the Pekin area the Chicago & 
 Illinois Midland Railway employs 
 locally more than 50 men, with an 
 annual payroll exceeding $156,000. 
 
 The Chicago & Illinois Midland 
 Railway originates approximately 
 120,000 tons of freight in the Pekin 
 area and delivers, including coal to 
 the Powerton Plant, some 1,750,000 
 tons. It operates 2 passenger trains 
 each way daily in and out of Pekin 
 and an average of 10 freight trains 
 in and out daily. 
 
 Being cne of the proprietary 
 lines of the Peoria & Pekin Union, 
 the Chicago & Illinois Midland Rail- 
 way has many outlets for through 
 traffic via the Peoria gateway; and, 
 with its Springfield, Illinois - 
 Taylorville, Illinois, trunk line 
 connections, the Chicago & Illinois 
 Midland Railway is in an advan- 
 tageous position for handling 
 through traffic destined to any 
 part of the nation. 
 
 24
 
 In spite of its growth, development, 
 and the influx of steady, hard-working, 
 thrifty German immigrants, it had kept 
 many of the raarhs of the frontier town. 
 Something of the change was reflect- 
 ed in its political life in 1865, the 
 year the war ended, when William W. 
 Sellers, one of the founders of the 
 infant Republican party, was elected 
 mayor, and his council included as 
 Alderman, Peter Shaumleffel, Ties 
 Smith, W. Von Maus, and J. P. Tucker. 
 
 SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION 
 
 After the Civil War, there came a 
 new German immigration, greater even 
 than the first, and Pekin began to take 
 on more and more signs of civilization 
 after its primitive beginnings. 
 
 Just before the war closed, in 1864. 
 the Schipper and Block company was 
 established at 304 Margaret street, 
 also the Ehrlicher brothers drug store 
 at 324 Court street, and after peace 
 came there was a rush of new business 
 and other development. 
 
 Gas lights were installed on Pekin' s 
 streets in 1866, bringing the plank 
 walks and mud streets out of the 
 complete darkness at night for the 
 first time. That year the Smith bank 
 was established at 331 Court street, 
 the First National bank at 304 Court 
 street, and at Fifth and Court was 
 established the Foundry and Machine 
 shop which was later moved and is now 
 the Pekin Foundry at Third and Sabella. 
 
 The following year a Brewery and 
 malt house was built at Broadway and 
 Front streets, and the Pekin, Lincoln 
 and Decatur railroad was built. It 
 later became part of the present Illi- 
 nois Central railroad system. 
 
 In 1870. the Herget building at 
 Court and Fourth streets was built, and 
 a race track was constructed on Broad- 
 way at the eastern city limits. 
 
 It was during this same .period that 
 Henry Westerman started the Crown dis- 
 tillery, aad Daniel Reisinger also 
 started a distillery. James Doheny^and 
 William Spellman built the Enterprise 
 distillery, and Phil Herget built a 
 malt house at the foot of Broadway, the 
 start of expanded Herget enterprises 
 which was to come. 
 
 During this period, starting in 
 1867, the Ladies auxiliary Library 
 association was founded and the first 
 steps taken toward the establishment of 
 the present city library, and in 1866. 
 the^ first Pekin high school had been 
 built and put into operation at the 
 corner of Washington and Sixth streets, 
 where the Washington Junior high now 
 stands. 
 
 These were signs of civilization, 
 but only signs. Signs of the primitive 
 nature of the still-new city, and of 
 
 the primitive passions of its people 
 were still much in evidence, too. 
 
 For one thing, Pekin still seemed to 
 be plagued by fire. The city jail burn- 
 ed In 1868, the Methodist church was 
 destroyed by fire in 1870, and there 
 was a rash of destructive industrial 
 fires to follow soon after this 
 period's rash of distillery building. 
 
 PEKIN'S FIRST HIGH school, built 
 in 1866. 
 
 But the facts of life in Pekin of 
 that period are not pictured accurately 
 by recounting the growing business and 
 industrial activity alone, or the 
 record of natural misfortunes. There 
 was also a great deal of lawlessness 
 still in the area, and bandit gangs, 
 operated almost without hindrance and' 
 apparently without fear in the area, 
 with headquarters generally near 
 Circleville. south of Pekin. 
 
 In 1869. a sheriff's posse attempted 
 to serve a warrant on a member of the 
 so-called Berry gang, an exceptionally 
 bold undertaking as things went in 
 those days. The party was ambushed by 
 the Berry gang, and returned to Pekin 
 badly shot up. 
 
 Sheriff Henry Pratt, a Civil War 
 hero, was dead; George Hinman. the 
 jailer, was badly wounded; and a con- 
 stable named Copes had a bullet through 
 his coat; in fact, the Pekin marshal, a 
 man named Hinman. was about the only 
 one of the group to escape completely. 
 Their arrival caused a sensation on the 
 streets of Pekin. and the news spread 
 like wild-fire over the county. Immedi- 
 ately, people began to gather. That was 
 Friday night, July 30th, 1869. 
 
 As evidence o* the boldness with 
 which this outlaw band had been 
 accustomed to operate, the very next 
 day, Saturday. Bill Berry, the bandit 
 chief, appeared on the streets of Pekin 
 with his customary swagger. He made a 
 fatal mistake, however, that has often 
 been repeated, and failed to learn a 
 lesson that has often been taught. Men, 
 organizations, and nations have pro- 
 ceeded on the principle that people who 
 will take a lot of abuse will always 
 
 25
 
 BUSINESS EQUIPMENT Co. 
 
 OFFICE EQUIPMENT AIND SUPPLIES 
 
 Fine Stationery Greeting Cards 
 
 School Supplies 
 
 Phone 1441 Arcade Bldg. 
 
 CITY GOAL GO. 
 
 225 N. SECOND PEKIN, ILL. 
 
 For the Best in Coal Phone 153 
 
 Joe DeMarini Since 1945 
 
 Electric Arc Welding Acetylene Welding 
 
 FRANK S. MAHONEY 
 
 HEATING & PLUMBING CONTRACTOR 
 
 320 N. 5th ST. PHONF, 736 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 EDDIE'S FLOWER SHOP 
 
 E. J. Dringenberg, Prop. 
 
 Funeral Designs. Cut Flowers, Wedding Flowers 
 Pot Plants 
 
 PHONE 672 ARCADE BCDG. PEKIN, II^LINOIS 
 
 26
 
 take a little more, only to discover 
 that in America there always comes a 
 point at which people seem to suddenly 
 change, decide a limit has been reach- 
 ed and explode. Great leaders of great 
 nations have failed to heed that pe- 
 culiar American trait, so perhaps it 
 isn't too strange that Bill Berry made 
 the fatal mistake of appearing in Pekin 
 that Saturday. 
 
 His gang had committed other crimes, 
 other murders, some more barbarous in 
 that they included helpless children. 
 and the townspeople had simply appeared 
 more frightened each time he made his 
 appearance. 
 
 But a limit had been reached, and as 
 if by plan. Pekin citizens reacted to 
 his appearance this Saturday. Where he 
 had walked before and men had vacated 
 the sidewalk, he was suddenly covered 
 by a dozen guns in the hands of men he 
 always thought were afraid to lift a 
 finger against him. The surprised Berry 
 was hustled into the county jail, and 
 the spirit of the townsfolk was the 
 spirit of the entire area. The time had 
 come to bring an end to Berry and his 
 gang. 
 
 Posses sprang up without notice, 
 knowledge or plan all over the area. 
 Hundreds of men began scouring the 
 countryside in Tazewell, Mason and 
 Woodford counties. 
 
 Meanwhile, as the news of Berry's 
 capture spread, victims of his raids, 
 the families of victims, and the 
 friends of victims began pouring into 
 Pekin. One hundred men were called out 
 to protect the county Jail and fore- 
 stall any lynching or lynch attempt. 
 
 But that Saturday night, the people 
 came, and this was no drunken mob. A 
 dozen men marched on the jail, and 
 suddenly without warning hundreds 
 appeared from the darkness where they 
 had been stationed on every side and 
 
 completely overwhelmed the guards. They 
 crashed into the jail, smashed down a 
 series of iron doors and came to Bill 
 Berry's cell and smashed it open. 
 
 But al 1 of the attackers were not 
 Bill Berry's enemies, for from some- 
 where in the crowd a knife flashed 
 through the air. Berry caught it. and 
 slashed out. He wounded several men be- 
 fore he himself was shot and wounded, 
 and he was then dragged out of the jail 
 and promptly strung up to a tree at the 
 corner of Court and Fourth streets. 
 
 Bill Berry was hanged, and Bill 
 Berry died, but that did not make an 
 end. The various posses throughout the 
 area persisted in their separate hunts 
 for weeks. Ike Berry was captured in 
 Mason county near Bath; Robert Britton 
 at San Jose; Emanuel Berry. Matthew Mc- 
 Farland, Cornelius Daily. --one by one, 
 the members of the Berry gang were 
 captured in that man-hunt. Ike Berry 
 was sentenced to life imprisonment, and 
 other members of the gang got lesser 
 terms of from 15 to 25 years. 
 
 This explosion of public violence, 
 in the midst of all the peacable signs 
 of civilization, demonstrated that 
 Pekin still carried something of the 
 flavor of its primitive and violent 
 origins into the post-Civil War period, 
 and yet the lynching of Bill Berry was. 
 in a way. a sign of civilization, too. 
 It dramatically served notice, a notice 
 served directly by the citizenry them- 
 selves, that the era of bold and open 
 lawlessness was over, and that the rule 
 of force by organized gangs preying on 
 the public would not be tolerated. 
 
 The hanging of Bill Berry marked the 
 end of the frontier atmosphere in which 
 men made their own laws, according to 
 their ability to shoot a gun. 
 
 It wasn't legal in itself- -but it, 
 too, was a sign of progress. 
 
 THE WHISKEY RING 
 
 It was curious that a half dozen 
 distilleries should make their appear- 
 ance immediately after the Civil War. 
 especially curious since Pekin had sus- 
 tained only the Hamburg distillery in 
 the days before the war when whiskey 
 was 25 cents a gallon. 
 
 In those days there were not only 
 some 25 saloons in the city but it was 
 a common practice to reverse the later 
 "free lunch" system, and grocery stores 
 often had a keg at the door so thfct 
 customers buying groceries could have 
 a "free drink". The war had changed all 
 
 27
 
 CARPENTERS LOCAL No. 6 44 
 
 312 Margaret Street 
 Chartered July 6, 1900 
 
 (Peoria Sunday Star - July 8, 1900) 
 
 Permanent organization was 
 effected by union carpenters in 
 Pekin Friday evening. Fifteen were 
 initiated. Officers were elected and 
 installed and matters of interest 
 and importance presented and dis- 
 cussed. 
 
 The present is considered a most 
 favorable opportunity to advance the 
 interests of journeymen and con- 
 tractors. It is proposed to es- 
 tablish trade rules in harmony with 
 the Peoria Local as much construc- 
 tion of factories and eventually 
 dwellings will be done between the 
 two cities along the line of the 
 Terminal railway. 
 
 Much benefit should be realized 
 from the action taken and the out- 
 look is very bright for a union of 
 strength and activity. Quite as many 
 more have given their names for 
 membership and the charter will re- 
 main open for a few weeks at a very 
 low fee for membership. 
 
 Meetings will be held weekly and 
 the place announced when agreed 
 
 upon. Within a short time it is 
 proposed to hold a public meeting 
 which will be of interest to all. 
 Addresses by men of national repute 
 and knowledge should bring out those 
 interested, either journeymen or 
 contractors, for all may learn some- 
 thing, particularly that organi- 
 zations of labor are not formed to 
 distress the employers but to 
 elevate the workingman, which is the 
 result when the hours of labor are 
 lessened. 
 
 It is realized that the craft of 
 carpentry in particular is under- 
 paid. Good results are hoped for 
 from renewed efforts and for the 
 permanency of the union. 
 
 May 27, 1949 Local 644, after 49 
 years of progress, dedicated their 
 new building at 312 Margaret St., 
 built by Ed Lampitt & Sons one of 
 the oldest contracting firms in 
 Pekin. 
 
 This building stands today as a 
 memorial to those 15 courageous men. 
 
 Ehrlicher Brothers Cd. 
 
 DRU GGI5TS 
 
 3ZS COURT STREET 
 ESTABLISHED IS64 
 
 , (ytT9aynn^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ///<r/ii 
 
 Jir ^n*id£t*HU J9a*«/ 
 
 This is an exact reproduction of PRESCRIP- 
 TION No. ONE filled July 7, 1865, one year 
 after the founding of our establishment. It was 
 written by Dr. Samuel T. Maus for Mrs. James 
 Haines Sr. , two of Pekin' s earliest pioneers. 
 
 We have just completed 85 years of continu- 
 ous drug business in the same room. We feel we 
 have a right to be proud of our record. 
 
 All prescriptions entrusted to our care are 
 filled as written - no substitution - which has 
 gained us the confidence of the physicians who 
 wrote them. All ingredients used are pure and 
 fresh, of the highest standard, compounded only 
 by qualified full -registered pharmacists who 
 know how. 
 
 To the people of Pekin and vicinity, for 
 your confidence we say -- 
 
 THANK YOU 
 
 EHRLICHER BROTHERS CO. 
 Ethical Prescription Service 
 
 1864 - 1949 
 
 328 Court St. 
 Pekin, 111. 
 
 28
 
 that. A neavy tax was levied on liquor 
 and it remained in effect after the 
 war, so that the tax alone was $2 a 
 gallon, eight times as much as the 
 former retail cost of Whiskey. The 
 multiplication of the cost of whiskey 
 by tax hardly seemed like a signal for 
 the big building boom in distilleries. 
 
 Some of the sudden popularity of the 
 distillery business became a little 
 more understandable in the 1870' s, when 
 the existence of a vast "whiskey ring" 
 conducting bootleg operations to bypass 
 the heavy taxes came more and more to 
 the public consciousness. The power of 
 the ring was said to be tremendous in 
 a wide area with headquarters at St. 
 Louis, and something of its potency 
 he're in Pekin is indicated by the 
 incident In which a revenue man was 
 reportedly arrested by local authori- 
 ties and held in custody on a trumped 
 up charge while a boat- load of whiskey 
 was cleared off the dock and hidden 
 away. 
 
 Officials were party to the secret 
 alliances which made it possible for 
 some whiskey makers to present false 
 reports, with the effect of paying 
 taxes on as little as one-third of 
 their actual whiskey shipments. In 1870 
 the vast bootleg conspiracy received 
 some attention, although it continued 
 until 1874. using less bold methods. 
 
 On the other hand there was nothing 
 bashful about the business of emptying 
 the vast city cisterns built for fire 
 protection here in Pekin, and filling 
 them with highly inflammable bootleg 
 whiskey instead of water. Liquor was 
 also cached in corn shocks, and kegs 
 were- sealed and sunk in the Illinois 
 river, here and at Peoria and other 
 locations. Hundreds of those invaluable 
 kegs were recovered by federal agents 
 dragging the river later. 
 
 In 1874 and 1875 public indignation 
 reached such a pitch that the break-up 
 finally came with wholesale arrests all 
 over the state. It is recorded that 
 Pekin people at that time saw whole 
 carloads of prisoners hauled through to 
 St. Louis to face a Federal court. 
 Actually, however, no one of importance 
 was ever sent to jail, as only a few 
 "mediocrities" took the punishment and 
 the whole thing passed over; but at any 
 rate the "whiskey ring" was broken and 
 the millions of dollars being side- 
 tracked from the U.S. treasury into 
 private hands, while never recovered, 
 was at least discontinued. 
 
 And so we find that while the lynch- 
 ing of Bill Berry in 1869 might be 
 considered as the close of the era in 
 which Bill Berry's kind of lawlessness 
 was tolerated, another kind of lawless- 
 ness persisted, the big time lawless- 
 ness of the "Whiskey ring" with all its 
 political alliances and profits. And 
 
 while Pekin persisted in having its 
 progress flavored with violence or law- 
 lessness, while it continued to have 
 its underworld as well as real business 
 progress (sometimes the two overlapped) 
 still progress did continue. 
 
 During the period of the whiskey 
 ring' s exposure and final overthrow, 
 the Germans came to a position of 
 almost complete dominance of the po- 
 litical and commercial life of the 
 city. Their dominance was reflected in 
 the city council where the aldermen in 
 
 1871, for example, were William Blenk- 
 iron, D. W. Umdenstock, George J.Webber, 
 Habbe Velde, and John Wagenseller. All 
 but William Blenkiron were Germans. In 
 
 1872, the mayor was John Stoltz. In 
 
 1873, it was John Herget. 
 
 During that same five year period 
 between the discovery and the end of 
 the so-called whiskey ring (roughly 
 from 1870 to 1875) there was also an 
 era of church building, forecasting a 
 better city to follow. 
 
 In those five years were built the 
 St. John's Lutheran church at Fourth 
 and Ann Eliza; the Reformed church, 
 which later became the Presbyterian 
 church, was built at 305 South Fourth 
 street; the German Methodist, later 
 Grace Methodist church, at Fourth and 
 State streets; St. Paul's Episcopal 
 church, at Washington and Buena Vista 
 avenue;, and just two years later, the 
 St. Paul's Evangelical church, at 
 Seventh and Ann Eliza streets. 
 
 The 14-year-old depot, standing on 
 "Stilts" over what had been Bitzer's 
 lake, was replaced by a new Union depot 
 at Third and Broadway. 
 
 Lakeside cemetry was laid out in 
 
 1874, and that year J.B. Irwin founded 
 the Pekin Times, a weekly paper follow- 
 ing the Tazewell Register. William 
 Bates published the Tazewell Republican 
 and the German language "Freie Presse" 
 was to come two years later. 
 
 The Illinois Hotel, then called the 
 Sherman House, was built at Second and 
 St. Mary streets. The Parmer' s National 
 bank was founded. The Winkel Brewery 
 was established. 
 
 The Smith Wagon company burned to 
 the ground in 1874, but the enterpris- 
 ing Smith brothers not only rebuilt it 
 at once but a year later formed also 
 the Smith Plow company which did a 
 thriving business producing and selling 
 an improved plow invented by Luppe 
 Luppen. 
 
 The Weyhrich Header Works at Broad- 
 way and Fourteenth streets became the 
 second reaper factory in the city, and 
 a fire station was built at Five 
 points, which building is still stand- 
 ing, now known as the Old Library 
 building and used primarily as a poll- 
 ing place. 
 
 29
 
 Henry Birkenbusch & Son 
 
 "The Reliable Jeweler Since 1867" 
 
 Two years after the civil war, on 
 May 23, 1867, Mr. Henry Birkenbusch 
 became an apprentice jeweler to John 
 J. Woelfle, from whom he learned the 
 jeweler's trade, then continued as 
 an employee until 1887. when he pur- 
 chased the business. 
 
 Later, Mr. Birkenbusch' s son, 
 Louis, preparing to enter his 
 father's business, attended Bradley 
 Horological School in Peoria, and 
 the Kandler School of Engraving in 
 Chicago. He entered the business in 
 18 98 and served as one of his 
 father's jewelers and engravers 
 
 In 1929 the firm became Henry 
 Birkenbusch & Son. Mr. Henry Birken- 
 busch continued to take an active 
 interest in the business until his 
 death at the age of 95, which gave 
 him the distinction of being, by 
 far, the oldest active businessman 
 in Pekin. After the death of Henry 
 Birkenbusch, his son Louis became 
 the sole owner. 
 
 Changes in Court street during 
 the past century have been numerous 
 but for 82 years the address of 
 Henry Birkenbusch & Son at 420 Court 
 
 street has never changed. 
 
 Railroads have always demanded 
 accurate time and require their 
 engineers and other personnel to 
 have their watches checked at regu- 
 lar monthly intervals by a reliable 
 jeweler whom they appoint. 
 
 Henry Birkenbusch & Son has been 
 the appointed jewelers for seven 
 railroads in the Pekin area for many 
 years. They have the distinct honor 
 of being the oldest authorized watch 
 inspectors for the entire Santa Fe 
 Railroad system. 
 
 The large regulator, located in 
 the west window of the store has 
 served well to keep Pekin on time 
 these past 82 years. 
 
 In addition to excellent watch 
 inspection and repairs, you will 
 find world famous precision tested 
 watches. You will also find silver, 
 china, and crystalware to compliment 
 every distinctive taste; diamonds 
 and precious stones to satisfy your 
 every desire. Several generations of 
 Pekinites have made Henry Birken- 
 busch & Son their headquarters for 
 reliable jewelry. 
 
 1899 
 
 1949 
 
 50 YEARS of SERVICE 
 20 YEARS in PEKIN 
 
 S.S. KRESGE CO. 335 court st. 
 
 30
 
 Thus, during the period of the 
 whiskey ring, Pekin also suw the 
 development and growth of its churches 
 and its legitimate business community. 
 Like the Berry lynching, the break-up 
 of the whiskey ring, when coupled with 
 the growing moral and social conscious- 
 ness reflected in increased church life 
 indicated that an era of careless 
 consciences was coming to an end, pav- 
 ing the way for real progress. 
 
 So Pekin came to the close of its 
 first 25 years of incorporation. 
 
 C S CUMMINGS DRY BOOOS STORE 
 P£Hiri ILL' 
 
 GOOD OLD DAYS 
 As the city of Pekin passed the 
 milestone of its first 25 years, it 
 found itself in a period of virtual 
 stagnation in many ways.- There was an 
 end of the Bill Berry and Whiskey Ring 
 brands of "free enterprize", and there 
 was continued business development, but 
 for a long time there was little 
 PHYSICAL change in the city itself. 
 
 After its first flood. German immi- 
 gration settled to a trickle. In the 
 70" s, and particularly the late 70' s, 
 German was taught in public schools, 
 and most city and legal publication was 
 carried on in German in the Preie 
 Presse. Persons, particularly trades 
 men, without a knowledge of German 
 found life difficult in Pekin, and some 
 left the city for that reason. In 1870, 
 the population of Pekin was 5,676: 10 
 years later in 1880, it was only 5,993. 
 The German flood which had contributed 
 so much to Pekin' s sudden gro?*th in the 
 middle of the century was now to pre- 
 vent its growth and freeze its de- 
 velopment population-wise for decades 
 to come. 
 
 Similarly, the Old World crafts and 
 trades that the Germans brought, at 
 first a tremendous stimulus to business 
 activity, also exercised a conservatism 
 that had its effects. 
 
 So there was little change in the 
 city physically, as far as public im- 
 provements were, concerned. The streets 
 were just open areas of earth, inches 
 
 deep in dust during dry weather, deeper 
 yet in mud when it was wet. Court 
 street sidewalks were made of two- inch 
 lumber, side streets of one-inch. 
 
 Apparently there was a sidewalk tax, 
 because records reveal that in 1875, 
 Fred Schaefer was granted exemption 
 from the sidewalk tax inasmuch as his 
 walk was examined and found suitable. 
 Generally, the sidewalks were a source 
 of constant trouble, and one of the 
 principal occupations of the city 
 council seemed to be approving claims 
 against the city, many of them by 
 persons injured on broken walks. Heavy 
 rains frequently floated the plank 
 sidewalks away just when they were 
 needed the most, and there were no 
 sewers and not much drainage of any 
 kind. The sidewalks around the court 
 house itself were at one time official- 
 ly proclaimed unsafe. 
 
 Only a handful of the railroad 
 crossings were actually " crossings" : 
 most of them simply blocked the street 
 effectively, buttressed by six foot 
 drainage ditches along the right-of- 
 way. There were some street lights, of 
 a sort. As late as 1880 records show 
 that there were 97 gas lights and 55 
 gasoline lamps on the streets of Pekin, 
 but they did not throw enough light to 
 keep the citizenry from falling over an 
 occasional sleeping cow or horse--or 
 what was worse, over something left 
 behind by the cows and horses. 
 
 The city government's principal 
 contribution to progress had been the 
 earlier subscription of $100,000 for 
 the building of the original railroad 
 into the city, and in the 70' s the debt 
 in bonds had grown to $173,000, most of 
 it at TEN PER CENT interest! The 
 fashion seemed to be, for the most 
 part, to let the bonds go until they 
 became due, and then float a new bond 
 issue with which to pay off the old 
 one, this procedure being repeated many 
 times. Sometimes special elections for 
 this purpose were called twice in a 
 single year. Each time there was a 
 ceremonial burning of the old bonds as 
 If the debt had really been liquidated 
 instead of just postponed. City taxes 
 then were double the school tax, a 
 situation now reversed. 
 
 Politics in city government was 
 often the politics of privilege. When a 
 new administration took office, it was 
 customary for a complete turnover of 
 city jobs to be made forthwith, and not 
 only of city jobs but of all the city's 
 business. This was generally trans- 
 ferred to the business houses of the 
 aldermen, and in some occasions when no 
 alderman happened to be in the par- 
 ticular business of which the city re- 
 quired service, one of them got into 
 that business temporarily. 
 
 31
 
 MARTIN 
 
 PAUL 
 
 MARTIN B. LOHMANN & Co. 
 
 516 COURT STREET 
 
 PHONE 746 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 INSURANCE 
 REAL ESTATE & BONDS 
 
 The Martin B. Lohmann & Co. In- 
 surance & Real Estate is one of the 
 oldest agencies in Pekin and Taze- 
 well County. Martin Lohmann wrote 
 his first insurance policy and 
 opened his office in the Arcade 
 Building in 1908- In 1914 he pur- 
 chased the present location of the 
 agency and as business grew, his 
 brother Rudolph Lohmann, became a 
 member of the firm. At the time of 
 the death of Rudolph, or "Curly" 
 
 as he was better known, Paul was 
 taken into the partnership and he 
 and Martin have successfully 
 developed the agency into one of the 
 largest agencies writing general 
 insurance in the city of Pekin. They 
 specialize in Fire, Automobile, and 
 Bond insurance along with a success- 
 ful Real Estate Agency, and have 
 been in the same location for 
 thirty-five years. 
 
 Sommer Bros. Seed Co. 
 
 H ;jE viqEQg^i r»'E!EiiJi ;s>3 1- 
 
 "LOKolesala cliacL Tla to. lI 
 BREEDERS -GROWERS -SHIPPERS 
 
 Phone 2234 
 
 Pekin, 1 11 
 
 Sommer Bros. Seed Company of this 
 city started in business in 1909. 
 Incorporated as Sommer Bros. Seed 
 Company in 1948. 
 
 Active in producing and process- 
 ing wholesale field seeds of highest 
 quality. News of the excellent 
 quality of the Tiger Brand is gett- 
 ing around so that many truck and 
 carload shipments of seed are being 
 made to all parts of Central and 
 Eastern United States. 
 
 Latest modern cleaning equipment 
 both at Pekin and at the Topeka, 
 Kansas plant enables Sommer Brothers 
 Seed Company to furnish field seeds 
 of an unusual high purity and germi- 
 nation. 
 
 Special emphasis is given to 
 Alfalfa, Red Clover. Sweet Clover 
 and other legume seed. 
 
 Latest cleaning installations at 
 Topeka enables the company to pro- 
 cess Bromegrass which has become so 
 popular throughout the cornbelt. 
 
 Pasture and Lawn grasses have 
 been given a lot of study. A pasture 
 of lawn sown with Sommer Brothers 
 Seed Company - Tiger Brand seed 
 always stands out as superior. 
 
 Punk's "G" Hybrid seed corn has 
 also been distributed since 1936. 
 The highest yields of good quality 
 corn obtained during this time set 
 these hybrids in a class by them- 
 selves - away out in front. 
 
 When Tiger Brand Seed is sown, you plant with confidence. 
 
 32
 
 
 
 "'"■'ll'JJi » ;i; :l I _. 
 
 X'* 
 
 
 ^, 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^5^^ 
 
 
 
 5i:^2^-Jl__Uj 
 
 -, 1 — ■ -, 1 Mfl«M». 
 
 ^:. J-^^ 
 
 *; 
 
 '^^--^v 
 
 
 
 33
 
 The Farmers Automobile Insurance Association 
 
 Pekin, Illinois 
 
 The Association is referred to 
 categorically in the Insurance In- 
 dustry as "The Pekin Company." While 
 our history does not date back as 
 far as that of the City of Pekin, 
 we are proud to have a growing 
 organization in a growing city. 
 While our income is derived from 
 many communities in Central Illinois 
 a substantial portion of our ex- 
 penses are paid out within the City 
 in the form of payroll, operating 
 expenses, and loss settlements. 
 
 The financial stability of the 
 Association as shown by the annual 
 statement as of December 31st, 1948, 
 indicates total admitted assets of 
 $1,781,296.58 liabilities of 
 $1,257,157.81 and surplus to policy- 
 holders of $524 , 138. 77 . Total 
 premiums written for the year 194b 
 of $1,831,335.00 made a favorable 
 showing compared to the automobile 
 premium written in the State of 
 Illinois during that year. 
 
 The Board of Directors of the 
 Association are: Wm. Preitag, Pres- 
 ident; B. L. Baird, Vice-President; 
 Edw. Schrock, Treasurer; W.F.Donley, 
 Thurman Scott, Fred Worner, *.W. 
 Gingrich, Ivan H. Snow, and R.A. 
 Hieser. Of these, Mr. Preitag and 
 Mr. Donley were on the original 
 Board when organized in 1921. 
 
 The program of direction of this 
 Board has kept pace with the ever- 
 changing conditions of company 
 management, public relations, and 
 modern coverage, while adhering to 
 the original motive of organization. 
 
 TAZEWELL COUNTY 
 REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 In April, 1921, more ttian a 
 quarter of a century ago The Farmers 
 Automobile Insurance Association was 
 organized in Pekin, Illinois. 
 
 During that quarter of a century 
 the organization has grown and 
 changed in many respects, however 
 the orimary motive for its existence 
 has remained unchanged. 
 
 The organization came into being 
 as a means of providing automobile 
 insurance for a preferred group of 
 policyholders at a preferred rate. 
 Originally designed to cover the 
 requirements of farm people it now 
 includes service to city dwellers as 
 well. 
 
 The business of the Association 
 was originally conducted with the 
 help of one part time employee and 
 had its office in the basement of 
 the Court House Building. At a later 
 date offices were maintained in the 
 Arcade Building and later moved to 
 the Farm Bureau Building. The activ- 
 ities of the Association are now 
 carried on in its own modern four 
 story office building located at 
 34 South Capitol Street in Pekin. 
 
 Activities of the Association are 
 chiefly limited to Central Illinois 
 with a great bulk of its operations 
 in the close proximity of Pekin. 
 These activities require the 
 services of 72 employees in addition 
 to a Board of Directors consisting 
 of 9 men and an agency force con- 
 sisting of 165 licensed agents 
 throughout Central Illinois. 
 
 John Fischer 
 Wm. Preitag 
 E. P. Paine 
 Geo. B. Storey 
 Bert L. Urish 
 
 W. P. Donley 
 Edw. Heubach 
 Relda Rankin 
 John M. Goar 
 Getz & Swisher 
 
 Schurman Agency 
 
 34
 
 f// 
 
 /^ 
 
 // 
 
 YOUR CAR 
 
 / 
 
 / YOUR DRIVING, too! 
 
 For safety's sake check these items 
 today and at regular intervals . . . 
 
 The most important safety device 
 in a car is a safe driver. 
 
 □ BRAKES • . ; po they t.ike hold prompih |. p^ j,„„^. ^^e .raffic laws? 
 
 and evenly? will the hand brake hold the car.' 
 
 □ HEAD LIGHTS ... Do both upper and lower 
 beams burn? Are (hey aimed to avoid glare? 
 
 □ REAR AND STOP LIGHTS ... Do all bulbs 
 work? Does the stop light go on wich '^c 
 
 brakes? 
 
 Q TIRES . . . Are they properh inflated? Do 
 \ou wacth for worn out treads, cuts and fabric 
 breaks? 
 
 □ WINDSHIELD WIPERS ... Do they wipe 
 ihe glass clean? Do blades need replacing? 
 
 Q ML'FFLER ... Is it tight so that ny exhaust 
 gas conies into the c.ir? 
 
 [~] STEERING . . . Docs ihe steering wheel have 
 coo much pl.i> .-' Are the wheel bearings light? 
 How about ihf alignment ? 
 
 r~] GLASS ... Is it clear and clean? Are cracks 
 or stickers obstructing yout vision? 
 
 [~] HORN . . . Does it work, in case you need it? 
 
 □ REAR VIEW MIRROR . . . Does it give the 
 driv.:r a clear view of the road behind? 
 
 D 
 
 2. Do you observe all trallic signals, signs and lJ 
 pavement markings? 
 
 3. Do you use the proper hand and methanital □ 
 signals for turns and stops? 
 
 4. Do you drive in and turn from the proper [~\ 
 lane? 
 
 5. Do you give the pedestrian a break? Q 
 O. Do you watch for children? Q 
 
 7. Do you drive within legal and common sense QJ 
 speed limits? 
 
 8. Do you drive with extra caution in fog, rain JH 
 or snow and on slippery pavement? 
 
 9. Do you refuse to drive aiier drinking? C] 
 10. Do >ou slow down at sundown? Q 
 
 CAN YOU SEE. STEER AND STOP SAFELY? 
 
 //check acci^ehU 
 
 
 loV 
 
 Ekin. ill- 
 
 //check accidents // 
 
 The Farmers Automobile Insurance Association 
 
 Pekin, Illinois 
 
 35
 
 JON'S m TAT n XT ^ SPRINT 
 
 Q^,li^ TWANG- ROOT BEER A Grapefruit 
 
 Beverages Save Bottle Caps for Free Premiums Driiik 
 
 Pekin Bottling Works 
 
 Telephone 545 
 
 - SINCE 1864 - 
 
 Pekin, Illinois 
 
 114 Court Street 
 
 UPTOWN MOTORS 
 
 CADILLAC AND OLDSMOBILE 
 SALES AND SERVICE 
 
 317-19 Elizabeth St. 
 
 Phone 134 
 
 PEKIN, ILL. 
 
 PEKIN Refrigerator Company 
 
 Home Appliances 
 Commercial Units 
 Walk-in Coolers 
 
 17 S. SECOND STREET 
 
 Sales and Service 
 
 W. J. CDMIBKY 
 
 Stokers - Oil Burners 
 
 Gas Space Heaters 
 
 Washers 
 
 Radios 
 
 1937-1949 
 
 Direct Drow Coolers 
 Dry Bottle Coolers 
 Home Freezers 
 
 TELEPHONE 223 
 
 MARKLAND MOTORS 
 
 21 1 St. Mary 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 Telephone 2242 
 
 36
 
 The mayor traditionally controlled 
 the location of the police headquar- 
 ters and other city offices, there 
 being no city hall, and this was 
 customarily on property owned by the 
 mayor for which he proceeded to collect 
 rents from the city. 
 
 At times, the city business appears 
 to have been pretty much of a closed 
 proposition with the aldermen and mayor 
 doing business almost solely among 
 themselves. It is interesting, too. 
 that each new administration was 
 promptly greeted with a series of re- 
 quests for tax rebates, generally from 
 their supporters in the past election, 
 and these usually received consider- 
 ation. 
 
 There was one breath of possible 
 progress in 1874. when the council 
 provided that all moneys from saloon 
 licenses would be paid into a special 
 fund to be used only for the "purchase 
 or erection of a city hall, calaboose 
 and engine house. " 
 
 The juvenile problem of that time 
 consisted largely in the fears of the 
 elders that the new "dime novels" were 
 corrupting the youth, much as the comic 
 books are accused today. Pekin citizens 
 frowned on the ridiculous fiction which 
 their children avidly read concerning 
 such outlandish things as "flying 
 machines", boats that would go UNDER 
 the water, horseless carriages, and 
 other fantasies bound to have an ill 
 effect on impressionable youth. The 
 elders DID believe in progress as long 
 as it remained in what they considered 
 the realm of common sense. 
 
 The council at one time formally 
 admitted that "the only excuse for the 
 dilapidated condition of the sidewalks 
 is the dilapidated condition of the 
 treasury". On the other hand, in 1879. 
 when a group of Court street merchants 
 petitioned for a cobblestone paving, 
 the council rejected the petition. The 
 council was "pleased to learn that the 
 business men were willing to contribute 
 for a pavement"; however, in view of 
 the fact that Court street was in a bad 
 condition " only a, few months of each 
 year", it seemed hardly necessary. 
 
 And as for the business nf horses 
 and cows running loose on the streets 
 of the city day and night, after two 
 years of badgering, the council decided 
 in 1877 that action should be taken 
 and passed a law that henceforth "horse 
 and other cattle" would not be allowed 
 at large on the streets AFTER NINE 
 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT and until five in the 
 morning! 
 
 It was during this period that Pekin 
 lost one of its most successful citi- 
 zens, a loss still felt today. Columbus 
 R. Cummings. heir to David Mark (who 
 built the town's first brick building) 
 was a wealthy land-owner and business 
 
 man who was twice elected mayor of the 
 city of Pekin in the 70's. With due 
 credit, during his administrations. 
 Pekin paid off all bonds on the due 
 date- -a rare achievement in those days. 
 
 However, when Mr. Cummings sought 
 election to the third term (they were 
 of one year each) he was defeated by 
 A.B. Sawyer by the narrow margin of 33 
 votes. 
 
 Cummings was bitterly wounded by the 
 defeat. The record shows that while he 
 never had been absent from council 
 meetings prior to that time, he never 
 again appeared at the city hall as 
 mayor. He did not preside at the vote 
 canvass, nor any subsequent meetings 
 of the council between the time of the 
 election 'and the actual expiration of 
 his term. It is said that he even felt 
 so bitterly about the election loss 
 that he shortly thereafter shook the 
 dust of Pekin from his boots and moved 
 to Chicago. 
 
 An Englishman in the more and more 
 German community. Cummings may have had 
 other reasons for his dissatisfaction. 
 He was immensely wealthy, and became 
 more so. The "Cummings estate" still 
 maintains a regular office and staff in 
 Pekin. administering holdings, and a 
 large part of the growth of Pekin over 
 the past 20 years has been from the 
 subdivision of Cummings lands. 
 
 The Cummings people have been phil- 
 anthropic through the years, and have 
 made sizable endowments to many insti- 
 tutions--but Pekin institutions have 
 not been the recipients of this phil- 
 anthropy for it long since ceased to be 
 the "home town" of the Cummings family. 
 
 Let it be said of the 70" s, too. 
 that the Hinners Organ company was 
 founded here during that period--in 
 1879, to be exact, and the Celestial 
 Guards; the first National Guard 
 company, was formed in 1877. And let 
 the record be complete: 
 
 The city council considered an 
 ordinance to "restrain, suppress, and 
 prohibit bawdy houses, houses of ill- 
 fame and houses of assignation" in 1875. 
 
 The court dockets indicate that the 
 most frequent charges in that period 
 were "selling liquor to minors" and 
 "riot", although Thomas Conaghan was 
 charged with illegal voting in 1875, 
 and Henry Hoerr accused of embezzlement 
 by the grand jury in 1878. It should be 
 added that a comparison of court 
 dockets and city records indicate that 
 it depended on which side was winning 
 the election as to who were the police 
 and who were in jail, and they fre- 
 quently traded places. 
 
 Thus, the post-war period found 
 Pekin changed from a typical American 
 frontier town to a virtual German 
 colony whose only growth was from its 
 new-born citizens and whose adherence. 
 
 37
 
 RUSSELL McCLINTICK 
 
 Jeweler 
 ■ 432 Court Street 
 
 July 2U, 1931, the McClintlck 
 Jewelry opened for business in Pekin 
 with one display case of merchandise 
 and one watch repair bench. Since 
 then the store has grown to its 
 present size with a large stock of 
 nationally known brands of diamonds, 
 watches, jewelry and silver. 
 
 The business is completely owned 
 by Mr. McClintick and the employees 
 are all members of his family. 
 Through the years shoppers have 
 learned that they are always re- 
 ceived in the same courteous and 
 considerate manner, whether they are 
 in need of quality merchandise, or 
 guaranteed repair service for 
 jewelry and watches. 
 
 An old Pekin High School "Pekin- 
 ian" of 1915-16 vintage says that 
 "John Goar wants to sell real 
 estate" . 
 
 That prophesy came true. After 
 spending some time in the U. S. 
 Marine Corps in World War I the JOHN 
 M. GOAR AGENCY was started on March 
 1, 1923 and has been in continuous 
 operation and is now in its 27th 
 year. To estimate in dollars and 
 cents the value of the real estate 
 sold thru this office in that period 
 would be impossible. Nor is it poss- 
 ible to estimate the tremendous 
 amount of monies paid thru this 
 Agency in Insurance premiums in 
 almost 27 years. 
 
 Too many times the owner of a 
 business thinks he has made a 
 success of his business without 
 ether help. However, the JOHN M. 
 GOAR AGENCY takes this means of 
 thanking its many friends in the 
 fine City of Pekin for making our 
 AGENCY the success it is today. 
 
 JOHN M. GOAR 
 
 427 '/2 Court Street 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 PEKIN 
 AUTO MART 
 
 WE BUY, SELL 
 
 TRADE, FINANCE 
 
 WE WILL NOT 
 
 BE UNDERSOLD 
 
 Si Reed - Tony Simoncini 
 
 3 29 MARGARET ST. 
 
 PEKIN, ILL. 
 
 PHONE 2420 
 
 ECONOMY SHOE STORE 
 
 321 Court 
 In 1926, Morris Severe became 
 
 associated with the "Economy Shoe 
 
 Store" and purchased the business in 
 
 1930. 
 
 In the nearly two decades of 
 service to the Pekin Community, we 
 have proved that we are, indeed, the 
 "store of economy". 
 
 "Poll Parrot" shoes for children, 
 "Rand's" for men, and "Trim-Tred' s" 
 for women are just a few of the 
 brand names that are found at the 
 "Economy" . 
 
 The Economy Shoe Store joins with 
 all in wishing for the City of Pekin 
 many more years of successful and 
 prosperous growth. 
 
 38
 
 to the German tongue kept it static. 
 While surrounding cities entered on 
 their periods of greatest growth, Pekin 
 remained a city without a cobble-stone, 
 with dilapidated plank sidewalks, with 
 loose cows and horses wandering at will 
 in the dimly lit dirt streets, and with 
 
 "bawdy houses" and saloon "riots" still 
 common occurrences. But there were 
 changes coming, and the same qualities 
 which' slowed Pekin' s growth gave solid 
 foundations to some of the development 
 to follow. 
 
 A DECADE OF 
 PROGRESS 
 
 The 1880' s brought ten years of 
 great change to Pekin, although it 
 remained a strong Germanic city and 
 again for another 10 year period the 
 population showed an increase of only 
 about 400 persons, apparently just the 
 increase accounted for in the birth 
 rate itself, almost. However, the ad- 
 ministration of Thomas Cooper, a fire- 
 eating Democratic politician in Pekin, 
 heralded the new spirit, and he was 
 returned to office several times in the 
 80' s and again in the 90' s. Under 
 Cooper, the first sewer was installed, 
 the first curbs and gutters built, the 
 present city hall constructed, street 
 signs erected, and brick sidewalks 
 introduced. On the heels of his admin- 
 istration came the first Illinois river 
 bridge at Pekin, the first electric 
 lights, the waterworks, mail delivery, 
 and the public library. And during this 
 same period Mineral Springs park was 
 laid out, new schools were built, the 
 telephone introduced, and the German- 
 American bank, now the American 
 National, was founded. 
 
 Pekin began to come up out of the 
 mud right at the turn of the 80' s when 
 Cooper's street committee went $5,000 
 into the red to build $13,416 worth of 
 curb and gutter on Court street from 
 the river to Sixth street, and another 
 $5,976 was spent for a sewer from Third 
 street to the river on Court. Exten- 
 sions of the curbing and of sewers 
 continued all through the period, as it 
 has ever since, and the plank sidewalks 
 were replaced with brick. Cobblestone 
 crossings were later added at main 
 intersections. Street signs were erect- 
 ed and for the first time the city 
 undertook to number the houses and 
 building establishments on the various 
 streets. Telephone poles went up, with 
 
 only occasional objection, like that of 
 Wendell Lautz, who just did not want 
 one in front of his place. 
 
 The crowning achievement of the 
 Cooper administration was the con- 
 struction of the city's first and only 
 city hall. That structure, which still 
 stands at the corner of Margaret and 
 Fourth streets and still houses, after 
 a fashion, the city offices, council 
 chambers, fire department and police, 
 was built by Weiss and company at a 
 total cost of $6,500 in the year of 
 1884. No bonds were issued; apparently 
 the saloon license fund set aside for 
 that purpose built Pekin" s present city 
 hall. Surprisingly, it was during this 
 same period of heavy expenditures and 
 public improvement that the first big 
 inroads, about $50,000, were made 
 toward paying off the city's bonded 
 indebtedness. Most progress was made 
 during the recurring years when Alder- 
 man John F. Schipper headed the finance 
 committee. Others who served several 
 terms during this period and contribut- 
 ed largely to the changing face of 
 Pekin were Otto Wieburg, John R. 
 Seibert, and Urban J. Albertsen. 
 
 Cooper was succeeded in 1885 by Mayor 
 John L. Smith, during whose first term 
 the first plank bridge was built across 
 the river here at a cost of $17,500, 
 and at that the council passed over a 
 lower bid of $14,500 for a pontoon 
 bridge. Electric lights were installed 
 in pekin, the city paying $5,000 a year 
 for street lights on the original 
 contract, and a dual celebration was 
 held for the bridge opening and 
 electric lighting system. 
 
 Mayor Smith, himself, rode the first 
 rig across the new bridge, in im- 
 pressive ceremonies, but his triumphant 
 opening was somewhat marred by the fact 
 
 39
 
 PEKIN SHOE STORE 
 
 PHONE Z32-J 
 
 421 COURT STREET 
 
 The history of the Pekin Shoe 
 Store located at 421 Court. St., 
 dates back to the year 1929 when W. 
 J. Eden became the owner in associ- 
 ation with his son Vardner. Mr. Eden 
 has had 46 years of experience in 
 selling shoes. He first worked for 
 the Weyrich Shoe Store in 1903 and 
 for P.W. Stoltz from 1904 to 1922. 
 He then became manager, taking over 
 the ownership in 1929. He has seen 
 style changes from high buttoned 
 shoes to the present day toeless 
 and heeless and even shoeless 
 creations now in vogue. Eden's have 
 always sold shoes of quality, carry- 
 ing such well-known lines as Nunn 
 Bush & Edgerton shoes for men; 
 Tweedies, Vitality and Treadeasy 
 shoes for women. Popular lines for 
 children include Acrobat Simplex 
 Flexies, Child Life & Trimfoot. 
 
 W. J. EOEN VARDNER J. EDEN 
 
 CHAS. SPLITTGERBER 
 
 § SON 
 
 Phone 364J 
 Sheet Metal Work Wise Furnaces 
 
 The firm of Charles Splittgerber 
 and Son was established in 1906 by 
 Charles Splittgerber Sr. and his son 
 Charles D. Splittgerber Jr. The 
 first shop was located in the rear 
 of 420 Ann Eliza St. in a small 
 building 30 by 35 ft. Their mode of 
 transportation in those days was by 
 horse and wagon. The business grew, 
 and in 1914 they built a new modern 
 building at 419 Margaret St. In 1938 
 Charles Spl i tfffeerber Sr. died and 
 the firm was continued by Charles 
 Jr. In 1948 he erected a new build- 
 ing at 417 Margaret St. the present 
 location of the firm. The shop is 
 equipped with the newest of equip- 
 ment and they specialize in all 
 types of sheet metal work, heating 
 and ventilating. 
 
 417 MARGARET ST. 
 
 unnc 
 
 HAVANA 
 
 nnnUMBER 
 
 D 
 
 dddOMPANY 
 
 WE HANDLE FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE LARGEST TIMBERS IN CENTRAL 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 920 S. SECOND ST. 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 LEWIS PONTIAC CO. 
 
 Second at Broadway Phone 425 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 <r 
 
 YOUR PONTIAC AUTOMOBILE DEALER IN PEKIN 
 FOR OVER 21 YEARS 
 
 40
 
 that much of the populace knew and the 
 rest soon learned that Charles Holland 
 had actually been first to cross the 
 new bridge, thanks to a conspiracy with 
 the workmen. The last of the planking 
 was not to be completed until just 
 before the mayor was to cross, but 
 workmen labored through the night to 
 lay the planking so that Holland could 
 drive a carriage over the bridge at the 
 crack of dawn, and then they hastily 
 took up the planking again to be re- 
 laid for the mayor. 
 
 The water works followed, built by 
 a Chicago concern represented here by 
 a Charles A. Lamb and Henry S. Raymond, 
 and the city contracted to pay $4,000 
 A year for 100 fire hydrants. Curiously 
 on each of these three big trans- 
 actions, bids were received and then 
 all rejected, after which a contract 
 was made by resolution. After all these 
 public improvements, there finally came 
 regular mail delivery. Meanwhile, con- 
 struction of the city hall made it 
 possible to turn over the engine house 
 at Five points to the Library Associa- 
 tion and it became the public library 
 and reading room, and is still known as 
 the Old Library building. 
 
 The Artesian Well company drilled a' 
 well in 1880, obtained sulphur water, 
 and laid out Mineral Springs park which 
 was then operated as a private concern. 
 Three times during the 80' s the city 
 council voted to buy the park for 
 $6,000, and each time rescinded their 
 action. The Cathedral Grammar school 
 was built at Capitol and Park avenue 
 (now the Jefferson school) and the East 
 Side school (now Douglas) was erected 
 at the present Douglas location, after 
 the old Tharp cemetery there was par- 
 tially removed. The city arranged for 
 removal of the cemetery by contract 
 with John E. Reed and T. J. Davis who 
 charged $4.48 cents each for 80 bodies, 
 and for some reason only $2-44 for 20 
 other bodies, making the total cost of 
 the removal $413.20. Alderman H. Zuck- 
 weiler supervised the operation. 
 
 It should be recorded that this was 
 also an era of distillery fires. During 
 this period the Enterprise distillery 
 burned twice, and the Crown distillery 
 and John Herget" s new Star distillery 
 were destroyed by fire. At least one of 
 the fires was apparently of incendiary 
 origin because the council urged the 
 mayor to make a_ thorough investigation 
 in an effort to learn who had set the 
 Enterprise on fire the second time. 
 
 Thus, while Pekin stood comparative- 
 ly still population-wise, it had begun 
 to build its institutions on solid 
 foundations, and during the 80' s began 
 the work of sanitation, schools, a 
 library, a park, and many of the 
 facilities in which special pride are 
 taken now. It will be noted that the 
 boom in churches preceded by a few 
 years the sudden swelling of civic 
 consciousness, cleanliness, and" 
 progress. While Pekin showed no more 
 startling growth, it was beginning to 
 show signs of becoming a good place to 
 live, although there were still some 
 "bawdy houses" calling forth occasional 
 resolutions by the council, which at 
 one point in the 80' s took cognizance 
 of the uselessness of legislating 
 against "human nature" by turning down 
 a petition to enforce a "Sunday law" on 
 the sale of liquor on Sundays. 
 
 The decade ended with a rousing 
 political campaign on "free bridge and 
 free cows", remembered by many resi- 
 dents today. The issue of whether the 
 new bridge was to remain a toll bridge 
 or be made free to the public was 
 placed on the regular election ballot 
 along with the question of whether cows 
 and other livestock were to be per- 
 mitted to run free on the streets. Some 
 working people got quite excited, 
 charging that fees for use of the 
 bridge, and denying the use of the 
 streets to their animals, amounted to 
 legislating "the poor people" out of 
 existence, but the "free bridge" 
 carried while free cows were forbidden. 
 
 THE GAY NINETIES 
 
 Perhaps the days of one' s youth are 
 always looked back upon as the "gay 
 whatever-it-was", but the record bears 
 out the claims of the older generation 
 of Pekinites in regard to the "Gay 
 Nineties". For it was in the nineties 
 that the Santa Fe railroad ran shuttle 
 trains all afternoon to Pekin' s race 
 track, the finest one-mile track in 
 Illinois, where the greatest harness- 
 racing horses of the era competed. And 
 it was in the nineties that the big 
 
 Tazewell club building was built, and 
 there the big event of the year was the 
 Thanksgiving dance, after which the 
 young men would take their ladies home 
 and then catch a midnight excursion 
 train to Chicago for the Big Ten foot- 
 ball game that featured each Thanks- 
 giving (at a $2 rate for a three-day 
 trip). There were boat excursions on 
 the river, and there was Gehrig's band 
 (although the city refused to pay them 
 for band concerts as proposed). There 
 
 41
 
 THE HERGET NATIONAL BANK OF PEKIN 
 
 363 COURT ST. 
 
 I\ 
 
 SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES 
 
 George Herget & Sons, a private 
 bank, was opened on April 17, 1905. 
 On June 4, 1910, this bank was 
 changed to a National Bank under the 
 name of The Herget National Bank of 
 Pekin. The Officers at that time 
 were; George Herget, President, *.P. 
 Herget, Vice President, H. G. Herget. 
 Vice President, C.H. Turner, Cashier, 
 and W.A. Stockert, Assistant Cashier. 
 Directors were: George Herget, W.P. 
 Herget, H.G. Herget, George Ehrlich- 
 er, Henry Birkenbusch, and Flavel 
 Shurtleff. 
 
 On May 6. 1943, after over one 
 year of remodeling, open house was 
 held so the public could view the 
 complete change to an all new modern 
 bank, enlarged officer' s quarters, 
 low type teller's cages, director's 
 room, and private office on the main 
 floor, and a new safe deposit vault 
 with over three thousand bo.xes, 
 customer's booths, record vault, and 
 bookkeeping department all in the 
 basement. The building was complete- 
 ly air-conditioned. 
 
 On June 30, 1943. after the above 
 changes were made, the deposits were 
 $5,301,462.12 and on June 30, 1949, 
 they had increased to $11, 192, 366. 94. 
 Because of this increase in business. 
 
 it became necessary to move the book- 
 keeping department to the second 
 floor, install an elevator, move the 
 teller' s cages back to increase the 
 size of the lobby and the officer's 
 quarters and install more booths for 
 the safekeeping department. 
 
 Officers at the present time are: 
 Mrs. W.P. Herget, President; E.M. 
 Kumpf, Executive Vice President, 
 George H. Ehrlicher, Vice President; 
 C. V. Frings, Vice President; R.W. 
 Heim, Cashier; E.W. Prey. Assistant 
 Cashier; and A.M. Berner, Assistant 
 Cashier. 
 
 Directors are: Mrs. W.P. Herget, 
 C.V. Frings, George H. Ehrlicher, 
 E. P. Reinhard, Theo. H. Ubben, E.M. 
 Kumpf, and A.W. Ehrlicher. 
 
 Employees are: Tellers; Robert 
 Stallings. John McGinty, Gaylord 
 Shannabarger, Melvin Burling, Wil- 
 bert Boeck, Vera Crawford, Ella 
 Becker, Frederick Timian. Book- 
 keepers, Maxine Parkin. Louise 
 Berner, John Rinaldi, Doris Heitz- 
 man, Lois Ritthaler, Doris Romans, 
 Merle Eskrich. Grace Renfro, Doris 
 Russell. Vault Custodian; Mildred 
 Mullins. Secretary; Verna Harms. 
 Building Custodian, Emil Pask. 
 
 42
 
 was the new Turner Opera house at 
 Capitol and Elizabeth streets, later to 
 become the Standard, then the Capitol, 
 and finally the present Pekin theater. 
 And there was the first Pekin high 
 school football team with Fred Stoltz, 
 Henry Schantz. Oscar Albertson, Ulrich 
 Adams. Fred Bergstrasser. Abe Schaefer, 
 and others. 
 
 There was excitement, too. There 
 were spectacular fires that razed the 
 high school building, the Hamburg' 
 distillery, Schipper and Block's, the 
 Pekin Times, the Enterprise distillery 
 (again!) and the Woodward hotel. And 
 there was the Spanish-American War, and 
 the "Little Mine" riots, and the 
 Wallace hanging. 
 
 Thomas Cooper, mayor when the city 
 hall was built and so many other im- 
 provements made, returned to the 
 mayor's chair and started action which 
 was picked up. resulting in the first 
 brick street- -Court street from Fifth 
 to the River front. Extensions of brick 
 paving continued all through the 
 period. The Union Mission was founded 
 in '95. and the high school had been 
 rebuilt at a cost of $25,200. There 
 vaR a new county jail. The Franklin 
 
 and Garfield schools were built, and 
 the Citizen's Improvement Association, 
 fore-runner of the Association of 
 Commerce was founded with Everett W. 
 Wilson at its head. Before the era 
 ended, in ' 98, came the first in a 
 series of spectacular street fairs in 
 downtown Pekin. 
 
 New buildings were the American, 
 Crescent, Globe and Hamburg distiller- 
 ies, the Independent Cracker and 
 Biscuit company, the Windsor hotel. 
 
 OPEHA HOUSE 
 
 the Duisdicker foundry, and the Zerwekh 
 building. 
 
 The gayety of the nineties was dis- 
 turbed a bit in '94. when miners near 
 Wesley city rioted over the introduc- 
 tion of electric drills, burned the 
 mine plant and wounded two of the 
 Little brothers who owned it. Two men 
 were killed in the ruckus, and when 
 leaders were jailed the rioters 
 threatened to march on Pekin. Citizens 
 volunteered as deputy sheriffs (among 
 the leaders being Herman Prings, later 
 a prominent attorney) and several 
 National Guard companies marched to 
 Pekin and stood guard. 
 
 Nine Pekinites died in '92 when the 
 Frankie Folsom, an excursion steamer, 
 sank in a storm in Peoria lake. Many 
 others were aboard but escaped. 
 
 In ' 96 came the Spanish American War 
 when Company "G" was mustered and 
 organized with Capt. E. L. Conklin, and 
 Lieutenants D.H. Jansen, E.H. Mullen 
 and W.W. Sellers as officers, but 
 Company G never saw action, although 
 some Pekinites serving in other units 
 did get overseas during the war with 
 Spain. The story is told that Franklin 
 
 
 THE COUNTY JAIL AND SHERIFF'S PESIDENCE built 
 in the mid 8<^ ' s . 
 
 43
 
 1933 FARLIN BUICK Co. 1949 
 
 31? Elizabeth Street 
 
 DR. FARLIN C.T. JEFFERSON 
 
 Incorporated August 1, 1945 
 
 \^ V/ie/i better aiitoffiobi/es 
 
 ^- 
 
 ■^ s\ 
 
 
 are built 
 BU/CKml/buf/r/t/iem 
 
 BDICK CARS 
 
 USED CARS 
 
 Service on All 
 Makes of Cars 
 
 Smooth as a Bird's Flight 
 DYNAFLOW DRIVE 
 
 Pekin Prescription Laboratory 
 
 In the Tazewell Hotel Bldg. 
 
 Phone 234-J 
 After Hours 
 
 THE PEKIN PRESCRIPTION LABORATORY 
 Established during the centennial 
 year of the founding of Pekin. 
 Features 
 The traditional points of service 
 of an apothecary. 
 
 DRUGS & SERVICE 
 ONLY 
 
 Pekin' s only exclusive Prescription 
 Pharmacy 
 
 Member 
 
 American College Apothecaries 
 
 American Pharmaceutical Association 
 
 PROPRIETORS 
 
 J. F. Sams, R Ph 
 
 V. B. Sams, RR Ph 
 
 44
 
 WASHINGTON SCHOOL built in 1890 for High School and grades. 
 
 Velde, who still practices law in Pekin. 
 was one of the best shots in the Pekin 
 company. However, he was left-handed. 
 When this defect was called to his 
 attention by army authorities, he pro- 
 tested that he was, nevertheless, one 
 of the best shots in the company. " We 
 have enough men here to lick the 
 Spaniards RIGHT-HANDED", was the reply, 
 and he was mustered out. As It turned 
 out, there were enough men to lick the 
 Spaniards without Co. C, and the sur- 
 render cancelled their sailing orders. 
 
 The last hanging in Pekin, which 
 took place in '96, was almost a festive 
 occasion, but a model of good order 
 compared to the Ott and Berry affairs. 
 People jammed roof-tops to look down 
 inside the stockade, but otherwise 
 things were orderly. The Post Tribune 
 of that day gives an account of this 
 affair under a head-line "Wallace Dies 
 Game!" which reads, in part, as follows: 
 
 "Albert Wallace expiated his crime 
 of murder on the gallows this morning. 
 The trap was sprung at exactly eight 
 minutes past 11 o'clock and at 11; 22, 
 fourteen minutes later, he was cut 
 down, being pronounced dead by Coroner 
 H.V. Bailey. The trap was sprung by 
 Sheriff J.E. Stout, and the execution 
 was a most successful one. The fall of 
 five feet failed to break Wallace's 
 neck and he died of strangulation." 
 
 The body was turned over to Kuecks, 
 Wubben and company. Wallace had given 
 himself up after the shotgun killing 
 
 of his sister Mrs. Belle Bowlby at 
 Delevan. 
 
 His was the last hanging to take 
 place in the city of Pekin. 
 
 And so, after only a few compara- 
 tively minor disorders in the ' 90' s, 
 the city of Pekin turned the corner 
 into the Twentieth Century showing the 
 world a far different town than that 
 of the 70' s and earlier. 
 
 Her 8,400 citizens now were mostly 
 native Pekinites, born in the city, 
 taught in its schools and in its 
 churches. Many were now high school 
 graduates. They walked on brick side- 
 walks, and rode (sometimes) on brick 
 streets under electric lights, went to 
 the Turner Opera house, danced at the 
 Tazewell club, plcniced at the park, 
 and went to the harness races, and on 
 excursions to Chicago, and they had 
 discovered the sports of football and 
 baseball, too. The store windows still 
 had signs assuring potential customers, 
 "German Spoken Here", and there were 
 still "riots" in saloons at times, and 
 arrests for "gaming" and "prize-fight- 
 ing", and a good many for carrying 
 concealed weapons--but the change was 
 there and it stands out In the old 
 records clearly and boldly. 
 
 Pekin was ready for the Twentieth 
 Century. 
 
 In a book whose publishing is 
 sponsored by the Association of Com- 
 merce, it is still necessary to confess 
 that these most significant changes 
 
 45
 
 A GROWING STORE 
 IN A GROWING CITY 
 
 The 22 years that Cohen Furniture Company has 
 been in Pekin, has seen the greatest period of 
 expansion in the city' s history. Our store has 
 kept abreast of that expansion. Starting in 1927 
 in this same location with only 8 employees, 
 there are now 31 in Cohen's Pekin store. 
 
 Through tlie co-operation and confidence of 
 our many customers in this area, our business 
 annually has increased to over four times the 
 amount done in the first year. 
 
 In the years to come, we assure you that our 
 efforts will be for the advancement of Pekin and 
 toward better and happier living for the citizens 
 of this community. 
 
 FURNITURE CO. 
 
 PEORIA- 336 S ADAM5 
 
 PEKiN - 424 COURT 
 
 46
 
 toward progress in Pekin came just be- 
 fore NOT AFTER the organization of the 
 citizen's Improvement association- -but 
 those same progressive steps did not 
 
 come until after schools and churches 
 had established firm foundations in the 
 community. 
 
 THE NEW CENTURY 
 
 In the pre-war years of the new 
 Twentieth Century, Pekin people learned 
 a lot about living. In addition to the 
 dances and excursions (both boat and 
 rail) of the ' 90' s, there came the era 
 of sports, ice cream socials, the 
 horseless carriage, the household 
 gadget, and the nickleodeon. 
 
 Tom Cooper, the progressive former 
 mayor, had taken over management of 
 Mineral Springs park, developed it 
 further, and that area, which had been 
 turned down repeatedly at a $6,000 
 price tag, finally became public 
 property at a figure of $22, 500 with 
 referendum approval, and a year later 
 
 the $15,000 pavilion was built. A whole 
 era of park recreation got started 
 then. And at the other end of the 
 entertainment picture, came the nickle- 
 odeons with their collapsible chairs 
 and mechanical interruptions, starting 
 all at once with the Dreamland at 302 
 Court street under *.E. Snodgrass, and 
 the Unique and the Vaudette (where 
 Lohnes Print Shop now does business). 
 At still a third extreme, there came 
 the establishment of the Pekin Country 
 club at the end of this period. 
 
 The introduction of ice cream was 
 somehow symbolic of this era, and it 
 is said when it was once served at 
 
 THE COUNCIL CHAMBEfi 1905-1906: Mayor Dan Sapp, Chief of Police Chas. 
 Flening, Fire Chief Julius Jaeckel, City Engineer Ben F. Smth, City 
 Clerk Jack Soldaedel, Aldermen Oscar Fogelmark, Henry fieuling, Creno 
 Jansen, Heilo Rust. Dede Velde, Chas. Gehrig, Henry Schwartz Jacob 
 TerVeen. BenH. Smith. JohnAmshurg. FritiSchaefer. Ceo. Taubert. Re- 
 porters Chas Skaggs, *. G. Fair, fi. E. Bollins. 
 
 47
 
 ILLINOIS IRON y METAL COMPANY 
 
 Scrap Iron - Metals - Paper - R.ag3 
 
 THIRD AND ST. MARY STS. 
 PHONE 194 
 
 In October. 1917, Ted and Sam 
 Kahn came to Pekin and leased the 
 Illinois Hotel and grounds for a 
 scrap ,vard. The brothers retained 
 the first word on the hotel sign and 
 thus established the ILLINOIS IRON 
 6i VIETAL COMPANY. This was the be- 
 ginning of Tazewell County's only 
 exclusive scrap dealer. 
 
 In order to be near a railroad 
 siding for carload shipments, the 
 company moved three years later to 
 the present site on the corner of 
 Third and St. Mary Streets. A large 
 and complete warehouse and offices 
 were erected by Ed P. Lampitt & 
 Sons, for the handling of waste 
 materials. 
 
 During the ensuing years, the 
 company expanded the yard facilities 
 in order to handle used structural 
 steel, pipe, and other building 
 supplies. 
 
 Ted Kahn purchased his brother' s 
 interest in the business in ly46. 
 One year later additional yards were 
 bought on the opposite side of the 
 street. Surplus materials and used 
 auto parts are housed on this 
 property. 
 
 The ILLINOIS IRON & METAL COMPANY 
 has conducted business in Pekin for 
 over 32 years, and takes pride in 
 servicing citizens, farmers, and 
 factories in this area. 
 
 'TAZEWELL COUNTY'S ONLY EXCLUSIVE SCRAP DEALER" 
 
 Sargent Sheet Metal Shop 
 
 Heating AND Ventilating 
 
 PHONE 732 
 
 Sheet Metal Work 
 
 619 COURT ST. 
 
 The Sargent Sheet Metal Shop was 
 established by Walter A. Sargent in 
 January 1926. 
 
 The first location was at 500 
 Court Street. A few months later the 
 business was moved to 701 Broadway, 
 operating there until April 1929 
 when it was moved to the present 
 location at 619 Court Street. 
 
 Mr. Sargent had worked at the 
 trade for twenty-eight years and had 
 been in charge of sheet metal and 
 heating business for some years 
 before venturing in business for 
 himsel f . 
 
 With this thorough knowledge of 
 the trade and his managing experi- 
 ence he had built up a business that 
 had enabled him to erect a new 
 building and equip a new shop and 
 office which conformed to his ideas 
 of what a modern sheet metal and 
 
 warm air heating business should be. 
 
 The sheet metal industry has 
 broadened in scope from installing 
 gravity furnaces, gutters, spouting 
 and tin roofs to include ventilat- 
 ing, forced air heating for coal, 
 oil and gas as fuels, and air con- 
 ditioning. 
 
 New materials have also made an 
 appearance in sheet metal work. From 
 tin, galvanized iron and copper - 
 aluminum and stainless steel in dull 
 and polished finishes are being 
 worked in various phases of the 
 industry. 
 
 Since Mr. Sargent's death in 
 1942, Mrs. Sargent has continued to 
 operate the business with the capa- 
 ble assistance of former employees, 
 one of whom has been in their employ 
 twenty-six years. 
 
 48
 
 Mayor Conzelman" s home to a group of 
 city officials, one alderman turned to 
 another and said in German, "This is 
 damned cold butter!" At the same time, 
 there came the Stanley Steamers and 
 other versions of the "horseless 
 carriage", and court records show that 
 youn? bloods here were occasionally 
 fined for speeding at 20 miles an hour. 
 The first gas heating company was 
 founded then, and the gas stove was one 
 of the first items besides piped water, 
 in the kitchen revolution getting 
 underway, on the threshold of an era 
 of kitchen gadgets. 
 
 It was. above all. a golden era in 
 sports. The Rainbows, with Jack Epkins 
 and Harry White ushered in a great 
 baseball period. The White Sox (foot- 
 ball and baseball) with George Ehni. 
 Elmer Neff. Deacon Miller and others 
 carried on the tradition, and then came 
 Pekin's own professional ball team in 
 the Illinois-Missouri league, and the 
 days when such luminaries as the great 
 Grover Cleveland Alexander and Ray 
 Schalk played in Pekin. As a matter of 
 fact Alexander was "beaned" running for 
 first base here at Pekin by a ball 
 thrown by Chief Edwards and badly hurt- 
 on the very threshold of his great 
 major league career. "Spider" Diehl 
 played with the Pekin club. Joe 
 Jenkins, and Si Forsythe went up to 
 the New York Giants, and Ray Chapman, 
 Al O-Hare, Windy Lottshaw, Bob 0' Parrel 
 and Jim Bluejacket, all had their major 
 league flings. Many of the great ball 
 players of the period lived in the 
 "Bachelor Flats" over the present West- 
 brook restaurant at Fourth and Eliza- 
 beth streets. 
 
 Pekin competitors also claimed, 
 national recognition in the prize ring 
 of the period when Herman "Weenie" Loh- 
 mann (Pekin Kid Herman) was a constant 
 challenger to the bantam-weight crown, 
 who fought three times against reign- 
 ing champions, twice to "no decision" 
 finishes. Stanley Everetts also faced 
 championship competition at the lighter 
 weights, and in the light-weight ranks. 
 Harry Donahue climbed to the top ranks 
 and faced the late great Packy McPar- 
 land. rated by many as the best of all 
 time in that division. 
 
 Football also began to come Into its 
 own with the high school team playing 
 at the old race track and using a 
 coffin box borrowed from the Noel 
 funeral home for their equipment. Ray- 
 burn Russell, later mayor and states 
 attorney, was the team manager for a 
 time. Among the players were Guy 
 Donahue (laterpolice chief and 
 sheriff). Wilbur Bush, Walt Conover, 
 Gene Hoff (now circuit clerk) Elbert 
 Nolte, Roy Meisinger, Lee and Fred 
 Eyrse and Roy King. 
 
 P.H.S. 1909 - t'nbeaten and neSjer scored 
 on. Hack Pov - lee Eyrse, Guy Donahue, 
 Bert Kincaid, Elbert Nolte, John 
 Strathman, George Ehrlicher , Leo Otho 
 McCoy, Elmer Derrick, James Ross, Euge- 
 ne V. Hoff, yialton Conover. Front Bom - 
 Wilbur Bush, Roy \teisinger, Fred Eyrse, 
 Roy L. King. 
 
 Civic advancement in more conven- 
 tional activities was also on the up- 
 grade, for in this period were built 
 the present Pekin library building, the 
 Pekin post office building, the Pekin 
 Public hospital, and the present Taze- 
 well county court house at Pekin. The 
 main wing of the Pekin Community high 
 school by James field was built then 
 and the Lincoln and Jefferson grade 
 schools as they stand today. The old 
 wooden bridge was replaced with an 
 iron bridge as Qarly as 1904, and 
 before the era ended electric street 
 cars were operating and had been taken 
 under city ownership. Mayors of the 
 period included E.W. Wilson. William J. 
 Conzelman. Daniel Sapp. and Henry 
 Schnellbacher. Charles Schaefer was 
 city attorney for much of the time. 
 
 Private interests meanwhile had 
 erected the Illinois Box Board and 
 Paper company (now Quaker Oats), the 
 Arcade building, the Times building, 
 and had founded the Herget National 
 Bank. The Corn Products Refining 
 company bought the old beet "sugar 
 house" of the Hergets. 
 
 It was then, too. that union labor 
 began to play a major role in the life 
 of the community, and Pekin early 
 established itself as a pioneer city in 
 recognition of organized labor. The 
 city's unions had already begun to be 
 among the leading agencies urging these 
 various public improvements, and fre- 
 quently at that time worked in concert 
 with the Citizens Improvement Associ- 
 ation. The Trades and Labor assembly 
 staged great Labor Day celebrations on 
 the downtown streets of Pekin which 
 rivalled the equally famous street 
 fairs staged by the Street Fair Associ- 
 ation. As early as 1902, one of the 
 first such pieces of legislation 
 written anywhere, was an ordinance 
 
 49
 
 Law Offices of 
 
 DUINKELBERG and RUST 
 
 The Times Bldg. 
 
 DALE E. SUTTON 
 
 LAWYER 
 
 Pek 1 N FINANCE Bldg. 
 
 BEN L. SMITH 
 
 Attorney at Law ■ 
 Arcade Bl dg. 
 
 Law Offices of 
 
 Barney Kahn 
 
 STEINMETZ BUILDING 
 
 Alfred W. Black 
 
 LAWYER 
 
 Pek IN Finance Building 
 
 C. L. CONDER 
 
 Attorney at Law 
 Marshall Bldg. 
 
 FRINGS & MILFORD 
 
 ATTORNEYS AT LAW 
 
 C. V. FRINGS 
 R. A. MILFORD 
 
 F9ING5 eLOG. 
 
 IRVING L. ROSENBERG 
 
 AT T O R N E Y AT LAW 
 
 FRINGS Bldg . 
 
 ABOUT THE LAWYERS 
 
 Lawyers and their offices come and go. 
 The history of them is mostly unrecorded and 
 fades with the passage of time. But much of 
 their work is done in courts and in the court 
 records, in the official tones of legal 
 language not unlike that now used, we can get 
 a glimpse of the activities of the lawyers of 
 100 years ago, which then, as now, reflect the 
 times and the struggles of the people. These 
 records also reveal the names of some of the 
 lawyers practicing at that time. 
 
 In lb49, the Courts of this County were held 
 in Tremont. 
 
 The Circuit Court held two terms, the April 
 term and September term. Judge David Davis, who 
 was later appointed to the .Supreme Court of the 
 United States by Abraham Lincoln, held both 
 terms. Richard Gill was sheriff, David 3. Cairp- 
 bell, prosecuting attorney, and John A. Jones 
 clerk. The cases handled consisted principally 
 of actions on contracts and obligations, i.e. 
 assumpsit, debt, foreclosure, and judgments by 
 confession, and cases affecting real estate 
 titles, such as partition, ejectment, petitions 
 to sell real estate to pay debts, bills to 
 quiet title, etc. Only two divorces were grant- 
 ed during the year, one on the grounds of 
 adultery, the other on the grounds of desertion. 
 At the September term, 11 indictments were re- 
 turned, 8 of which were for selling liquor with- 
 out a license, 1 for gambling, 1 for larceny, 
 and 1 for keeping a disorderly house. 
 
 The County Court first convened on December 
 17, 1849 with Judge Benjamin F. James presid- 
 ing. Previously a Probate Justice of the Peace 
 handled all probate work. In the ensuing year 
 less than 35 estates were filed. In 1849 four 
 wills were probated. The size of administrator' s 
 and executor' s bonds, being twice the amount of 
 personal property in the estates ranged from 
 
 DEMPSEY & KLIHFUSS 
 
 attorneys at law 
 Marshall Bldg. 
 
 50
 
 RAYBLRN L. RUSSELL 
 
 Attorney at Law 
 Marshall Bldg. 
 
 Velde &. Prettyman 
 
 ATTORNEYS AT LAW 
 
 I VAN Yon tz Assoc i ate 
 Tames Bldg. 
 
 $100 to S2,000. ^ule 1 of the County Court 
 entered February 8, 1850, required for the 
 the first time that Petitions for Letters of 
 Administration be in writing. 
 
 In 1849 there were 771 instruments relating 
 to real estate filed for record in the record- 
 er's office, of which 108 were mortgages. 
 
 By comparison, from July 1. 1948, to July i, 
 1949. 438 cases were filed in the Circuit 
 Court. 270 were divorce or other matrimonial 
 cases. Apprcximately 60 arose from auto acci- 
 dents. 1 grew out of an airplane accident. 
 Others principally involved property. In the 
 County Court 375 estates were filed for probate. 
 9015 instruments relating to real estate were 
 filed in the recorder' s office. Also consider- 
 •able administrative law is now being practiced 
 before federal and state administrative 
 agenc i es. 
 
 Names of lawyers appearing in the court 
 records 100 years ago, though undoubtedly not a 
 complete record of those practicing here at 
 that time, include the following: Halsey Merri- 
 raan. William D. Briggs, B.S. Prettyman, John M. 
 Bush, William B. Parker, George L. Parker, 
 Samuel P. Bailey, M. Tackaberry. Holmes & 
 Haines, and A.H. Saltonstall. 
 
 Lawyers whose offices are presently located 
 in Pekin include: Franklin L. Velde who has 
 practiced here more than 60 years: William S. 
 Prettyman, John T. Elliff, Ralph Dempsey 
 Charles Schaefer, C. L. Conder, George Brecher, 
 r N. Smith, Ben L. Smith, J.M. Powers, James P. 
 St. Cerney. Frank Wilkins, Robert H. Allison, 
 Harold J. Rust, Louis P. Dunkelberg. P.A. 
 D'Arcy. C.I. Martin, R.L. Russell, WalterG. 
 Cunningham, Alfred W. Black, Nathan T. Elliff, 
 C.V. Frings, George Donaldson, Barney Kahn, 
 Clifford C. Schmidtgall, Harold H. Kuhfuss, 
 Roth S. Smith. Bernard F. Hoffman, Dale E. 
 Sutton, R.A. Milford, E.B. Groen. W.J. Reardon, 
 Robert V. Clevenger, Irving Rosenberg.I van 
 Yontz, and Harold H. Velde, now a Member 
 of Congress. 
 
 SMITH & SMITH 
 
 Attorneys at Law 
 Arcade Bl do. 
 
 WALTER G CUNNINGHAM 
 
 ATTORNEY AT LAW 
 
 ARCADE BUILDING 
 
 attobncv at law? 
 
 403 Margaret 
 
 2 
 
 
 C. I. MARTIN 
 
 Attorney at Law 
 
 340 El I ZA BETH 
 
 nORERT V. CrEVEXOEU 
 
 ATTORNEY AT LAW 
 
 Pekin Finance Bldg. 
 
 LAW OFPICE8 OP 
 
 GROEX. 
 HOFFMLAJV & REARDOX 
 
 20I-20S PEKIN FINANCE BUILDING 
 
 ELLIFF & ELLIFF 
 
 Attorneys at Law 
 326 El I z abeth 
 
 51
 
 A L T >l A N S 
 
 310 COURT 
 
 Altman's Jewelry. Gift and Lug- 
 gage store, although but eight years 
 old at the turn of Pekin' s century, 
 has grown from a small store at its 
 beginning to an establishment of size 
 comparable to others in the Pekin 
 business district. 
 
 Altman's observes the one-hund- 
 redth anniversary of Pekin' s incor- 
 poration with a profound senseof 
 gratitude to the residents of this 
 and nearby communities for the 
 patronage which made its rapid growth 
 possible. 
 
 Mr. Al Altman, owner, expresses a 
 sincere hope that Altman's may con- 
 tinue to serve the city as it embarks 
 upon its second century of growth. 
 
 J. LOGAN UN LAND 
 INSURANCE AGENCY 
 
 12 SOUTH FOURTH STREET 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 The name Unland has been identi- 
 fied with the business life of Pekin 
 for practically one hundred years. 
 
 E.F. Unland, uncle of J. Logan 
 Unland was mayor of Pekin, and first 
 president of the Tazewell Club. He 
 was president of Smith-Hippen Grain 
 Company and active in business. 
 
 J. Logan Unland entered the in- 
 surance business in Pekin in 1930 as 
 district agent for the Aetna Life 
 Insurance Company. 
 
 In 1941 he opened his present 
 office at i#12 South 4th Street en- 
 larging his activities to include 
 all forms of insurance. 
 
 In 1945 he was joined by his son. 
 Captain James V:. Unland, commanding 
 officer of Company L, Illinois 
 National Guard, as junior member of 
 the firm. 
 
 The J. Logan Unland Insurance 
 Agency is one of the leading in- 
 surance agencies of Pekin. 
 
 !VEIIDERMA]^I\ BAKERY' 
 
 407 COURT ST. 
 
 Left: He inhardt Neddermnnn 
 Right: John ^eHHermann 
 
 Half a century ago, two brothers, 
 John E. and Reinhardt J. Neddermann, 
 began selling bakery goods to Pekin- 
 ites and neighboring farmers. 
 
 On March 22, 1899, the Nedder- 
 manns started in business at 407 
 Court. It was formerly owned by Mr. 
 *. Wiemers. Their only machine was 
 one used in making cookies, and the 
 ovens were fired with coke. Nedder- 
 
 mann' s bakery is still in the same 
 location, and bake from some of the 
 same recipes used before the turn of 
 the century. The Pumpernickle bread 
 which is a favorite of customers is 
 prepared from the recipe that de- 
 lighted purchasers in 1S99. 
 
 In the days of the horse and 
 buggy. Neddormann' s was a favorite 
 gathering place of farmers who came 
 to Pekin t" shop. Many customers of 
 today are the third generation of 
 their families to enjoy "Nedder- 
 mann' s" delicacies. 
 
 Reinhardt J. Neddermann passed 
 away in September. 1939, and the 
 business has been carried on by 
 John and his sister Emma. 
 
 The Golden Anniversary of Nedder- 
 mann' s Bakery marks the progress of 
 a successful business in Pekin, and 
 they wish to assure their patrons 
 that they will continue to serve the 
 Pekin area residents with only the 
 finest quality baked breads, rolls, 
 pics and cakes.
 
 POLICE DEPARTMENT 1905-1906: Henry Rehren, Ceo. Pfeiffer, Jack Sold- 
 wedel, Ren F. Smith, Henry Taubert, Janes McCoy, Squire Jake Bapp, Louis 
 Reutler, John Oldman, One Arm Howard MacKee, Chas. FlcKing, chief, Jerome 
 Fisher, John Ree 1 1 e r . 
 
 adopted by the city of Pekin on the 
 motion of Alderman W.F. Mefford. which 
 fixed nine hours as the legal work day 
 in the city of Pekin. 
 
 It was also during this period that 
 the location of railroad shops on what 
 had been farmland south of Pekin re- 
 sulted in the development of the com- 
 munity of South Pekin, which was 
 promptly laid out to attract the rail- 
 road men to be employed at this key 
 spot. 
 
 Then, too, Pekin voted to abandon 
 the aldermanic system of city govern- 
 ment, turned its back on the "war of 
 the wards", and installed the present 
 commission form, which has now been 
 operating since 1911. The last aider- 
 manic mayor was W.J. Conzelman, and the 
 list of aldermen read: Albertsen, 
 Pogelmark, Graff, Hornish, Lohmann. 
 .Michael, Slebens, Smith, Van Horn, 
 Pluegel, Johns, and Secrest. After the 
 .commission form was adopted by a vote 
 of 817 to 619, Charles Duisdicker was 
 elected mayor (over W.H. Bates) and 
 elected as first commissioners were 
 C.P, Gehrig, J.W. Zuckweiler, H.J. 
 Rust, and Ben H. Smith. 
 
 It was also during this period that 
 the sizable Italian colony began to 
 develop here in Pekin, with heaviest 
 increases in the East Bluff area. 
 
 Pekin's first street car,shoan on 
 Derby St., ran from the industries to 
 the Park. It was powered by batteries 
 and had to be charged every night. 
 
 53
 
 Ed. F. Lampitt & Sons 
 
 Phone 82 
 
 General Contractors 
 
 dealers m building Materials 
 
 For sixty years the name of 
 Lampitt has been connected with the 
 construction of Pekin buildings, 
 both public and private. 
 
 Pounded in 1888 by Ed F. Lampitt 
 who is still a member of the firm, 
 they have built four of the nine 
 grade schools in the Pekin Public 
 School System. An achievement in 
 which the firm of Ed F. Lampitt & 
 Sons takes great pride is the con- 
 struction of the original Pekin 
 Community High School Building. 
 
 The Pekin Public Hospital is 
 another prominent structure in the 
 long list of buildings erected by 
 Lampitts and used each day by 
 residents of this community. 
 
 Other local buildings housing 
 business, religious and fraternal 
 enterprises and built by the Lampitt 
 Firm are The American National Bank, 
 Bristow Motor Company, Carpenters 
 Union Hall, Farmer's Automobile In- 
 surance Association Building, Pekin 
 Finance Company Building, Pekin 
 Loan & Homestead Association 
 
 217 Court Street 
 
 Building, Pekin Water Works Office, 
 The J.C. Penney Company, St. Paul's 
 Evangelical Church Parish House, 
 Schipper & Block Company and Vogel' s 
 packing plant. 
 
 The Lampitt builders have made 
 additions and alterations at the 
 following establishments; Altman's 
 Jewelery Store, A Nu Beauty Salon, 
 Arterberry Motor Sales, Bird Pro- 
 vision Company, Cohen Furniture 
 Company, Ehrlicher Brothers Company. 
 Jones Brothers Jewelers, Pekin Daily 
 Times. The Toggery, and others. 
 
 Also contributing to Pekin' s 
 industrial development, the Lampitts 
 have been contractors for building 
 expansion at the American Distill- 
 ing Company, Commonwealth Edison 
 Company. Del's Dairy, Excel Brass 
 & Aluminum Foundry, Pekin Foundry, 
 Standard Brands Inc. and Quaker Oats 
 Company. 
 
 Ed F. Lampitt & Sons consider it 
 a privilege to have participated in 
 the growth and development of Pekin 
 during its first one hundred years. 
 
 54
 
 Expressive of the times was the 
 famous Jesse Black Flambeau club which 
 marched in behalf of his political 
 candidacy. The flambeau was a large 
 brass object with a mouthpiece not 
 unlike that of a musical instrument. At 
 the top was a torch affair with a 
 burning wick, and in the body of the 
 machine was coal oil or kerosene to 
 keep the flame, and also a Quantity of 
 powdered resin. Black's Flambeau club, 
 dressed in colorful uniforms with 
 special oil cloth protection, would 
 stage an impressive marching perform- 
 ance topped by members blowing on the 
 mouthpieces of the flambeaus. This 
 action, blasting the powdered resin 
 upward through the flame, would shoot 
 
 a sheet of fire 15 to 20 feet skyward 
 from the top of each flambeau. Executed 
 on signal, the effect of a block-long 
 formation shooting out these tremendous 
 flames was terrific. This improvement 
 on the traditional torch-light parade 
 marked a high in political enthusiasm 
 and political showmanship in Pekin, and 
 the leaping flames of the flambeaus 
 helped mark this period of 16 years of 
 uninterrupted progress in sports, rec- 
 reation, transportation, business life 
 and civic institutions -- all without 
 a single outbreak of the old familiar 
 violence or a single disaster of more 
 than family scope -- until the advent 
 of the first World War. 
 
 AN UNDIVIDED CITY 
 
 With the outbreak of World War I, 
 there came a tremendous change in the 
 city of Pekin. As in the Civil War, 
 Pekin was in the early days a divided 
 city. With its big population of German 
 extraction, and it's long maintenance 
 of the German language and other old 
 world associations, there was naturally 
 a considerable sympathy for the cause 
 of Germany in the European War amongst 
 many Pekin citizens, and some of the 
 Irish still hated England worse than 
 anyone else. However, by this time most 
 of the Pekin people had roots 50 years 
 deep and deeper in America and their 
 own community, and their first loyalty 
 was unquestionably to the United 
 States. Pekin responded to the 
 
 challenge with hundreds of men, who 
 served scattered through the U.S. 
 forces. Many of them served with the 
 A.E.P. on the fields of France where 
 Roy King, the former Pekin high school 
 football player, was the first to fall. 
 (The local v.F. W. post is named in his 
 memory) . 
 
 Here at home, the war also had a 
 profound effect. Down came the signs 
 "German Spoken Here" that had stood in 
 store windows for 50 years. The Preie 
 Presse, operated by the late Jacob 
 Schmidt, became the Free Press, and the 
 German type was thrown out and English 
 type was purchased. The German-American 
 bank became the American National, the 
 Ge rman - Method ist church became the 
 
 K' 
 
 1917-1918-- A Tazwell lounty group leaving for service 
 *orid Itar /. ■ r b j
 
 CEI^TRAL HOUSE 
 
 333 Margaret 
 
 fiiSs^ 
 
 "The OriRina/ Central House" 
 
 Establisbed on thp principle that 
 the laboring class in Pekin should 
 be served with the best in quality 
 at the lowest prices, the Central 
 House at Margaret and Capitnl 
 streets was purchased in 1932 by 
 Nello Rossi. 
 
 In a building 100 years old - as 
 old as Pekin itself - the Central 
 House soon established a reputation 
 for excellent food, superior service 
 and honest deal ing. 
 
 Since the Central House was 
 established by Mr. Rossi as the 
 finest Italian restaurant in the 
 cominun i ty , his family has main- 
 tained it in the traditions in which 
 early business was transacted. 
 
 Under the supervision of Nello 
 Rossi, with Mrs. Rossi preparing the 
 food, the Central house became the 
 unofficial meeting place for the 
 laboring men of Pekin as well as the 
 farmers who had regarded the Central 
 House as a gathering place even 
 before it was taken over by the 
 Rossis. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Rossi in 
 1943 his wife and three sons, 
 Lawrence, Al and Italo, continued 
 operation of the Central House. 
 Today, however. Italo and Al are 
 engaged in the management of the 
 
 hotel, having taken the reins upon 
 their return from military service, 
 lioth of them were in the uniform of 
 the United States navy. 
 
 During recent years the Central 
 House has grown in size as well as 
 clientele. In 194 a new dining 
 room. The Blue Room, was added to 
 the original structure and rapidly 
 earned a reputation for its excellent 
 Italian and American Cuisine. 
 Specialties, of course, are the 
 Italian dis'ies - spaghetti, raviola, 
 salads and anti pastos. Also on the 
 menu are fried milk-fed chicken, 
 steaks and fish. 
 
 Popularity of Ross i- prepared 
 foods has resulted in the establish- 
 ment 3f Rossi Food Products, Inc.. 
 which went into business on January 
 1, 1949. The new company has con- 
 structed a processing and canning 
 plant adjacent to the Central House 
 on N. Capitol street and the Rossi 
 Pood Products label is already 
 visible in most of the grocery 
 stores in Central Illinois. 
 
 On the growing list of Rossi Food 
 Products are canned chili, spaghetti 
 sauce, beef barbecue, beef stew, and 
 the only green salad dressing on the 
 market today. 
 
 Actual ownership of the Central 
 House is still in the hands of Mrs. 
 Rossi who actively supervises the 
 preparation of its tasty dishes and, 
 as has been her practice for many 
 years, she examines each day' s menu 
 for, "Quality, price and appearance. " 
 Concerning the future, the Rossis 
 are looking forward to continued 
 expansion of their Central House 
 services and their Rossi Food 
 Products production. They plan to 
 do so by maintaining, to the best of 
 their ability, their present high 
 standards of food production and 
 dining room management. 
 
 56
 
 Grace Methodist church, and German 
 ceased to he the language spoken from 
 most of the pulpits in Pekin. The 
 German language, still taught in some 
 of the church grade schools, was 
 abandoned as were the schools them- 
 selves soon after. 
 
 The months of *orld War I brought 
 about the final cutting of the last 
 ties between Pekin and the old countr.v. 
 more especia' ly. the patherland. Since 
 that time, children of all faiths and 
 national extractions have gone through 
 the same schools, played the same games 
 and sports, and used the same public 
 institutions, a practice which wiped 
 out effectively .iny division along 
 lines of national or religious preju- 
 dice. 
 
 Pekin. for years unique because of 
 its clinging to the old German ways, 
 had so changed that it was soon to be 
 unique in that no firm line was to 
 exist between its people on any ground. 
 It was and remains unique, too. in the 
 fact that there are no members of the 
 colored race living in the city. 
 Apparently, the militance of the early 
 secessionist Knights of the Golden 
 Circle, together with the long period 
 when at least an understanding of 
 German was essential to r-ven moderate 
 success in the community, combined to 
 discourage any early settlement by 
 colored people, and they have simply 
 never become established here. 
 
 At any rate, the war with Germany 
 brought a clean break from much of the 
 German tradition, from which the newer 
 generations were already pulling slowly 
 away, and laid the foundations for the 
 present homogeneous community. 
 
 All during the war. in contrast with 
 World War II, the soldiers-to-be were 
 mustered at the court house in groups 
 of 30 or more, and these were escorted 
 to the train bound for camp by a band. 
 However, from that point on. Pekin men 
 were scattered to various army units 
 and not organized into separate Pekin 
 companies as had so long been the 
 practice. 
 
 Records at Springfield were destroy- 
 ed by fire, unfortunately, but among 
 those known to have died in service 
 during World War I were Pekinites Roy 
 King. William Schaefer. Harry Houston, 
 John Duncan, Pearl Doren. George Grant, 
 and Wil 1 iam Ful ler. 
 
 During the war years, specifically 
 on July 5, 1918. Pekin was visited by 
 the greatest single tragedy in its 
 history, with the possible exception 
 of the early epidemics. Eighty five 
 persons, men. women and children, were 
 drowned with the "Columbia", when the 
 excursion steamer heading back down- 
 stream toward Pekin, struck a sub- 
 merged log and sank in the Illinois 
 river just off Wesley city. For more 
 than a week, the entire city was 
 absorbed in the tragic task of re- 
 covering the bodies of the dead, 
 identifying them, and arranging for 
 burial. The home guard unit took charge 
 in this emergency and other relief 
 agencies joined them, as impromptu 
 morgues, identification rooms, and 
 other facilities were commandeered, the 
 Wesley city road was shut off to other 
 than official traffic, and the grisly 
 work went on. 
 
 The sinking of the Columbia, as much 
 as the war itself, marked the end of 
 the pleasant pre-war period of life in 
 Pekin in the 1900' s as the city rounded 
 the corner and entered the "roaring 
 twent ies" . 
 
 57
 
 PEORIA PRESS PAYS TRIBUTE 
 TO VETERAN PEKIN NEWS >IEN 
 
 Peoria newspapers have given 
 uninterrupted service to Pekin and 
 the Pekin area for more than 70 
 years, a part of that time offering 
 the only daily news service. 
 
 Pekin, in turn, has given to the 
 area and to Peoria newspapers, some 
 of the most distinguished newspaper 
 men, and some of the most reliable 
 newspaper service in the state. Any 
 history of Pekin should certainly 
 include a brief tribute, at least, 
 to a few of these men. 
 
 Today, the dean of newsmen in 
 Central Illinois are Louis B.Watson, 
 formerly of the Peoria Transcript 
 and for many years with the Pekin 
 Times, and William G. Pair, formerly 
 of the Peoria Star. 
 
 Still serving, after 43 years, 
 and the dean of active newspaper men 
 is Paul Massey. Pekin office manager 
 
 for Peoria Newspapers Inc., whose 
 newspaper experience includes the 
 Columbia disaster, the Corn Products 
 explosion, the South Pekin tornado, 
 and other stories of national scope. 
 
 Peoria's Brooks Watson, formerly 
 of the Peoria Star, and now with 
 Radio Station WMBD began his news- 
 paper experience in Pekin, and is a 
 son of Louis B. Watson. 
 
 Peoria area newspaper world is 
 indebted to Pekin for the late 
 Charles B. Smith, Abe Schaefer, 
 Prank McGrew, R.E. Rollins and 
 Charles Skaggs, veterans of the 
 Peoria Journal staff for many years. 
 
 Principal newspaper historians 
 for the entire area in later years 
 have been two Pekin men, Louis B. 
 Watson of the Pekin Times, and the 
 late Charles B. Smith of the Peoria 
 Journal and Transcript. 
 
 HYMBAUGH MOTOR I^ALES 
 
 501^900 SOUTH SECOND ST. 
 
 New Hoate of 
 
 Hymbaugh 
 Motor Sales 
 
 Established in 1946, one of 
 Pekin' s newest and fastest growing 
 businesses, began operations at 900 
 South Second Street. Today, as Pekin 
 closes its first century of growth, 
 Hymbaugh Motor Sales is now con- 
 ducting its business at the original 
 location, but has expanded to include 
 a new building under construction at 
 50 1 South Second Street. Jack 
 Hymbaugh is presently the dealer for 
 several lines of trailers including 
 American, Travelo, Kozy Coach, New 
 Moon, Vagabond. . Schultz, Zimmer, 
 Superior, Sparton, Ironwood, Pace- 
 maker and Peerless. Since 1948 Mr. 
 
 Hymbaugh has been the authorized 
 dealer for Willys Automobiles and 
 the Willys Sales Service garage is 
 to be housed at the new location at 
 501 South Second Street. 
 
 Hymbaugh Motor Sales also deals 
 in quality used cars at 900 South 
 Second Street and finances all lower 
 priced autos. 
 
 Used parts have become a commodity 
 of the Hymbaugh firm in connection 
 with the operation of the Hymbaugh 
 Junk Yard located on Prince Street 
 where. Jack says, "We use the best 
 and junk the rest. " 
 
 58
 
 THE ROARING TWENTIES 
 
 The 1920' s looked troublesome right 
 from the start, as they brought a mixed 
 period of both progress and thwarted 
 progress, all of which was colored by 
 the lawlessness and changing social 
 scheme of the prohibition era. 
 
 Pekin, like the rest of the nation, 
 saw Ford's famous "Tin Lizzie" make us 
 a people on wheels, and Pekin also saw 
 the first widespread use of the cigar- 
 ette, the appearance of candy bars, and 
 the appearance of lipstick and rouge on 
 women other than "entertainers" - using 
 the word in its broadest sense. For- 
 tunately, it was also to be the era of 
 the airplane and the radio. 
 
 W.E. Schurman was mayor when the 
 roaring Twenties began, and councilmen 
 were C.G. Gehrig, H.J. Rust, M.B. Loh- 
 mann and J.G. Nedderman. Harm Smith was 
 chief of police. The period started 
 with a time of post-war inflation. 
 Prices were ruinous, but silk shirts 
 were more plentiful on Court street 
 than ever before. Perhaps, the first 
 sign of what kind of decade was to come 
 was in the formation of Pekin Community 
 high school district 303- In 1920, the 
 courts declared the district had been 
 illegally formed, dissolved it, ousted 
 board members Charles Hilst, H.J. Rust, 
 P.C. Gale, W.G. Pair, D.F. Velde and 
 Ben L. Smith, and fined each of them $1 
 for "pretending" to be a high school 
 board. Jesse slack and Franklin Velde 
 had defended the district officers or 
 "pretended officers" and states Attorney 
 E.E. Black launched the quo warranto 
 proceeding that ousted them. The 
 district had been thrown out because 
 Pekin had been enjoying the benefits 
 of a special school charter voted into 
 existence exclusively for Pekin by the 
 
 state legislature in 1869, and this 
 charter forbade taking in territory 
 beyond the city Hmits. A year later 
 the charter was abandoned and the 
 present high school district and 
 separate grade districts were organized 
 much as they exist today. 
 
 In 1921 came the second sign of what 
 the decade was to bring. The period of 
 inflation passed and there came a de- 
 pression or "panic". It hit Pekin like 
 the rest of the nation, and among its 
 by-products here was a run on the 
 Farmer's National bank. The bank sur- 
 vived that run, partly because Mayor 
 Schurman and the city council continued 
 to deposit city funds there and made 
 this fact public, along with urging the 
 solidity of the banking house. The run 
 was slowed to a walk and finally halted 
 without breaking the bank, and the city 
 officials were formally thanked for 
 their assistance during the "bank 
 alarm". This year, also, the iron 
 bridge was closed to traffic as it was 
 to be repeatedly, off and on, through- 
 out that 10 year period. 
 
 In 1922, there was a small-pox 
 epidemic and the city of Pekin stepped 
 in to close schools and create the 
 first vaccination ordinance making 
 vaccination a requirement for school 
 attendance. Also, in 1922, came one of 
 the biggest "prohibition" stories, when 
 a group of hijackers picked the day 
 after Emil Neuhaus was sworn in as 
 sheriff to blast their way right thru 
 the main gate of the distillery here 
 and escape with a carload of alcohol. 
 
 During this period, too, the Ku Klax 
 Klan was strong in Pekin. It's meet- 
 ings, policies and plans were front 
 page news in the Pekin Times, where its 
 "good works" were much praised, and 
 Pekin was for some time district head- 
 quarters for the Klan. 
 
 By the mid-twenties the Klan had 
 declined rapidly, and the Pekin Times, 
 which had been controlled by the Klan 
 organization, changed hands, eventually 
 ending under the ownership of P.P. Mc- 
 Naughton, its present owner. 
 
 This period introduced for the first 
 time the recurrent headlines of death 
 and injury in motorcar wrecks (and 
 Pekin hired the first "motor cop"), in 
 addition to still frequent railroad and 
 even street car fatalities. The old 
 street cars apparently caused more 
 
 59
 
 H.R.Mc Garvey 
 
 THE HOUSE THAT SERVICE BL'ILT 
 
 ENTERED BUSINESS, AUGUST 19?8 
 
 LOCATE AT 509-511 COURT STREET 
 
 INSTALLED THE FIRST NEON SIGN ON COURT STREET 
 
 THE APPLIANCE BUSINESS IIN RETROSPECT 
 
 BOOM 1928 - 29 
 
 30--BUST 1931 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 1934 BECAME PYROFAX GAS DISTRIBUTOR 
 CARBON CHEV1ICAL CORP. 
 
 FOR CARBIDE AND 
 
 1934 -35-36-37-38-39-40-41 ESTABLISHED 
 ONE OF THE LARGEST BOTTLED GAS BUSINESSES IN 
 CENTRAL ILLINOIS 
 
 WAR - 1941 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 no appliances to 
 
 SELL- NO CYLINDERS FOR NE'A CUSTOMERS - NO NEIV TRUCKS - 
 restrictions on truck LOADS - TIRES - GASOLINE - DE- 
 LIVERY, ETC. 
 
 1941 BECAHE DISTRIBUTOR - LINDE AIR PRODUCTS CO. - OXYGEN - 
 ACETYLENE - CARBIDE - WELDING SUPPLIES 
 
 194? INSTALLED OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE, ?11 E. DOUGLAS, BLOOMINGTON. 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 1943 PURCHASEO WATSON GROCERY BLOG. , 4?3 COURT ST. , PEKIN. 
 
 1944 PURCHASED HARRY MOORE BLOC. , 418 MARGARET ST. 
 194~ PURCHASED BLDG. , 407 FRANKLIN ST., PEORIA, ILL. 
 
 1948 JAN. 1st. OPENED PEORIA STORE FOR WELDING SUPPLIES. 
 
 1949 WE INTEND TO BUILD A PYROFAX GAS FILLING PLANT IN PEKIN 
 
 PEKIN HAS BEEN GOOD TO US. 
 WE HOPE OUR BUSINESS HILL Ar.WAYS BE A SERVICE TO PEKIN 
 
 4?3 COURT ST. 
 PEKIN 
 
 407 FRANKLIN ST. 
 PEORIA 
 
 418 MARGARET 
 PEKIN 
 
 ?11 E. DOUGLAS 
 BLOOMINGTON 
 
 60
 
 Pt.kl\ Hli;H .^ChinnL built m 191G. 
 
 serious injuries and deaths in a .single 
 year in the m id - twenti es than have 
 resulted during operation of the bus 
 system in almost 15 years. In addition 
 there came news of "poison whiskey" 
 brewed as close as Creve Coeur, causing 
 death and blindness to users, and there 
 were a series of gun killings, and 
 armed robberies in downtown Pekin. as 
 well as elsewhere. There were recurrent 
 "raids" on "speak- easies" . recurrent 
 charges of bribery against state and 
 national "dry agents" several of whom 
 were held in the county jail here for a 
 time. There were hijackings of various 
 kinds. In addition to the distillery 
 hijack case, authorities at one time 
 fought a pitched battle across Mineral 
 Springs park from Court street to the 
 railroad tracks north of the park, 
 against a hijack gang raiding a train. 
 In 19:^4. the Times announced that 
 Sheriff Neuhaus had an airplane stand- 
 ing by and was going to try tracing 
 bootleggers and hijacker's autos from 
 the air and was even considering the 
 use of bombs in taking action against 
 them. 
 
 In 1924. shots were fired into the 
 homes of attorneys W.J. Reardon and 
 Jesse Black, both of whom were promi- 
 nent in the prosecution of liquor law 
 violators. The city council spread on 
 its records at the time. January 7. 
 1924. this resolution: 
 
 "Whereas certain dastardly acts of 
 lawlessness were committed in our city 
 when unknown parties maliciously with 
 murderous intent fired numerous shots 
 into the houses of two of our respected 
 citizens, and, whereas this council 
 feels the city should do all in its 
 power to prevent repitition of such 
 occurrences and to assist in the appre- 
 hension and conviction of the parties 
 guilty of the offense, therefore, be it 
 resolved that the city of Pekin offer 
 the sum of $1,000 for the arrest and 
 conviction of the party or parties 
 guilty of firing shots into the homes 
 of W.J. Reardon and Jesse Black on 
 January 1 and 2. 1924. " 
 
 The party or parties were never 
 arrested or convicted, although many 
 thousands including some $5,000 for 
 
 special detectives was spent in an 
 effort to run down the gunmen. Later, 
 Justice of the Peace Walter Schaefer, 
 (now a local reporter), was fired on 
 from an auto on the highway. In 1928. 
 hijackers raiding a freight car of 
 liquor at South Pekin shot watchman 
 Michael Murphy "to pieces" there. May 
 22, 1929. Police Officer Jack DeFrates 
 shot and killed t.B. "Red" ''Storer at 
 Storer's home here in Pekin, and 
 a few weeks later. Deputy 
 
 Sheriff Fred Gleich shot and killed 
 Alvin Westrope under similar circum- 
 stances of resisting arrest. In 1929. 
 Fred Spencer hung himself in the cell 
 in the county iail, where he was wait- 
 ing trial on charges that he cut the 
 throat of Fred Wasmer at Washington, 
 Illinois and So, the bloody record 
 reads. 
 
 Trouble came in other forms. The 
 Corn Products Refining company plant 
 was ripped by a series of dust ex- 
 plosions followed by roaring flames in 
 1924, and 42 workers died in the in- 
 ferno while hundreds of others suffered 
 burns and other injuries. A worker was 
 killed and several injured when a 
 bridge span slipped here during con- 
 struction. A worker was killed and two 
 hurt in a dust explosion at the Super- 
 Power plant here. In 1924, the Hummer 
 Saddlery burned with a loss estimated 
 by plant manager E.W. Aufderheide as 
 $300,000. In 1928. the Velde Lumber 
 Company suffered a $200,000 fire, and 
 there were a number of blazes doing 
 $60,000 damages and less. In 1929, a 
 record flood closed down Pekin' s indus- 
 tries and isolated many hores and 
 business houses, doing tremendous 
 damage. And from a business approach 
 the decade ended with an almost over- 
 night collapse of the stock market and 
 the start of the Great Depression. 
 
 But there was still another side to 
 the history of Pekin during the 1920' s, 
 and while the trouble of the times has 
 passed, the progressive things endure. 
 It was a great era for school building, 
 for one thing. The McKinley, Roosevelt. 
 Douglas and Washington Junior High 
 schools were all built during this span 
 of years, and the newly organized high 
 school district not only purchased the 
 existing high school building from the 
 old grade board but by the end of the 
 decade were building the "new wing" 
 onto that structure. In this period, 
 too, the Super Power company plant, now 
 operated by the Commonwealth Edison 
 company, was erectel at Powerton. The 
 present large and attractive Pekin 
 theater building was built in 1928. and 
 "talkies" were first introduced a year 
 later. The present Elks club building 
 was erected then, and Jansen and 
 Schaefer paved a huge area of Pekin' s 
 
 61
 
 STANDARD BRANDS Inc 
 
 Pekin Branch 
 
 
 Standard Brands Inc. when it 
 came to Pekin in 1926. was another 
 factory on Pekin' s famed "Industry 
 Row" which linked the farmer and 
 manufacturer by utilizing farm 
 products for the manufacture of 
 other commodities useful to the 
 farmer and public. The "yeast 
 plant," from its founding in Pekin, 
 has converted grain into foodstuffs 
 for both man and livestock. Yeast 
 products were exclusively produced 
 in 1926. The following year, 1927, 
 the aggressiveness of the midwest 
 brought about the expansion of 
 Fleishraann's and a new yeast and 
 diamalt plant was erected where the 
 shambled buildings of a former 
 factory stood only a year before. 
 
 Since 1927, the Pekin division 
 of Standard Brands has continued to 
 swell in size until today the plant 
 is one of the most modern and best 
 productive plants in this area. The 
 factory operating normally today 
 employs more than 300 persons, com- 
 pared to the 100 employees ofa 
 decade ago. 
 
 Of the original buildings that 
 were a part of the primary history 
 of the Pekin division, only the feed 
 house remains today. The Pleischmann 
 Division at present boasts a group 
 of up-to-date structures including a 
 yeast, diamalt, and boiler plant, a 
 store house and a modem boiler room. 
 
 Standard Brands also has contributed 
 a complete and modern sewage dis- 
 posal plant to the equipment of the 
 steadfast Pekin Plant. 
 
 The principal raw materials used 
 to produce the 35 or 40 malt and 
 yeast products manufactured in the 
 Pekin Plant include corn, malt, beet 
 and cane molasses. The products are 
 shipped throughout the United States 
 to the West Coast, south into Texas, 
 north into Minnesota and Wisconsin, 
 and east to the east coast. The Pekin 
 Plant also exports some products. 
 
 Standard Brands sponsors a basket- 
 ball team in the industrial league 
 of Pekin which brings honors to the 
 plant. The local plant has organized 
 a "Twenty-Year Club" which at present 
 boasts a membership of sixty. Also 
 Standard Brands has a "Quarter 
 Century Club" with a membership of 
 1,000 employees with 25 years service 
 or more. Each member receives a watch 
 upon completion of 25 years' service. 
 
 The Pekin factory is one of many 
 Standard Brands Plants in the United 
 States, and there are also factories 
 in South America and Canada. 
 
 Officials of the Pekin Pleisch- 
 mann Division of Standard Brands 
 Inc. are A.C. Litchfield, General 
 Manager: E.J. Heim, Superintendent; 
 and M.S. Prickett, Diamalt Superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 62
 
 north side In the first extensive use 
 of cement for streets, at a total cost 
 of $264,531.20. 
 
 The Pekin Country Club acquired 50 
 acres of ground for future expansion of 
 the present Country Club golf course. 
 Finally, after 10 years of troubles 
 with the Iron bridge, after the 
 troubles with the old hand ferry and 
 starting before the Civil War when the 
 city first tried to build a bridge only 
 to have the contractor back down after 
 work was started - the bridge problem 
 was solved. Martin B. Lohmann, who 
 wrestled with the bridge problem as 
 city commissioner in the early twenties 
 had been sent to the state house of 
 representatives where he introduced a 
 bill calling for construction of a 
 bridge at Pekin. In 1929. this bill 
 which he guided through the house and 
 on which he was aided by Ben L. Smith 
 in the Senate, was signed into law and 
 $400,000 in state funds were made 
 available. Both Tazewell county and a 
 host of Pekin. business people guaran- 
 teed payment of funds over $400, 000 and 
 a contract was made for construction of 
 the present bridge, with construction 
 underway in 1929. The bridge job not 
 only marked the end of almost a century 
 of problems there, but marked the 
 biggest financial assist ever given 
 Pekin by any outside agency, and still 
 does. During this period. Pekin' s popu- 
 lation took its greatest leap, from 
 12,086 persons to 16,129. 
 
 There is also the record of thwarted 
 attempts made in this period. The high 
 school district, after initial failure, 
 finally came into being. The bridge 
 problem, after Initial failures, 
 finally came to a successful conclusion. 
 In 1924, the city submitted to a 
 general election a proposal for a citv- 
 wide year-round recreation program 
 
 which was turned down by a close vote 
 of 545 "yes" to 613 "no", and such a 
 program did not come into being until 
 1946. In 1922. the council first tried 
 to install a building ordinance, and 
 about five years later. Commissioner 
 Everett Dirksen tried again with a 
 zoning and building ordinance which 
 survived less than a month at which 
 time the council unanimously rescinded 
 it. The city is still struggling with 
 that problem and a proposed zoning 
 ordinance is now under study . In 1929. 
 Commissioner Everett Dirksen proposed 
 that the old city hall be replaced with 
 a new city building at a proposed cost 
 of $140,000, and such replacement has 
 come up repeatedly since, and is slated 
 to be before the people again before 
 the end of 1949. 
 
 The city was guided during this 
 period, in addition to the council 
 already named,- by Mayor Ben Michael and 
 commissioners Roy Preston (who later 
 resigned and was replaced by A.N. Black, 
 when Preston became Pekin' s postmaster), 
 Gerhardt Janssen, Louis Hoff, and 
 Edward Messmer, who were in turn re- 
 placed in the late twenties by Mayor 
 L.B. Kinsey and commissioners Everett 
 M. Dirksen, Dr. P.J. Tobin, Oscar J. 
 Hill and Edward A. Messmer. 
 
 Finally, the Twenties saw basketball 
 come into prominence and football reach 
 a "golden era" in Pekin. as the 1926 
 football team of Pekin Community high 
 school roared through an undefeated 
 season to win its first Big Twelve 
 crown, led by Hank Bruder. Bruder later 
 was a star at Northwestern university 
 (and later with the World's Champion 
 Green Bay Packers where he played eight 
 years), and Nov. 24, 1928, marked a 
 high point in Pekin sports achievement 
 when Northwestern met Dartmouth. Dart- 
 mouth's Captain was Dick Black of Pekin. 
 
 WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL completed in 1930 to replace old Washington 
 Schoo I . 
 
 63
 
 THE STORE OF SATISFACTION 
 359 COURT 
 
 lieu I ing ' s m 
 the IXHO's 
 
 The year 1949 marks the 50th 
 Anniversary of the incorporation of 
 N. Reuling Company. The original 
 store, which was operated for a good 
 many years by Nicholas Reuling, 
 occupied the west room of the 
 property known as the Herget Build- 
 ing. Previous to that time, Mr. 
 Reuling had been in partnership with 
 a VIr. Becker, in the first 300 block 
 Court Street. 
 
 In the year 1899, the company was 
 incorporated and enlarged to include 
 an adjoining room, which had formerly 
 housed a wholesale grocery. The 
 dividing partition was removed, and 
 a new front, modern for the times, 
 installed. 
 
 In 1925, the building was 
 purchased from the Herget Estate, 
 and since that time, the business 
 has expanded to occupy the second 
 floor and basement, in addition to 
 the spacious main floor. 
 
 In 1941 a modernization program 
 was started and completed on the 
 main floor, and the resulting in- 
 crease in business proved very 
 satisfactory. 
 
 N. Reuling Company has endeavored 
 through the years to provide quality 
 merchandise in leading name brands 
 at moderate prices, and to live up 
 to its motto, "The Store of Satis- 
 faction" . 
 
 PHILIP S. OLT 
 Game Bird Calls 
 
 PEKIN FAMILY SIANUFACTURING 
 
 GAME BIRD CALLS SINCE 1904 
 
 Philip S. Olt, who resides five 
 miles south of Pekin, has been manu- 
 facturing various types of hard 
 rubber Game Calls for the past 45 
 years and has developed a business 
 which is world-wide. In so doing, 
 the Olt' s have helped to make Pekin 
 known throughout the length and 
 breadth of the land. Mr. Olt and 
 his three sons, Philip Jr., Richard, 
 and Arthur, operate the business 
 together with three employees. They 
 are kept busy the year round supply- 
 ing the demand for game bird calls. 
 
 One necessary part of the hunter's 
 equipment, as indispensable as his 
 gun, is a Game Call to be used for 
 the particular type game he wishes 
 
 ^ 
 
 '\¥t*^ 
 
 •yffk^ 
 
 to hunt. While every hunter has one 
 or more calls in his pocket during 
 the hunting seasons, not many of 
 them know that most of the Duck, 
 Goose, Crow, Hawk, Turkey, and 
 Squirrel Calls are made here in our 
 own locality. 
 
 This business has grown steadily 
 in years past until now thousands of 
 iobbers and dealers in the United 
 States and various parts of the 
 world sell OLT' S GAME BIRD CALLS. 
 
 64
 
 and N.U.'s sophomore sensation was Hank 
 Bruder of Pekin (to be Captain there 
 also). Black, suffering a knee injury, 
 made only a token appearance in the 
 game attended by hundreds of Pekin 
 fans, but Bruder ripped to two touch- 
 downs, both from outside the 20 yard 
 line. Pekin' s great 1926 team had also 
 included Harry McClarence, later 
 captain of the Bradley team, and was 
 the first team to be coached by A.G. 
 (Frenchy) Haussler, ushering in a 
 period when he established the Pekin 
 high athletic association and the great 
 sports program that was recently 
 brought to new heights under Athletic 
 Director James Warren Lewis. 
 
 Besides seeing Pekin men skyrocket 
 to national attention in football, the 
 period saw the development of one of 
 the most popular participation as well 
 as spectator sports in the city today, 
 as the Elks league introduced the game 
 of "soft-ball" at Mineral Springs park, 
 playing with a 16-inch ball under 
 lights with dish-pans as reflectors. 
 They laid the foundations for the 
 present soft-ball diamonds and leagues 
 here, as well as the night- 1 i ghting 
 system for such sports. The soft-ball 
 then was designed to restrict the game 
 to the small area that could be lighted 
 with the "dishpan lights". Postmaster 
 Roy "Peach" Preston testifies that it 
 was hard to get distance out of the 
 16-inch ball, "but if you got it past 
 second base, nobody could see it, then." 
 
 Thus, in spite of the background of 
 violence and lawlessness, so often a 
 part of Pekin' s history, the Twenties 
 saw the bulk of our present system of 
 
 
 .H 
 
 OLD MINERAL SPRINGS PARK POOL in 
 the twenties, 
 
 schools built, our north side paved, 
 and our industrial and business com- 
 munity grow, as the city' s reputation 
 in athletics, founded early in the 
 century, also grew. 
 
 Having turned its back on the German 
 language, after more than 50 years of 
 clinging to that language, Pekin's 
 population leaped by more than 4,000, 
 the biggest gain in history. 
 
 Thus, the city turned it's back on 
 the roaring twenties and entered what 
 might be called the Roosevelt Era. 
 
 65
 
 The Photoggery 
 
 51? Court Street 
 
 "EVERYTHING PHOTOGRAPHIC" 
 
 Two veterans of World War II, 
 renewing a lifetime friendship over 
 a cup of coffee had an idea. Bernard 
 W. Heberer and Egbert B. Groen, both 
 born and raised in Pekin, put their 
 hobby, ambition, energies and money 
 together and on November 12, 1946, 
 gave Pekin its first and pnly store 
 devoted exclusively to the sale of 
 photographic equipment and supplies. 
 With quality merchandise and fair 
 customer treatment as its standard. 
 The Photoggery has grown. Here, the 
 expert and the beginner meet to talk 
 over their photographic problems. 
 All major lines are handled includ- 
 ing complete stocks of Eastman Kodak, 
 Ansco, Bell & Howell, Revere, Ampro, 
 and many others. If it is used in 
 photography, be it a roll of film or 
 a sound movie projector. The Photog- 
 gery has it. 
 
 PEKIN MACHINE 
 § PARTS CO., INC. 
 
 524 Court Street 
 
 D. E. HEITZMAN 
 
 Vice President 
 
 N. L. HEITZMAN 
 
 President 
 
 In June 1945 this wholesale firm 
 opened for business to give to 
 Pekin' s auto repair garages a 
 complete machine shop service and 
 to make available to Pekin' s ga- 
 rages, service stations and fleet 
 owners a stock of the finest auto 
 replacement parts. On January 1, 
 1947 it changed from a partnership 
 to a corporation and named N.L. 
 Heitzman as its president. During 
 four years of rapid growth its stock 
 has increased and today it includes 
 such nationally-known products as 
 Thompson Engine parts, Ramco Piston 
 Rings, Pram Oil Filters, AC Fuel 
 Pumps, Dupont Paints, Raybestos 
 Brake Lining, Dayton Pan Belts and 
 Radiator Hose, Zerone & Zerex anti- 
 freeze, Moog Springs and Front End 
 parts, and many others. 
 
 PEKIN & HOME SERV CE lAUNDR ES, INC. 
 
 300 ELIZABETH SIKEET 
 PHONE 91 
 
 Clean Towel Service 
 
 W.F. Albertsen Since April 1, 1947 
 
 66
 
 A RESTLESS CITY 
 
 The period of the 1930' s could 
 hardly be called a calm before the 
 storm of World War II. It was not calm. 
 Stormy activities' throughout the world 
 were matched by turbulent times here in 
 Pekin, and much of what happened then 
 was almost contradictory. 
 
 The stock market had fallen apart in 
 1929, and the Great Depression was 
 underway in 1930, and yet the .record 
 shows that in this year the new half- 
 million dollar Pekin bridge was com- 
 pleted, there was a $150,000 subscrip- 
 tion drive for the newhospita] 
 
 addition, and the long fight over a 
 major north side paving project finally 
 was ended with supreme court approval 
 for the $400,000 job. Three years later, 
 incidentally, the hospital received 
 another assist when a referendum gave 
 approval by a vote of 1,111 to 630 for 
 a one mill hospital tax. Completion of 
 that bridge marked one of the biggest 
 celebrations in Pekin history. Rep. 
 Martin B. Lohmann. (now Senator) who 
 led the fight for state funds, drove 
 the first car across. It was Fred Moen- 
 kemoeller's car, and this time they 
 
 fi * 
 
 
 OPENING THE NE» BIUDGE, 193r>--left to right--Jack Patterson, 
 Ed MesSKer, A. E. iievere, L. B. Kinsey, W. 6. Lohman, Construction 
 Engineer (unidentified) , H. E. Schurnan. 
 
 67
 
 MERCHANTS 
 
 PHONE 4 
 
 oeuveJtY 
 
 We deliver anything but babies. 
 Bob Brown Bob Oavis 
 
 
 ^ijvjjg^^^jggjjijjl 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 JSiK'BS^*^ 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Nievar Drive Inn 
 
 1514 N. 8th 
 
 Complete Fountain Service 
 
 Hamburgers -Tender loins- French Fries 
 
 OPEN 5: 00 pm 'til 12: 00 M 
 CLOSED ALL DAY TUESDAY 
 
 Since 1946 
 Bob Nievar - Prop. 
 
 CRAWFORD 
 SHOE STORE 
 
 323 Court 
 
 Crawford Family Shoe Store was 
 established September, 1919. Our 
 policy all these years has been to 
 give more for the shoe dollar. Huge 
 buying power and low overhead does 
 that trick. 
 
 Until 1937, W.J. Crawford was 
 full owner but at that time John 
 Crawford, Tresa Crawford and W.J. 
 Crawford incorporated the business 
 known now as Crawford Brothers' Shoe 
 Stores. 
 
 We have always stocked nationally 
 known name brands for the entire 
 family such as Jolene, Life Stride, 
 Teenage, Buster Brown, Robin Hood, 
 Roblee, Pedwin and Freeman. 
 
 We have been in the same loca- 
 tion for thirty years and have 
 enjoyed a thriving business be- 
 cause we strive to give our custom- 
 ers service, quality, and price. 
 
 EHRETT 
 
 Auto Supply & Service 
 
 WM. "MIKE" EHRErr 
 
 Distributor for 
 AUraUTE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS 
 
 AND 
 
 CARTER CARBURETORS 
 
 • T • r. J -. • Spicer and Detroit 
 
 • Tnco Products — ,, . , i - . 
 
 Universal Joints — 
 
 • American-Brakeblok Linings — 
 Rings 
 
 Gaskets 
 
 and 
 Bearings 
 
 WHEEL 
 BALANCING 
 
 We Make 
 
 and 
 Duplicate 
 Car Keys 
 
 Carburetor — Electrical Service 
 
 Battery Service — Generators 
 
 COMPLETE AUTO SERVICE 
 
 PARTS AND ACCESSORIES 
 
 Phone 189 
 
 200 N. 5+h 
 
 PEKIN 
 
 68
 
 forestalled any double-shuffle such as 
 had taken place at the opening of the 
 old bridge by having Charles Holland, 
 now getting along in years, ride across 
 with the others in the first car. It 
 was Holland, the reader will remember, 
 who had driven over Pekin' s old bridge 
 ahead of the mayor to be the first to 
 cross, and make a joke of the opening 
 ceremony. 
 
 On the basis of these events, the 
 early start of the 30' s would seem to 
 have been promising, and yet we had the 
 collapse of the grain market, ^nd grow- 
 ing unemployment too. Five cent corn 
 was a reality at the elevators here. 
 The unemployed caused a crisis in local 
 government affairs with inadequate funds 
 for-relief purposes, and there were 
 regular meetings of farmers, unemployed, 
 and regularly organized groups to cope 
 with the severe economic problem, ^s 
 the period of depression deepened it 
 brought a record high in cooperation 
 between the association of commerce and 
 organized labor. Building trade unions 
 slashed their hourly wage to a new low 
 in a bid for work as the association of 
 commerce launched a door to door cam- 
 paign for "home improvement and build- 
 ing modernization" in an effort to find 
 work for the union men. This program 
 did result in a considerable amount of 
 work and brief relief to those trades. 
 
 In 1932, the Farmers National bank 
 closed its doors, not because of special 
 crisis or shortage but because "it 
 wasn' t making any money", and the 
 closure smashed at public morale, tied 
 
 up needed moneys, and took cash out of 
 circulation for years although de- 
 positors did get back almost the full 
 amount eventually. As a by-product, 
 frightened depositors of other banks in 
 many cases withdrew their savings and 
 hid it elsewhere, thus taking addi- 
 tional moneys out of circulation. 
 
 And at the same time as all these 
 things were going on, there remained 
 the recurring thread of violence which 
 refused to disappear from Pekin' s daily 
 life altogether. There were a wavS of 
 street hold-ups in the early thirties. 
 Sammy Wade, notorious underworld figure 
 from Pekin, was killed in a gunfight 
 near Highland, in May of 1930. In 
 January of the year, Pekin police 
 officer George Ziebold shot and killed 
 burglar John Miller of Canton after a 
 chase across the Court street roof tops. 
 There were a string of murder and man- 
 slaughter cases, several involving 
 motor-car deaths and three convictions 
 are recorded for manslaughter, while 
 two people were given life sentences 
 here for murder. 
 
 The discovery of the body of Martin 
 Virant, a material witness, in the 
 Tazewell county jail caused a storm 
 which lasted for months. After the in- 
 quest there was a near lynching of 
 accused deputies, who were later tried 
 on manslaughter charges that Virant 
 died under the "third degree". Even 
 after their acquittal, there was an 
 effort to impeach the entire sheriff's 
 office on the part of the Tazewell 
 county board of supervisors. 
 
 PEKI^ PUBLIC HOSPITAL built m 1913 enlarged m 1931 and 19i,0 
 
 69
 
 We, of the Massachusetts Mutual, 
 congratulate the city of Pekin on 
 its Century of Progress. This Company 
 was organized in 1851. and has con- 
 tinuously served the people almost a 
 100 years. During that time it has 
 paid over one billion dollars to its 
 policyholders and their beneficiaries 
 of which Pekin residents were the 
 recipients of substantial amounts. 
 It is our desire to further Pekin' s 
 development over the next 100 years. 
 District Agent 
 Fred R Soldwedel, 
 1701 N. Eighth St. 
 Pekin, 1 1 linois 
 for 
 
 Reuling Si Wllliafflson, Gen. Agts. 
 Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins Co. 
 
 Peoria. Illinois 
 
 Seymour Rosenberg takes pride in 
 any part he and his father, the late 
 Edward Rosenberg, have played in the 
 growth of Pekin. The name has been 
 connected with local merchandizing 
 and real estate since 1899. 
 
 In addition to his dealings in 
 the retail furniture business, at 
 208-210 Court Street, Edward Rosen- 
 berg built beautiful Rosenberg Court 
 in 1925. His son, Seymour, joined 
 his father at an early age in 
 business, and is now proprietor of 
 Seymour's Store, a combined sport- 
 ing goods- clothing store. He has 
 long been an avid sports booster 
 and sponsor for local teams. 
 
 This store wishes to acknowledge 
 the efforts of all Pekinites in 
 molding a great little city -- one 
 of which we can be justifiably proud. 
 
 Seymour's Store 
 
 ?10 COURT STREET 
 
 PEKIN, ILL. 
 
 70
 
 On June 9, 1933, machine-gun-carry- 
 ing bandits robbed a Herget bank messen- 
 ger of $10,000 in broad daylight in 
 downtown Pekin - on Elizabeth street 
 just opposite the post office. A month 
 later bank robbers broke into Reulings 
 store, bored through a wall to the side 
 of the Herget bank vault and finally 
 abandoned their attempt there. In July 
 of the following year. Pekin police 
 acting on orders of Mayor Rayburn 
 Russell and with the full approval of 
 the council, chased a group of Communist 
 organizers out of the city. 
 
 And there was still another kind of 
 violence. Many Pekin workers were con- 
 cerned in a state-wide war between the 
 United Mine Workers and the Progressive 
 Miners of America. There were even more 
 serious events in some places, but the 
 record shows that here in Pekin two 
 pickets were shot when they appeared in 
 front of a Fifth Street home Oct. 11, 
 1932; 450 miners at one time literally 
 invaded the city; a home at 1308 
 Charlotte street was penetrated by gun- 
 fire Oct. 24, 1932; and almost a year 
 later the home at 353 Ann Eliza street 
 was bombed. 
 
 Meanwhile, after the period had 
 gotten pretty well underway, there came 
 the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt 
 and the New Deal, with immediate effects 
 here in Pekin. 
 
 The Bank holiday was declared, and 
 all banks were closed, while their 
 solvency was checked and a system for 
 guaranteeing deposits was planned. When 
 they re-opened, many hoarders filled 
 with new confidence deposited moneys 
 they had been afraid to put in the 
 banks before. There came the NRA codes 
 for Pekin factories which were credited 
 with boosting payrolls at once by 
 $34,244.24 and creating 321 new jobs in 
 Pekin. There came repeal of the prohi- 
 bition laws and amendment and with it 
 the start of a tremendous bui Iding 
 program at the American distillery. The 
 distillery started operation in whiskey 
 production Dec. 4, 1933. The city 
 council proceeded to license taverns 
 and at the same time outlawed the use 
 of the word "saloon". There came also 
 the first corn loans for farmers paid 
 at Pekin' s banks, and other props for 
 agriculture. The first time in the 
 Thirties that wheat hit $1. 00 it brought 
 a big black banner headline in the Times. 
 
 Depression or no depression, the 
 Masonic temple had been erected in 1931, 
 and the park board had completed and 
 opened the Park View golf course. The 
 Farm Bureau building was built in 1932, 
 also. But with the New Deal also came 
 PWA, and with its help in some cases, 
 Pekin proceeded to build the new Frank- 
 lin school, a series of sewer and paving 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 sjP ;' 3BByj^^v.'«^ 
 
 ->*■-- ■^- 
 
 
 
 «:/ 
 
 
 The new Mineral Springs Pool and Bathhouse . 
 71
 
 
 ILLINOIS HOTEL 
 
 
 Since 1874 
 
 Open Everyday 
 Dining Room 
 
 201 St. Mary 
 
 Cocktail Lounge 
 
 Chicken-fish- 
 
 Wines-Beer-Liquors 
 steak 
 
 Seafood 
 
 Bill & Bernice Rogers 
 
 March 1, 1922 
 
 1949 
 
 Cut Flowers 
 
 and Potted Plants 
 
 For All Occasions 
 
 ^ppfJ/ u^M^Bu^eri^ 
 
 MEMBER OF F. T. D. 
 N. 8ih and Amaoda Su. 
 
 Telephone 108 
 
 A 
 
 Frank Geisert Charles Geisert 
 San Benjamin, Jr. 
 
 J. C. PE]^]\EY Co, 
 
 322 Court Street 
 
 The J.C. Penney Company opened its first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming 
 in 1902. Today it has 1603 stores, in every state in the Union. The 
 local Penney store was opened in Pekin in February 1931. 
 
 J. E CONAGHAN 
 
 CONAGHAN CLEANERS 
 
 29 South Fourth Street 
 
 PHONE 271 
 
 Since 1939 
 
 72
 
 improvements, the beautiful new Mineral 
 Springs park swimming pnnl completed in 
 1935. followed by the bath house two 
 years later, and the Pekin high school 
 gymnasium building. The pool remains 
 the best in central Illinois and now 
 handles as many as 20,000 swimmers a 
 month, while the beautiful modernistic 
 bath house operates the year round. G. 
 Graf Watson, then president of the park 
 board, was publicly credited with the 
 hard work and leadership which brought 
 this project to a reality. 
 
 Meanwhile, the period proved es- 
 pecially stormy for city government. 
 Even promising young Everett Dirksen 
 stubbed his toe in the early thirties 
 when the building code program which 
 had been his special project was first 
 voted into law and then rescinded a few 
 weeks later in such a storm of protest 
 that the council was unanimous in with- 
 drawing it. Iij 1931, Ben Michael became 
 mayor, and commissioners were Paul 
 Soldwedel. Ed Messmer. Rayburn Russell, 
 and A.B. Shacklette. Mayor Michael died 
 a year later and Rayburn Russell became 
 mayor while Jonas Larsen was appointed 
 to the commissioner post. It was this 
 group that faced the tremendous problems 
 of depression and tremendous local 
 organizational task brought by the New 
 Deal. 
 
 However, it was the succeeding coun- 
 cil vlich had an even more troublesome 
 administration. In 1935. Mayor W.E. 
 Schurman was elected and the commission- 
 ers became Thomas Dirksen. Charles 
 Skaggs, Fred Diesing, and Henry Kluever, 
 One of their earliest actions was to 
 halt the street car operation and launch 
 the new bus system. Within three months 
 of their assuming office they had a 
 bitter 3-2 split on the vote on new 
 buses, the mayor and Commissioner 
 Kluever opposing the acceptance of the 
 bid of Johnson-Moody of Peoria at $4,500 
 each for five buses. The mayor even re- 
 fused to sign the contract after the 
 bid was accepted over his opposition. 
 The local press hammered at the "bus 
 deal" week after week, when this hap- 
 pened, until finally at a meeting at- 
 tended by the council, a special 
 committee of the association of com- 
 merce, and the Johnson- Moody representa- 
 tives, the company slashed $1,000 from 
 the price of each bus or a total of 
 $5,000. and the purchase was completed. 
 In spite of which disturbing start, and 
 early revenue losses in operation, the 
 municipal bus system proved to be an 
 outstanding success which piled up more 
 then $100,000 in the sinking fund 10 
 years later. It is interesting that at 
 the time, former commissioner C.F. 
 
 In the heart of the Pekin business district , looking east or Court 
 Street from Capital Street at a tine when traffic was very light. 
 In the twen ties 
 
 73
 
 V O G E L- S 
 
 U 
 
 ©Watermelon Sfand 1934 
 Shed/housing" Service GroMri] 1935 
 Nm modern Self Service Groceri) SuperMarkel 1939 
 Locker Plant 1940 
 S?lf Service Meab I94Z 
 r^ Manito Locker Plan! 1945 
 
 lr\\ Additioniil Convcnieni SupereHc localioti 1946 
 New Spee-dcCli«ckOiil lanes 1948 
 
 E 
 
 Qj Orel's Luill continue h give 'pcKJJl^ 
 modern and hiv cost food rnQKhand'nin^ 
 
 "^^--ttt 
 
 74
 
 Gehrig appeared before the council and 
 urged that Court street not be paved 
 down the center but the street car 
 tracks should remain undisturbed be- 
 cause "we might want the street cars 
 back. " 
 
 A year later, the same council was 
 squarely in the middle of another 
 critical situation. On Jan. 19, 1936, a 
 Sunday, 100 pickets appeared at the 
 American Distillery gate on route 24 
 and built bonfires to protect them- 
 selves against the weather. Both they 
 and the company were awaiting a decision 
 by the National Labor Relations board 
 on a matter in dispute, and after six 
 weeks without action by the board the 
 union men wanted action. They protested 
 that workers were carried on a call list 
 and were losing seniority while waiting 
 for the NLRB decision. The pickets re- 
 portedly asked city busses to haul no 
 more workers to the plant, and this 
 message was given to the bus department 
 head. He went to the scene in company 
 of Chief of Police Harry Donahue and 
 others, and police, after advising 
 pickets to disperse, employed tear gas 
 to cause them to disperse. Newspaper 
 accounts of the time report that police 
 broke up two other gatherings after 
 advising men that peaceful picketing 
 was legal but interference with traffic 
 and massing on roads was unlawful. 
 
 There were a series of meetings be- 
 tween Sheriff Ralph Goar, Mayor W. E. 
 Schurman, other officials, and union 
 leaders Louis Cltman, Fred Hamann and 
 Charles Copeland and others. At one 
 point pickets were called off on one 
 agreement, and then as disagreement 
 followed, picketing was resumed. 
 
 On Jan. 23, newspapers reported a 
 "mass meeting" and "back to work " 
 movement on the part of a large group 
 of workers. Sunday, Jan. 27, 1936, a 
 National Guard observer was sent to the 
 scene. Wednesday, Jan. 29, special 
 deputies, county deputies and police 
 joined forces and cleared the road 
 using nausea gas. The following Monday 
 six arrests of pickets were made on 
 charges of throwing stones at busses 
 entering the distillery. 
 
 Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Trades and Labor 
 Assembly declared an all-union "holiday" 
 to last until the city council dis- 
 missed Chief of Police Harry Donahue 
 whom they charged with releasing nausea 
 gas on unarmed men and women. The 
 "holiday" brought nation-wide atten- 
 tion to Pekln as the nation's press 
 dubbed it a "general strike", one of 
 the first ever held in the U.S. The 
 following day delegates went up and 
 down Court street urging business houses 
 and professional offices to join in the 
 "holiday", and with the notable excep- 
 tion of the Nedderman bakery, Pekin was 
 closed up tight by Wednesday night. 
 
 However, at noon, Thursday, the assembly 
 called off the "holiday", and the 
 taverns were the first to open their 
 doors as the city bounced back to 
 normal. Meanwhile, the council stood 
 behind the police chief, but had agreed 
 to withdraw Pekin police from use as 
 deputy sheriffs. This ended the civic 
 upset, and on Feb. 7. Friday, the issue 
 at the distillery was also settled. 
 
 That same year a proposal to organize 
 a Pekln sanitary district, which would 
 have backed sewer improvement with the 
 taxing power, was defeated in a special 
 election, 668 for and 1,914 against. 
 That same year parking meters were first 
 proposed, although they were not to 
 come for another 12 years. The council 
 ended the year deep in the red and 
 borrowing from the Pekin banks. A Times 
 article remarks, "All want economy with 
 the most cuts in the other fellows 
 departments. " Troubles continued. Al- 
 though the council and mayor had stood 
 behind Chief Donahue in the "holiday" 
 period, when re -appointment time came, 
 the 3-2 split again appeared, this time 
 Commissioners Dirksen and Diesing voted 
 against his appointment. The others 
 carried his appointment successfully, 
 and three weeks later petitions were 
 actually circulated demanding a recall 
 election for the entire council, but it 
 never reached the voting stage . Later, 
 when Donahue did resign after a dispute 
 with Daniel J. Mahoney, the council 
 unanimously appointed Guy E. Donahue as 
 the new chief. This was in 1937. 
 
 The council was still getting a "bad 
 press" in 1937, with headlines referring 
 to the Derby street sewer as the "long- 
 est sewer in the world" (because it had 
 no end). The uncompleted sewer was 
 finally finished after the assessment 
 was slashed in half in the county court 
 July 30th, 1937. 
 
 In 1937, also, the new Hackler Bro- 
 thers Drug store was opened at the cor- 
 n.er of Court and Fourth streets, and 
 following a fire at his market place, 
 Virgil Vogel is quoted in the press 
 March 13, 1937, as promising the market 
 would be "bigger and better". Other 
 side-lights on the period can be read 
 into the news-story of the man who 
 hauled a Carnival man into court here, 
 not for putting on a lewd show, but on 
 charges that the carnival girl show did 
 NOT go "all the way" as promised without 
 an extra charge. The accuser had asked 
 for his original dime back and got a 
 slap in the face. The carnival man got 
 a $0 fine for the slap. No reference 
 was made to the show. 
 
 A few months earlier, it deserves to 
 be recorded, that a 70 year old watch- 
 man for Texaco oil station in Pekin 
 named George Slone Jr., opened fire on 
 two bandits after they left the place. 
 He shot four times. Two shots hit one 
 
 75
 
 • To you, Pekin, a salute from your neighbor, Caterpillar 
 Tractor Co. — on your Century of Progress. You can look 
 back with pride — forward with confidence. 
 
 Today, 1332 Pekinites are valued employees of "Cater- 
 pillar" — and this company looks forward to having a 
 real interest in our neighbor to the south, through the 
 century ahead! 
 
 CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO. 
 
 PEORIA, ILLINOIS 
 
 76
 
 bandit, a third hit the other, and both 
 were captured. 
 
 But alread.v in 1938, Adolph Hitler's 
 march across the map of Europe began to 
 overshadow events at home, except such 
 events as the South Pekin tornado, 
 March 30, 1938, which virtually levelled 
 the entire village, killing a dozen 
 people and injuring hundreds. In that 
 year also the PWA approved a $139,500 
 grant for a sewage disposal plant at 
 Pekin and the city voted another 
 $180,000 in bonds, and the plant was 
 erected and put into operation. The 
 Parmer's Automobile Insurance building 
 {the first two stories) went up that 
 year. too. 
 
 Seaage Disposal Plant on South Hiver 
 Road Built in the Late Thirties. 
 
 In 1939, J. Norman Shade was elected 
 mayor, and commissioners were 'Villiam 
 Fair, Ed Egger. Fred Moenkemoeller and 
 Paul Schermer. Shade was the first mayor 
 who had actually been born in the city 
 of Pekin. The council early voted for a 
 six months trial on parking meters, but 
 opposing petitions prompted them to 
 rescind that action, which had been 
 taken on a 3-2 vote in the first place. 
 And. of course, Sept. 1, 1939, marked 
 the assault on Poland and Sept. 3, a 
 general European war broke out. 
 
 The principal events here at home 
 after the war began and before America's 
 entry, was the first adoption of Day- 
 light Savings time in 1940, the draft 
 registration beginning with 2.715 
 signers that fall, and the beginning of 
 draft operations by unpaid ex-service- 
 men R. J. Mattheessen. Jonas Larson, 
 and George Ehrlicher. 
 
 Commissioner Ed Egger died and Walter 
 McClain was appointed to the vacancy. 
 
 In 1940. Communist party men seeking 
 to give out literature were mobbed here 
 in Pekin. two of their automobiles were 
 turned over and burned and they finally 
 
 took refuge in the county jail. Ironi- 
 cally, a short time later they filed 
 suit against Sheriff Guy E. Donahue who 
 had actually saved them from serious 
 injury or worse at the hands of aroused 
 citizens. 
 
 Through all this confused period in 
 Pekin" s history, the one most consistent 
 thing proved to be the city's general 
 enthusiasm for sports. High school foot- 
 ball and basketball attracted capacity 
 crowds consistently. Literally thousands 
 took part in bowling at various clubs 
 and public alleys and in a dozen leagues 
 The city soft- ball league reached full 
 bloom, and a series of youngster leagues 
 operated in the summer periods. Swimming 
 had become almost a universal sport in 
 Pekin with only the smallest percentage 
 of young people not taught to swim. Top 
 performance of the period was that of 
 the 1936 high school football team which 
 again scored another unbeaten and untied 
 record and emerged as Big Twelve champ- 
 ions. Ralph Ehni quarterbacked that 
 ball club and went on to quarterback 
 the Fighting 1 1 lini of Coach Bob Zuppke. 
 Rex Sherman started his great athletic 
 career then, too, and Tom Maloney and 
 Italo Rossi. It was then that Pekin 
 started its habit of participating in 
 the Sweet Sixteen in basketball, led 
 there first by Chet Marshall, the great 
 guard of the early thirties, and later 
 by Rex Sherman. It was then that Tom 
 Maloney set a new high in "money play- 
 ing" when on two successive nights in 
 state tourney play he bucketed winning 
 baskets in closing seconds. Guy Ricci 
 started his athletic career in 1939, 
 and. of course, later went on to an out- 
 standing three- sport performance at 
 Bradley University. Carl Switzer was a 
 football star in 1938 with Jim Von 
 Boeckman the great line bucker. Dean 
 McNaughton quarterbacked in 1940. with 
 Johnny Rebuffoni starring on a Big 
 Twelve and 1,1 lini conference champion- 
 ship team. Rebuffoni, too, became a 
 college star at Bradley. 
 
 And so, the restless pre-war period 
 came to a close, after a series of con- 
 tradictory events, and a confused 
 mixture of civic progress and civic 
 difficulty, of depression and of growth, 
 of sports achievement, an emphasis on 
 youth, and yet closing with increasing 
 numbers of young men leaving the city 
 for the armed services either by enl ist- 
 ment or by induction, until finally the 
 center of interest and life for Pekin 
 switched from the city itself to the 
 hundreds of places where these young 
 men served after Dec. 7. 1941. 
 
 ffi^yiilaffl. 
 
 77
 
 
 78
 
 Reading left to right across both pages 
 
 1st row - \^ . tL . Schur man , 1916 
 
 * James M.tiahn, 1917, 1918. 1922 
 Franklin L.Velde, 1919, 1920. 192^ 
 
 * M.J.Heardon. 1921 
 
 * Elmore G. Heisel. 1923 
 
 * James J.Crosby. 1925 
 
 111 His M. Beards ley. 1926. 1927 
 
 Louis A.Birkenbusch, 1928 
 2nd row-* Arthur E. Severe. 1929,1930 
 
 Paul H.Massey. 1931 
 
 Henry B.Koch. 1932 
 3rd row - George B.Stolley, 1933, 193^ 
 
 Irving M.Vteimer. 1935, 1936 
 
 E.M.Marshall. 1937 
 
 Charles V.Frings, 1938 
 
 Robert E.Bryan, 1939 
 4th row - Albert La Frenz. 19W 
 
 A.B.Foster, 19^1, 19k2 
 
 George D.Holiman. I9h3 
 5th row - Leslie L. Jones. I9iik 
 
 Arthur L.Grob, 19^5 
 
 E.Oscar IMnkel, 19^6 
 
 Eugene P..Muurer, 19^7 
 
 * Karl E. Stall. 19^8 
 Dr. D. W.Turner. 19U9 
 
 *Deceased 
 
 79
 
 ;4^ idea 
 
 »> 
 
 When Peter Sommer was a tenant farmer near Tremont. 
 Illinois, it took almost a week to split rails and build 4(1 
 rods of fence. It was hard work. But the cattle had to he 
 fenced in . . . 
 
 "There nmst be a more efficient fence," tliought Peter 
 Sommer, "one that could be built easily, taken down 
 ((uickly, and moved where needed." In 1889 he wove wires 
 in the form of a "keystone". This made a satisfactory fence. 
 To manufacture enough for his farm, he built a hand- 
 powered machine. He and his sons put it together in the 
 farm blacksmith shop using scrap steel, wood, and bolts. 
 Its output was 10 rods of fence in 10 hours. 
 Wire fencing was almost unknown. Farmers came from 
 miles around to see this "keystone" fence. They liked it 
 wanted some for their farms. So Peter Sommer and his 
 sons started making "keystone" fence for their neighbors 
 on a hand-made machine in the farm yard tool shed. 
 That'.s how the Keystone Steel & Wire Company was born. 
 
 ^tcinted&ene 
 
 tod^ cd 
 
 
 KEYSTONE STEEL 6- WIRE COMPANY 
 PEORIA 1, ILLINOIS 
 
 80
 
 A UNITED CITY 
 
 There was no war when Jap planes 
 suddenly swooped out of the sun over 
 Pearl Harbor. Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 
 the peaceful Sunday morning of Dec. 7. 
 1941. yet in a matter of minutes they 
 left behind thousands of murdered 
 American boys, huge fires, and a junk 
 heap of what had been the Pacific 
 fleet's main battle line, five battle- 
 ships. They also left behind the body 
 of P.P.C. Philip Tobin. U.S. Marine 
 corps, from Pekin. 111. 
 
 There was no war when the Jap planes 
 on the other side of the International 
 date line first swept down on Wake 
 island and its tiny garrison of 400 
 Marines. It was their business to be 
 ready, in peace or war, and the Marines 
 were not so surprised and not so badly 
 hurt in that first assault as was the 
 naval base, but among the first mur- 
 dered by ;.n act of war in time of peace 
 was Henry D. Nanninga. U.S. Marine, 
 from Pekin. 111. 
 
 Pekin was in the war from the first 
 moment, from that time BEFORE it started 
 when the sneak raids were struck, and 
 after those attacks Pekin went into the 
 war 100 per cent as it had never gone 
 into either the Civil War or World War 
 I. There was no noticeable division 
 this time. There were a few who felt 
 the whole thing might have been avoided 
 somehow, that it might not have hap- 
 if we had not tried to prepare for it. 
 Most people, however, cursed that we 
 had not prepared ourselves better and 
 addressed themselves to the task of 
 winning it. 
 
 There were some, of course, who 
 cheated on gasoline or sugar, or other 
 rations designed to hasten the placing 
 of adequate weapons in the hands of 
 fighting men. and who violated price 
 regulations designed to maintain some 
 control on the cost of war overall, just 
 as there were some in the service who 
 dodged their duty and some. even, who 
 were dishonorably discharged. 
 
 But the record as a whole, at home 
 and abroad, is one of exceptional unity 
 and effort. Before the war's close, 
 literally thousands of Pekin boys (and 
 girls) served in the actual armed 
 forces. They were in every branch of 
 the Army. Navy. Marines. Air Corps and 
 Coast Guard. They fought in every major 
 battle, and Pekin boys fell in action 
 in North Africa. Italy. France, and 
 Germany on one side of the world, and 
 across the Pacific from Okinawa to 
 Hawaii, as well as on the oceans of the 
 
 world and in the skies over Germany and 
 Japan. 
 
 There is no way to accurately measure 
 the contributions and sacrifices made by 
 Pekin people in World War II. It can't 
 be measured by the clothes people wore. 
 Some serving at home in civil ian clothes 
 gave all they had to the task, and some 
 serving abroad in uniform proved more 
 hindrance than help in the war effort. 
 There is no sure, uncont radi ctable 
 testimony except this one -- those who 
 were killed inaction against the enemy. 
 Their' s is the roster of supreme sacri- 
 fice, and the length of the list is a 
 clear indication of the numbers of 
 Pekin men engaged in actual fighting. 
 
 Tom Maloney. the basketball great, 
 is on the list. Walt Maurer, former 
 PCHS fullback, then a Marine lieutenant, 
 was killed on the beach at Tarawa in 
 the Gilbert islands of the Pacific. Carl 
 Switzer, former quarterback, dropped to 
 his death with the paratroops in Italy. 
 Max Conn was killed piloting a fighter 
 plane. Don Harris was killed in a bomber 
 crash. So. the record reads. Pekin boys 
 fell on the beaches bordering both 
 oceans, in the skies over four contin- 
 ents, on a dozen far-off islands, and 
 across the map of Europe. 
 
 No complete and accurate roster of 
 those who died is immediately available, 
 but among those who died are these Pekin 
 boys whose deaths were reported in the 
 files of the local newspaper during the 
 war years: Henry J. Augsburger. Theo- 
 dore Butts. Stephen Brown. George Owen 
 Burroughs, Frederick Broers. John D. 
 Beever. Edward L. Braasch, Dale Bonham, 
 Andrew Bentz, Loren Buchanan, Bruce P. 
 Brisendine. Joseph P. Binter. Ernest 
 Bingham. James E. Bush. Leonard Co- 
 henour, Max Conn, Edison Wayne Crull, 
 Donald W. Conley, Francis W. Campbell. 
 James Downer. Benjamin DannanJr. . Fred- 
 erick Madison Denning. Richard W. Ehlers 
 Paul V. Evans. Roger W. Fuller, Walter 
 0. Fritz. Lloyd Elmer Plathers. Warren 
 Fox. Carl Peely. Turner Graham. Robert 
 Gum. Fred Guile, James Robert Harmon. 
 George LeRoy Harrberts. Raymond F. 
 Harris. Don Harris. James Hill. Elmer 
 Hastings. Howard Hainline. Floyd W. 
 Hurley. Robert C. Hofreiter. John Jans- 
 sen. Doede Janssen. Elvin Jennings. 
 Marlowe Kaufman. Robert J. Keefe. James 
 W. Knowles. Rudy Klaasen. Robert C. 
 Hochendorfer. Robert Klepfer. George 
 Kettell. LeRoy Look. Clifford Lasley. 
 Lawrence E. Lichtenberger. Robert Wayne 
 Miener. Walter L. Maurer, Howard L. 
 M'lrphy. Joe Meskimen, Jr., Ernest C. 
 Miller. Leo P. Maston, Tom Maloney. 
 Howard V. Martin. James T. McLeod, 
 Henry D. Nanninga. Kenneth Notzke, 
 Joseph Stanley O'Donnell, Harvey Gene 
 Petri, Doyle Potts. Charles Arthur 
 Patten, Arnold A. Rhoades. Richard L. 
 Ripper. Edward Rentsch. James E. Roll, 
 
 81
 
 PEORIA AND PEKIX 
 UNION RAILWAY COMPANY 
 
 %le Maiute 
 Ok 9U 
 
 Our company, which carries PEKIN in its 
 corporate name, commenced operation 
 February 1, 1881, over 68 years ago. 
 Therefore, we, naturally have always 
 been closely associated with PEKIN 
 and have prospered with PEKIN. We 
 hope PEKIN'S growth and prosperity 
 will continue and we salute this fine 
 city on its centennial. 
 
 82
 
 James K. Risen, Blaine Raab. Carl 
 Milton Switzer, Albert Strange, Robert 
 L. Smith, Ralph W. Saunders, Stephen 
 Sangalli, Donald Matt Stumph, Robert D. 
 Sprau, Earl Shaffer, Richard R. Sayers, 
 Raymond Schoonaert, Homer A. Schaefer, 
 Philip Tobin, Jack Orville Traiib, 
 William Homer Turner, Paul Towne, 
 James Tammeus, Earl L. Taylor, Charles 
 Vaupel, Ralph Veerman, Mollis Williams, 
 Harold Weithe, Harold T. Wright, John 
 W. Zimmerman, Edward C. Ziegenbein. 
 
 This incomplete listing yields up 
 the names ofggPekin dead in the fight- 
 ing of World War II. The decorations, 
 the honors, the wounded, list into 
 hundreds just from our own community. 
 
 The record is clear that the city 
 was absorbed in the task of bringing 
 victory in war from 194I until the war 
 ended at the close of 1945, and ushered 
 in the post-war period during which 
 this book is written. 
 
 THE VlATERFRONT 191,9- -In the foreground the loading dork of the Pekm Far- 
 mers Grain Co., The Dewey and Norris el evator s . In the back ground beyond 
 the bridge, the Murphy S \talsh buildings, Kriegsman building and Conklin 
 Lumber Co. 
 
 83
 
 The AmekicaxNatiotvai. Ba^k 
 
 h 
 
 1887 
 
 1949 
 
 Building With Pekin 
 
 On August 10, 1949, sixty-two 
 years had rolled around since 
 this bank was founded. In those 
 passing years many world-mould- 
 ing events have taken place. 
 Social and economic upheavals 
 have changed the very character 
 of our civilization. 
 
 The American National Bank is 
 a veteran of three wars and no 
 less than ten depressions. It is 
 impressive to realize that the 
 life span of this institution 
 reaches back into an age which 
 was entirely different from ours 
 of today. 
 
 When this bank was organized, 
 the population of Pekin was 
 6000; there were thirty-eight 
 states in the Union with a total 
 population of sixty million. 
 'Big Business" had not been 
 born. Public Utilities were in 
 their swaddling clothes. Eigh- 
 teen eighty-seven was the age of 
 the horse and buggy, cigar-store 
 Indians, high wheeled bicycles, 
 and fire engines drawn by gal- 
 loping horses. The automobile 
 and airplane were still dreams 
 of the visionaries. The tele- 
 phone was just coming into use. 
 Radio, moving pictures, talking 
 
 pictures, television, and atomic 
 
 MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 
 MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE 
 CORPORATION 
 
 power were yet unheard of mira- 
 cles. 
 
 The building of such a large 
 financial structure as this in- 
 stitution today represents was 
 not the task of a day nor the 
 labor of a few, but it is the 
 result of the long hours of many 
 years, spent in an honest en- 
 deavor to aid progress. 
 
 This bank has always enjoyed 
 the confidence of the public-- 
 the one absolute essential in 
 the successful operation of any 
 financial institution. A com- 
 plete cooperation on the part of 
 each stock holder, director, 
 officer, and employee, working 
 in thorough accord with one 
 ideal, and that ideal was and is 
 to provide for Pekin and vicin- 
 ity an efficient and modern 
 banking service backed by re- 
 sources sufficient to meet the 
 most exacting needs of a growing 
 community. 
 
 The good name established by 
 this bank during its sixty-seven 
 years of outstandingly success- 
 ful banking places us under an 
 everlasting responsibility. 
 
 We must not--*e will not-- 
 forget this. 
 
 84
 
 THE POST-WAR CITY 
 
 Since the close of World War II. 
 Pekin has seen a period of unparalled 
 growth. In 1860 when the city itself 
 was 11 years old and the community 36 
 years old, there were 749 homes here, 
 but in the four years since the end of 
 World War II. more than bOO new homes 
 have been built, more than the entire 
 city held in that first official census. 
 As a matter of record, the assessor's 
 report for Pekin township (which 
 includes also North Pekin) records 450 
 new homes in 1948 alone. 
 
 Dozens of new business buildings 
 have been erected both in the downtown 
 area and in developing business areas 
 along North Fifth street and Derby 
 street. 
 
 Industrial expansion was reflected 
 in a huge new office building at the 
 American distilling company along with 
 other construction and modernization; 
 a $750,000 construction and moderniza- 
 tion program at the Quaker Oats company 
 plant: four solid years of construction 
 work underway at the Corn Products 
 Refining Company, and similar activity 
 after the war at Standard Brands 
 Pleischman Yeast plant. In addition. 
 Murphy and Walsh completed major re- 
 building of their metal tank factory; 
 F.H. Soldwedel and son added a big 
 addition as they have continued growing 
 into the largest independent dairy in 
 Central Illinois; and Virgil Vogel' s 
 enterprises have developed into a string 
 of markets throughout the area, and the 
 new huge Bird Provision company, for 
 slaughtering, deep freezing, and storing 
 of meats. 
 
 A dozen light industries have sprung 
 up in connection with the major factor- 
 ies of the city. 
 
 There has not been a major crime or 
 disturbance in the city since 1940. and 
 in spite of the increased number of 
 autos. now more than 3500 along with 
 1300 children's bicycles, traffi'- deaths 
 during recent years have been fewer 
 than at any time since the streets were 
 paved and autos made their appearance. 
 
 The former Parmer' s Bank building 
 (now the Pekin Finance building) at 
 Capitol and Court streets, was badly 
 damaged by fire which swept the entire 
 second floor of that structure and the 
 adjoining Hackler building in 1948. but 
 in spite of higher building values, 
 this fire did not reach the scale of 
 damage that has warranted reporting 
 throughout this volume in past history. 
 
 Three Pekin men. pioneer radio tech- 
 nicians, have built and are operating 
 Pekin' s only radio station, WSIV. They 
 are Kenneth Patterson. George Udry. and 
 Emil Prandoni. 
 
 And in the field of public building, 
 the high school has completed its new 
 huge 10. 000 seat Memorial stadium, a 
 big new cafeteria and class-room build- 
 ing, plus additions to the shop facili- 
 ties in the gjTnnasium building. And the 
 grade school system has just added the 
 new S600.000 Fearn Wilson school off 
 Koch street at Messmer street. 
 
 A major portion of Willow park has 
 been paved, and the Blenklron Tot lot 
 put into use since the war, along with 
 the inaugration of a city-wide recrea- 
 tion program under the direction of the 
 Playground and Recreation board, which 
 now operates on half a dozen playgrounds 
 and parks scattered through the city, 
 provided free swimming lessons for 
 about 400 youngsters each summer, and 
 operates a series of contests, games. 
 
 M* ttAH.\ niLHON S( HOOL coKpl- 
 85
 
 Pru (fiooits unit (Clotl|tng 
 
 328-330 COURT STREET 
 
 PEKIN •:• ILLINOIS 
 
 Phone 44 
 
 The Southwest corner of 
 Capitol and Court Streets 
 
 A Friend of the Family For Over 85 Years 
 
 In the year 1864. about the time 
 Lincoln was being re-elected, and 
 Sherman was starting his famous 
 march to the sea, the Schipper & 
 Block Co. first started supplying 
 dry-goods and clothing to fill the 
 needs of the families in this com- 
 munity. 
 
 Their first store was located on 
 Margaret St., in 'Smith Row', on 
 the land now occupied by Velde- 
 Roelfs Co. In 1875 a move was made 
 to 302 Court St. , 'one door west of 
 the post office' , as was advertised 
 in the newspapers of that day. 
 
 Later the store was moved to its 
 present location at Court & Capitol 
 Sts. It was wiped out by fire in 
 1898 and again in February 1922. 
 The present building was completed 
 and ready for occupancy by December 
 of the same year. 
 
 Yes, since the days of the Civil 
 War the Schipper & Block Co. has 
 been acting as purchasing agents 
 for their customers, foreseeing 
 their wants and needs in clothing, 
 
 dry goods and household items 
 
 being a friend of the families in 
 this community. 
 
 PRESENT OFFICERS 
 
 Geo. H. Ehrlicher, President 
 Arthur W. Ehrlicher, Vice-Pres. 
 
 & Treas. 
 Melvin D. Leach, Secretary 
 
 DIRECTORS 
 
 I.John Schipper 
 Mrs. Louise Himmelheber 
 Mrs. Walter H. Meyer 
 Arthur W. Ehrlicher 
 Geo. H. Ehrlicher 
 
 86
 
 various sports leagues, square dances, 
 handicrafts and other activities the 
 year round. 
 
 There are half a dozen television 
 sets in the city now, but they are 
 troubled by "snow" and other problems 
 because as yet we are beyond the 
 practical range of the nearest tele- 
 vision stations at Chicago and St. 
 Louis 
 
 Pekin is still a rabid sports city, 
 the new stadium was jammed to over- 
 flowing three times in its first five 
 football games last year, and each year 
 twice as many fans seek seats as can 
 get them for the basketball games. 
 
 The year 1948, incidentally, was the 
 all time tops in Pekin sports history. 
 The basketball team in the 1948 season 
 was rated by sportswri ters as the best 
 in the state for most of the season. 
 They made a clean sweep of the Big 
 Twelve, Illini and Greater Peoria con- 
 ferences, grabbed district and sectional 
 titles, and went to Third place in the 
 state tourney at Champaign - bowing 
 only to the winning team, Pinckney- 
 ville. Herb Gerecke, Chuck Busby, Bob 
 Watson, Jay Nelson, Pete Vetter and 
 Howie Harris were the kingpins of that 
 ball club. And then came the Pall of 
 1948. and Pekin' s football team came 
 through with a clean sweep of the Big 
 Twelve. Illini and Greater Peoria con- 
 ferences, led by Quarterback Bobby 
 
 Watson. The teams were both coached by 
 Athletic Director James Warren Lewis, 
 who this year also saw his basketball 
 team journey to the state tournament 
 for the fifth time in his five years at 
 the helm. 
 
 The future prospects so far as pro- 
 jects now underway, include possible 
 addition to the Pekin Public hospital, 
 for which the state has just set aside 
 moneys, providing Pekin raises half the 
 cost. And the city council is having 
 plans prepared for a new city hall to 
 replace the $6,500 structure erected in 
 1884. A major program of street resur- 
 facing and paving has been launched, 
 expected to cost $500,000 in all. It 
 has begun with paving on North Second, 
 blacktop resurfacing of South Fourth, 
 and projects are underway to pave a 
 large section along Fifteenth and 
 Eighteenth streets from Sheridan road 
 to Broadway, blacktop Park avenue's 
 boulevard, and widen and resurface a 
 state route from the bridge to beyond 
 the East bluff. A South Side trunk line 
 sewer project, designed to makeasewage 
 outlet available for 3,000 more pieces 
 of property is scheduled for another 
 attempt, after earlier trys failed to 
 find contractors willing to bid. 
 
 J. Norman Shade is serving his third 
 term as mayor, and Fred Moenkemoel ler 
 and Walter McClain are still com- 
 missioners. New commissioners since the 
 
 2 
 
 CITY COUNCIL - 19li9. Mayor J. Nornan Shade, Cokki ss loners CharUs 
 L. Dancey, John McGmty, Fred Mocnh emoel ler , Salter J. McClain 
 City Clerk Mm. Jansen Behind McGinty. 
 
 87
 
 HARRY J. M9CLARENCE 
 
 Member Million Dollar Round Table 
 
 I602 N. EIGHTH STREET 
 
 PEKIN. ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE EI37 
 
 NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO- 
 
 II07 JEFFERSON BUILDING 
 
 PEO RIA 2. ILLINOIS 
 
 TELEPHONE 4 S 1 3 4 
 
 The New York Life Insurance Company 
 opened a branch office in central Illinois 
 in 1849 and started doing business in 
 this area. In that same year Abraham 
 Lincoln is defeated in his campaign for 
 Commissioner for the General Land office 
 and returned to Springfield to practice 
 Law. Zachary Taylor is inaugurated as 
 the 12th President. The gold rush to 
 California is in full swing. Amelia Jenks 
 Bloomer starts her paper, the Lily; she 
 introduces the Bloomer costume for 
 women - open-fronted jacket and loose 
 full trousers gathered at the ankles. 
 
 Today, 100 years later, the New York 
 Life Insurance Company has become 
 one of the largest and strongest financial 
 
 institutions in the world with nearly 10 
 Billions of Life Insurance in force. Serv- 
 ing on its Board of Directors have been 
 such famous names as Calvin Coolidge, 
 Herbert Hoover, Nicholas Murray Butler, 
 Al Smith and many others. 
 
 "The Corner-stone of man's financial 
 security is Life Insurance." 
 
 The New York Life is represented in 
 this area by 
 
 Harry J. IHcClarence 
 
 160? N. 8th Street 
 
 Phone ?137 
 
 TAZEWELL MACHINE WORKS 
 
 14 11 N O R T 
 
 SECOND ST 
 
 PEKIN, 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE 1 O 1 
 
 An infant in the Pekin family of 
 industries, but a fast growing one, 
 the Tazwell Machine Works was found- 
 ed only four years ago on July 15th, 
 
 1945 
 
 Originally established by Henry F 
 Cakora as the Excel Machine Shop for 
 the Excel Brass and Aluminum Foundry 
 in 1938. the Tazewell Machine Works 
 became an independent institution 
 when it was moved to its present lo- 
 cation at 1411 N. Second St, from 
 the corner of Fourteenth and Ann 
 Eliza sts. 
 
 The Cakoras, there are five of 
 them - - Mr. & Mrs. Cakora and 
 daughters Oralle and Marilyn and 
 son Henry Jr. -- came to Pekin from 
 Chicago. 
 
 At the present time, the plant 
 has a working space of 12,000 sq. 
 feet, and is equipped to manufacture 
 parts or castings, completely machi- 
 ned or rough, on a jobbing or pro- 
 duction basis. It has its own non- 
 ferrous foundry, which supplies 
 
 bronze or aluminum castings. 
 
 Looking to the future, however, 
 the Cakoras are now completing addi- 
 tional construction to expand work- 
 ing space in the foundry. 
 
 Currently employed in the machine 
 shop are: William Roberson, Geo San- 
 galli, Harold W. Barney, Edward 
 Augsburger, Clarence Davis, Oliver 
 Wittfoht, Lloyd A. Thomas, Henry 
 C. Strubhar, Gene M. Doan. and 
 Richard L. Fisher. 
 
 In the foundry are; Nelson Lord, 
 Guy G. Farrow, Fred Hackney, Harold 
 Stockert, Pascal J. Batavia. Ed. 
 Davis Harry S. Robertson and 
 Richard Tindall. 
 
 Office workers are Misses Oralle 
 and Marilyn Cakora, and Mrs. Blanche 
 Cakora. 
 
 Tazewell Machine Works is proud 
 to have been a part of Pekin' s in- 
 dustrial growth, and will strive to 
 contribute to Pekin' s future devel- 
 opment as a great city in which to 
 work and live.
 
 war are John McGinty and Charles Dancey. cipal of the Pekin Community high 
 
 C.B. Smith is starting his 27th year school. 
 as superintendent of the Pekin grade Pekin statistics are listed indetail 
 
 schools, and P.M. Peterson is now prin- elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 Nevt Business Section on Derby Street 
 
 89
 
 Dewey grain elevators have been a 
 familiar part of the Illinois scene 
 since 1880, a span of sixty-nine 
 years that have brought experience 
 and know-how that enable us to serve 
 our patrons for their best possible 
 interests. 
 
 Our Pekin plant, purchased in the 
 middle 1930' s, was formerly the 
 Smith, Hippen Co. elevator, which 
 had served this area since the early 
 seventies. 
 
 Then shipping was mostly by rail, 
 but today you see huge grain barges 
 loading at our river dock in addi- 
 
 
 tion to our facilities for rail 
 shipment. 
 
 We believe in, and are an example 
 of, "The Independent Free Enterprise 
 American System". We take pride in 
 being the home-operated, independ- 
 ent, complete Grain and Peed Com- 
 pany. You will find our knowledge 
 and experience always available to 
 serve you in a prompt and efficient 
 manner. 
 
 WM. W. GARDNER 
 
 Director 
 
 90
 
 PEKIN '49 
 
 Another year. 1950, will produce 
 accurate census statistics on Pekin's 
 population, business life, and many 
 other things. A cross section of its 
 business and industry and other activi- 
 ties at the present time is available 
 in the contributions scattered through 
 this book, just as are some of the vital- 
 statistics, but what makes up the NATURE 
 of a city? How is that determined? What 
 sort of a city is Pekin today? 
 
 Over 100 years ago, Pekin community 
 was Anglo-Saxon and Indian, dirty, but 
 roomy and new, living in the rough 
 tradition of the frontier. Later it be- 
 came a new kind of frontier town - 
 peopled more than two-thirds by 
 foreign-bom who mostly came from Ger- 
 many. Then came the second (and third) 
 generations of those original immi- 
 grants and gradually became a strange 
 mixture - a German-Irish-American com- 
 munity with each old country tie 
 imparting a special flavor to the 
 American city, and with a certain 
 amount of pushing and pulling among 
 the different groups. Finally came 
 immigrants from Italy with their bocci- 
 ball, spaghetti, ravioli and another 
 whole nation's habits and tastes to add 
 to the blending of present-day Pekin. 
 
 The Everett M. Dirksens at home. 
 
 There is no longer any sharp division 
 between peoples of different nationali- 
 ties in Pekin, as is still found in many 
 cities. There is no sharp social or 
 
 economic division in Pekin, either. No 
 impregnable aristocracy exists, such as 
 is found in many places, and there is 
 no automatic special privilege or 
 favoritism attached to any group. 
 Politically, there are no separately 
 represented wards under the commission 
 form of government, and no political 
 division by wards exists. There is no 
 "rich district" school in the system, 
 and no private school, and in fact, the 
 finest and most expensive school in 
 Pekin is located on its southern 
 boundary in a newly developed area. 
 
 Wr. Peterson presents the sectional 
 trophy to the 'Chinks'. 
 
 91
 
 American Distilling Co. 
 
 PEKIN, ILL. 
 
 -^r — r 
 
 In the year 1858, Col. William 
 Callendar built the Hamburg, Pekin' s 
 first distillery. Next came the 
 Westerman distillery, and after the 
 Civil War came the Enterprise, 
 Starr, Crescent and Globe distill- 
 eries, in 1892, the plant of the 
 American Distilling company was 
 erected, and it has become the dis- 
 tilling industry of Pekin. 
 
 For more than half Pekin' s 100- 
 year- span, the American has contri- 
 buted to its growth and prosperity. 
 When the first plant was built, the 
 city was about one- third its present 
 size. Streets were mostly dirt, in- 
 stitutions undeveloped. As a major 
 industry, the American played its 
 part in the improvements that have 
 come, modern schools. Mineral 
 Springs park, and the public hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The American converted to making 
 industrial alcohol for world War I, 
 and then came prohibition, but the 
 American preserved its plant at 
 Pekin distilling industrial and med- 
 ical alcohols. Thus it was possible 
 upon repeal to lead Pekin back to 
 prosperity. 
 
 On Dec. 4, 1933. the American 
 resumed whiskey production, after 
 starting a building program. The 
 record reveals that during the cri- 
 tical mid-thirties, this return to 
 production created more jobs and 
 payroll moneys than did the NRA code 
 and provided more local construction 
 than did the PWA. 
 
 The American is proud of that 
 contribution, and proud of its place 
 as a key war industry during World 
 War II, again making industrial 
 alcohol and other vital war mater- 
 ials. And, the American is proud, 
 today, of its place as one of the 
 back-bone industries in Pekin' s 
 economic life. Besides the jobs 
 created, American swells the grain 
 market by processing as much as 
 12,000 bushels of grain a day (on 
 occasion 16,000), and besides dis- 
 tilled products, this grain produces 
 each DAY almost 100 tons of feed 
 especially suited for dairy cattle. 
 The American pays 48 millions of 
 dollars in taxes each year. 
 
 The American Distilling company 
 has a big stake in the community of 
 Pekin and a corresponding interest 
 in the city's continued prosperity 
 and progress. 
 
 92
 
 93
 
 DEDICATED TO GREATER SERVICE 
 
 ARTS MORTUARy 
 
 oc=3o<=>o (zFekins ^nlodem cfuneral cHome o<=^oc=d 
 
 li^FTH AT I*ABtt AvB. 
 
 Pbone 42 
 
 PKKIN, IXiLINOIS 
 
 Fifteen years ago John and Gladys 
 Abts came to Pekin after 11 years in 
 Chicago as licensed embalmers and 
 funeral directors. From a modest be- 
 ginning in the old Schenk home at 
 Sixth street and Broadway, the Abts 
 Mortuary has grown to its present 
 prominence in the Pekin community. 
 
 Today in the comfortably quiet 
 and dignified atmosphere of the con- 
 verted E. W. Wilson residence on S. 
 Fifth at Park avenue away from the 
 congestion of the business district 
 Abts Mortuary offers the best in 
 funeral service. It's high ethical 
 standards, modern equipment and dig- 
 nified handling of final rites, 
 maintained since the inception of 
 the business here, has earned the 
 confidence of the community and 
 firmly intrenched the establishment 
 in the pekin business family. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Abts give per- 
 sonal attention to those whom they 
 serve, and supervise the conduct of 
 each funeral themselves. To enhance 
 the quality of their services they 
 maintain the finest in equipment--a 
 hearse, an invalid coach, limousine, 
 air conditioning of the funeral home 
 and a recently purchased Baldwin or- 
 gan. A preparation room, modern in 
 every respect, is open for inspec- 
 tion at all times. 
 
 Concerning the future, the Abts 
 mortuary proposes to continue its 
 policy of dedication to greater ser- 
 vice in all details of its opera- 
 tion. Mr. and Mrs. Abts extend their 
 congratulations -to the community on 
 its centennial anniversary and hope 
 for the privilege of serving and 
 growing with Pekin. 
 
 94
 
 Pekin's expensive homes are not lined 
 up side by side, but are scattered from 
 Park avenue to North Eighth street. You 
 cannot tell by merely looking at an 
 address whether the resident at that 
 address is rich or poor, German or 
 Italian, Protestant or Catholic. There 
 are no special neighborhoods in Pekin, 
 either social, economic, religious or 
 racial . 
 
 It is this Democracy or Near-Equality 
 which frequently first impresses 
 strangers in our fity. 
 
 The pioneering spirit also survives, 
 and if anything, is greater. A simple 
 example lies in the fact that hundreds 
 Oi Pekin homes were built by the owner 
 and occupant himself, a feat inci- 
 dentally, which requires a great deal 
 more of skill, ingenuity, work and 
 effort than is required in the con- 
 struction of an old-time log cabin. 
 While conservative and skeptical of 
 
 hi gh- pressure promotions and "boom" 
 projects, Pekin has developed its normal 
 facilities and continues to develop 
 them to an exceptionally high degree, 
 and that includes its parks, schools, 
 churches, and sports and recreational 
 facil ities. 
 
 Pekin. today, we believe, is prin- 
 cipally distinguished by the quality of 
 moderation. There are no extremes econ- 
 omically or socially. There are no "blue 
 laws" and yet Pekin's mild liberalism 
 is more restrained than have been sur- 
 rounding communities over the past IC 
 years. There is constant progress, but 
 the progressiveness is marked with a 
 skeptical bo th-feet-on- the- ground 
 at t i tude. 
 
 Pekin, toaay, is a peaceful, prosper- 
 ous, progressive, democratic community. 
 The rest of its story will have to be 
 left to the future. 
 
 95
 
 PEKII^ FARMERS GRAIN CO 
 
 209 SOUTH FRONT STREET 
 
 The Company started in business 
 in 1914 with a 25,000 bushel eleva- 
 tor. In 1929 new storage tanks were 
 added which held an additional 20,000 
 bushels. In 1934 the wooden elevator 
 was destroyed by fire, and a new 
 concrete structure was built on the 
 old site. This structure held 70,000 
 bushels. 
 
 About 1938 a new loading dock to 
 the river was erected, giving the 
 Company a river outlet. We are now 
 building a new storage annex that 
 will hold 50,000 bushels more - to- 
 gether with a new drier. 
 
 The first year the Company handled 
 180,000 bushels of grain. They now 
 handle over 2,000,000 bushels per 
 year. 
 
 There are over two hundred stock- 
 holders. The business is handled by 
 nine directors who hire a manager to 
 run it for them. The present di- 
 rectors are Edward Schrock, Presi- 
 dent, John Rothisberger, Fred Heisel, 
 W.E. Naffziger, P.J. Bailey, Adam 
 Weyhrich, Ernest Shopp, P.J. Rahn, 
 and Edward Strickfaden. Mr. Schrock 
 is the only living member of the 
 original Board of Directors. Carl 
 Porter is the manager, assisted by 
 Floyd Sours and August Stoltz in the 
 office, Louis priedinger, Louis 
 Woodworth and Gerald Pfeiffer in the 
 elevator. Grain sales for the year 
 ending September 30, 1S48, were 
 $3,559. 667. 98. 
 
 96
 
 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 The Second Hundred Years 
 By F. F. McNaughton 
 
 Pekln, Illinois, in its first century 
 as an Incorporated city, has done far 
 better than the average city. 
 
 What of the next century? 
 
 There seems to be sound reason to 
 expect vigor in the second century. 
 Pekln has been (trowing at a rate of 
 some 20% each census. Another 20% in- 
 crease would give Pekin a population 
 of 23,288 in the 1950 count, and Polk's 
 city directory counts since 1940 in- 
 dicate the 23,288 figure will be 
 reached or surpassed in 1950. Should 
 the rate of growth drop to only 10%, 
 Pekin would be a city of some 60,000 
 at the end of its second century. 
 
 Why should Pekin continue to prosper? 
 
 Two factors make a city grow. 
 
 One is economics; the other is the 
 will of the city' s leaders. 
 
 Pekin has many economic advantages. 
 It is In the middle of one of the 
 nation' s richest states. It has a sound 
 agricultural foundation. The whole area 
 abounds in farms that produce abundantly 
 of grain, meat, and dairy products, 
 with important undertones of melon, 
 fowl, fruit and canned goods production. 
 No city that has such riches in the 
 soil can be poor. 
 
 But Pekin has other natural advan- 
 tages. It has, for one thing, a layer 
 of unusually cold water close to the 
 earth' s surface which affords important 
 economies to certain types of industry. 
 Pekin has layers of coal over wide 
 nearby areas. And Pekin is on the Inland 
 Waterway System. This latter situation 
 added to the Important fact that Pekin 
 Is either on or has switching connec- 
 tions with 14 railroads, gives it a 
 tremendous shipping advantage. Agri- 
 cultural or manufactured products can 
 leave Pekin by rail or water for all 
 Great Lakes or down river or Gulf 
 points, and by fast freight into the 
 East or West. And up or down stream 
 into tills area come bargeloads of oil, 
 coal, and other bulky products. This 
 all has resulted in making Tazewell 
 county one of the top manufacturing 
 counties of America. 
 
 All this means growth for Pekin. 
 
 And growth commands "keeping up with 
 the population. " 
 
 Churchwlse, present plans indicate 
 the churches will keep stride. 
 
 Schoolwlse, Pekin has always done 
 well. The grade school board, having 
 recently bought 10 acres, changed its 
 mind and bought 10 more. Many more 
 
 areas will have to be bought, and wise 
 school boards will look forward and 
 acquire title to key blocks and plots. 
 The new stadium will fill Pekin' s needs 
 for a generation; but demands for a 
 new gymnasium are already pressing. 
 Pekin' s Mineral Springs park, now one 
 of the busiest (and loveliest) in 
 America, will have to be enlarged in 
 some manner; and the Park Board not 
 only will have to enlarge its present 
 golf course onto the already purchased 
 acres for another nine holes; but it 
 will have to provide a second municipal 
 course, and should be watching for a 
 bargain in nearby picturesque acreage. 
 
 A project that won't be delayed too 
 long is a junior college for Pekin. 
 
 Improvements in city buildings are 
 being accomplished. No. 1 on the list 
 is a new city hall, with new fire 
 stations and equipment to match; and 
 surely the new century of Pekin' s life 
 will not be too far along before some 
 kind of auditorium is erected here. 
 An adequate auditorium can add much to 
 both the civic and cultural life of the 
 city. 
 
 If Pekin. is to grow only half as 
 swiftly in the second century as in the 
 first (and thus become a city of 60,000) 
 there must be a place for the new 37,000 
 to live. WHERE will they live? This is 
 no insurmountable problem. For one 
 thing, Pekin surely will have some 
 modern apartment houses as soon as 
 building costs make the venture profit- 
 able. But there are acres of room to 
 the south (all the way to South Pekin) 
 for expansion, and there is uncrowded 
 and almost unlimited high ground to the 
 east. 
 
 Pekin, as it starts its second 
 century does well to be thinking in 
 terms of planning. The city council is 
 thinking in terms of a building and 
 zoning ordinance that will give fore- 
 thought to the city's growth in the 
 second century. The school boards are 
 "counting babies" and projecting popula- 
 tion trends to guide them in planning 
 future schools. The park board Is think- 
 ing in terms of "Where will they swim?" 
 and "Where will they play?" and "Where, 
 under cover, can they picnic when there 
 are twice as many?" And churches, social 
 and civic groups are thinking in terms 
 of greater social and cultural oppor- 
 tunities for the "Pekin of the Second 
 Century. " 
 
 97
 
 KRIEGSMAN TRANSFER CO. 
 
 Front row, left to right- - John C. Kri egsman, Ronald Schilling, WelJon, 
 Meyer, Russell Sorenson, Merel Hammond, Philip F. Kriegsman, Albert Jarett, 
 Marvin Brown, Arthur T- Kriegsman. 
 
 Back rorc, left to r ight- -Phyllis Frampton, Florence Kriegsman, Charles 
 Hinkle. Philip J. Kriegsman, flilliam Meyer. John Meyer, Floyd Quick, Arthur 
 Lichtenberger, Charles Fahnders, Thomas Frampton, Philip Schwinn, Roy Thomas, 
 Barbara Kitchell, Zillah Kriegsman. 
 
 Pounded in September 1913 by P. 
 J. Kriegsman with 32 horses and a- 
 bout 20 wagons located in a large 
 red barn at the corner of Henrietta 
 and North Capitol Streets. The 
 horses delighted in getting out at 
 night and eating up the neighbors 
 lawns. 
 
 Furniture was stored in the 100 
 block Court Street until 1921 when 
 the two story warehouse located at 
 109-11 North Third Street was con- 
 structed. 
 
 The First World War saw the be- 
 ginning of the use of trucks and 
 gradually since that time the truck 
 has taken over the duties of the 
 horses. In 1926 the barn was moved 
 to the old Brewei y building and the 
 big red barn was torn down. This 
 building is still used as a garage 
 for the trucks and is located at 
 309-13 North Second Street. 
 
 In 1927 the present office was 
 built which is located at 231 Marg- 
 aret Street. 
 
 Then came the complete transition 
 from horses to trucks and in 1946 
 the old Pekin Leather Products Com- 
 pany building at 1101 Margaret 
 Street was purchased for the ware- 
 housing of merchandise. 
 
 In 1948 the warehouse at 278 Koch 
 Street was constructed, during the 
 35th anniversary year of the firm. 
 
 Also in 1948 the business was in- 
 corporated and following are the 
 officers of the corporation: Arthur 
 T. Kriegsman, President; Philip J. 
 Kriegsman, Vice President; Florence 
 Kriegsman, Vice President; John C. 
 Kriegsman, Secretary; Zillah C. 
 Kriegsman, Treasurer. 
 
 The employees of the corporation 
 are: Phil Schwin, Charles Hinkle, 
 William Meyer, John Meyer, Roy 
 Thomas, Weldon Meyer, Merel Hammond, 
 Arthur Lichtenberger, Albert Jarr- 
 ett, Floyd Quick, Ronald Schilling, 
 Thomas Frampton, Marvin Brown, Arth- 
 ur Snyder, Charles Fahnders, Philip 
 F. Kriegsman, Barbara Kitchell, 
 Russell Sorenson, Phyllis Frampton. 
 
 98
 
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 99
 
 Forward March 
 
 In 1890 an industry was born in Pelcin — an industry 
 that was to place the name PEKIH before the people in 
 many States of the Union. That was the year Miles Hurphy 
 started the Pelcin Boiler Works. This firm manufactured 
 steam boilers and contracted for boiler repair worl<. 
 
 In 1900, ten years later in the Forward March of Pro- 
 gress of our Company, Robert Walsh joined Miles Murphy 
 as a partner. Boiler manufacture and repair was still 
 the business of the Company and we became l(nown among 
 the residents as "the boiler worl<s", a name still ap- 
 plied by some of the older citizens. 
 
 \QQ\^ — the start of a new product. Miles Murphy and 
 Robert Walsh forsaw a field that had unlimited possibil- 
 ities. A tank designed to supply fresh water to farms. 
 The firm name was changed to Murphy & Walsh and the PEKIN 
 pneumatic tank was on the market. The PEKIN pneumatic 
 tank is still a product of this Company. 
 
 1909 — a tank to store hot water for homes and indus- 
 trial use. Again, Murphy & Walsh marched forward with the 
 PEKIN hot water storage tank. 
 
 1923 — A new process of fabrication was becoming pop- 
 ular throughout the country. Forward again with PEKIN 
 welded tanks. 
 
 1 925" 1 926— 1927 — Oil tanks for the storage of home 
 heating oil and underground gasoline storage, steel bur- 
 ial vaults, steel septic tanks for sewage disposal — — 
 Always forward for Murphy & Walsh and the trade name 
 PEKIN. 
 
 From Maine to California, from Canada to Mexico and 
 
 over-seas through Exporting Companies Murphy & Walsh 
 
 and PEKIN products always Marching Forward. 
 
 MURPHY & WALSH, INC., 
 
 100 Caroline St. 
 
 Pekin, III. 
 
 100
 
 PUBLIC OFFICIALS - 1949 
 
 Federal GovernmR n f. Corporation Counsel. ... Alfred W. Black. 
 
 Congressman from I8th U. S. district Treasurer. ............. Claude Smitb. 
 
 Hon- Harold H. Velde, Pekin. City Engineer. ........ Jack Crenshaw. 
 
 Pi re Chief... ....Roy Weinheimer. 
 
 State of Illinois Police Chief. .......... .1 . Roy Brees. 
 
 Senator from 30th state senatorial dis- 
 trict Senator M. B. Lohmann, Pekin. 
 
 State representative. 30th district Pekin Towish ip 
 
 Robert H.' Allison, Pekin. Supervisor, A. H. Casper. Assistant 
 
 Supervisors, Vardner Eden, George Saal, 
 
 Tazewell County Edwin J. IMcClarence, Al Schilling, 
 
 Chalrnan, Tazewell county board Edgar Hild, Nelson Sheppert Sr. , Arthur 
 
 ....Edwin J. McClarence, Pekin. Kriegsman. Town Clerk, Henry Heiken. 
 
 Circuit Clerk, Eugene V. Hoff, Pekin. ^"*" Highway Commissioner, Carl Noard. 
 
 County Clerk pro ten 
 
 WilllaxD Beardsley, Pekin. Pekin Com munity High School District 
 
 President, I. E. Wilson. Members, Louis 
 Hackler, Paul Massey. Al Martens, Lewis 
 City of Pekin Doren . Principal, F. M. Peterson. 
 
 Mayor J. Norman Shade, Streets and 
 
 Public Improvements. Pekin Grade School District 
 
 Commissi Her John McGinty, Public President, Fearn Wilson sr. Members, 
 
 Property. "elvin Leach, Bernard Hoffman, George 
 Commissioner Charles Dancey, Public Bishop, William York, Morris Severe, 
 
 Affairs. J"''" Abts. Superintendant, C. B. Smith. 
 Commissioner Fred Moenkemoel ler. Fi- 
 nance. Pekin Park District 
 Commissioner Valter McClain, Public President, Tim Soldwedel. Members, 
 Health and Safety. Charles crosswei ler Sr. , William Knier- 
 Clerk .William Jansen. i^""' Edward Oberle, Charles Kelly. Sec- 
 retary, Henry Ailts. 
 
 Tazewell County Court House built in 191i. 
 101
 
 MIDDLE STATES TELEPHONE COMPANY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 Interior scene of Pekin traffic office 25 years ago. All of 
 this equipment has been replaced and more than $150,000 viorth 
 added since 1939, $65,000 of it in 19i9 alone. 
 
 Pekin is one of approximately 
 12,000 communities in the united 
 States served by independent tele- 
 phone, companies. 
 
 In 1901, the Citizens Telephone 
 Company was organized with James W. 
 Barrett, President, to compete with 
 the Central Union Telephone Company. 
 
 The Citizens Company also estab- 
 lished an exchange at East Peoria 
 and had exchanges at Havana, Manito, 
 Green Valley, Delavan and Lacon, 
 connected by a system of company 
 owned toll lines. 
 
 The history of the Citizens Comp- 
 any provides one perfect example of 
 what larger scale operation can 
 accomplish over what is generally 
 possible for local groups to accom- 
 plish alone in furnishing such a 
 highly complicated and capital con- 
 suming community service. 
 
 Tne continuous growth of the 
 community necessitated expansion of 
 service - meaning more management, 
 more legal, engineering and account- 
 ing help and most important -- much 
 additional capital. 
 
 When the expansion following the 
 first World War started, the situa- 
 tion was discouraging for the Citi- 
 zens Compaay, as there were two sets 
 of telephone lines in town, and 
 many people were wanting service 
 with no chance of receiving it un- 
 til most of the old plant could be 
 replaced. 
 
 The Citizens Company was sold to 
 W.S. Green and associates who had 
 
 formed a new company, traded East 
 Peoria and Delevan to Central Union 
 Company for the "long distance phone 
 system" in Pekin and brought in 
 hundreds of thousands of dollars of 
 new capital, to replace the mass of 
 bare wires in town with one of the 
 most extensive underground cable 
 systems to be found in a similar 
 sized community in the world. 
 
 The depression years of the early 
 thirties, however, provided a serious 
 blow to the new company. Since 
 January, 1938, the Central Telephone 
 Company has had the responsibility 
 for operating the Middle States 
 Company property and raising the 
 ever increasing amount of capital 
 needed for the fast growing com- 
 munities being served. 
 
 The amount of new capital re- 
 quired to extend the plant since 
 1941 has exceeded the value of the 
 plant then in service. Now, a ten 
 year program of conversion to dial 
 is underway which will require 
 capital totalling several times the 
 value of plant in service in 1940. 
 
 Max McGraw of Chicago, Chairman 
 of the Board of the Central Tele- 
 phone Company, is also head of Mc- 
 Graw Electric Company and the record 
 of his work in the enterprises with 
 which he has been identified is such 
 as to inspire confidence of the sub- 
 scribers in Middle States Telephone 
 exchanges who want this essential 
 service to continue to keep pace 
 with comrounitv demands and needs 
 
 102
 
 A CENTURY OF PROGRESS IN PEKIN 
 
 The history of a city is the story of the efforts and accomplishments of its 
 citizens in establishing homes, churches, Schools, growing industries and organi- 
 zations, and other activities. From its beginning, lOO years ago, Pekin has had 
 civic and cultural-minded citizens of vision who have built within its confines 
 beautiful churches and schools, substantial homes, and prosperous business estab- 
 lishments; and who have provided opportunities for cultural advantages and whole- 
 some recreation. 
 
 And Pekin citizens today, proud of their heritage, are continuing to carry on 
 the tradition, building for an ever greater tomorrow. 
 
 lived, closing its doors in 1842. There- 
 
 A STATISTICAL REVIEW OF PEKIN TODAY 
 
 Form of government -- Commission 
 Population -- about 22,500 
 Population totals from earliest census: 
 
 1949 (est. ) 
 1940 
 
 1930 
 1920 
 1910 
 1900 
 1890 
 1880 
 1870 
 1860 
 1850 
 
 Area --7.5 
 Altitude - 
 Trade Area 
 
 1 at ion of 
 Railroads 
 
 22,500 
 
 19,407 
 
 16, 129 
 
 12,086 
 
 9,897 
 
 8,420 
 
 6,347 
 
 5,993 
 
 5,696 
 
 3,467 
 
 1,678 
 
 square miles 
 
 482 feet above sea level. 
 ■- 25 mile radius with popu- 
 
 75,000 
 
 seven. Santa Pe; Big Pour; 
 Chicago and Midland; Peoria and Pekin 
 Union; Illinois Central; Peoria Rail- 
 way Terminal; Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. 
 Highways -- on State routes 9 and 29 
 and connecting with U.S. 24 across 
 111 Inois River. 
 Bus Lines -- six. Jacksonville Trail- 
 ways; Continental Trailways; Illini 
 Coach Lines; Bartonville Bus Lines, 
 Inc.; Illinois Highway Transportation 
 Company; Greyhound Lines. 
 
 River Traffic -- Barge Service operated 
 on schedule by government and private 
 lines. 
 
 Financial Data -- Three loan companies - 
 Pekin Loan and Homestead Association 
 established In 1882; American Saving 
 and Loan Association in 1883; and 
 Pekin Mutual Building and Loan Asso- 
 ciation in 1893. Two Banks - The 
 American National Bank, and the Her- 
 get National Bank. 
 
 PEKIN BANK HISTORY 
 
 The first bank in Tazewell County 
 opened in Pekin under the name of the 
 Shawneetown Bank in 1839, was short- 
 
 fore, the first firm to do regular 
 banking business in the city was that 
 of G.H. Rupert and Company who estab- 
 lished in 1852 the Piatt Valley Bank 
 which existed under one firm or another 
 until it was sold to the organizers of 
 The First National Bank of Pekin in 
 1866. Also in that year was organized 
 the banking firm of Tels Smith and 
 Company, popularly known as Smith's 
 Bank, which did business until the 
 early 1900' s. 
 
 After the liquidation of the First 
 National in 1875. the private banking 
 firm of Leonard and Blossom took over 
 and for a number of years ran a banking 
 business in Pekin. Also in 1875. The 
 Farmers Bank was incorporated, doing 
 business in the building at the corner 
 of Capitol and Court streets until the 
 early 1930' s. 
 
 Today Pekin has two banks -- The 
 American, organized as the German 
 American Bank in 1887; and the Herget 
 National Bank, founded by George Herget 
 and Son in 1905. 
 
 FIRE AND POLICE PROTECTION 
 
 It "'as not until May i860, after a 
 disastrous fire had swept the business 
 district, destroying over 30 buildings, 
 almost paralyzing business, and in- 
 volving a loss of over $150,000, that 
 a city fire department was created. 
 This consisted of four cisterns with a 
 capacity of 300 barrels each - located 
 at Margaret and Third; the Court House; 
 St. Mary and Fourth; and at the German 
 Methodist Church, Fifth and Caroline - 
 two fire engines of the crane-neck 
 style, and 1,000 feet of hose and 
 ladders with carriages for each. 
 
 The following November saw the for- 
 mation of Pekin' s first fire companies: 
 Rescue Fire Company No. 1, with 16 men; 
 Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, with 23 
 men; and in December the Defiance Fire 
 Company with 20 officers and members. 
 The latter name was changed after 
 
 103
 
 Mr. John H. Shade 
 
 It was way back in the fall of 
 1890 on an extremely cold and dis- 
 agreeable day, that John H. shade 
 came to Pekin after a colorful ca- 
 reer in Oklahoma and Kansas. It was 
 those early experiences in life such 
 as taking part in the land rush in 
 the opening of the Oklahoma terri- 
 tory; the settling of the Cherokee 
 Strip; the publishing of a newspaper 
 in Wellington Kansas; the teaching 
 of a rural school; the hardships of 
 making his own way, that built up in 
 Mr. Shade a character of friendli- 
 ness and sympathy which made him 
 beloved by those who knew him. 
 
 In pekin, Mr. Shade edited the 
 "Post Tribune" later sold to the 
 "Pekin Daily Times"; and for several 
 years published a magazine filled 
 with kindly philosophies, which was 
 known as "Shade's Monthly". 
 
 In the year 1912, a friend called 
 upon Mr. shade to handle the new 
 Garber' s Addition which was being 
 platted in the new community of 
 South Pekin, and this experience 
 brought out a strong desire to see 
 everyone own a home; and revealed 
 Mr. Shade's ingenuity in devising 
 plans and ways whereby a person 
 could own a home of his own. 
 
 So John H. Shade became a pioneer 
 Pekin realtor; dedicated to the " old 
 school" -- belief in doing one thing 
 and doing it well! por that reason 
 his agency never took on any side- 
 lines and handled real estate exclu- 
 
 sively, por that reason, too; al- 
 though interested and active in 
 politics, Mr. shade on two occasions 
 refused preferred nominations for 
 Congress, as well as offers of the 
 Postmastership and nominations for 
 County Superintendent of Schools. 
 
 In 1920 he was joined in the real 
 estate business by his son, J. Nor- 
 man Shade (the present Mayor of the 
 city of Pekin) who, at that time, 
 was employed by the P. Stelnmetz 
 and Son Habberdashery. It was then 
 that the trade name, under which the 
 firm still operates, was adopted -- 
 the JOHN H. SHADE REAL ESTATE AGENCY. 
 
 Mr. Shade had a genius for de- 
 vising means of making it possible 
 for folks to secure homes, and it 
 was through his agency that addi- 
 tions were successfully platted and 
 lots placed on the market for sale 
 as low as $1 down and $1 per week -- 
 with permission given people to 
 build thereon before the lot was 
 fully paid for. This type of selling 
 was especially appreciated by pur- 
 chasers during the depression years 
 of 1930-1934. Many, deprived of 
 homes through foreclosure, were able 
 to buy a lot, build a shelter for 
 their loved ones; and, thus, be- 
 come an asset to the community, in- 
 stead of a liability. 
 
 Some Additions which were han- 
 dled in their entirety or a large 
 portion are the Edds, Taaks, Rose- 
 dale, Alfs, Pekin Gardens, Rees, 
 Lick Creek Lane, Buff, Brlggs 
 Heights, Lakeview, Linkville, Nor- 
 mandale, S. Normandale, Midway and 
 N. Midway Additions. 
 
 Mr. Shade, Sr. always contended 
 that no individual's problem was too 
 — all to give patient adherence; 
 f-d during the many years of his 
 active life, his kind philosophy, 
 and his willingness to assist others, 
 showed the way of securing a home to 
 
 many many who are respected and 
 
 substantial Pekin citizens of today. 
 
 On June 5, 1948, at the age of 82 
 John H. Shade passed away. His busi- 
 ness is being continued by his son, 
 and operating under the same trade 
 name so familiarly known throughout 
 Pekin and Tazewell county as the 
 
 JOHN H. SHADE REAL ESTATE AGENCY 
 
 104
 
 several years to Young America. No. 2. 
 In 1868, a new steam fire engine, 
 Young America , was purchased and the 
 old hand fire engine sold to the town 
 of Canton. 
 
 In his first annual report in Febru- 
 ary 1869, Chief Engineer John Berry 
 revealed that the Pekin Fire Department 
 consisted of "one steam fire engine 
 company - Young America, with hose-reel 
 and hose attached; one hand fire engine 
 company with hose-reel and hose 
 attached; and one hook and ladder 
 Company with truck wagon, axes, and 
 ladders complete" . 
 
 The department was motorized in 1916 
 when the city bought a Seagrove Truck. 
 Later in 1928, a second truck, an 
 American Le France was purchased. Pekin 
 now has adequate fire protection with 
 two American Le France trucks, one 1000 
 gallon capacity and the other 500 
 gallon, manned by a force of 12 reg- 
 ulars, under Fire Chief Roy Weinheimer. 
 The first elected city policeman in 
 Pekin was Thomas Cloudas, who served in 
 the dual capacity of "City Marshall and 
 Street Commissioner". The job must have 
 been a difficult or an extremely un- 
 popular one, for records show that it 
 changed hands yearly for the first few 
 years in the city' s history. John Dur- 
 ham, Marshal in 1850. had the addition- 
 al job of taking the first census of 
 Pekin. 
 
 In 1855, two night watchmen--Thomas 
 Shepherd and N.C. Flood--were added to 
 the police force for night duty during 
 the months of January and February 
 only; and in March of that year, the 
 city Marshal's office being declared 
 vacant, Samuel P. Higginson was elected 
 at a salary of "$313 per year, and the 
 privilege of an auction license free of 
 charge." In 1856, the marshal was 
 authorized to appoint a deputy. 
 
 And as Pekin grew, the police force 
 grew also until at present it consists 
 of 15 men, 3 pieces of motor equipment, 
 and 3 police radios. Roy Brees is the 
 present chief of police. 
 
 ILLINOIS RIVER BRIDGES 
 
 Situated as it is, with the Illinois 
 River for its western boundary, Pekin 
 early faced the problem of a river 
 crossing. The earliest accounts date 
 back to 1829, when a ferry "made and 
 operated by William Clarke to carry 
 pedestrians and rigs" plied back and 
 forth from the foot of Harriet Street. 
 Made of logs and puncheons, the ferry 
 was propelled, frequently assisted by 
 the passengers themselves, with long 
 poles during low water and with oars 
 during high stages. 
 
 The ferry was privately owned by one 
 person or another, until April 1839, 
 
 when one Lucretia Mount, widow of a 
 recent ferry owner "released to the 
 town of Pekin all her right and 
 interest in the ferry across the Illi- 
 nois River", and this important fran- 
 chise became town property. Seven years 
 later, June 1847, the Board passed an 
 ordinance to keep a free ferry and to 
 defray expenses by public subscription. 
 By the 28th of August, however, the 
 free project was deemed impractical and 
 ferriage was again charged: "Twenty 
 cents for two- horse wagon for trip; man 
 and horse, ten cents each way; footmen, 
 five cents each way. etc." Before the 
 end of the year, the ferry appearing to 
 be an expense to the city rather than a 
 benefit, was sold to B.S. Prettyman for 
 $1, 575. 
 
 In 1840, the town contracted with a 
 Mr. John Sleeth to build an "up-to-date" 
 ferry boat which was to be rented to 
 the highest bidder; and in March 1842, 
 the ferry was rented to Whitlow and 
 Durnell "for the term of one year for 
 the sum of $50. 00. " 
 
 In the meantime, a committee had 
 been appointed to solicit subscrip- 
 tions for "building a road across the 
 Illinois River bottom" from "the river 
 bank to the bluff on the west side of 
 the Illinois River opposite Pekin; that 
 said road to be opened 20 feet wide by 
 cutting down and removing trees and 
 other obstruction and an elevated plank 
 road constructed" - -a road so defective 
 that it was abandoned as a thoroughfare 
 shortly after being completed. 
 
 On June 1. 1885, the city finally 
 contracted for a pontoon wagon bridge 
 costing $17,500, to span the river. 
 This was a toll bridge until 1889. In 
 1904, the pontoon bridge was torn down 
 for an iron structure which served 
 until 1930, when it was declared unsafe 
 and replaced by the present bridge, 
 built at a cost of $533,823 and formal- 
 ly dedicated and opened in May of that 
 year. 
 
 PEKIN' S CHURCH HISTORY 
 
 The many beautiful churches in Pekin 
 today indicate a religious interest 
 which manifested itself early, for 
 religion came to Town-Site with the 
 first settlers. The first preaching 
 service in the new community was a 
 sermon by the Rev. Jesse Walker, an 
 itinerant Methodist frontier mission- 
 ary, in the log cabin home of Jacob 
 Tharp in 1826. 
 
 Soon after this was organized a 
 congregation, which about in 1830, 
 erected a "little brick church" known 
 later as the "Foundry Church", located 
 near the present site of Franklin 
 School, and installed as their first 
 minister the Rev. John T. Mitchel, a 
 
 105
 
 THIS IS THE FASHION STORE 
 AT 343 COURT STREET, PEKIN 
 
 THE FASHION STORE opened in Pekin 
 in September, 1934. With the passing 
 years it expanded to meet the de- 
 mands of an ever-growing number of 
 satisfied customers. 
 
 In the Fall of 1948 the new 
 store, pictured above, was complet- 
 ed - a modern store throughout - 
 completely air conditioned. 
 
 THE FASHION STORE has built up 
 its enviable reputation by featuring 
 nationally advertised fashions and 
 accessories for the entire family, 
 plus the convenience of their ex- 
 tended charge account, plan. 
 
 Today,' thousands of the thrifty- 
 minded people of Pekin are enjoying 
 the many and modern shopping con- 
 veniences Ihat THE FASHION STORE 
 offers. 
 
 © 
 
 A QUARTER OF A CENTURY 
 
 For a quarter of a century the 
 ROHRS INSURANCE office has served 
 Pekin under its own firm name. To- 
 gether with its predecessors, the 
 Geo. Lucas and Lena Schaefer-Hinners 
 Agencies, they have served Pekin 
 since 1870 with complete kinds of 
 insurance from the horse and buggy 
 days to the automobile and jet plane 
 age. From hand written policies t o 
 the typed policy of today, the 
 ROHRS INSURANCE office has continu- 
 ously improved its facilities to 
 handle your insurance requirements. 
 We cordially invite you to visit 
 our office. See our FIREPROOF SAFE 
 for safe keeping of duplicate copies 
 of your policies and our system of 
 records for the safeguard and 
 efficient handling of your in- 
 surance. 
 
 Rohrs Insurance 
 
 George and Howard 
 520 Court Pekin 
 
 NOEL 
 
 HOME 
 
 FUNERAL 
 
 4?0 Walnut St. 
 Owned and operated by William L. Welmer 
 
 The Noel Funeral Home was estab- 
 lished in Pekin, 111. in the year 
 1900 by the late Orville W. Noel. 
 
 In the year of 1923 the partner- 
 ship of Orville W. Noel and William 
 L. Weimer who was in his employ for 
 many years was formed and was oper- 
 ated under the name of Noel Funeral 
 Home until the death of Mr. Noel in 
 1946. At this time the interest of 
 Mr. Noel in the firm was purchased 
 
 by William L. Welmer who Is carrying 
 on the business under the first 
 name. Noel' s has served the citizens 
 of Pekin and surrounding territory 
 for 50 years. In 1937 we deemed it 
 wise to move the business location 
 to 420 Walnut St. so that its pat- 
 rons would be better served In the 
 quiet, homelike atmosphere and 
 beautiful surrounding of its present 
 location. 
 
 106
 
 ^JjiCONJ rtC^ 
 
 ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL 
 
 f.H'JRCHE^ 
 
 ART 
 
 fiery, plain-spoken man. Presumably it 
 was in this church that Pekin' s first 
 church choir, consisting of seven male 
 voices, was organized. 
 
 In the winter of 1843-4 nearly half 
 the village population died from an 
 epidemic of " black- tongue" sore throat. 
 This tragedy resulted in a revival 
 known as the " sore- throat" revival 
 during which practically all the sur- 
 vivors joined the church. The congre- 
 gation having outgrown the old brick 
 building, constructed in 1847 a new 
 frame church on the corner of Capitol 
 and Margaret Streets and the old brick 
 building became a foundry. In 1867 the 
 congregation erected the present edi- 
 fice at the corner of Fourth and Broad- 
 way. Thus came into existence the First 
 Methodist Church. 
 
 The German Methodist Church, today's 
 Grace Methodist, seems to be next in 
 time of organization - in 1842 with 
 meetings held for the first few years 
 in homes of members. It was not untij 
 1850 that a building was erected, "with 
 the help of the original English 
 Methodist Church, which donated old 
 church seats to the new frame build- 
 ing," and the pulpit was filled by 
 missionary preachers from St. Louis. 
 
 With the influx of many Germans 
 about 1850, the membership outgrew its 
 quarters and erected in 1854 a new 
 church which in later years was used as 
 
 a warehouse for the Pekin Plow Shop 
 after a new church was erected at State 
 and Fourth in 1873- This was burned in 
 1911 and replaced with the present edi- 
 fice in 1912. 
 
 In the meantime, a First Reformed 
 Church was begun in 1843 with a nucleus 
 of ten members in a "little building 
 down by the river" and for the first 
 several years thereafter meetings were 
 held in homes of members while a build- 
 ing was in process of construction. 
 This was completed in 1847 at a cost of 
 $6,000. In 1873 was erected at 307 
 South Fourth Street, the original part 
 of the present building which was 
 modernized and enlarged in 1939. About 
 1910, a group of members from this 
 church founded the Congregational 
 Church in Pekin and soon thereafter 
 erected the present building at Eliza- 
 beth and Broadway. On April 29, 1914, 
 it was voted at a congregation meeting 
 to change the First Reforme'd Church to 
 the First Presbyterian Church of Pekin 
 and thus it exists today. 
 
 During the next few years, from 
 1850 on, many churches were founded- - 
 among them the St. Paul's Episcopal, 
 admitted as a parish in the diocese of 
 Illinois in 1851, although Episcopal 
 services were held in Pekin as early 
 as 1837. The foundation of the present 
 St. Paul's Church was laid in 1870 and 
 completed in 1874. Recently it has been 
 
 107
 
 ii A U R ER >ND HA R R I S 
 
 ■mnxiai % 
 
 408 COURT ST. PHONE 130 PEKJN, ILLINOIS N^ 
 
 Home ownership is one of man's first considerations 
 for the protection, happiness and contentment of his 
 family, Because of the early establishment of savings 
 and loan associations and frugal characteristics of Ger- 
 man families who first settled in Pekin, we have today 
 an unusually high per centage of families who now own 
 their homes. In the year 1937 an up-to-date home financ- 
 ing plan known as the direct-reduction plan was intro- 
 duced to Pekin with the opening of an office at 408 Court 
 Street by Eugene P. Maurer, who for thirteen years pre- 
 vious to this had been employed by a local bank. Immed- 
 iately, this type of home financing was accepted by the 
 people of this city, and as a result, many millions of 
 dollars have been loaned to Pekin people to help them own 
 thei r own homes. 
 
 As an additional service, and a natural growth, a 
 complete insurance and real estate brokerage business was 
 added to home financing, making a complete one-stop pack- 
 age in home ownership service. 
 
 In I9i;6 Thomas H. Harris returned to his native Taze- 
 well County after four years of service in World War II, 
 and assumed complete charge of home loans and insurance 
 and along with Mr. Maurer expanded the real estate de- 
 partment. The firm name was changed to MAURER AND HARRIS 
 under which management the general public of this city 
 C6n attest to fair and honest dealings. Many homes have 
 been built and two subdivisions developed, making it pos- 
 sible for several hundred families to be started on the 
 road to home ownership in Pekin, A GOOD PLACE TO LIVEI 
 
 108
 
 modernized and improved mainly through 
 the legacy of the late Miss Anna Blen- 
 ki r o n . 
 
 St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran 
 (now St. John's) built a church at 
 North Fourth and Ann Eliza in 1854, 
 later replaced by a new building in 
 1871. In 1902 the congregation erected 
 a parochial grade school adjacent to 
 the church, a school attended by many 
 Pekin Luther-an young people, until it 
 was discontinued in June 1942 and the 
 building later sold to and now occupied 
 by the Pekin Trades and Labor Assembly. 
 
 The First Baptist Church was founded 
 about 1851. Their original building, 
 completed in 1855, since enlarged and 
 remodeled, has the distinction of being 
 the oldest brick church building in 
 Tazewel 1 County still occupied by the 
 congregation which erected it. W.H. 
 Bates in an appendix to the 1916 Pekin 
 Directory tells an interesting story in 
 connection with the building of this 
 church. It seems that Elder Gilbert S. 
 Bailey, on a visit to Springfield, met 
 his old neighbor Abraham Lincoln, who 
 "on learning that Bailey was soliciting 
 funds to complete the Pekin church, 
 cheerfully subscribed $10." 
 
 A Universalist Church, too, was 
 organized in 1851, but about 23 years 
 later was disbanded and the building 
 sold later to the Free Methodist 
 congregation. 
 
 Then came St. Paul's Evangelical, 
 organized by 12 men, with 30 original 
 members in 1858, at the corner of 
 Seventh and Ann Eliza. In its early 
 year, a school was connected with the 
 church. 
 
 The first authentic record of Ca- 
 tholicism in Pekin tells of a baptism 
 on November 11, i860. In 1863 was built 
 a Catholic Church on the corner of 
 Second and Susannah, the beginning of 
 the present St. Joseph's. In 1904 was 
 dedicated the present edifice at the 
 corner of Seventh and Broadway. The 
 story is told that the old bell, now 
 no longer in use, was captured from a 
 convent in Mexico by two of Pekin' s 
 soldiers in the Mexican War and sent 
 to the church here. A second Catholic 
 Church, the Sacred Heart, organized for 
 German Catholics in 1872. was later 
 absorbed by the St. Joseph's Church. 
 
 In 1876 was organized the First 
 Christian Church when one, William 
 Hiett, a student at Eureka College was 
 called here to preach at a Saturday 
 service near Leslie Station, a Sunday 
 service at the Town House, and another 
 service on Monday at the county home. 
 During these services five converts 
 were baptized in Dillon Creek, and from 
 this began the Church. In 1883 the 
 present building was erected at Broad- 
 way and Elizabeth. 
 
 The German Baptist, now Calvary 
 Baptist is another church organized in 
 early Pekin with preaching services 
 held as early as 1870, although the 
 congregation was not formally organized 
 until 1877 with 16 members. The present 
 building at Tenth and Caroline was 
 erected in 1892. 
 
 Thus were founded Pekin' s pioneer 
 churches. And with the growth of the 
 city has come an ever increasing number 
 of churches, until today there are 26 
 Protestant and one Catholic, many of 
 which have recently carried on or are 
 planning extensive building programs. 
 A Union Mission established in 1895 
 and a Salvation Army also aid in minis- 
 tering to the religious needs of the 
 community. A list of present Pekin 
 churches and their location follows: 
 
 First Baptist 
 
 ...Fifth and Elizabeth Streets 
 
 Calvary Baptist 
 
 . ..Caroline and North Tenth Streets 
 
 First Congregational 
 
 ...Elizabeth at Broadway 
 
 Christian 
 
 ...Broadway and Elizabeth Streets 
 
 St. Joseph' s Catholic 
 
 . . . 300 South Seventh 
 
 First Presbyterian 
 
 . . . Broadway and Fourth 
 
 Grace Methodist 
 
 ... 601 North Fourth 
 
 First Methodist 
 
 . . . Fourth and Broadway 
 
 Free Methodist 
 
 . ..412 St. Mary 
 
 Second Reformed 
 
 . . .Sixth and State 
 
 St. Paul' s Episcopal 
 
 ...Washington and Buena Vista 
 
 St. Paul' s Evangelical and Reformed. . . . 
 
 ...Seventh and Ann Eliza 
 
 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran 
 
 . . . Court and Eighth 
 
 Seventh St. Gospel Tabernacle 
 
 . . . South Seventh and Derby 
 
 Church of the Nazarene 
 
 . . .Third and Franklin 
 Assembly of God, Pekin Full Gospel 
 
 Church 
 
 . . . 1215 South 13th 
 
 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran 
 
 . . . 702 South Fourth 
 
 Normandale Reformed 
 
 . . . 2001 South Second 
 
 Pentecostal Church of God 
 
 . . . 1448 South Second 
 
 Apostolic Gospel Tabernacle 
 
 . . .325 South Sixth 
 
 Seventh Day Advent ist 
 
 . . . 1305 Messmer 
 
 First Baptist Chapel 
 
 . . . Derby and South 14th 
 
 Church of Christ 
 
 . . .229 Court 
 
 109
 
 Rus+ttD TO YOUR Gnocm 
 
 WEYRICH HARDWARE 
 
 330 Court St. 
 
 
 'i^^' 
 
 
 
 pi 
 
 ■^^^B V '^^sdl^^^^^^ 
 
 Phone ?8? 
 
 The Weyrich Hardware store was 
 established in 1864, just 15 years 
 after the incorporation of Pekin as 
 a City, in the same building in 
 which it is presently functioning. 
 
 The original owner was John Wey- 
 rich, who with his son August 
 Weyrich enjoyed a successful busi- 
 ness during their life times. The 
 business is now operated by Nelson 
 A. Weyrich, grandson of the founder. 
 
 This store has served the commun- 
 ity for 85 years and the success of 
 the business is due to the satis- 
 faction of the customers. 
 
 Our booth at the First Street Fair in 1898 
 
 110
 
 Jehovah' s Witnesses 
 
 . . .322 Court 
 
 Bethel Tabernacle Assembly of God 
 
 . . . 1208 Maple Street 
 
 Southern Baptist 
 
 . . . Normandale 
 Re-Organlzed Church of Jesus Christ 
 
 of Latter Day Saints 
 
 . . .Court and Broadway 
 
 Salvtftlon Army 
 
 . . .239 Derby 
 
 Pekin Union Mission 
 
 . . . 203 Court 
 
 PEKIN SCHOOLS 
 
 Pekin citizens have always taken a 
 keen interest and pride in their 
 excellent schools, and today both grade 
 and high school systems are among the 
 finest to be found in the state. 
 
 The first school in Pekin' s history 
 dates back to 1831, 18 years before 
 the city was organized. This was a one 
 story building erected on the west side 
 of Second Street, between Elizabeth and 
 St. Mary, by Thomas Snell and taught 
 by his son, John. Then followed within 
 a few years what was known as the 
 Cincinnati school on Broadway, across 
 the street from the old Dutch Reformed 
 Church. 
 
 Sometime in 1840, according to the 
 Bates 1887 Directory , the basement of 
 the Methodist Church was "leased by the 
 Board and put in repair for a school 
 room for the benefit of the corporation 
 of Pekin". Sometime, too, between 1840 
 and 1850. a two story brick building 
 was erected on Margaret Street, between 
 Third and Capitol, by the "Sons of 
 Temperance", the upper floor being used 
 for the lodge meetings and the lower 
 occupied for many years as a "pay 
 school". After the adoption of the 
 state free school system, the entire 
 building was occupied by the free 
 schools of Pekin. For many years older 
 residents of the community referred 
 affectionately to "the old Brick". 
 
 Meantime it is recorded in 1852, 
 Elder Gilbert S. Bailey, assisted by 
 his wife, took charge of a newly 
 organized Pekin Academy "for young 
 ladies and gentlemen"; and that for 
 several years this was acknowledged as 
 one of the leading educational in- 
 stitutions in the state. Bailey, by the 
 way, was later transferred to Chicago 
 where he became one of the prominent 
 workers in inaugurating the University 
 of Chicago. Five years later, William 
 Blenklron established a school in the 
 old Episcopal Church, then located west 
 of the Tazewell Hotel. There were other 
 schools established, too, for the 
 census of 1860 reports for Pekin "12 
 school houseswith a total of 503 
 pu p i 1 s " . 
 
 In 1865 was begun a large brick 
 building on Washington between Buena 
 Vista and Sixth Streets (the site of 
 the present junior high school) to cost 
 about $20,000. When this was completed 
 in 1867, all the various buildings 
 which had been used for school 
 purposes, with the exception of the 
 Sons of Temperance building, were 
 vacated; and the school system of Pekin 
 was reorganized with William Blenkiron 
 as superintendent. 
 
 The first Pekin High School gradu- 
 ation occurred in 1873 with six gradu- 
 ates: Josephine Goodheart, Caesar 
 Roberts, Eunice Sage, Addie L. Turner, 
 Hannah Turner, and Sarah Turner. 
 
 An interesting story goes that some 
 time about 1880, at the insistence of 
 several members of the city board, a 
 resolution was made to teach German in 
 the Pekin schools. Thereupon the Irish 
 members of the community rose to arms 
 and circulated a petition that the 
 Irish language also be taught. This 
 however, was finally deemed inexpedient 
 and the matter was dropped. 
 
 On the night of December 2. 1890, 
 Tragedy struck; and the large brick 
 school of which Pekin was so proud was 
 completely destroyed by fire. The story 
 goes that during the conflagration many 
 spectators gathered bits of metal from 
 the melting bell and wore these as 
 watch fobs for years thereafter. 
 
 The School Board immediately launch- 
 ed a program for rebuilding on a "much 
 larger and more modern plan" resulting 
 in what became known for many years as 
 Washington School. Completed the 
 following year at a cost of some 
 $28,000, this modern brick structure 
 contained 18 rooms in addition to high 
 school recitation rooms and the super- 
 intendent's office. It was this build- 
 ing which became the old Washington 
 Junior High School when the Community 
 High School district was organized and 
 the new high school building completed 
 in 1916. 
 
 PEKIN GRADE SCHOOLS 
 
 In the meantime the East Bluff 
 building, known then as Allen School, 
 was erected in 1869, and before long 
 increased population of the city 
 necessitated the erection of two other 
 buildings- -Lincoln School in 1876, 
 later remodeled and enlarged, and 
 Douglas in 1882 on the site of the old 
 Tharp burial ground. Douglas, earlier 
 known as the Old East Side School, was 
 later razed to make room for the 
 splendid modern structure which now 
 occupies the old site. There was some 
 time before 1880. too, on the corner 
 of Buena Vista and Broadway, the Feger 
 House, more commonly known as the "Baby 
 
 111
 
 PEKIN HARDWARE CO. 
 
 341 Court Street 
 
 ^^Mi^^v.^v^-A------^ 
 
 The Pekin Hardware Co. has been 
 serving Pekin and the surrounding 
 community for nearly 51 years. In 
 December 1898 Mr. Phillip M. Hoffman 
 and Mr. Ernest R. Peyton purchased 
 the business from Henry Roos and 
 from that date it has been known as 
 the Pekin Hardware Co. 
 
 The store is now being operated 
 by Ernest P. Hoffman and William J. 
 Hoffman, sons of Phillip M. Hoffman. 
 
 Identified in the picture of the 
 early days of Pekin Hardware Co. are 
 left to right: Ernest R. Peyton; 
 Martin Larkin Sr. ; Prank Weber; a 
 salesman; Phillip M. Hoffman. 
 
 WE EARLY DAYS 
 
 Interior 
 Decorators 
 
 c>^uHick( 
 
 ullicken s Inc 
 
 COURT STREET • PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 As Near As Your Telephone — Phone 48 
 
 Fine 
 Furniture 
 
 Lutticken' s Inc., was started in 
 1919 after World War I. Upon arrival 
 home from overseas, Robert J. Lutt- 
 icken, the founder, started this 
 venture with the P. A. eergner & Co. 
 of Peoria, 111., Furniture Dept. In 
 1924 along with his regular Home 
 Furnishing Merchandising, a complete 
 Interior Decorating Service was add- 
 ed. In recognition of the quality of 
 Merchandise and Services being ren- 
 dered, he was appointed the exclu- 
 sive Grand Rapids Furniture Makers 
 Guild Dealer for the Central Illi- 
 nois area in 1926; also our present 
 Pekin Store was opened then as a 
 branch. 
 
 After start of World War II. the 
 Peoria Branch was sold, and our com- 
 plete service is now being given 
 from the Pekin location until larger 
 quarters are completed. Also after 
 discharge from services Robert W. 
 Lutticken, son of the founder, com- 
 pleted his courses in interior de- 
 
 sign and art, also special courses 
 in Grand Rapids Guild school of In- 
 terior Decorating. He has now been 
 actively engaged in this enterprize 
 since May 1948 — 
 
 The Grand Rapids Guild Decorating 
 Service insures the finest in qual- 
 ity and design. The special Guild 
 colors give perfect harmony, and are 
 available in Drapery Materials, Up- 
 holstery Fabrics, Carpets, Lamps, 
 Mirrors, Pictures, Art Objects- -also 
 Paints and Wall Paper. 
 
 Finest quality merchandise and 
 skilled mechanics are assurance of 
 that desired result. 
 Furniture Art Objects 
 
 Carpets "Norge" 
 
 Linoleum Refrigerators 
 
 Rubber Tile Gas Ranges 
 
 Asphalt Tile Electric Ranges 
 
 Lamps Washers 
 
 Pictures Freezers 
 
 Domestic Sewing Machines 
 
 112
 
 i 
 
 $ 
 
 School" . However, this was short-lived. 
 There followed, in turn. Garfield, 
 Franklin, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and 
 finally, to be occupied for the first 
 time this fall, Pekin's newest half- 
 million dollar ultra modern Fearn 
 Wilson School, a one-story 12 room 
 structure of steel and concrete 
 containing a fine auditorium, an up- 
 to-date gymnasium and excellent kinder- 
 garten facilities. 
 
 THE NEW JUNIOR HIGH 
 
 In September, 1930. the beautiful 
 new $350,000 Washington Junior High 
 School was completed on the site of 
 the Old Washington Junior High which 
 had been razed to make room for the new 
 building. This contains besides 35 
 class rooms, a modern office room for 
 the city superintendent of schools, an 
 auditorium, and a gymnasium. 
 
 And thus has the Pekin grade school 
 system grown to include 8 modern grade 
 school buildings and the Washington 
 Junior High School, representing a 
 total investment of some $3,500,000 and 
 an enrollment of approximately 3,000 
 pupils. Mr. C.8. Smith is city school 
 
 "The New' 
 
 superintendent, and members of the 
 Board are President Fearn Wilson, John 
 Abts, George Bishop, Bernard Hoffman, 
 Melvin Leach, Morris Severe and William 
 York. 
 
 113
 
 BRISTOW MOTOR COMPANY 
 
 710-716 Court Street 
 
 Mr. L.R. Bristow and Mr. V.A. 
 Grandia acquired the business August 
 3, 1934, from James and Gerald 
 Conaghan, when it was located at 
 the corner of Court and Sixth 
 St reets . 
 
 In the fall of 1936, ground was 
 broken, on land acquired from the 
 Haas estate, for the new lOO' x 160' 
 Bristow Motor Company building at 
 714-16 Court Street. It was the most 
 modern garage building in the Pekin 
 area at that time, and on May 10, 
 1937, the grand opening was held. 
 
 The senior partner, L.R. Bristow, 
 
 passed away on November 4. 1937. and 
 on January 1, 1938, V.A. Grandia 
 became sole owner of the business. 
 
 In July of 1938, the lot adjacent 
 to 714 Court was acquired by V.A. 
 Grandia, which now makes the estab- 
 lishment 160' X 150' . 
 
 Mr. Grandia was 32 years old when 
 he became sole owner, is married and 
 has two children, Gloria and Luther. 
 Luther is learning the business and 
 eventually will become a partner. 
 
 Bristow Motor company has one of 
 the most modern and complete service 
 departments in Central Illinois. 
 
 During thij pa»; century, many advancements 
 have been made in the Funeral Director's 
 profeuion. 
 
 Today, the memorial service is regarded not 
 only OS a tribute to the departed, but a> a 
 source of comfort to the living. 
 
 The public will find every convenience for its 
 
 comfort in our Funeral Home. Appointments 
 her* are modem and in keeping with solemnity, 
 but never depressing. 
 
 Since 
 
 Dec. 31. 
 
 1934 
 
 24 HOUR 
 
 Ambulance 
 
 Sehv I CE 
 
 114
 
 Pekin's MfHorial stadium saa an added touch as the 19ii9 football season 
 opened, with the erection of a 20- foot- long Dragon, symbol of Celestial City 
 athletic provress, atop the big scoreboard. The beast aas created at the high 
 school and outlined in neon light for gridiron patrons. It made its first 
 appearance, with darting red neon tongue, as Pekin beat C ar Imville 28 to in 
 the season's opener, the occasion of the picture shown here. 
 
 % 
 
 t 
 
 k new cafeteria for the Pekin high school vas completed in 19i9, and as 
 school got underway began feeding an average of 1,000 students each noon- day . 
 One of the first "line-ups" inside the new structure was snapped by the Pekin 
 Times, and is reprinted here. 
 
 115
 
 PEKIN 
 DISTRIBUTING CO. 
 
 James J. Viviano, Owner 
 
 108 COURT PEKIN 43 
 
 Among the outstanding business 
 firms of Pekin today is the Pekin 
 Distributing Company, distributors 
 of Old Style, Stag and Hyde Park, 
 "The tastiest beer we know". 
 
 We believe that by handling good 
 products and giving good service a 
 firm can become successful and we 
 have followed that program ever 
 since being in business. 
 
 Along with Old Style, Stag and 
 Hyde Park beers, the Pekin Dis- 
 tributing Company also handles 
 Nesbitt's Orange, O-So-Grape, 
 Cliquot Club and high quality sodas 
 in all flavors. 
 
 The operators of the Pekin Dis- 
 tributing Company have always been 
 ready and willing to aid any project 
 that was for the public betterment. 
 
 DAVIS IMPLEMENT CO. 
 
 Formerly 
 Auto Electric 
 
 And 
 
 Brake Service 
 
 225 Elizabeth St. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER 
 
 Truck s 
 
 Tractors 
 
 Farm Machinery 
 
 Ref ri gerat ion 
 
 GOOD YEAR 
 
 Tires 
 
 Batteries 
 
 WESTBROOK'S FINE FOODS 
 
 16 So. 4th St. 
 Pekin, Illinois 
 A convenient place, efficiently operated. 
 
 "Our desire has been and will continue to be to give the best in 
 food and service in quiet and refined surroundings. " 
 
 GEORGE WESTBROOK 
 and 
 Since 1945 PAULINE WESTBROOK 
 
 Owners 
 
 BEERS 
 
 WINES 
 
 LIQUORS 
 
 THE COLONIAL CLUB 
 
 South of Pekin on route ?9 
 
 FAMOUS FOR 
 
 Cbicken in tbe basket 
 See television 
 
 Fish dinners 
 
 Hear Clyde Bryant 
 The Blind Organist 
 
 116
 
 PEKIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL 
 
 Pekin- Community High School repre- 
 sents an investment of approximately 
 $1,225,000 not including a $540,000 
 bond issue for a new building program 
 at present under construction. 
 
 To the original main building facing 
 Broadway between Eighth and Ninth 
 Streets, completed in 1916, have been 
 added In 1926, a west wing containing 
 additional class rooms; in 1929, an 
 east wing with more class rooms and a 
 modern auditorium with a seating 
 capacity of approximately 1.000; and 
 just being completed this fall, a 
 cafeteria with a maximum capacity of 
 1.800 in shifts of 600 each. In 1936 a 
 new gymnasium building, containing also 
 facilities for shop classes, band, and 
 other classrooms, was constructed on 
 Ann Eliza Street just across from the 
 Main Building. To this has been added, 
 ready also for use this fall, a west 
 wing annex for additional shop facili- 
 ties, including a farm shop. Also part 
 of the school plant, in keeping with 
 Pekin High's expanding athletic program 
 is the half-million dollar Memorial 
 Stadium, dedicated in 1948, with a 
 seating capacity of 10.000. This is 
 located just east of Mineral Springs 
 Park and is one of the finest high 
 school stadiums to be found anywhere. 
 
 Pekin Community High School is 
 
 accredited by the North Central Associ- 
 ation and the University of Illinois; 
 and is recognized by the State Depart- 
 ment of Education. It holds membership 
 in the Big Twelve Conference of Central 
 Illinois High Schools, the Illini 
 Conference, and the Greater Peoria Area 
 Conference. The estimated enrollment 
 for this fall is 1,300 or more. Mr. F. 
 M. Peterson is superintendent, and 
 Community High School Board Members are 
 President I.E. Wilson. Lewis Doren. 
 Louis Hackler, Al Martens. Paul Massey 
 and Allen Parmer, secretary. 
 
 THE PEKIN PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 A group of twenty-three Pekin' women 
 on November 24, 1866. feeling the need 
 for a library in the growing city, 
 formed "The Ladies' Library Association" 
 and appointed William S. Prince as the 
 first librarian. A city council grant 
 of $100. along with citizen donations 
 and subscriptions, provided backing for 
 the project which was first housed in 
 one room of the Frederick Building with 
 library hours Tuesday evenings from 7-9 
 and Saturdays from 2-5 and from 7-9. 
 Patrons paid 25it for six weeks' library 
 privileges, 50$ for six months, or 
 $1.00 per year. Shortly after this, 
 Mrs. Eva Hammond was appointed librari- 
 an at the magnificent salary of $8.00 
 
 Pekin's Carnegie Library Built in 1903 
 117
 
 The Friendly FREDMAN BROS. 
 HOME FURNISHINGS 
 
 326 COURT STREET. 
 
 Harry Abel, manager of the Pekin 
 store, has been with the Predman Broth- 
 ers since 1935, and is exceptionally 
 well qualified to give customers the 
 benefit of his furniture ejcperience. 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 Strictly adhering to their policies 
 of friendly service, the Fredmans have 
 thousands of friends. Dave and Harry 
 Fredman opened their first store in 
 Collinsville, Illinois, in 1914. Back 
 in 1934, they came to the Peoria-Pekln 
 area, with twenty years of furniture 
 experience. At that time they were op- 
 erating six stores. Today the firm, 
 "Fredman Brothers", has expanded to in- 
 clude twenty-three widely-scattered 
 furniture stores in Illinois. 
 
 They employ approximately ?70 per- 
 sons; have 58 vans on the highway, be- 
 sides small service cars and trucks; 
 and they have two major warehousing 
 points.. .in Peoria and Granite City. 
 
 Pekinites can find what they want 
 at lowest prices at Fredman' s, for 
 Fredman' s benefits from manufacturers 
 by buying in carload lots for the ?3 
 stores. Fredmans' buyers are constantly 
 in the markets, seeking to make best 
 selections at low prices, which are im- 
 mediately offered to their customers. 
 
 PUBLIX GREAT STATES THEATERS 
 
 PEKIN 
 
 EMPIRE 
 
 RIALTO 
 
 Theaters have played a part in the 
 life of Pekin since 1850' s when the 
 original Empire theater (second floor 
 over a dry goods store) opened at the 
 Court street location of tlie present 
 Empire. It was almost 50 years before 
 the old Turner "Opera House" became 
 converted into the Standard theater in 
 competition with the Empire. Later, 
 Chris Dittmer operated both for a "time. 
 The Standard later became the Capitol 
 theater, which came to be operated, 
 along with the Empire, by Mrs. Anna 
 Fluegel. 
 
 The first moving pictures, the 
 nickleodeons, came in 1906, the Vaud- 
 ette, the Unique and the Dreamland, of 
 which only the Dreamland survives as 
 the present day Rialto. The Vaudette 
 
 was first, located where the Lohnes 
 
 Print Shop now operates. 
 
 In addition, during the earlier 
 days of the century, there was the 
 Court Theater at Court and Fifth 
 streets and the Idle Hour where the 
 Telephone Company is now. 
 
 In 19?8, Mrs. Fluegel caused the 
 Capitol theater (the old opera house 
 building, to be razed and she erected 
 the present $?50,000 Pekin theater 
 building, constructed in the Chinese 
 motif. 
 
 PUBLIX-GREAT STATES theater corpor- 
 ation assumed management of the Pekin 
 theater and of the Empire in 1937, and 
 in 1949 re-opened the Rialto. 
 
 Today, PUBLIX-GREAT STATES is carry- 
 ing on the great theater tradition in 
 Pekin, and has become an active and in- 
 terested part of the comanmlty. 
 
 118
 
 per month, and in 1887 she was succeed- 
 ed by Mrs. Kate Skelly, who served for 
 the next 12 or 13 years. 
 
 In 1889 the library was moved to the 
 old city Firehouse, still standing at 
 Seventh and Court Streets. Ten years 
 later, having again outgrown its 
 quarters, it was moved to the second 
 floor of the Steinmetz Building and was 
 open every week day afternoon and 
 evening. 
 
 Not until 1896 did it become city 
 property. About this time Miss Mary E. 
 Gaither, member of the Library Board, 
 succeeded in interesting Mr. Andrew 
 Carnegie, who promised $15,000 for the 
 erection of a permanent building pro- 
 vided that the city give a satisfactory 
 site. Mr. George Herget donated the 
 present site at Broadway and Fourth 
 Streets. 
 
 Mr. Carl Herget, in the meantime, 
 gave $1,000 for the purchase of books 
 on condition that citizens raise a like 
 sum. Later, Mr. Carnegie increased his 
 original offer to $25,000; and thus 
 were laid the foundations for the Pekin 
 Public Library which today has over 
 33,000 volumes with a yearly record of 
 some 9,000 borrowers. An excellent 
 children' s department was added about 
 1930, and the most recent project is a 
 record lending department containing 
 at present some 35 albums. 
 
 The library is governed by a board 
 of directors, currently headed by Mr. 
 Ralph Dempsey and has a staff of five 
 persons with Miss Jane Coons, acting 
 librarian. 
 
 PEKIN' S NEWSPAPERS 
 
 The story of Pekin newspapers goes 
 back to 1839 when The Tazewell Re- 
 porter , the first weekly, supplied news 
 for the county. Then followed during 
 the years The Pek in Weekly Visitor 
 established about 1845; The Tazewell 
 Whig and Pekin Commercial Advertiser , 
 1848; and The Tazewell Mirror , which in 
 1860 became the Tazewell County Repub- 
 lican , then The Pekin Post, which 
 finally died as The Pekin Post-Tribune . 
 The II linois Reveil le , about 1850, 
 apparently was the first Democratic 
 paper to be published in Pekin. 
 
 The Pekin Plaindealer , established 
 in 1856, was later succeeded by The 
 Tazewel 1 Register , which about 1880 
 changed its name to The Pekin Times, 
 which is the only surviving Pekin 
 publication. 
 
 The Tazewell Register , The Pekin 
 Bui let in , and The Legal Tender , a 
 greenback weekly, also were published 
 during the middle '80's. 
 
 In 1852, the first German newspaper, 
 Per Wachteram Illinois was started but 
 ceased publication after a few months. 
 
 Then in 1875 or 1876 John Hoffman 
 established The Pekin Freie Press , a 
 German weekly catering to the many 
 German citizens. This was later sold to 
 Albert Weiss, and again in 1914 to 
 Jacob Schmidt who, with the war! 
 changed it to the English language. 
 Free Press , and published it until his 
 death in 1934 when it ceased publi- 
 cation. 
 
 The Pekin Daily Times is today a 
 growing publication of which Pekin is 
 justly proud, having served Pekin and 
 surrounding communities for almost 70 
 years. P. F. MacNaughtoa is the present 
 publisher and owner. 
 
 PEKIN' S PUBLIC BUILDINGS 
 CITY BUILDINGS 
 
 The first city jail, listed as the 
 Calaboose , was contracted for in 1849 
 at a cost limited to $48.00, and re- 
 mained the city lock-up until the 
 summer of 1868 (when it was destroyed 
 by fire). Although, according to the 
 W. H . Bates History , " it was long 
 considered, especially by evil doers, 
 a noisesome pestilential nuisance!" 
 
 Just what was done with such evil 
 doers within the city's confines in the 
 meantime, no one seems to have taken 
 the trouble to record, for there is no 
 account of another jail built in Pekin 
 until 1876, when Heren Brothers were 
 awarded the contract "of building a 
 brick calaboose on Capitol Street." 
 
 In 1858 the city voted against the 
 erection of a City Hall, apparently 
 feeling that Council meetings could 
 continue in homes and offices of 
 members and that other city business 
 could be transacted without benefit of 
 a special building. The city did pur- 
 chase however, in 1866 an old brick 
 warehouse on Second Street to be used 
 as a fire-engine house. 
 
 However, by 1884 the citizens had 
 changed their collective minds, and 
 plans for a City Hall and engine house 
 were approved. This project completed 
 in 1886 at a cost of $6,000 is the 
 present City Hall, fire engine house, 
 and city jail, at the corner of North 
 Fourth and Margaret Streets. 
 
 COUNTY BUILDINGS 
 
 Soon after the county seat was moved 
 back to Pekin from Tremont in 1848, a 
 local committee appointed by the Legis- 
 lature made plans for the erection of a 
 court house which was immediately begun 
 and finished that same year at a cost 
 of $8,000, funds having been con- 
 tributed almost entirely by Pekin 
 Citizens. Many materials in the new 
 
 i 
 
 119
 
 JANSEN & SCHAEFER 
 
 The present firm of Jansen & Schaefer 
 was incorporated in 1915 when D.H. Jan- 
 sen and Fred Schaefer, Jr. bought out 
 the old building firm of Jansen & Zoeller 
 which had been in the building con- 
 struction business under various 
 names since 1889. 
 
 For many years the office and shop 
 were located at 212 N. Capitol St. but 
 with a gradually expanding business, it 
 was found necessary to acquire more 
 working space. Land was purchased on 
 East Broadway in 1933 and the final 
 move into the new office was made in 
 1946. A modern ready-mix concrete plant 
 was erected at the new location in 1947. 
 
 Jansen & Schaefer have always been 
 interested primarily in street and high- 
 way construction and built their first 
 state highway in 1919. This was follow- 
 ed by many projects located in practically 
 every part of the State of Illinois. 
 
 Although primarily interested in high- 
 way work, the firm has done a consider- 
 able amount of building work, including 
 such local projects as the Pekin Park 
 Swimming Pool, Pekin High School 
 Memorial Stadium and the Kriegsman 
 Transfer Co. Warehouse. 
 
 The present, officers of the firm 
 are Fred Schaefer, Jr. , President; 
 Norman R. Jansen, Vice President; 
 James N. Jansen, Treasurer, and H. 
 R. McNally, Secretary. 
 
 PEKIN READY-MIX CONCRETE CO. 
 
 PEKIN NEV 
 
 WHOLESALERS I 
 SINCI 
 
 PEKIN NEWS AGENCY is an authorized 
 agent for magazine and newspaper 
 subscriptions. We offer a complete 
 mail subscription department for all 
 types of magazines in order to give 
 Pekinites the advantages of buying 
 
 VS AGENCY 
 
 i DISTRIBUTORS 
 
 f". 1Q3 
 
 in one's own community where you are 
 assured of safe, ethical and reliable 
 mailing service. 
 
 Mr. Maurice B. Smith, the manager, 
 is the wholesale distributor of 
 magazines, newspapers and merchandise 
 for the entire Pekin Area. 
 
 THE KARAMEL KORN SHOP 
 522 Court Street 
 
 Karamel Korn Blades 
 Pop Corn Supplies 
 Novelties Greeting Cards 
 
 522 Court Street 
 PHONE 2016 
 
 
 120
 
 Pektn Post Office and Federal Building 
 
 building were local products -- sand- 
 stone for the foundation having been 
 quarried about five miles northeast of 
 Pekin; and brick made on East Bluff. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, 
 John A. Logan, and Robert G. Ingersoll 
 were among the famous persons who 
 practiced law within its walls during 
 its 60 or more years, until the early 
 1900' s. 
 
 County offices, "large, convenient, 
 and fire proof throughout" were built 
 in 1856-7 opposite the present Tazewell 
 Hotel. These were torn down at the time 
 the present court house was built. 
 
 A new county jail was built in Court 
 House Square replacing one erected ten 
 years previously. This was a two story 
 brick structure, containing offices and 
 stone cells capable of holding 15-20 
 prisoners, with sheriff's family 
 quarters located above them, and cost 
 5.7,000. It remained until 1S92 when the 
 present county jail and sheriff's 
 residence was erected. 
 
 In 1913 Tazewell County needed a new 
 court house, and a resolution was in- 
 troduced at a meeting of the County 
 Board of Supervisors providing for 
 such, and a bond issue of $250,000 to 
 defray the cost. Having received the 
 unanimous approval of the Board, the 
 issue was voted upon and carried at a 
 special county election called for 
 October 20, 1913. 
 
 Corner stone ceremonies were held 
 
 November 14, 1914; and two years later, 
 in 1916 was completed Pekin' s beautiful 
 new County Court House at an entire 
 cost of $212,964, including walks and 
 grading of the grounds. 
 
 FEDERAL BUILDINGS 
 
 The location of the Pekin post 
 office during the early years seems to 
 have had nothing on the rroverbial 
 rolling stone, for one early chronicle 
 tells us that "it is impossible to name 
 all the locations". We do know that 
 about 1866, it was located on the south 
 side of the 300 block on Court Street 
 about three doors from the railroad. 
 
 Then after being moved to the middle 
 of the Mark' s block west of the rail- 
 road, it remained there until 1897; 
 when it was again moved to the Flynn 
 Building -- in the new Boston block. 
 The first postmaster appointed in 1832, 
 was Robert Alexander. First city free 
 delivery of mail was made in 1886. 
 
 In 1892 an appropriation of $70,000 
 was made "with additional appropri- 
 ations up to $80,000 for a Federal 
 building for Pekin." Finally, after 
 much heated controversy, the site of 
 the former Prettyman Homestead at 
 Elizabeth and South Capitol was chosen 
 and purchased for $15,000. 
 
 But when local bids, based on plans 
 and specifications submitted by the 
 
 I 
 
 S 
 
 121
 
 PEKIN AUTO BODY CO., INC. 
 
 1 5 NORTH SECOND ST. 
 
 Mr. Elmer Saylor opened the Pekin 
 Auto Body Co. at the corner of Fifth 
 and Ann Eliza streets in 1930. This 
 business of repairing wrecked auto- 
 mobiles and twenty-four-hour wrecker 
 service expanded so quickly in the 
 next six years that a new location 
 became necessary. 
 
 In 1937 the business was incor- 
 
 PHONE 7 3 
 
 porated. Present stockholders are 
 Elmer Saylor, Harold Saylor and Ber- 
 nice Saylor. 
 
 This reputable company, that 
 gives reliable service, has grown 
 from a one-man shop to a business 
 employing twenty people. 
 
 As Pekin reaches the completion 
 of its first century the Saylors of- 
 fer heartiest congratulations. 
 
 WEGHORST 
 
 TELEPHONE 368-M 
 
 Q. C. WEGHORST, owner 
 
 SALES & SERVICE 
 
 BROADWAY 
 
 AT 
 
 THIRD 
 
 Pekin, III. 
 
 ROWE & !^ON TRA!¥SFER 
 
 412 BROADWAY 
 
 Daily Service Between Pekin & Peoria 
 
 AGENT FOR MELVIN TRUCKING CO. 
 
 Ph. Pekin 449 Ph. Peoria 43171 
 
 Since Jan . 1 . 1945 
 
 WALTER SCOTT LOHNES 
 
 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 
 402 S. Third St. Phone 818 
 
 j^r-i 
 
 One of Pekin' s early homes, the log cabin still stanaing at the corner 
 oJ S. Third and Fayette streets, was discovered inside a frame residence 
 that was torn down a few years ago at this location. As far as known it is 
 the only one left in Pekin. Before long it will be razed to make room for a 
 modern J. P. Office. 
 
 122
 
 supervising architect of the Treasury 
 Department in 1904, were forwarded to 
 Washington, they were all rejected be- 
 cause they were not within the limits 
 of the contract price; and new bids had 
 to be submitted. Consequently, it was 
 not until several years later that the 
 splendid Pekin post office building was 
 completed. 
 
 Besides the post office, the build- 
 ing houses, on the second floor Pekin' s 
 Home Bureau, the Army recruiting 
 offices, and the offices of the 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 The Pekin office at present employs 
 34 regulars and 8 substitutes under Roy 
 S. Preston, postmaster. Postal receipts 
 for the fiscal year 1948 were 
 $139.908. 24. 
 
 PEKIN HOTELS 
 
 To Gideon H. Hawley goes the credit 
 for starting the first hotel in the 
 village in 1830. shortly after Townsite 
 had been renamed Pekin. How long this 
 hotel operated or how well apparently 
 was not recorded. But we do know that 
 1839 saw the establishment of the 
 Columbia Hotel, which so far as can be 
 ascertained, was the forerunner of the 
 present Windsor Hotel on Margaret and 
 Fourth. 
 
 The year 1848 witnessed the estab- 
 lishment of two so-called "first-class" 
 hotels -- the Eagle, kept by Mr. Seth 
 Kinman and the Taylor House, run by 
 William A. Tinney. This afterwards be- 
 came the Mansion House. 
 
 However, according to the Bates 
 history, the two most prominent hotels 
 of early Pekin were the American, torn 
 down in 1874 and rebuilt as the 
 Planters House; and the Tazewell 
 House, which in 1859 was purchased and 
 operated by William A. Tinney and had 
 the reputation of being "the most com- 
 modious and best- kept house in the 
 city", catering to such guests as 
 Abraham Lincoln. Stephan A. Douglas, 
 and other notables of the time. It re- 
 tained its name until it was purchased 
 by Mr. T.K. Bemis, who renamed it the 
 Bemis House, the name by which it was 
 known until it was abandoned and torn 
 down in the early 1900' s and the site 
 converted into the present Bemis Park 
 at the west end of Court Street. 
 
 In the summer of 1879, a Mrs. E. 
 Barber added a third story to t>he 
 building "south of the county build- 
 ings," converting it into a hotel, 
 which later became the Woodard House. 
 This was destroyed by fire in 1899. 
 
 Reference is made, too, in the Bates 
 188 7 Directory and History , of the 
 erection in 1881 of the Union House at 
 Court and Second by Leonhard Dietrich, 
 and of the Sherman House by John Weber 
 
 in 1874 at the corner of Second and St. 
 Mary Streets: and the same directory 
 lists seven hotels operating in Pekin 
 at the time of its publication; Bemis 
 House, 101 Court; Central House, 401 
 Margaret; Planters House, 423 Court; 
 Sherman House. 201 St. Mary; Tremont 
 House, 501 Court; Union House, 130 
 Court; and Woodard' s Hotel. 424 Eliza- 
 beth. We next hear that it was destroyed 
 by fire in 1899, at that site, on which 
 later was built the present Tazewell 
 Hotel. The address is now 350 Elizabeth 
 due to the fact that at that time we 
 had only one 300 block. 
 
 When the Tazewell was erected, we 
 are told that it was extremely popular 
 and was usually crowded, especially on 
 Sundays, by traveling men, who pre- 
 ferred it's accommodations to those 
 offered in Peoria and other neighboring 
 towns. 
 
 Today there are four hotels in 
 Pekin: The Tazewell at 350 Elizabeth 
 Street, with 42 rooms, being the 
 largest; The Illinois, 210 St. Mary; 
 The Windsor, 101 North Fourth; and 
 Central Hotel. 333 Margaret. 
 
 PEKIN BANDS 
 
 Older Pekin residents recall with 
 pride the days of Gehrig' s Famous 7th 
 Regiment Band, an organization which 
 became known throughout Illinois in the 
 late 19th and early 20th centuries. But 
 starting at the beginning, the first 
 Pekin band was organized in 1865 by 
 Edward Gehrig, Sr. . a civil war veteran 
 cigar maker. 
 
 Before moving to Pekin, Mr. Gehrig 
 had organized a band and an orchestra 
 in Peoria. At that time, there being no 
 orchestra in Pekin, the Peoria music 
 makers were often hired to come down 
 the river to play at dances and other 
 functions. Finally, liking both Leader 
 Gehrig and his enthusiastic interest in 
 music. Pekin lured him, away from Peoria 
 to establish his cigar factory here in 
 1865 -- and. incidentally or otherwise, 
 to organize a community band. In 1880 
 this became known as Gehrig's 7th 
 Regiment Band, and continued as such 
 until 1925. In 1901. at Leader Gehrig' s 
 death, his son, Charles P. Gehrig, took 
 over and continued as leader for 20 
 years. Thus, for 56 years. Pekin' s city 
 band was under the direction of a 
 Geh rig. 
 
 In the meantime, in 1870, Roehrs and 
 Dietrich Union Band also furnished 
 music for city and other affairs; in 
 1885 was organized the Pekin Opera 
 House Band; in 1925, Bauer's Military 
 Band; and in 1925, the Pekin Municipal 
 Band, which was Incorporated in 1929 
 by Karl A. Zerwekh. L.C. Toel, and Dr. 
 G.C. Cleveland. This band today serves 
 
 I 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 123
 
 Manufacturers of 
 
 r. n. Soldwedel & Son* 
 
 DAIRY PRODUCTS 
 
 301 Elizabeth Street 
 Phone 28 
 
 Timm Soldwedel - 1880 
 
 Over eighty years ago Timm Sold- 
 wedel moved with his wife and four 
 daughters from Germany to a farm 
 near Manito. With hogs selling at 2* 
 a pound and corn at 184 a bushel, 
 farming was unprofitable, so, with 
 the offer of some financial backing 
 and the cooperation and help of his 
 family, in 1880 he bought the herd 
 and dairy business from the Zimmer- 
 man estate of Pekin and moved to the 
 farm on east Broadway road. 
 
 Four sons, all born in .America, 
 were too young to help much, so the 
 chores fell to the girls, with Dora 
 taking the milk route, making the 
 daily deliveries for eight years, 
 rain or shine, sleet or snow. In the 
 winter the milk froze in the cans 
 and in the summer two deliveries a 
 day were necessary to deliver the 
 milk sweet. It was hauled in large 
 cans and the customers, on hearing 
 the milkman's bell, brought pit- 
 chers, pans or pails to be filled at 
 the wagon for 7$ a quart. 
 
 Herd oil Soldwedel Dairy Farm 
 36 years ago 
 
 The Soldwedel milk wagon in those 
 days was as popular and well known 
 on the streets of Pekin as are the 
 modern Del' s trucks today. Many of 
 Pekin' s older residents who were 
 customers in the early days are 
 still having Soldwedel milk and 
 products delivered to their doors 
 today. 
 
 The Soldwedel dairy herds were 
 blue ribbon winners many times at 
 the Illinois State Fair, often being 
 driven there on foot. In 1893 they 
 were entered in the Missouri State 
 Fair in St. Louis and practically 
 "won everything" as Hine wired 
 ho me. 
 
 The first auto truck delivery 
 
 124
 
 The Modern Plant 
 
 After the death of the father, 
 Timm, it was Fred (now president of 
 the firm) who carried on. He moved 
 the business to a farm on the north 
 edge of Pekin at the end of Capitol 
 street. There with the help of his 
 wife and family, five were boys, 
 Paul, Carl, Fred Jr., and twins Tim 
 and Henry, the business was devel- 
 oped and expanded from the early 
 type of dairy to a modern dairy, 
 business. 
 
 The next move was to a plant at 
 No. 9 N. Fifth St. , where pasteur- 
 izing equipment was added. As they 
 outgrew that plant the present loca- 
 tion on Elizabeth Street was pur- 
 chased and the manufacture of butter 
 and icecream was added. 
 
 FredH. Soldwedel, President 
 of F. H. Soldwedel Co. i9i9 
 
 Deliveries have oeen going to this 
 home since the days when Miss Dora 
 drove the nilk aagon. 
 
 As constant growth demanded more 
 and more working space, more build- 
 ings and ground were purchased and 
 improved to handle the increased 
 manufacturing and as garages for the 
 many Del's trucks that may be seen 
 on the streets of Pekin, on the 
 highways and in surrounding towns. 
 
 During World War II Del's milk 
 and cheese and other products were 
 shipped to army camps near and far. 
 
 Today Fred H. Soldwedel is pres- 
 ident of the company, with sons Tim 
 and Henry in active management. 
 Growth and progress still go on, new 
 ideas and products are developed and 
 the P. H. Soldwedel Co. keeps pace 
 with the times and grows with Pekin. 
 
 125
 
 SCHWARTZ ELECTRIC CO. 
 
 104 N. Seventh St. Phone 743 
 
 Domestic, Conmiercial & Industrial Wiring 
 50 Years Electrical Experience in Pekin 
 
 !^ SvendscD 
 
 • General Contractor 
 
 Office and Shop 712 Derby St. Phone 14D2-J 
 
 Estimates 
 
 Cheerfully 
 
 Furnished 
 
 » ►All Work Covered by Workmen's Compensation and Public Liability Insurance 
 
 BUILDER OF FINE HOMES SINCE 1940 
 
 C^oLoniaL 
 
 ICE CREAM 
 
 62/ S. Third 
 
 Phone 207 0.J 
 
 Colonial Ice Cream is so named 
 because of the old fashioned method 
 of manufacturing process used. It' s 
 being frozen in an old fashioned tub 
 with salt and ice. Just the way 
 gramma used to make it years ago. 
 
 Started by Mr. and Mrs. Ross E. 
 Dickson in September 1947, after Mr. 
 Dickson' s release from the Army Air 
 Corps. It is located in a residen- 
 tial district one block south of 
 Washington on Third. A little hard 
 to find but well worth the effort. 
 
 
 CENTRAL DIST. CO 
 
 Johnny Monge, Prop. 
 6?3 So. Second - Pekin, 111. 
 Phones - 655 - 1758- W - 9? 
 
 126
 
 the community at public concerts and 
 parades and is directed at present by 
 Harold Beach. 
 
 Pioneer band members still living in 
 the community include: Karl A. Zerwekh, 
 Rudy Haake. Ed Joerger, and August W. 
 Lauterbach. Mr. Lauterbach at one time 
 was organizer and director also of an 
 old German Band, "The Hayseed Band" 
 which used to play for Turner dances in 
 the old Standard Theater mentioned 
 elsewhere . 
 
 SCHOOL BANDS 
 
 Also in Pekin today are three ex- 
 cellent school bands. D.L. Costa 
 directs the Pekin Community High School 
 group; and James A. Keith is director 
 of two grade school groups -- the first 
 band composed of approximately 90 grade 
 and junior high members who have had 
 some musical training and the second 
 
 band composed of about 100 members, 
 which acts as a feeder for the First 
 Band group. 
 
 THE PEKIN PUBLIC HOSPITAL 
 
 /^ project of Pekin' s more recent 
 years, the Pekin Public Hospital, at 
 14th Street and Park Avenue, has a 
 capacity of 90 beds and 20 basinettes 
 and is equipped to handle all types of 
 medical, surgical, pediatric, and 
 obstetrical cases -- a single exception 
 being communicable diseases: and thus 
 is qualified to give a well-rounded 
 health service to citizens of Pekin and 
 its environs. A non-profit community 
 institution, it is staffed by phy- 
 sicians resident in the community. 
 Equipment includes a blood bank, 
 laboratory. X-ray, incubator bed, iron 
 lung, and other special services. 
 
 To the original 18-bed capacity 
 
 
 9 
 
 .^-M^' 
 ^j^ 
 
 The beautiful , modernistic structure above represents the plans submitted 
 by George Poppo Hearda, Pekin architect, for the proposed addition to be built 
 onto the vest end of Pekin public hospital on the Park avenue side, at an es- 
 timated cost of one and a quarter to one and one-half million dollars. The netc 
 addition, uhich will move the hospital entrance from Fourteenth street to Park 
 avenue, vill increase facilities from the now-present 92 bed capacity to 150 
 bed capacity. It also will provide a completely - equipped, top-floor surgical 
 department, and the cost will cover all equip^nt, including the dishes. Of 
 the estimated cost, $750,000 must be raised locally, with the larger area 
 industries being counted upon to assume the bulk of the load. With Pekin being 
 given an A-11 priority for hospital expansion in the state, at least 18 per- 
 cent of the amount has been guaranteed by the State of Illinois, to be made 
 available sometime between three months and a year and one- half , depending 
 upon how soon Pekin will be determined next in line. The new addition will 
 require 15 months to two years to be completed. The original Pekin public 
 hospital was erected m 1913, and the first annex was built in 1930. 
 
 127
 
 PcKin Foundry £c Manufacturing Co. 
 
 MANUFACTURERS OF 
 
 CASTINGS 
 
 Gray Iron 
 Semi-Steel 
 , Alloy 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 Do you remember way back when the foundry was located on 
 the corner of Court & Fifth Sts, , the present site of the 
 Arlington? It was then the Duisdieker foundry owned by 
 Mr. Duisdieker who moved it to our present location in 
 1893. Since 1926 it has been known as PEKIN FOUNDRY & 
 MFG. CO. 
 
 ♦• 
 
 It Lasts a "HOUSETIME" 
 
 Yes, an Eagle-Piclier Certifird Insulation 
 Job actually lasts a "housetime"'. Water 
 repellent and chemically and physically 
 stable, Eaple-Picher Mineral Wool Insu- 
 lation will not settle or break down when 
 installed in your house. 
 Get the comfort and fuel economy that 
 every house needs. 
 
 Order an EAGLE-PICHER 
 CERTIFIED INSULATION JOB 
 
 Call us /or a Free Estimate 
 
 EAGLE INSULATING COIVIPANY 
 
 112 COURT ST. TELEPHONE I77D PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 128
 
 brick building, completed and equipped 
 in 1913 at a cost of $50,000, was 
 added in 1931 a $90,000 four story 
 brick south wing annex. Again, in 1940, 
 it was expanded to its present capacity 
 through the addition of a fourth floor 
 to the original building and other im- 
 provements; and at present further 
 expansion plans are in the making. 
 
 The hospital is a member of the 
 American Hospital Association, the 
 Illinois Hospital Association, the Blue 
 Cross Plan for Hospital Care, and is 
 registered with the American Medical 
 Association. It is governed by a board 
 of nine members and the city mayor, 
 ex-officio member. Bernard Hoffman is 
 president of the Board. 
 
 HOSPITAL AUXILIARY 
 
 Cooperating with the executive board 
 in securing help and money for hospital 
 needs is the Pekin Hospital Auxiliary, 
 organized in 1941. This group of some 
 1,000 women, with Mrs. Vernon Heckman, 
 president, pay membership dues of $1.00 
 each and carry out two annual pro- 
 jects -- a card party and a bazaar, 
 with bulk profits going to the hospital 
 for special equipment and other needs. 
 
 PEKIN PARK SYSTEM 
 
 One of the commendable community 
 enterprises of Pekin today is its 
 
 splendid summer recreational program. 
 Carried on in the several city parks 
 whose size and location are ideal for 
 such activity are projects including 
 free swimming lessons, supervised games 
 and hobby classes, and fishing derbies 
 for youngsters; an open a-ir nursery for 
 the tiniest members of the family; 
 square dancing for Pa, Ma, and even 
 Grandma; and swimming and boating for 
 everyone. 
 
 The Pekin Park District was organ- 
 ized in 1902. However, a Pekin park 
 goes back 20 years previous to the 
 spring of 1882, when a citizens' meet- 
 ing was held to organize a company, 
 purchase ground, lay out a park, and 
 drill an artesian well. A charter was 
 procured from the Secretary of State, a 
 company organized, and $5,000 worth of 
 stock issued and sold. 
 
 Then a 990 foot well was bored to 
 provide mineral water for Park use and 
 from that the park received its name. 
 In the report of an analysis made by 
 Dr. Emil Pfeifer. head of the Wies.baden 
 (Germany) Sanitorium, we find that he 
 •compared the water to that produced by 
 the spring of Baden-Baden and added: 
 "it will produce the same effects of 
 Baden-Baden or Wiesbaden, especially in 
 gout, rheumatism, stomach troubles or 
 sick headache." A chemical analysis 
 made April 1896 by the University of 
 Illinois showed the water to contain 
 a total of 179.44 grains of mineral 
 matter. 
 
 Three thousand trees were soon set 
 
 pf- -r i 
 
 r^'^p 
 
 B 
 
 a 
 
 
 129
 
 B & H SHOE STORE 
 
 The 1880's, left to right: Gus John, 
 Bart Jost, Jr., Bookkeeper (un- 
 identified). Wn. J. Lohnes, Bart 
 Jost, Sr., John G. Heisel. 
 
 Th e s ane location 19^9 , left to 
 right: Henry Penno, Dick Ball, Ed 
 B own an, Mart Bowman. 
 
 320 Court St. has been a shoe 
 store location for almost sixty- five 
 years. The original store was known 
 as Ehrlicher's Shoe Store and in the 
 1880' s was operated by Fred W. Ehr- 
 licher (an yncle to George and 
 Arthur Ehrlicher of Schipper & Block 
 Co.) and John J. Fink, partners. A 
 picture of the original store ap- 
 pears on this page. 
 
 It was later sold to John G. 
 Heisel and Wm. J. Lohnes and the 
 name changed to Heisel & Lohnes. It 
 remained under their management for 
 fifteen or twenty years when Mr. 
 Heisel bought his partner's share 
 and dropped the name Lohnes from the 
 firm name. (Mr. Lohnes subsequently 
 joined with two business men from 
 Peoria and bought the P. Steinmetz 
 Dry Goods Store which became Lohnes, 
 Merkle & Renfer, where he estab- 
 lished a shoe department.) 
 
 In its early years, when the re- 
 pair department was part of the shoe 
 store, Bart Jost, Sr. was the shoe 
 maker and his teenage son Bartlin 
 Jr. , who through the span of his 
 life spent over fifty years as a 
 shoe salesman in the 300 block on 
 
 Court St. , was also an employee of 
 Ehrlicher. To this day old customers 
 reminisce about "good old Bart" when 
 they shop at the B & H where he 
 spent the last active years of his 
 life. 
 
 The John G. Heisel Co. continued 
 and after World War I it was re- 
 modeled and the present attractive 
 front installed. (Juality shoes were 
 featured then as today. 
 
 About 1924 it was sold to Sam 
 Sandler, an old shoe merchant from 
 Peoria, who shortly after sold it to 
 two brothers-in-law, Ed EBowman and 
 Sid Herman, who changed the name to 
 the B & H Shoe Store, the name it 
 has carried for the past twenty- 
 three years. 
 
 Ed Bowman bought out Herman a few 
 years later. _A short time after, his 
 son Mort joined the firm and took 
 over active management. The store 
 has tried to establish a reputation 
 for honest dealings in business and 
 a quality line of merchandise at all 
 times, while keeping pace with the 
 times in modern conveniences and 
 methods . 
 
 B & H SHOE STORE 
 
 A Good Place to Buy Good Shoes 
 3?0 Court Street Phone 831 
 
 130
 
 out in the newly purchased 40 acre 
 tract, a lagoon scraped out, and in 
 1883 a bath house was erected. During 
 the next years were constructed a 
 swimming pool, a pagoda , and roads and 
 fountains; and the people of Pekin were 
 happy to have a fine park without cost 
 to the citizens. But a cyclone blew 
 down the bath house, the pagoda, and a 
 band stand; the company found itself in 
 arrears, and finally Thomas Cooper, 
 president, paid the bills himself, 
 bought up the stock, put up a new 
 modern building east of the lake, and 
 repaired the bath house. Before this 
 he had offered the park to the city for 
 $6,000, but his offer was rejected. 
 Some time later he sold the park to 
 Pred and Henry Schnellbacher and Henry 
 Saal for $9,000. Soon afterward a fire 
 destroyed the club house and the owners 
 again offered the park to the city, 
 this time for ^13,000 -- and again were 
 rejected by a vote of the citizens, 
 showing that the people of Pekin ap- 
 parently did not want a park. However, 
 in 1902, it was voted to purchase 
 Mineral Springs Park for $22,500 and 
 thus it became city property. Plans 
 were immediately made and a contract 
 let in 1903 for the erection of a 
 pavilion and a palm house costing ap- 
 proximately $15,000. The next spring 
 the lake was deepened and improved for 
 use of pleasure boating. 
 
 In the summer of 1935, after a 
 second sulphur well had been sunk to a 
 depth of 1,080 feet to establish an 
 adequate water supply, a new 532,000 
 gallon capacity outdoor pool was con- 
 structed, the second largest in the 
 state and one of the finest in the 
 Middle West. In May 1937, the pool 
 project was completed with the opening 
 of a splendid new bath house at a total 
 cost of $150,000 including the pool. 
 The new bath house has 15, 000 square 
 feet of floor. space, 12 individual tub 
 rooms, 13 private dressing rooms for 
 women swimmers and hot and cold mineral 
 water for tubs and shower baths. 
 
 Besides the pool. Mineral Springs 
 Park, with its 92 acres, contains base- 
 ball and soft ball diamonds, 3 concrete 
 tennis courts, a dancing pavilion, out- 
 door ovens, bench and picnic tables and 
 a lagoon for boating and fishing in 
 summer and ice skating in winter. Pekin 
 also owns 4 other parks: Willow, 2 
 acres at Willow and North Fifth; Bemis, 
 1 acre at Front and Court; the Blen- 
 kiron Tot-Lot, 1 acre at Park and South 
 Sixth, bequeathed to the Pekin Park 
 district in the will of MissAnna Blen- 
 kiron. May 1945, as a playground for 
 chilaren from 2-6 years of age; and the 
 Park View 9 hole Municipal Golf course 
 of 118 acres adjoining Mineral springs 
 to the north and east. 
 
 PEKIN THEATERS 
 
 Indoor public recreation in the 
 "good old days" of Pekin' s history 
 seems to have been centered mainly 
 around Opera Houses or halls, one of 
 the earliest and most popular having 
 been the Old Empire Hall located on the 
 second floor of a building in the 200 
 block Court Street. Although the exact 
 date is indefinite, the Old Empire 
 seems to have come into existence some 
 time in the early 1850' s, and to have 
 been used for dances, shows, entertain- 
 ments, graduation exercises, and what 
 not. 
 
 The Turner Society, a German organi- 
 zation in Pekin' s earlier days, also 
 opened a hall for social recreational 
 purposes about 1867, when they pur- 
 chased the Old Cincinnati School build- 
 ing on the south west corner of Third 
 and Franklin. In 1890 the Turners built 
 a "grand new Opera House" on the corner 
 of Capitol and Elizabeth, and the 
 popularity of the Old Empire declined 
 in favor of the newer, more commodious 
 quarters. 
 
 But about the turn of the century, 
 with the organization in Pekin of a 
 Y.M.C.A. (said to be an Americanization 
 of the German Society), the Turners 
 gradually passed out of existence and 
 the once popular Opera House was con- 
 verted into the Standard Theater. This 
 was later remodeled into a motion 
 picture theater and renamed the Capitol 
 Theater, which it remained until 1928 
 when it was razed to make room for the 
 present beautiful $250,000 Pekin 
 Theater building, erected by Mrs. Anna 
 Pluegel. 
 
 But before the time of motion 
 picture theaters, an interesting tran- 
 sition from Opera House days was taking 
 place. The first motion picture thea- 
 ters, called electric theaters, opened 
 in Pekin in 1906', three of them at 
 approximately the same time, all with 
 most interesting names -- The Dre am- 
 land at 302 Court, later changed to the 
 Rialto, which by the way, is the only 
 one of the original three still in 
 operation: the Unique at 9 South 
 Capitol in the Arcade Building: and the 
 Vaudette at 24 South Fourth. The title 
 "electric theater" was soon changed to 
 "Nickelodeon." Others were the Court at 
 431 Court and the Idlehour where the 
 Telephone Company is now. 
 
 Apparently attendance at these early 
 "movies" in Pekin, as well as else- 
 where, offered some interesting exper- 
 iences for the "nickel" fee. Patrons 
 sat on collapsible chairs, facing a 
 sheet draped at one end of the room 
 opposite a projecting machine with the 
 operator mounted on a box. Early 
 patrons here recall with amusement that 
 it was a common practice for the 
 
 8 
 
 a 
 
 w 
 
 9 
 
 131
 
 ROY T. RAU TIRE & APPLIANCE COMPANY 
 
 GOOD/^rEAR 
 =". TIRES .^ 
 
 TIRES— BATTERIES- ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 
 
 521 Court Street Phone 13 
 
 The Roy T. Rau Tire & Appliance 
 Company was formed just five years 
 ago. In those five years, this firm 
 has lightened the burdens of Pekin' s 
 housewives who have purchased West- 
 inghouse Appliances, and has given 
 Pekin car owners many thousarids of 
 carefree driving on Good Year Tires 
 
 and Tubes. 
 
 Besides the famous Westinghouse 
 and Goodyear name, Rau's sells 
 lighting fixtures, a complete line 
 of electrical supplies used in all 
 home building, Ironrite Ironers, 
 "The World's Finest Ironers," and 
 complete service on all Westinghouse 
 appliances. 
 
 EXCEL BRASS & ALUMINUM FOUNDRY 
 
 Four teenfh and Ann Eliza Streets 
 
 Charles E. Robison started the the pattern shop 
 Excel Brass and Aluminum Foundry 
 from scratch about seventeen years 
 ago. At that time there was one 
 small building and just one em- 
 ployee. Since its beginning there 
 have been eight additions to the 
 Foundry and besides keeping a dozen 
 men busy in two machine shops and 
 
 "good cast ings- ' -good service---honest prices. 
 
 the business em- 
 ploys about forty workers. 
 
 Excel made castings are shipped 
 around the world in the great mach- 
 ines built by Caterpillar Tractor 
 Co. and at the present time they are 
 making parts in all types of non- 
 ferrous metals. 
 
 JOE OZELLA 
 
 COMPLETE 
 FOOD MARKET 
 
 Corner Ninth & Derby Streets 
 
 PHONE 1805 
 
 Joe Ozella has been a groceryman 
 for just ten years, but in those few 
 years his gross yearly business has 
 increased more than ten times. This 
 has been due to diligent work, an 
 amiable personality and fine foods 
 and service. 
 
 After working as a coal miner, 
 Mr. Ozella opened his first grocery 
 store in 1939 at the corner of 
 Seventh and Derby Streets, and later 
 built the modern market which now 
 serves hundreds of families in Pekin. 
 
 WE LIKE PEKIN 
 Ten years ago, when we were look- 
 ing for a permanent home for our 
 Rex Insured Gas and Oil System, we 
 chose Pekin. We liked its friendly 
 people, its cooperative business, 
 its community spirit. 
 
 We have been happy to work and 
 grow with this good community, from 
 which we operate our friendly and 
 progressive system of Rex Insured 
 service stations. 
 
 And, just as we're proud of our 
 city, we're proud of the fine quali- 
 ty of our products and our service. 
 
 -Rex Kluitip- 
 
 REX INSURED GAS AND OIL SYSTEMS 
 
 MARGARET STREET AT SECOND 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 132
 
 machine to break down several times 
 during a show and time taken out for 
 repairs while spectators waited. 
 
 At present there are several modern 
 auditoriums and places for dancing 
 available in Pekin schools and other 
 buildings, as well as three motion 
 picture theaters -- The Pekin at 
 Capitol and Elizabeth Streets; The 
 Empire, 327 Court: and the Rialto, 302 
 Court. 
 
 Also there is at work currently a 
 planning committee of teen agers with 
 two adult advisers, attempting to 
 formulate plans for the establishment 
 of a Teen Age Center where Pekin' s 
 young people may congregate for rec- 
 reation purposes. 
 
 PEKIN CEMETERIES 
 
 The first group burial ground in 
 Pekin was Haines Graveyard, given by 
 Joseph Haines prior to 1830. His 
 daughter-in-law. Jane Adams Haines, was 
 the first tenant of this cemetery. 
 
 This was followed, about 1830, by 
 City Cemetery, on the approximate site 
 of the present Quaker Oats Company 
 plant. Here were buried some of the 
 oldest and most prominent citizens of 
 earlier times. However, later it was 
 abandoned as a burial ground except for 
 paupers who were interred there at the 
 expense of the town. 
 
 Because of the cholera and malignant 
 typhoid epidemics in the fall of 1834, 
 need for more burial space became im- 
 perative and Tharp Cemetery, the 
 present site of Douglas School, came 
 into existence. Later this, too, was 
 abandoned; and when the school was 
 contracted for, the bodies were moved 
 to present Lakeside Cemetery. 
 
 We find no more records of ceme- 
 teries in the city until 1857, when the 
 Sons of Temperance Order purchased land 
 for burial purposes near the Bluff 
 school. Shortly thereafter the trustees 
 of that order also plotted a cemetery 
 north of town and named it Oak Grove. 
 
 To D. Oilman Bailey and his wife is 
 given the credit for platting the 
 original Lakeside Cemetery about 1873. 
 This and Oak Grove and Schillings 
 addition were incorporated in 1901 as 
 the present Lakeside Cemetery, follow- 
 ing the formation of a cemetery associ- 
 ation in 1898. 
 
 A beautiful mausoleum, built at the 
 south end of the cemetery, was dedicat- 
 ed Sunday, June 23, 1929. This is a 
 $252,000 structure, perpetually endowed 
 containing 11 private family rooms, 944 
 single crypts, and 90 niches for cre- 
 mation urns. In December 1948. an elec- 
 tric phonograph system was built for 
 the mausoleum and installed as a memor- 
 ial to Mrs. P.J. Kriegsman by her 
 
 family. 
 
 While Lakeside Cemetery was being 
 developed, a Catholic cemetery was 
 being laid out adjoining it to the 
 north; and within the last decade 
 another Catholic Cemetery, St. Joseph's 
 has been established south of Pekin on 
 the South Fifth Street road, outside of 
 the city limits. 
 
 As increased population created a 
 need for more space for burials, the 
 new Lakeview Cemetery was laid out on 
 North Eighth Street across from Lake- 
 side, with Frank Rosenberg, Inc. hold- 
 ing the controlling stock interest. To 
 this were transferred the bodies from 
 the abandoned City Cemetery. 
 
 The last cemetery to be established 
 in Pekin was the veteran Memorial, also 
 on North Eighth Street, south of Lake- 
 view, a one and one fourth acre plot 
 centered around a memorial shaft dedi- 
 cated to Pekin' s World War II dead. 
 Congressman Dirksen dedicated the 
 Memorial on Sunday, May 18, 1947. 
 
 Serving also as a burial ground for 
 Pekin, but outside of city limits, are 
 the recently established Glendale 
 Memorial Gardens, located east of town 
 on the Tremont road. 
 
 PEKIN ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE 
 
 The Pekin Association of Commerce 
 had its origin in The Citizens Improve- 
 ment Association, almost 60 years ago 
 when a group of civic-minded men banded 
 together to go about a systematic ac- 
 tivity to secure new industries for 
 Pekin. Everett W. Wilson was president 
 of the group. 
 
 Ten years later, in 1900. The Pekin 
 Retail Merchants Association was or- 
 ganized with Ferd Pauley, president, 
 and Fred Helm, Secretary. The purpose 
 of this organization was to promote 
 better business practices and systems. 
 In 1904. the previously organized 
 Citizens Improvement Association, with 
 E. L. Conklin, president at the time, 
 changed its name to the Pekin Com- 
 mercial Club, and later in 1911 merged 
 with the Retail Merchants Association, 
 retaining the name of the Pekin Com- 
 mercial Club. 
 
 The Pekin Association of Commerce as 
 it is today was reorganized under its 
 present name in April 1916, with 
 William E. Schurman, President; Phil H. 
 Sipfle, association secretary; and Miss 
 Maude M. Smith, assistant secretary, a 
 position in which she is still serving. 
 
 Through the years, the organization 
 has grown with the community which it 
 serves, numbering among its members the 
 leading business, industrial, and pro- 
 fessional men of Pekin. It is an active 
 organization through which business 
 units cooperate and coordinate their 
 
 3 
 
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 133
 
 PEKIN DAIRY 
 
 415 S. Second St. 
 
 The Pekin Dairy, located at 415 S. 
 Second St., was 10 years old when it 
 was purchased in 1945 by J. Carl and 
 Frieda Law. Their partnership during 
 the past four years has been eminently 
 successful. 
 
 Indicative of the growth of The Pekin 
 Dairy are certain startling statistics 
 both in increased production and sales 
 of which Mr. and Mrs. Law are justifi- 
 ably proud. 
 
 For instance in 1945 there were four 
 home delivery routes operated from the 
 Dairy. Today there are seven routes in 
 all. The route salesmen include John 
 Cash, Edwin Lewis, Harold Bastian, 
 Harold Hoyle, Harry Allard, George Ep- 
 kins, George Deppert and Alma Noard. 
 One relief driver is employed - Norman 
 Morrison. Presley Bastian is employed 
 as the sales manager. 
 
 Within the past two years Pekin Dairy 
 has installed its own homogenizing 
 equipment and is now furnishing residents 
 
 Phone ?78 
 
 of this community with Vitamin D hom- 
 ogenized milk containing 400 U.S. P. 
 units per quart of Vitex Natural Vitamin 
 D. 
 
 Pekin Dairy is now a "Grade A" plant 
 having met with the rules and specifica- 
 tions set up by the State of Illinois. 
 
 Installation of new refrigeration equip- 
 ment and a larger ice cream freezer has 
 increased the ice cream production to 
 four times what it was when purchased by 
 the present owners. 
 
 Today plans, are being drawn for ex- 
 tensive additions and remodeling, to 
 include a new store front and greater 
 working space to accommodate the wide- 
 spread acceptance of Pekin Dairy's pro- 
 ducts-butter, cottage cheese, milk, 
 chocolate milk, ice cream and orange 
 drink. 
 
 Pekin Dairy is adding to the progress 
 of this community both with its building 
 program and with the employment of 
 thirty of its residents. 
 
 MINES BROTHERS FARM CHEMICAL STORE 
 
 SOO South 
 
 PHONE 
 Joe Hines 
 
 Mines Brothers Farm Chemical 
 Store is not only one of the newest 
 enterprises in the Pekin area, but 
 is also one of the most unique. It 
 was begun in February 1949, and is 
 the only exclusive farm chemical 
 store in Central Illinois. 
 
 Second 
 
 824 
 Roy Hines 
 
 Chemicals to kill weeds, hoppers, 
 stock insects, household bugs and 
 chicken mites are sold by Hines 
 Brothers, and a complete spraying 
 service is offered. 
 
 This new service for Pekin and 
 the surrounding country wishes to 
 congratulate the city on its 100th 
 Anniversary. 
 
 HINES OIL COMPANY 
 
 800 South Second 
 
 PHONE 824 
 
 Ten years ago, in February 1939, 
 the Hines Oil company was founded 
 by Joe Hines, and in those ten 
 years, the company has expanded 
 with Pekin. 
 
 Wholesale and retail gasoline 
 
 and oil are dispensed from the 
 station at 800 South Second Street, 
 where the slogan is; "I have no 
 quarrel with the fellow who sells 
 for less -- he knows what it is 
 worth . " 
 
 134
 
 efforts toward community improvement 
 and prosperity; and as an organization 
 it has been a large contributing factor 
 to the progress of Pekin. The program 
 of the organization covers a wide scope 
 of community activities including the 
 Melon Festival, 4-H Club Show, Santa 
 Claus Parade. Fourth of July Cele- 
 bration, etc. 
 
 Dr. D.W. Turner is current president 
 of the group with Britt B. Blair, 
 association secretary. 
 
 EARLY STREET FAIRS 
 
 Pairs and festivals are not new to 
 Pekin. for records show a county fair 
 
 Pekin's First St. Fair, 1898 
 
 held here as early as 1870. However, 
 the city street fairs, held first in 
 1898 and for several subsequent years 
 were highlights in entertainment with 
 elaborate booths, erected by Pekin 
 merchants to advertise their wares, 
 down the middle of Court Street. A 
 program advertising the second annual 
 Pekin Street fair for October 11-14, 
 1899, describes the first fair in these 
 glowing terms: 
 
 "The first Street Pair in Pekin was 
 witnessed by thousands who went away 
 charmed and delighted. Booths with 
 rich, elaborate, and bright colored 
 decorations were as a feature from 
 Fairyland, and the flower parade was a 
 dream of beauty. " 
 
 The 18 page program then goes on to 
 advertise the second fair, mentioning 
 singers, dancers, acrobats, bands, and 
 free shows from 16 or more elevated 
 platforms. Wm. J. Conzelman was presi- 
 dent of the planning committee; John 
 Shade. Secretary; and Henry Birkenbush. 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Included in the program is a list of 
 places of interest to visitors, includ- 
 ing Kuhl's Green House, "among the 
 largest and best equipped in the 
 state;" the new Tazewell Club house, 
 and Mineral Springs Park. Railroads 
 offered lowered rates to fair visitors 
 who came from miles around to join in 
 the fun and festivities. 
 
 3 
 
 m 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 n 
 
 Melon Festival Croad 1968 
 135
 
 THE KUPBOARD 
 
 Second Best Place to Eat 
 11 North Fourth St. 
 
 I came and Pekin took me in. I closed my place of business in 
 
 Peoria, 111., during World War II when I joined the United States Navy. 
 Upon my return to the U. S. A. at the conclusion of hostilities, I came to 
 Pekin and started anew. 
 
 The reception I have had here makes me realize that the things I had to 
 do in time of war were worth while! 
 
 Therefore, I wish to say to the people of Pekin 
 
 Thanks, 
 
 Harry Sarnes 
 
 Automatic Heating Equipment Co, 
 
 901 COURT STREET 
 The Automatic Heating Equipment 
 Company became a part of Pekin' s 
 business life in 1937, when Alva H, 
 Nash, Ray stranz and Orval H. Nash 
 began, handling Iron Fireman stokers. 
 Seven years later, the company ex- 
 panded to include heating equipment 
 of all kinds, and the present office 
 was opened, Ray Stranz, who was 
 formerly in the installation and 
 service department, is now the sole 
 
 Phonet 126 and 1935-W 
 owner of the business, having pur- 
 chased it on July 1, 1949 
 
 Zero water softeners, Bryant gas 
 stoves and electric water heaters, 
 Coleman gas and oil furnaces, Mon- 
 arch ranges, Jacuzzi water systems, 
 and rock wool or blanket insulation 
 are also sold by the Automatic Heat- 
 ing Equipment Company and they offer 
 day or night service on any type 
 heating equipment. 
 
 Norris Grain Company 
 
 Grain 
 
 Merchants 
 
 Pekin brancli 
 
 operating 
 
 elevators in 
 
 Pekin - Mani 
 
 to - Chi 1 1 i CO the 
 
 Henry 
 
 Hennepin 
 
 13th and Derby DALE B • 
 
 PUMICE BLOCKS 
 
 Dale B. Cornick, concrete block 
 manufacturer, is interested not only 
 in Pekin' s past but also in Pekin' s 
 future as a city, housed and doing 
 business in well-built, long-lasting 
 structures. 
 
 Cornick concrete blocks and 
 bricks, now made in any color or 
 size, are pianufartured to last. They 
 are as strong as Gibraltar, and will 
 endure as long. The finest of insul- 
 
 CORNICK Phone 1564-M 
 
 CONCRFTE PRODUCTS 
 
 ation is assured by use of the new 
 light-weight pumice blocks. 
 
 Since 1938, when Mr. Cornick 
 established his factory in Pekin, 
 2,000,000 durable blocks have been 
 manufactured, but he is constantly 
 seeking, testing and experimenting 
 with the newest designs and mater- 
 ials in order to supply Pekin with 
 the best concrete products obtain- 
 able anywhere at any price. 
 
 136
 
 3 
 1 
 
 Tazewell County i-H Club Show 19/,9 in Mineral Sprinf^s Park 
 
 Of special Interest to Pekinites 
 today are names of present day business 
 firms found among the pages of adver- 
 tising -- such names as Weyrich and 
 Velde & Roelf, hardware stores. Birken- 
 bush Jewelry, Ehrlicher Brothers' Drugs 
 
 and N. Reuling and Schipper and Block, 
 department stores. 
 
 The street fairs were discontinued 
 sometime during the early 1900' s, to be 
 replaced in later years by homecoming 
 festivals and, beginning with 1947, the 
 annual Watermelon Festival. 
 
 137
 
 THE PEKIN DAMIY TIMES 
 
 AM INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER — TAZEWEU. irHNTV? nVLY DAILY 
 
 cational, religious, govern- 
 mental and social news. Infor- 
 mation streams in, timed to the 
 great moment--the climax of each 
 day, GOING TO PRESS. Then out it 
 flows thru hundreds of newsboys to 
 ■ tens of thousands of readers. 
 
 NOBODY KEPT THE HISTORY 
 
 Probably because of the tendency of newspapermen to regard yesterday' s 
 events much in the same light as yesterday' s oatmeal, nobody has kept a 
 history of The Pekin Daily Times. Started Jan. 1 1881, by Joe Irwin, some 
 fine men have had their hands at the helm and have contributed of their 
 wit to the Daily Times during these 69 years. 
 
 There came, however, unhappy days in the first quarter of this century 
 when the Times passed from this hand to that, and became an organ, first 
 for Tom, then for Dick, then for Harry. Files and records were lost. Pin- 
 ally the skilled and strong hand of McGiffin of Iowa got it. He quickly 
 turned it to Gundersen of New Jersey: and with equal alacrity Gundersen 
 peddled it to McNaughton of Indiana. Having taken it "for better or for 
 worse," McNaughton stuck with it; and altho at first it was "worse," it took 
 a turn for "better" and in the 22 years since, the Times circulation has 
 doubled and doubled and doubled until now it has become one of the strong 
 papers of Illinois and a powerful factor in the life and growth of Pekin 
 and three mid-Illinois counties. The Times is keeping "one jump ahead " of 
 Pekin. and looks forward to greater expansion. 
 
 138
 
 Tazewell Club 
 
 THE TAZEWELL CLUB 
 
 One of the landmarks of Pekin is the 
 Tazewell Club house, corner of South 
 Fourth and St. Mary's Streets, built at 
 an expenditure of approximately $12,000 
 and dedicated February 12. 1896. 
 Records tell us that the dedicatory 
 gathering "probably marks the most 
 notable social event in the history of 
 the city." That the dedicatory program 
 was an elaborate one is attested to by 
 the fact that it included, besides 
 President Henry Herget's address of 
 welcome, two other addresses, a long 
 recitation, and several musical 
 numbers, including selections by 
 Gehrig' s Band. 
 
 The Tazewell Club was organized in 
 1893 with Judge George C. Rider, presi- 
 dent, and O.F. Weber, secretary of the 
 organizing committee, to "promote the 
 business interests of the city of Pekin 
 and for the social enjoyment of its 
 members," with headquarters where "the 
 professional man, the business man, and 
 the clerk may congregate, during 
 leisure time, to enjoy a few hours in 
 wholesome recreation." 
 
 Christened "The Tazewell Club of 
 Pekin", the new organization estab- 
 lished headquarters on the second floor 
 of the Priederich Bldg. at the corner 
 of South Fourth and Elizabeth Streets. 
 Here, according to early reports, 
 members "enjoyed the pleasure of a cozy 
 parlor and pleasant reading room, an 
 attractive billiard hall and card 
 room -- all of which were furnished 
 with a taste that was highly commend- 
 
 able." And here the club remained until 
 the new club house was completed. 
 
 The principal source of revenue 
 then, as now, was a membership fee and 
 annual dues --at that time $20 fee and 
 $18 dues. Soon after organization, the 
 group extended to members of the Pekin 
 Woman's Club and the "Litta" Society 
 the use of club rooms for their semi- 
 monthly afternoon meetings, and the 
 club auditorium still remains the meet- 
 ing place of the Pekin Woman' s Club. 
 
 Currently there are some 200 members 
 including both senior and junior mem- 
 berships, with John Velde, president, 
 and William Conkel, Secretary. 
 
 THE "LITTA" SOCIETY 
 
 One of the early woman's cultural 
 organizations which flourished in Pekin 
 during the late ' 90' s was the "Litta" 
 Society, organized in January 1892 at 
 the home of Miss Martha Herget, later 
 Mrs. George Steinmetz. Twenty young 
 ladies formed the organization, "for 
 musical and literary instruction, and 
 entertainment for the benefit of 
 friends and members." 
 
 In 1898, the "Litta" group joined 
 the 14th District Federation of Woman's 
 Clubs and was active in Pekin' s Club 
 history until the early 1900' s when it 
 was disbanded. 
 
 139
 
 y MOTOR SALES, INC. 
 HR^nto • PEyjiuotdA 
 
 Telephone 1850 
 
 1300-6 Court St. 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 E. E. Arterberry, President 
 M. J. Arterberry, Vice-President 
 W. A. Metcalf, Treasurer 
 Juanita Early, Secretary 
 
 Arterberry Motor Sales is pic- 
 tured above as it appeared on Feb- 
 ruary 23. 1939, when we began 
 supplying DeSoto and Plymouth auto- 
 mobiles to Pekinites. 
 
 Arterberry' s was like any other 
 small business-- it had a struggle 
 to survive. This was accomplished 
 through the confidence of the 
 people of this community and the 
 fine products of Chrysler Corpora- 
 tion. Not only have we survived, but 
 we have grown. Today the most modern 
 equipment, larger facilities and a 
 group of skilled mechanics and 
 personnel are offered. 
 
 Each one of our mechanics is a 
 trained technician, and most of them 
 have completed the three-year mech- 
 anic G. I. training course. This 
 
 schooling has enabled our men to do 
 a "big job for less money," as they 
 know where to look for trouble and 
 and how to find it quickly. 
 
 We are appreciative of having 
 gained the confidence of many fine 
 people in Pekin and Tazewell County. 
 We like to serve you and your comm- 
 unity, and we hope that we may 
 continue to enjoy the same friendly 
 relationship in the future as we 
 have in the past. We still have the 
 Chrysler products. Remember us when 
 you think of DeSoto or Plymouth. 
 
 As pictorial proof that we have 
 grown, and will continue to do so 
 with our community's support, here 
 is Arterberry Motor Sales, Inc. , as 
 it appears today. 
 
 MOTOR SALES 
 
 MliflirJ 
 
 140
 
 PEKIN WOMAN' S CLUB 
 
 One of the oldest community organi- 
 zations, the Pekin Woman's Club, began 
 as the Columbian Club, organized "to 
 study objects and countries in connec- 
 tion with the 1893 Chicago World's 
 Pair." However, in October 1893, the 
 group decided to make their purpose a 
 literary one and changed the name to 
 The Pekin Woman' s Club , with Mrs. W.G. 
 Bailey, first president. The group to- 
 day has on its roster three charter 
 members of the original twenty- three: 
 Mrs. Franklin Velde, Mrs. Ernest 
 Peyton, and Mrs. Henry Herget. 
 
 One of the maj or- projects under- 
 taken by the club during World War I, 
 was the production of "The District 
 School" under the presidency of Mrs. 
 John Shade. This netted a sum of over 
 $400 which was donated to the Red 
 Cross. Also at this time was organized 
 The Tazewell County Federation of 
 Woman' s Clubs. 
 
 Membership has grown to about 20O, 
 with Mrs. Harry Apfel current presi- 
 dent. Bimonthly programs are organized 
 around four topics: The American Home; 
 Art, Drama, Literature and Music, 
 Civics; and Science and Education. The 
 local club is affiliated with the 
 General Federation of Woman's Clubs. 
 
 THE JUNIOR WOMAN'S CLUB 
 
 Organized in 1935 with 26 charter 
 members, the Junior Woman's Club, young 
 Pekin women whose ages range from 18 to 
 30, has grown to include 85 members. 
 Mrs. John Yock is now president of the 
 group, one of whose purposes is com- 
 munity betterment. All profits from 
 club activities are donated to local 
 charity projects. 
 
 The club's most ambitious project to 
 date was last year's "Follies" produc- 
 tion which netted a profit of $1,700, 
 set aside by the club for the estab- 
 lishment of a Pekin Teen-Age Center. 
 
 PEKIN COUNTRY CLUB 
 
 Starting with 98 members, the Pekin 
 Country Club was organized on March 24, 
 1916, at its present site on East 
 Bluff, on land purchased from the 
 Lemuel Allen estate. William S, Pretty- 
 man was its first president. 
 
 The farm house which occupied the 
 site at the time of purchase was re- 
 modeled into the attractive modern 
 club house In use today. About ten 
 years ago, the club purchased an 
 additional 50 acres, making an approxi- 
 mate total of 95 acres on which it 
 maintains a nine hole golf course for 
 
 use of its some 300 members from Pekin 
 and surrounding Tazewell County towns. 
 Myers Mayberry is the 1949 president. 
 
 THE PEKIN Y. W. C. A. 
 
 Women of Pekin are justly proud of 
 their efforts in founding and direct- 
 ing a community Y.W.C.A., which came 
 into existence in 1929. To Mrs. 
 Martha Steinmetz belongs much of the 
 credit for its organization. 
 
 Always interested in young people, 
 Mrs. Steinmetz had, a number of years 
 prior to 1929, organized and sponsored 
 a Girl Reserve group which held regular 
 meetings in the old barn at the Stein- 
 metz home on Washington Street. Out of 
 this grew the organization of the 
 Y.W.C.A. when a group of Pekin citizens 
 met, formed the preliminary organi- 
 zation, and purchased the John Stoltz 
 property on Broadway to house the newly 
 formed association. Mrs. Mary Holmes 
 Watt was chosen to serve as secretary. 
 Soon, having outgrown its original 
 quarters, the organization purchased 
 the Otto Koch residence at 310 South 
 Fourth Street, where it now actively 
 serves the community. 
 
 Shortly after organizing, the local 
 group became affiliated with the 
 National Association of the Y.W.C.A. 
 The Pekin Y.W.C.A. is governed by a 
 board of women directors, headed at 
 present by Mrs. S.O. Cox, and is 
 financed largely by member fees and 
 annual subscription drives and other 
 donations. It carries on an extensive 
 program, sponsoring a number of clubs 
 meeting regularly at the Y for women 
 and girls; directing activities of 
 junior and senior high school Y Teen 
 group, including the sponsoring of 
 summer camp activities; and each winter 
 sponsoring an extensive educational 
 program of classes in various subjects 
 and activities open to Pekin citizens. 
 Miss Rose Mary Ebrie is at present 
 the executive director; Mrs. Maude 
 Rupert is house matron, and Miss Pat 
 Stranz is office girl. 
 
 PEKIN COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION 
 
 The newest organization to bring 
 cultural enjoyment to Pekin music 
 lovers is the Pekin Community Concert 
 Association, organized in the spring 
 of 1947. for the purpose of securing 
 outstanding talented artists to present 
 a series of winter programs. Any member 
 of the community may belong by paying 
 the membership fee, which in turn, 
 admits him to the winter concert 
 series, the first of which was held 
 during the winter of 1947-48. 
 
 Mrs. O.W. Johnson is now president. 
 
 3 
 
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 141
 
 PEKIN'S RIVER FRONT
 
 PEKIN ORGANIZATIONS 
 Service Clubs 
 
 Pekin's seven service clubs all with 
 national affiliations, are concerned 
 primarily with promoting city better- 
 ment. The two oldest are the Rotary and 
 Kiwanis organized in 1920. Louis C. 
 Moschel was first president of Rotary , 
 which is now headed by Clarence 
 Preston. Current president of Kiwanis , 
 organized later in the same year, is 
 R.A. Milford. Judge Jesse Black was its 
 first president. Al trusa Club, a 
 woman's service organization with 
 classification similar to that of 
 Rotary, began in 1929. Miss Fern Haning 
 is president now. 
 
 The five youngest of the group so 
 far as organization in Pekin is con- 
 cerned are Cosmopolitan , organized in 
 1930 and presided over at present by 
 Robert Planck; Exchange Club, 1937, 
 with Walter Schlagel current president; 
 Lions Club , 1940, Mort Bowman, presi- 
 dent; and Optimists , 1946, with Ed 
 McClarence now presiding officer. 
 
 Latest to have been organized is the 
 Junior Chamber of Comm erce , begun in 
 1946 under the direction of Willard 
 Thompson. Urban Albertsen, Jr. , is now 
 president of the some 30 members. All 
 of these groups, composed of business 
 and professional people, carry on 
 yearly projects of civic and philan- 
 thropic nature. 
 
 Patriotic Organizations 
 
 G. A. R . whose auxiliary Is the 
 Women's Relief Corps -- organized after 
 the civil war; now extinct in Pekin. 
 
 Spanish American War Veterans and 
 its ladies' auxiliary -- begun after 
 Spanish-American War. 
 
 American Legion , William Scha efer 
 Post No_. 44. -- organized in 1919 and 
 named after first Pekin service man 
 killed in World War I. Oscar Kaufman 
 was first commander of the Post, which 
 now includes veterans of World War I 
 and II. A number of organizations have 
 grown out of the Legion, including 40 
 and 8, which by the way, has recently 
 erected a beautiful chateau on Bastile 
 Lake, North Pekin; a woman's auxiliary, 
 and two junior organizations. The 
 Legion is at present constructing an 
 American Legion Home at 718 Court 
 Street. 
 
 Veterans of Foreign wars -- Roy L. 
 King Post -- another veteran's group 
 organized after World War I exclusively 
 for men who served on foreign soil. 
 There is also a woman's auxiliary. 
 
 Clubs that grew out of World War II 
 
 The Tobin-Nanninga Detachment of 
 Marine Corps League -- named after the 
 two Pekin boys who lost their lives at 
 Pearl Harbor. There is also a ladies' 
 Auxiliary. 
 
 Pekin Navy Club -- and its Ladies' 
 Auxiliary. 
 
 Other Clubs and Organizations 
 
 There are at present in Pekin some 
 200 other clubs and organizations -- 
 social, semi-social, philanthropic and 
 professional in character which lack of 
 space prohibits listing. Pekin also has 
 local chapters of American Red Cross, 
 Tazewell County Tuberculosis Associ- 
 ation, and American Cancer Society, as 
 well as active groups of Boy and Girl 
 Scouts, affiliated clubs of the Farm 
 Bureau, and various fraternal organi- 
 zations. 
 
 Many other clubs and organizations. 
 
 The Chateau, home nf the I'ekin iO & 8 
 143
 
 VELDE, ROELFS § CO. 
 
 INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES 
 
 TOOLS - BUILDERS' SUPPLIES - PAINTS 
 
 BLACKSMITH SUPPLIES 
 
 303-31! Margaret St. 
 
 Pekin, Mi. 
 
 r 
 
 "^ 
 
 '«a>iS. 
 
 
 In 1865 Ties Smith and John Velde formed Smith and Velde, which was 
 the fore runner of the present company. In 1894 John Velde, Jacob 
 Roelfs & Dietrich Velde incorporated as Velde, Roelfs & Co. In 1909 
 Dietrich Velde purchased the business from his partners. 
 
 During these early days of the company, the principal sales effort 
 was directed to supplying the blacksmiths and carriage makers. Felloes, 
 rims, hawns, fifth wheels were among the large selling items that would 
 be unfamiliar to the present generation. The salesmen used horse and 
 buggy to call on accounts in a hundred mile radius of Pekin. 
 
 Today the company is actively supplying industrials, mines, util- 
 ities and contractors with steel, bolts, chain, wire rope, mechanical 
 rubber products, grinding wheels, electric tools, precision instru- 
 ments, hand tools and many other allied products. 
 
 The corporation officers at present are J. Ernest Velde, President 
 and Treasurer, who has been with the company for 49 years. John E. 
 Velde, Jr. Vice President and Karl U. Velde, Secretary. 
 
 We salute Pekin on its steady growth and are proud to have been part 
 of that growth. 
 
 144
 
 then as now, sprang up, flourished for 
 awhile, then gradually died out. It is 
 impossible to mention all these, even 
 to find records of many; but perhaps 
 two of the more influential should be 
 noted -- The Turners, a German social 
 organization which was in its heyday 
 during the latter half of the 19th 
 Century and the Union Club, the story 
 of which is given in the historical 
 account earlier in this publication. 
 
 EARLY INDUSTRIES 
 
 when older life- long residents begin 
 reminiscing on the "Pekin that was", 
 they invariably recall the ice indus- 
 try, a giant one in "those days." In 
 fact, Pekin used to be one of the major 
 supply sources for southern markets, 
 especially St. Louis; the ice being 
 shipped on large barges down the river. 
 
 Pekin Lake shore, oldsters recall, 
 was practically lined with ice houses, 
 built along Gravel Ridge -- huge 
 affairs, we are told, capable of hold- 
 ing some 20,000 tons each -- owned by 
 the W.A. Boley, Inc. Company who had 
 purchased the business from John Lowny 
 in 1866. In 1873, the Boley Company 
 bought the lake for $5,000 and still 
 retains exclusive rights. Most of the 
 lake now belongs to the Otto Koch 
 estate, except the upper part, which 
 is the property, along with Worley 
 Lake, of Pekin Rod and Gun Club. All of 
 these ice houses have since been 
 destroyed by fire. 
 
 On Bailey's Lake was the Grant 
 Brothers ice house, with a switch track 
 leading from the lake to the New York 
 Central line. During the height of the 
 season, it is said that the Grant 
 Company sometimes employed from 200 to 
 300 men to harvest and load the ice. 
 
 Coal mining, too, was an extensive 
 industry, which helped develop Pekin, 
 some seven or eight mines having been 
 in operation at one time or another. 
 Although these mines are now closed, 
 such names as Old Hope Mine, north of 
 the present County Club grounds; 
 Champion Mine on Broadway; Bohlander 
 Mine on Court Street near the Country 
 Club entrance; and Ledterman Mine near 
 Bailey's Lake, are still familiar to 
 older Pekinites. A more recently closed 
 mine - in 1938 - belonged to the Ubben 
 Coal Company. Situated near Bailey's 
 Lake, it had been formerly owned by 
 Grant Brothers. 
 
 Today, Pekin Mining Company on 
 Broadway, and Lakeside Mine, northeast 
 of Pekin on the Morton Road are the 
 only two in the immediate vicinity 
 still operating. 
 
 Until the early fifties, Pekin was 
 known as the "largest and best grain 
 and hog market on the river north and 
 
 above Beardstown; " and in a record 
 written years later by Mr. James 
 Haines, one of Tazewell County's 
 earliest pioneers, he recalls that 
 from 30,000 to 36,000 head of hogs were 
 bought and butchered here annually 
 during the thirties and forties; and 
 that "large river boats from New 
 Orleans and the Ohio River came each 
 spring in high water time and lay for 
 days together near the pork and grain 
 houses, bearing away from them, to 
 southern markets mostly, the large 
 accumulated stocks of fall and winter." 
 Mr. Haines tells too of selling his 
 corn in Pekin for twelve cents a bushel 
 and his hogs at $1,50 per hundred 
 pounds, dressed and delivered at the 
 pork house here. As a by-product of 
 this early grain business, Pekin built 
 large flour mills, another important 
 early industry. 
 
 Earlier among prominent grain and 
 produce buyers in pioneer days were 
 Crain, Kellogg and Co., established in 
 the early thirties and generally known 
 as Pekin' s first large traders and 
 dealers in "all kinds of merchandise." 
 At their store, located on the north 
 side of court Street, one "could buy, 
 sell, swap, barter, or transfer." 
 
 The distillery trade, too, brought 
 much prosperity to the city. References 
 are made to a distillery established 
 several years prior to 1849, and again 
 to "the well-known Mclntyre Distillery 
 purchased in 1867 by the Hon. David T. 
 Thompson and destroyed by fire in 
 1871." There is on record, too, a 
 notation that in 1886, "the Enterprise 
 Distillery was destroyed by fire but 
 the work of re-building was begun while 
 smoke yet issued from the remains. " 
 
 From 1870 through the nineties a 
 number of distilleries and breweries 
 were opened -- in 1870 the Phillip 
 Herget Malt House, and in 1871 the 
 Pekin Distilling Company. The Star and 
 the Cresent in 1891 and the Globe 
 (later the Standard Distilling and 
 Distributing Company) in 1892 were 
 founded by George and John Herget; and 
 The American Distilling Company, 1892. 
 by John Wilson and Son, the only one 
 still operating today. 
 
 There was also the Winkel Brewing 
 Company established about 1870 at the 
 foot of Caroline Street. In connection 
 with this was a large storage cellar 
 located at the foot of the Country Club 
 hill. To this was taken in barrels, 
 from the brewery, beer which was run by 
 hose into large hogshead for aging. 
 This was later abondoned when a spring 
 broke through and flooded the cellar. 
 
 Another thriving business, now non- 
 existent, was the livery stable trade- - 
 Stickley's, Kelly's, De Vore's, Critt- 
 enden's, and the Palace having been 
 among the popular ones in Pekin' s pre- 
 
 145
 
 I ,,-^J 
 
 1 W 1^ F 
 
 III III III Ell 
 
 Jil m 3n M. 
 
 DRY GOODS. LEATHER. 
 
 16^ 
 
 jm 
 
 If 
 
 HI 
 
 li 
 
 J.WAGENSELLE R & S ON 
 
 
 ViEworJ.WAGENSELLER a SON* BLOCtt48AtiEl50 Court Street 
 P E tt I rg I L L 5. 
 
 OrriCEO _ 1 LK.IJ DliriLLINC , . )J . 1 ,.ou., , ji.,u 
 
 WHlTFIELD"i.BiLLi«Ru Paruor )(!5 v.oum oibeet 
 PErtlM riLS, 
 
 146
 
 auto days. All of these included as a 
 large item in their services the 
 furnishing of funeral coaches and 
 horses to pull the hearses. 
 
 Also outstanding among pioneer in- 
 dustries were the "Smith Shops, " the 
 first being the T. and H. Smith 
 Company, manufacturers of plows and 
 wagons, founded in 1849 by the Brothers 
 Smith -- Teis, Henry, and Frederick, 
 and a brother-in-law, Luppe Luppen. By 
 these original partners, together with 
 others, followed the organization ' of 
 these firms: Smith, Velde & Company, 
 hardware, in li>58; Smith, Hippen & 
 Company, grain, in 1862; Smith Feltman 
 i: Company, lumber, 1866; Teis Smith & 
 Company, banking house, 1866; and the 
 
 Smith Plow Company, 1876. These in- 
 dustries also made a large contribution 
 to the prosperity of Pekin. 
 
 For years, too, the Hinners Organ 
 Company, founded in 1879. was one of 
 Pekin' s leading factories, producing 
 thousands of Hinners Reed and pipe 
 organs, sold to all parts of the United 
 States, Europe, and other parts of the 
 world . 
 
 The Cooper Shops, a natural companion 
 of the distilling industry, were a block 
 of buildings between Margaret and the 
 railroad from nth to 12th and employed 
 many men until prohibition put them out 
 of business. In 1919 Montgomery Ward 
 bought the block and opened the Hummer 
 Saddlery which burned out in 1924 and a 
 
 r 
 
 > 
 
 9 
 C 
 
 - O 
 
 ^ ^^ 
 
 
 The Cooper Shop and its employees - operated by Ton tdds and Son. 
 Corner Margaret and 12th Sts. 
 
 147
 
 DODGE AND PLYMOUTH 
 
 PASSENGER CARS 
 
 DODGE TRUCKS 
 
 COURT MOTORS. INC. 
 
 Capitol § Margaret Sts. 
 
 Phone 168 
 
 Tom 0. Cas sidy 
 
 Your Dodge and Plymouth Dealer 
 
 Since 1939 
 
 Serving Pekin the Last Twenty of 
 Its First 100 Years 
 
 Complete Car and Truck Service, including 
 Body Repair and Painting 
 
 The Dodge franchise for selling 
 Dodge cars, Dodge trucks and Plymouth 
 cars has operated under the name of 
 Court Garage and Court Motors, Inc., 
 for approximately 27 years, first at 
 500 Court Street and then at Capitol 
 and Margaret, its present spacious 
 quarters. 
 
 On July 22, 1939, Tom 0. Cassidy, 
 became the owner and has carried on 
 through the years. Quoting from a 
 statement made at the time of its 
 acquisition, Tom 0. Cassidy said: 
 "I have chosen Dodge- PI yroouth and 
 Pekin as permanent connections, be- 
 cause mutually they offer me the 
 
 The Service and Parts Departments on the Margaret Street Side. 
 
 148
 
 The Sales Department On the Capitol Street Side. 
 
 greatest opportunity to successfully 
 serve the motorist.' Dodge and Ply- 
 mouth cars and Dodge trucks are, 
 without doubt, the best values in 
 today's automotive market, and I feel 
 fortunate indeed, to secure this 
 distributorship. Moreover, the ex- 
 cellent and unsurpassed facilities 
 of Court Motors make it a pleasure 
 to invite the motorists to avail 
 themselves of our service. I am 
 deeply gratified with the opportunity 
 to own and operate this business in 
 Pekin, which I believe is the finest 
 city in the United States." 
 
 During the war it became necessary 
 for Court Motors, in lieu of no car 
 production, to reduce the organiza- 
 tion to a service set-up, which was 
 under the fine and capable management 
 of Cecil Burling. Also, because it 
 was necessary to heed the call of 
 duty, Tom 0. Cassidy served in the 
 armed forces in the air corps for 
 four years and eight months and re- 
 turned to his dealership as Colonel 
 Tom 0. Cassidy. 
 
 At the same time tha< Dodge anc) 
 Plymouth owners were being serviced 
 through Court Motors, the following 
 men served their country during the 
 war: Clement J. Cassidy, five years. 
 
 Naval Aviation Lieutenent Commander; 
 Robert F. Cassidy, three and a half 
 years. Flight Officer; Leo Matthews, 
 three and a half years. Technical 
 Corporal; Charles Aby, three years, 
 eight months. Corporal; Clifford 
 Graffis, three months. Seaman first 
 class; Elmer Bastonero, two years 
 eleven months. Private first class. 
 
 At the conclusion of the war, in 
 March, 1945, Court Motors, inc. moved 
 to a much larger and more suitable 
 building at Capitol and Margaret 
 streets, and increased the organiza- 
 tion from one of service only, to 
 one of sales and service. In conse- 
 quence, Tom 0. Cassidy proudly pre- 
 sents to motorists of Pekin and 
 vicinity, an organization dedicated 
 to the highest ideals in selling and 
 service. 
 
 It is our opinion that the organ- 
 ization is highly versatile because 
 of the fine new personalities we have 
 added and the fact that we are em- 
 ploying a high percentage of ex- 
 serv ice men. 
 
 We feel that the history of Court 
 Motors is above reproach and that 
 the present organization has a record 
 of service to Dodge and Plymouth 
 owners second to none. 
 
 149
 
 U. S. TIRES 
 
 W I E B U R G'S 
 
 FINEST AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE 
 
 5TH AND MARGARET STREETS 
 
 In 1901 Mr. Louis Wieburg opened a 
 harness shop in the 200 block Court 
 Street. As time progressed and as 
 the auto replaced the horse Mr. Wie- 
 burg foresaw the need of a tire shop 
 and moved to the 300 block Court 
 Street and from there to the 400 
 block Court, branching out to auto- 
 motive accessories. Expanding with 
 each move, he purchased the building 
 at 5th & Margaret and added an auto- 
 motive repair shop to his already 
 established business, which has 
 served car owners of Pekin and vic- 
 inity for over 48 years. Mr. Wie- 
 burg died in 1946 leaving the busi- 
 ness to his son Wilbur L. Wieburg 
 who now owns and operates the busi- 
 ness at this same location. 
 
 iv SMITH ALSOP, 
 
 HORTON'!^ 
 
 PAINT & WALLPAPER 
 
 STORE 
 
 RETAIL- WHOLESALE 
 
 431 Court St. 
 
 For 12 Years 
 
 PEKIN'S MOST COMPLETE 
 
 STORE FOR DECORATORS' 
 
 SUPPLIES 
 
 I AA P E R I A L 
 
 WALLPAPE RS 
 
 COLONIAL GIFT SHOP 
 
 Giftware- Home Furnishings -Linens 
 Broadway at 10th Pekin, 111. 
 
 PEKIN CLEANERS 
 
 Harold & Elaine Ledrich 
 
 Phone 252 513 Court Street 
 
 Auto Upholstering - Seat Covers 
 
 Glass Cut & Installed 
 
 HAROLD V. ANDERSON 
 
 Since 1945 
 
 Bus. Phone ?1?8 305 N. Fifth St. 
 Res. Phone 1574-M Pekin, Illinois 
 
 Congratulations to Pekin 
 ALLENS VOGUE 
 Dress Shop 313 Court Street 
 
 HERBIG' S 
 
 Delicious Sandwiches 
 
 Homemade Ice Cream 
 
 900 Court Street Phone 1829 
 
 PEKIN SANITARY SUPPLY 
 
 Heating Electrical Materials 
 
 Phone ??96 
 ?06 Court St. Pekin, Illinois 
 
 PEKIN AIR SERVICE 
 P.O. Box 548 Phone SP 58 
 Pekin, Illinois 
 
 PEKIN SANITARY SUPPLY 
 Plumbing Materials Phone ??96 
 ?06 Court St. Pekin, Illinois 
 
 CRENSHAW & JOST 
 
 Engineering & Architecture 
 
 512 Court St. Pekin, 111- 
 
 150
 
 
 
 -t?^^S 
 
 :yiU^hLl.'i. 
 
 year later it was bought and rebuilt by 
 the Pekin Leather Products Co. , a local 
 corporation headed by Ed. Aufderheide. 
 It operated until harness making de- 
 clined with the motorized age and the 
 buildings are now used by kriegsman as 
 a warehouse. 
 
 The Hodges Header Works which later 
 became the Acme Harvester Co. , occupied 
 the area between Broadway and Court 
 Streets from 8th to lOth, now the James 
 Athletic Field and a large residential 
 area. In the early lyOO' s the Acme 
 moved to Bartonville. 
 
 Two brick yards, several foundries, 
 a gun-stock factory, and a furniture 
 factory are also listed among promi- 
 nent industries operating in Pekin in 
 by-gone days. Interesting is the fact 
 that early furniture dealers did under- 
 taking on the side, and Mr. Adolph 
 Pehrman, long time Pekin resident, re- 
 calls the days when he, as a boy, 
 trimmed coffins made in Pekin' s three 
 story furniture factory. 
 
 So much for early industries, all of 
 which have paved the way for industrial 
 Pekin today with its some 50 manufac- 
 turing and service establishments, 
 employing over 4,500 workers. Its ample 
 
 water supply, and the aval labl lity .of 
 raw materials, including coal, gravel, 
 sand, and grain have attracted many 
 industries, manufacturing diversified 
 products including starch, sugar, corn 
 oil, yeast and malt products, liquors, 
 chipboards, grey iron castings, brass, 
 copper and aluminum castings, steel 
 tanks and burial vaults, structural 
 iron, electricity, artificial ice, 
 washed gravel and sand, cement blocks, 
 ice cream, butter and other dairy 
 products, greenhouse products, cabinet 
 and woodwork, and other various 
 products. Pekin is still a leading 
 grain market, having three elevator 
 warehouses, with a total capacity of 
 385, 000 bushels. 
 
 Because of lack of space, no attempt 
 has been made to list specific indus- 
 tries and services in this section; 
 however, most of these are included, 
 in individual advertisements, in this 
 publication. 
 
 As one compares the classified list- 
 ings in the 1948 City Directory with 
 those in the Bates 1887 Directory , he 
 is interested, not only in changes in 
 terminology such as undertakers for 
 funeral directors: maltsters, saloons, 
 
 151
 
 SIEG PKORIA COMPANY 
 AUTO SUPH.IKS 
 405 Flizabeth 
 
 Season' s newest styles first 
 Lofthouse Hress Shop 
 436 Court Street 
 
 SOUTH SIDE CLEANER 
 
 804 Derby Street 
 
 Phone 2262-J 
 
 DFJVISON INDUSTRIAL CORP. 
 Supplier of component machine parts 
 I4tb & Broadway 
 
 Pick up & delivery service 
 Jim Hill Leo Bennett 
 
 ROXY' S - a good place to eat 
 304 Margaret St. Phone 961- J 
 Farischon Bros. Proprietors 
 
 GEORGE POPPO WEARDA 
 Architect 
 335 Court Street 
 
 LITTLE STAR 
 
 Cleaners & Dyers 
 
 Since 1Q12 Ph 350 
 
 A NU BEAUTY SALON 
 
 B.C. Payne, Prop. 
 
 412 Court Street 
 
 For over 22 years 
 CENIRAL BOOK & TOY STORE 
 
 345 Court St. Opposite Court House 
 
 TAZEWELL HOTEL 
 350 Elizabeth Street 
 
 CLUB FLAMINGO 
 Streamline Bar - Dine & Dance 
 Trefflont Road, Rt. 9 - Ph. 1703 
 
 GEBHARDT BROS. Maurice & Andy 
 Poultry- Eggs-Hides-Dressed Poultry 
 Since 1915 Phone 1080 
 
 WALTER C. DIEHL ELECTRIC COMPANY 
 Electrical Contractors Since 193? 
 
 366 S. Capitol St. 
 Telephone 306 
 
 TAZEWELL HOTEL DINING ROOM 
 Serving Home Cooked Food 
 New in ' 49 Velraa Albertsen. Prop. 
 
 GREGERSEN' S GREENHOUSES 
 
 1300 North ?nd. 
 
 Phone 934 
 
 In 193?, Arthur I. and Edna M. Greg- 
 ersen purchased the Haase Bros. 
 Greenhouse. Mr. Gregersen has since 
 then originated a geranium known as 
 "Gregersen* s White" which received 
 favorable mention in the National 
 Florist Magazine. 
 
 BARTONVILLE BUS LINES INCORPORATED 
 613 Court 
 OPERATING BETWEEN PEORIA & PEKIN 
 FOR A WARTER OF A CENTURY 
 
 OLr S Poultry Market 
 Geo. 01 t - Since 1947 - Len. 01 t 
 4?? Margaret Phone ?38 
 
 Since 193? 
 TAZEWELL PAPER, CANDY and 
 TOBACCO CO. 
 WHOLESALE JOBBERS 
 
 152
 
 wood turners, etc., but also in the 
 present day products and services not 
 listed 60 years ago -- radio, air 
 conditioning equipment, airplane school 
 and airport: ambulance service, auto- 
 mobile agencies, beauty shops, cleaning 
 establishments, diaper supply service, 
 electrical appliances, etc., and he 
 wonders what interesting changes the 
 2049 directory will show! 
 
 Many other points of interest could 
 and should be elaborated upon, were 
 space not limited -- attractive well- 
 kept homes and public buildings, thriv- 
 ing industries, well-kept streets, 
 splendid recreational facilities in- 
 
 cluding city soft ball leagues, horse- 
 back riding, skeet shooting, bowling 
 (Pekin is noted for the fact that it 
 has the highest per cent per capita of 
 bowlers for its population of any town 
 in the United States) and a variety of 
 others mentioned previously in con- 
 nection with city parks -- these and 
 the ones already discussed in this 
 section along with a strong sense of 
 community interest and pride on the 
 part of Pekin citizenry point back to a 
 100 years of splendid achievement and 
 predict a future of unlimited possi- 
 bilities built on the heritage of 
 today. 
 
 This Edition of the Centenary, as 
 published, is actually a "first draft" 
 of such history. Time has not permitted 
 the usual checking, editing, correc- 
 tions, additions and deletions or any 
 professional polishing of the material 
 after it was somewhat hastily asscra- 
 bledo 
 
 Undoubtedly, as a result, there will 
 appear some errors and oversights. 
 Nevertheless, it is felt that this re- 
 presents the most complete overall 
 assemblage of history and information 
 on the city of Pekin available, and is 
 unlike any other approach to the city's 
 past. 
 
 An endeavor was made to prepare an 
 "honest" history without any attempt to 
 color or glorify the city, but just to 
 tell its story as accurately as it can 
 be pieced together from records, pre- 
 sented by existing firms and agencies, 
 and depicted in pictures suitable for 
 reproduction. 
 
 It represents a heavy burden of work 
 crowded into a comparatively short 
 time, and the Association of Commerce 
 is indebted not only to the workers 
 formally credited herein but to the 
 host of advertisers and friends who 
 volunteered pictures, information and 
 aid. 
 
 153
 
 1931 
 
 EICWTEBS YEARS OF SERVICE 
 in the heart of Illinois 
 
 1949 
 
 AFFILIATFl) COLLECTIOiN AGKINCY 
 
 ?18 Arcade Bldg. Pekin, 111. 
 Bonded National Affiliations 
 
 BUENA VISTA FLORAL SHOP 
 350 Buena Vista Ave. Since 1948 
 
 Gertrude Skaggs Floral Arrangements 
 
 MONROE' S HANDEE HOUSE 
 Webb & Louise Monroe 
 DRIVE-INN OPPOSITE STADIUM- NEW IN '49 
 
 KUECKS HARNESS & REPAIR SHOP 
 1891 1949 
 
 In the "Cay Ninties" Mr. Wm. 
 Kuecks purchased the Charles Stick- 
 ley Harness Shop at 345 Court St. 
 and in 1899 moved to 411 Court, 
 where he continued selling and re- 
 pairing harness for forty years. Now 
 located at 611 Ann Eliza, Mr. Kuecks 
 has the only harness repair shop in 
 Pekin or Peoria. His wife, Matilda, 
 still assists in the long estab- 
 lished business. 
 
 THE SCHURMAIX AOaVCY 
 Insurance in all branches 
 406 Court St. Telephone 161 
 
 Serving the public for more than 50 Vrs. 
 L. C. SCHURNAN 
 
 CRAWFISH BUFFET 
 
 Beer & Liquors 300 Margaret 
 "Amos" L. Stolin 
 
 neKEUSTER-l? N. Capitol. .. Since 193? 
 
 for 38 years a shoe repair man 
 Shoe Repair Dry Cleaning 
 
 J.M. STEGER PAINT COMPAINY 
 
 Washington Junior High School 
 
 154
 
 PEKIN HAS AN ACTIVE CITY GOVERNMENT 
 
 155
 
 €OR]^ PRODUCTS 
 
 IT is just after the turn of the 
 century. It is 1906. Pekin is 57 
 years old. Teddy Roosevelt is in the 
 White House. One of the most popu- 
 lar automobiles is the Maxwell, 
 probably the same model as Jack 
 Benny' s. 
 
 The Chicago White Sox on August 
 1 were at the top of the heap. Mar- 
 shall Field and Company in Chicago 
 were advertising women' s corsets for 
 38<t each. A French Table d'Hote 
 dinner at a fashionable restaurant 
 was 50(t. 
 
 And the price of corn was 50$ a 
 bushel. 
 
 In that year Corn Products Refin- 
 ing Company was formed and the Pekin 
 plant became one of CPR' s proper- 
 ties. 
 
 Back In those days -- sometimes 
 erroneously called "the good old 
 days" -- there were about 350 Pekin 
 plant employees. The minimum rate 
 was 16 2/3 cents an hour. 
 
 In 1906 all employees worked 12- 
 hour shifts and when the shifts 
 changed it was customary to work 18 
 hours. And at straight-time pay. 
 
 Today, approximately 1250 em- 
 ployees - 900 new jobs for Pekin 
 area men - operate our plant. The 
 minimum rate is $1.20 an hour. Eight 
 hours is a standard day and forty 
 hours a standard week and overtime 
 is paid for hours worked over the 
 eight and the forty. 
 
 In 1906 the Pekin plant ground 
 13,000 bushels of corn a day. 
 
 Today. Pekin plant is the second, 
 largest corn grinding plant in the 
 world. We" have the capacity to grind 
 65,000 bushels of shelled corn in a 
 24-hour period. In other words, it 
 takes about 2,000 acres of farm land 
 to supply our daily need. 
 
 Behind the Pekin plant's tre- 
 mendous strides in 43 years is a 
 story. And it began the year Corn 
 
 156
 
 REFIXIXG CO. 
 
 Products took over the plant. The 
 story is told in the words "modern- 
 ization" and "expansion". Each 
 modernization project brought better 
 working conditions and increased 
 production which in turn meant more 
 jobs and higher wages and greater 
 job security. 
 
 Down through the years CPR has 
 added to the security of its em- 
 ployees by offering many benefits 
 beside their pay; Group Life in- 
 surance, sickness and accident bene- 
 fits, hospitalization insurance, 
 retirement payments, paid vacations, 
 up-to-date medical and first aid 
 service, and canteen service. In 
 addition, the company sponsors and 
 contributes to recreational activi- 
 
 ties for employees. 
 
 And what has made this possible'' 
 Corn Products' decision to plougn 
 back into the business a portion of 
 each year's earnings is one f;ictor. 
 The other factors are the growth of 
 the community and the type of 
 people - many of them future CPR men 
 and women - attracted to Pekin. 
 
 Also, feeling it has a responsi- 
 bility to the community in which it 
 is located. Corn Products con- 
 tributes to localcivic and welfare 
 organizations. 
 
 Growing right along with the 
 city. Corn Products is pleased to be 
 a business resident and to pay its 
 respects-on the 100th -birthday of 
 Pekin. 
 
 157
 
 \1 12> 14 !-■ 
 
 MAP OF 
 
 P E K I N 
 
 l-REI-AKEU FOR 
 
 THE PEKIN DAILY TIMES 
 
 CRENSHAW & JOST 
 
 ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS 
 
 
 yoi 
 
 r^1 
 
 
 rn 
 
 n. 
 
 Q^SJid] a c:3 
 
 ii^^-^^acfrla 
 
 §^ 
 
 
 " [ 
 
 ;[ 
 
 
 
 
 tlT 
 
 \o n 
 
 158
 
 159
 
 E. L- Conklin 
 
 CONKLIN LUMBER CO 
 
 From 1858 to 1949. 91 years, the name Conklin has 
 been identified with the corner of Second and Ann 
 Eliza streets. 
 
 Major Ketcham S. Conklin came to Pekin in 1858 
 from Greenpoint, Long Island, now Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 Pour years later he joined Co. F, 8th 111. Volunteer 
 Infantry, Lincoln's first call for 90-day men to put 
 down the Rebellion of the South. Civil war was not 
 to be ended so soon. He then enlisted for three 
 years or term of war. He served as Orderly Sergeant 
 and then Lieutenant. Could have been captain of a 
 colored company but preferred to stay with the Pekin 
 boys. 
 
 In 1864 while on furlough, he married his sweetheart of before 
 Civil War. She was Martha Doolittle who was born in Waynesville, 
 111., near Atlanta. Benj. Doolittle, her grandfather, lived in a 
 log cabin at Second & Court streets. One block south was a stock- 
 ade, named Fort Doolittle after him, dating from the reriod of 1832 
 during the Black Hawk War, when Abe Lincoln was Captain of a com- 
 pany in that war. 
 
 Mrs. K.S. Conklin' s father was Rawley Doolittle. He bought cat - 
 tie in central Illinois and was very well known. He was a good man 
 and admonished his two daughters to speak evil of no one and while 
 on witness stand he answered "That Man" and said no more. 
 
 Major Conklin at 12 years worked in a grocery run by Mr. Holmes. 
 Later he went to Vermont and worked two years for Mr. Rankin and 
 his sister on their farmwhich produced the year around. Turkeys 
 were raised and bought far and near for holidays. Maple sugar was 
 made and razorback hogs raised. Going home he got homesick to see 
 his brother Asa, in business in Chicago, so there he went at 16 
 years old. He had a good father and mother and respected highly the 
 grocer Hojmes and Mr. Rankin the farmer. 
 
 Major Conklin was a very public-spirited man in many ways. He 
 was a strong Republican, with very little schooling but a great 
 reader of the Chicago papers. He learned much of political history 
 and was ever able to champion Republican cause from Lincoln down to 
 his death in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin celebrated their golden 
 wedding in 1914. 
 
 E. L. Conklin in boyhood days, was with his father after school 
 and during vacation days. It was a pleasure to heur him talk of 
 business, politics, economics and of his war days. E.L. Conklin 
 being crazy to earn his own living, lost three years of High School 
 by going to Chicago at 16. Went to Bryant & Stratton business col - 
 lege. It cost my father $250. This I paid back at age 30 with com- 
 pound interest on Thanksgiving Day with Bldg & Loan stock of $462 
 value. He was offended but soon got over it. 
 
 My first job on finishing six months college was Wabash R. R. at 
 $30 per inonth. Not liking being a mere cog in a big machine, went 
 into a large Real Estate Co. at $6.92 per week, which is $30 per 
 month. Was offered a job at $10 per week which W. A. Merigold & Co. 
 wouldn' t meet, so went to Edison General Ele^^tric Co. Thi.s was one 
 of eight districts. Worked up to $70 per nonth and again realized I 
 was a part of a big machine, and decided to learn hardware busi- 
 ness. Met Mr. Hibbard of Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett who told me 
 they started boys in at $3 per week, they lived at home, and that I 
 
 .CONKLIN LUMBER CO. 
 
 160
 
 Corner Second and Ann Eliza Streets 
 
 couldn' t live on that. I did admire his attitude and kindness. 
 
 Finally I went into the lumber firm of Crandall, schultz & Co., 
 Wholesalers, at ^50 I'er month, after 30 days hunt for a lumber job. 
 Mr. Crandall after my being with them two years, had a nephew who 
 came from Montana to room with me. Mistaking his bright gabby 
 nephew for ability I felt I had no future there, so Informed both 
 members of the firm I was going home. They begged me to stay at $70 
 a month. I couldn't say why I was leaving as they were fine people. 
 
 It was a coincidence that father and son both went to Chicago at 
 age 16. In Chicago I learned much and read Chicago papers and li- 
 brary books, so had no difficulty in earning my own living and 
 never asked for a pennv from home. 
 
 It was my privilege and honor to have been associated with my 
 father in business from 1893 until his death in 1918. 
 
 Conklin Lumber Co. built many residences and public buildings 
 and have always enjoyed good trade. To mention some still existent, 
 are: the City Hall, Tazewell Hotel. Tazewell Club-for $10,000, 
 Franklin School, Old Opera House, Park Pavilion and Palm-house, 
 American Distilling Co. large barrel rack warehouse. Remodeled the 
 Lemuel Allen farmhouse for Pekin Country Club. Architects were 
 called to plan how to remodel, without result. Finally Conklin Lum- 
 ber Co. showed the way and did the job as it is now. The half-pitch 
 roof was not disturbed. 
 
 The old original school was built long, long ago. E. L. Conklin 
 at seven years old attended it. It was of old architecture and 
 quite large. It was the school I left in 1886 to go to Chicago. It 
 served as the only school from about 1865 till it was destroyed by 
 fire in 1890. 
 
 The new High School was built shortly after at $25,000, by this 
 firm. Plans were received from architects from many towns, Lincoln, 
 Decatur. Bloomington, Peoria and others. My uncle John D. Handbury, 
 draftsman and foreman of this concern, submitted plans which were 
 accepted. It was built in shape of a St. Andrew's Cross. This 
 large 8-room structure gave the daylight at side and back of 
 pupils and served around forty years, until Junior High School re- 
 placed it. 
 
 Coming back to Pekin in World Pair year, 1893, I brought along 
 Chicago ways. Feeling that one laudable thing a year would be good 
 for town and business, I collected $400 and secured the famous 
 Gehrig' s Band for 13 Saturday afternoon concerts to bring the farm- 
 ers to town. We were in the Grover Cleveland times of free trade by 
 too low a tariff law. It allowed manufactured goods and agricul- 
 tural products to flood the country. And did we go to the bow-wows? 
 Our country sunk to its lowest level since Lincoln's administra- 
 tion. As it was, the tariff wasn't low enough for Cleveland. He 
 wouldn't sign it and declared it an Act of Perfidy and Dishonor. 
 It became law without his signature. 
 
 1895--Joined the Citizens Improvement Association, composed of 
 leading citizens. Its purpose was to secure factories for Pekin. 
 Most of the ones we have now are due to Henry G- Herget, E- W- Wil- 
 son and V. P. Turner. I later became president and changed the 
 name to Commercial club, the dues to six times the old rate and 
 secretary to 23 times the salary. Several years later the name was 
 changed to Association of Commerce with plural memberships, the 
 largest institution taking eight and Conklin Lumber Co. four. 
 
 , We Aun ia Saiii^i^ , 
 
 161
 
 CONKLIN LUMBER CO 
 
 Organized Co. G, 5th 111. Nat. Guards. Mustered in Feb. 1896. In 
 1897, thru Co. G committee, had every organization in town to name 
 a committee to participate for a 4th of July celebration. Calling a 
 meeting in April or May at Turn Verein Opera House, we had nearly 
 200 present. Organization was effected; Conklin made president; 
 W. J. conzelman, Finance; Lieut. Sellers, Amusement; Col. J. M. 
 James, Treas. ; V. P. Turner, railroads. Submitting long hand let - 
 ters to Mr. Turner for railroads, stating what we were going to have 
 as a celebration etc., and asked for a $1 round-trip passenger 
 rate from Springfield, Decatur and other towns, which we got. 
 A committee for funds consisted of conzelman, Franklin L. Velde 
 and Conklin. Mr. Conzelman was busy so much, it devolved on Velde 
 and Conklin. Highest amount given was $20, but few of them $10 and 
 $5s. It was a big job to get $1500 and took lots of time going 
 again and again to secure what we felt should be given. Those days 
 were ones of little business and people were hard up. 
 
 Under the arrangement we had six companies of militia for parade 
 and competitive drill: bicycle races; balloon ascensions and many 
 other attractions. The immensely large crowds from many towns were 
 very pleasing to pekinites. 
 
 As president of the Retail Merchants Association, much was done 
 by many leading merchants to correct the loose credit situation and 
 very much time and thought was devoted to a rating book. 
 
 Was charter member of Tazewell Club, 1893, and served as presi- 
 dent some years after. Still a member. 
 
 President McKinley declared war on Spain Apr. 25, 1898. Spain 
 had a war vessel in New York harbor which wasn' t molested. The 
 battle ship Maine was blown up in February in Cuban harbor. April 
 15th Conklin got a letter from Col. j. S. Culver of 5th 111. Nat. 
 Guards, to recruit Co. G up to 100 men with little noise. Monday 
 night the 16th, we had 74 volunteers and went into camp at spring- 
 field Anr. 27 with 103 men. Mustered into U. S. service for 2 years 
 or term of war. From there we moved to Chicamauga Park, Tenn. , 
 thence to Ringgold, Ga. , and up to Newport News, Va. Our commander. 
 Gen. Fred Grant, Son of President Grant, left for Porto Rico on 
 Yale transport. James Boling was our Co. bugler and detailed to 
 Gen. Grant so he went to Porto Rico. We were to follow on the Obdam 
 which was dirty and foul smelling. Our Major and Co. G were the 
 only ones who didn't sleep on it. We slept on concrete in ware- 
 house. Next p-orning, in Aug. Peace Protocol had been signed. 
 
 Admiral Dewey fought the Spanish fleet and had won Manilla, P.I. 
 and Cevera's fleet at Santiago Harbor was licked by Admirals Samp- 
 sin and Schley. It was a bitter disappointment to 5th Regiment boys 
 not to get away. But it was for the best. Yellow Fever was in Cuba, 
 which Gen. Wood cleaned up. Our chief trouble was dysentery and 
 typhoid fever. Our regiment moved from Newport News to Lexington. 
 Ky. , and to Springfield. Mustered out of U.S. Service Oct. 16, 
 1898. Arriving home we marched to court yard where many tables were 
 set for eats. Welcome home speeches were made, followed by Gehrig's 
 Concert while we ate. 
 
 The two-mile grade road, across the river a long time ago, was 
 built with tarvia surface by we Pekinites money. Later on it became 
 so vile with ruts and holes five miles per hour was best speed ob- 
 tainable. The present concrete road is the result of raising 
 $15,000 before the state would do anything. Thirty business men met 
 
 CONKLIN LUMBER CO. . 
 
 162
 
 Corner Second and Ann Eliza Streets 
 
 and each signed a note for $500.. Conklin was handed the job to 
 collect by subscription to reimburse the thirty signers. I asked 
 Carl G. Herget and Phil A. Sipfle to help me. We secured close to 
 $15,000. McElwee & Rogge, after two years delay by them, built the 
 present road. The city donated $5000 and Pekin township $5000. 
 
 Uncertain as to how much could be collected after such a delay, 
 we colleced the list as it was, two years old. Notes at bank of 
 thirty signers were paid and cancelled. We closed this chapter by 
 issuing dividend to donators of ^2%. Conklin Lumber Co. gave $150. 
 Also gave roney for old tarvia road, bluff road and Second St. 
 road. 
 
 Pekin had '"any Street Fairs and I was a worker in a large way. 
 They brought lots of people from a large area, conklin Lumber Co. 
 always had a very creditable booth. 
 
 Member of German Maenerchor. Sang in concerts at Opera. At St. 
 Paul the Northwest Sangerbund had four concerts. Peoria Concordia 
 and Pekin went there for $5 ,a round trip. Pour practice mornings 
 gave us $4. Lodging and meals were furnished. 300U singers sang to 
 audiences of 15,000 each concert. 
 
 My father was a member of Empire Masonic Lodge. I joined fifty 
 years ago. The former was a Knight Templar, the latter a 32nd 
 degree Mason. We both became members of M (hammed Shrine. I am a 
 charter member of Pekin Country Club and Pekin Rotary Club. 
 
 My father passed thru four depressions. I passed thru six. 
 Chronologically, they were: 1873, 1893 to 1897. 1907, 1914 to 1916. 
 These four my father experienced. My six were: 1893 to 1897. 1907, 
 1914 to 1916. 1932, 1937, 1949 now uider some apprehension. 
 
 Our country should come back if we do not give all our taxation 
 money away. Ciit out a lot of needless expense and also the wanton 
 waste. Thereby we can assure ourselves of keeping it a republic. 
 
 Conk' in Lumber co.'s policies are a reflection of the character 
 of the individuals who run the business. Reputation is well defined 
 by recent president of Packard Motor Co., who said "Reputation 
 achieved is a tyrant. It whips you on to retain it." 
 
 Our motto of 45 years "We aim to Satisfy" is explanatory in rrany 
 
 ways. It is so worthy there have been many imitations in Peoria and 
 
 elsewhere, we have always tried to give good grades at reasonable 
 prices. 
 
 Our service has been of tne highest and free from ulterior mo- 
 tives and the desire of mere greed. 
 
 The outstanding members of this concern were: Wm. Weiss, K. S. 
 Conklin, Ernest schurman, Robert Schurman, Albert Hippen, \'y. A. 
 Reuling, Robert Hornish, Roscoe Hill and Fred Meyer. 
 
 Our present organization consists of Mrs. Clara Cranwill. Til- 
 ford A. Olsen, Mrs. E. L. Conklin, v.rs. Martha Olsen and 
 
 Yours Sincerely 
 E. L. Conklin 
 President 
 
 CONKLIN LUMBER COMPANY 
 
 Cor. Second and Ann Eliza 
 
 ^e Aim ia Satiijiif. . 
 
 163
 
 THE YOUNGER GENERATION 
 
 «>«'•'■' , 
 
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 i<-»vi, «»>'■■''-<•■■ J= 1.- :■■;/'■•./. «&^'*-^; /riV^'-ii %i --fj .A. 
 
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 164
 
 165
 
 Eugene F. lohnes 
 Paul P. Schermer 
 
 LOHNES PRINT SHOP 
 
 24 S. Fourth Street 
 
 Selling needles to the neighbors 
 When a very young boy , earned for 
 Eugene F. Lohnes the reward of a 
 very small hand printing press 
 with which he started "learning the 
 trade" as a hobby. As his interest 
 and experience grew with the years, 
 larger hand presses were acquired. 
 After finishing high school, working 
 several years in factory offices, 
 a period of war service and the es- 
 tablishment of a family, he finally 
 set up the Lohnes Print Shop in the 
 Arcade Bui Id ing in 1923. 
 
 Business prospered and help was 
 soon needed. It was then that Paul 
 P. Schermer, who was an apprentice 
 at the Free Press, was hired and 
 being a good workman was soon given 
 an opportunity to become a partner 
 in the business as he has been ever 
 since. Today you will find him in 
 the shop turning out quality work, 
 
 Telephjne 5 57 
 
 1923- 1949 
 
 both letterpress and offset, with 
 the help of another experienced 
 printer, Walter F. Petzing who 
 commutes from Peoria, 111. In the 
 office can be found Olive M. Lohnes 
 (Mrs. E. F.). 
 
 In 1925 the Lohnes Print Shop 
 bought the job printing department 
 of the Pekin Daily Times and moved 
 in with the newspaper at 26 S. 
 Fourth Street. After Mr. McNaughton 
 bought the newspaper in 1926, in 
 spite of the crowded conditions for 
 both growing organizations, we 
 continued in that location until 
 1941 when the newspaper bought and 
 moved to its present corner locationj 
 and rented to us the connectingi 
 building, which was part of the 
 Zerwekh building and during its| 
 history has housed Pekin's first 
 movie, an undertaker, a garage, al 
 tavern, and for the past eight years | 
 the Lohnes Print Shop. 
 
 '$i^^kK)^m'^tKm 
 
 Phc 
 
 2327 
 
 MARGE BRENNEMAN, 320 South Fourth 
 
 JUNE WIEBURG, 1500 S. Capitol 
 
 PEKIN, ILLINOIS 
 
 For the first time in Pekin's century of growth, 
 newcomers to the Pekin trade area, are Aielcomed to the 
 '"Celestial City." This we Icomi ng' serv ice was inaugu- 
 rated in October 1948 by Marge Brenneman and June 
 wieburg, two native Pekinites. 
 
 Recognizing the need for acquainting new residents 
 in this area with Pekin's shopping facilities and the 
 advantages of trading with its merchants, Marge and 
 June organized "Speakin' for Pekin." 
 
 Through the cooperation and enthusiastic support 
 of Pekin's business men. each newcomer receives 
 pertinent information about the community and a basket 
 of gifts. 
 
 AlthDugh "Speakin' for Pekin" is a small enter- 
 prise, 'its founders believe that during its brief 
 history it has served the community well by offering a 
 .velcoming hand for Pekin's businessmen to 400 families 
 in the past eleven months. However, their efforts can 
 be effective only when the community cooperates by 
 advising them of the arrival of newcomers. 
 
 Plans for the future envision Pekin's continued 
 growth and prosperity in which "Speakin" for Pekin" 
 hopes to play an important role in extending to our 
 new neighbors the hospitality of Pekin's business, 
 social and professional population. 
 
 166
 
 THE PARK PROVIDES RECREATION FOR ALL 
 
 
 
 .--"T> 
 
 167
 
 PEKIN HAS ACTIVE VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 168
 
 ^ 
 
 t- :9 
 
 
 
 
 w-^ 
 
 1^1 iii^: 
 
 169
 
 EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE 
 
 idT^ 
 
 170
 
 171
 
 CORN COUNTRY 
 
 
 172
 
 I 
 
 f\ TAZEWELL CO. HOUSING AUTHORITY | - 
 
 173
 
 A STREET IS RESURFACED, ANOTHER IS 
 CLEANED AND DEAD ELMS IN THE PARK 
 
 ARE REMOVED 
 
 ni
 
 n?
 
 720G-S15
 
 n 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 I
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISURBANA 
 977 354P36 C001 
 
 THE PEKIN CENTENARY 1849-1949 PEKIN?, I 
 
 0112 025392959