Franklin County, Illinois - The whole text, 1920 (part 8 of 8)

LESS than a year after the property in Zeigler was thrown on the open market, The Zeigler News was established by Hal W. Trovillion, of Herrin and M. A. Gurley, of Harrisburg. The growth of the city has been equalled by that of the growth of the paper which has actively supported every movement for progress.

The first issue of the paper appeared Friday, June 13, 1919 and since that time has enjoyed the liberal patronage of the business men and public in general of Six Mile township. During the first year and half of its existence it has published more columns of news and advertisements and a larger number of pages than any other weekly paper in Franklin county and has adopted the slogan "Franklin County's Big Weekly Newspaper.'' The office is temporarily located at 1 2 N. Oak St.

Early n 1920 the paper reached out and began covering the neighboring city of Royalton equally as well as would have been covered by a local paper in that city. Its local service is given to the two cities with a combined population of over 7,000. It has grown over the county and is, in reality, a county paper, giving all the news of Zeigler and Royalton and the important events in this vicinity.

Because of its connection with the Herrin News it has access to what is probably the largest job printing establishment in southern Illinois, that does the best of work and turns out an immense quantity of it.

Hal W. Trovillion, the editor, is also the editor and owner of the Herrin News, one of the most successful weekly newspapers in southern Illinois. This paper has been under his successful management for several years.

M. A. Gurley, the business manager, has had several years experience of successful newspaper work, having held positions on a large number of country and metropolitan papers. Beginning work as a "devil'' in the office of the Makanda News in 1 896 he has passed through every department up to editor and business manager. He was especially fitted by knack and training for the circulation department, which he followed for several years on various papers until the establishment of The Zeigler News when he became the business manager. The establishment and business management of the paper from its beginning have been under the management o f Mr. Gurley.

Mr. Gurley was born at Makanda, Jackson county, in 1880, and after finishing the public school, in that village, attended the Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale for several terms. In 1916 he was married to Miss Mary B. Fish, of Kentucky. Besides news paper work he has been employed in various industries including mines, both coal and copper, foundries and rolling mills and for several years has been prominent in labor circles. Among the important labor union official positions he has held has been that of secretary of the Williamson-Jackson Labor Day association. At present he is a member of the Typographical Union at Herrin.

Among the papers in this vicinity on which Mr. Gurley has worked are The Herrin News, The Herrin Journal, Williamson County News, Marion Daily Republican and the Harrisburg Daily Register.

Miss Myrtle McGrail, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miles McGrail, holds the position as local reporter with credit to herself and the institution.

PHIS large and complete building pic- tured above is the home of dependable furniture and hardware in the rapidly growing city of Zeigler. The firm was established in 1919 and on account of the connections of the officers - all business men of experience having been engaged in similar business ventures, and two of the officers at present engaged in the same kind of business in West Frankfort, the firm at once took the lead in furnishing homes of Zeigler citizens. The company is incorporated with E. R. Brown of the E. R. Brown Furniture Company of West Frankfort, as president, and whose biography and business review will be found in the West Frankfort section of this book. D. C. Jones of D. C. Jones & Sons, furniture and hardware, West Frankfort, is vice-president - the West Frankfort section will show the several business connections of D. C. Jones. The secretary and manager is L. L. Jones, a brother of D. C. Jones, who for many years was one of the most able educators, teaching in Will amson and Franklin counties.

The Brown and Jones House Furnishing Co. are agents for the Peninsular, Round Oak, Quick Meal and Moore stoves and ranges - these are the reliable stoves that are absolutely guaranteed and make it easy for the firm to live up to its motto of "Quality, Service and Satisfaction." Their line of county, the son of S. S. Jones. He was educated in the Marion High School and Carbondale Normal. He began teaching school at twenty years of age and for thirteen years was considered one of the most able instructors in southern Illinois - principal of the Herrin schools for four years and one term at West Frankfort, and it was at the end of this term that he joined his brother and Mr. Brown in forming the Brown and Jones House Furnishing Co. He was married June 5, 1904 to Miss Jernerva Benson of Campbell Hill, Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of two children, Paul and Ruth. Mr. Jones in the short time he has been a resident of Zeigler has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the city and is the president of Community High School Board of Education and also president of the Zeigler Booster Club and vicepresident of the Zeigler Building and Loan Association.

ONE of the youngest financial institutions of southern Illinois, and one that has made an astonishing record in rapidly growing popularity and financial strength, is the Zeigler State Bank, which was organized August 6, 1918, with an original capital of $25,000.00. At the end of the first year the deposits were $125,017.00, with total resources of $154,000.00. At the time the bank was established there was no suitable place in Zeigler for a bank, and the bank offices were maintained at the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber yards. At the end of the ninth month the fine building here pictured was completed, and the bank moved into its new location which is modern and complete in every way. At the end of the second year the deposits had reached $258,392.00, with resources of $287,111.00. Harry Stotlar, who is at the head of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Co. of Franklin county, president of the Sanitary Stove and Range Co., president of the West Frankfort Bank & Trust Co. and heavily interested in other institutions which have done so much to build Franklin county, is president of this bank; George T. Baggott, of the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber Co. of Zeigler, is vice-president; R. H. Zoller of the Bell & Zoller Coal Co., Kent Stotlar, manager of the Stotlar- Herrin Lumber Co. at Johnson City, D. C. Jones, manager of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Co. at West Frankfort and Edward M. Stotlar, president of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Co., are directors; Dee T. Ashby, cashier; Mildred Ashby, assistant cashier; John Broadway, teller and book-keeper. D. T. Ashby, the cashier, was born in Franklin county, near Thompsonville and moved to Marion at an early age, where he attended the public schools and later the high school and finished a business course at Browns Business College, then worked in a store for a while, but later took up the lyceum work in which he was engaged for two or three years. He took up bank work at the early age of 23 years, as assistant cashier of the West Frankfort Bank & Trust Co., and when the Zeigler State Bank was organized, he was sent to Zeigler to take charge.

Lon Bateman Elective Offkirs

C. R. SLADE, Mayor - Elected to fill vacancy, for the term 1919 to 1921 ; came to Sesser from Woodlawn, Jefferson county; employed on railroad as telegraph operator and agent until 1912 when he came to Sesser; since coming to Sesser has been employed principally in mines; a popular union worker holding many offices in the Sesser U. M. W. of A; now assistant mine manager.

J. W. SMITH, Alderman - Reelected for term 1919 to 1921 ; has been alderman since 1909; came to Sesser from Albia, Monroe county, Iowa; principally engaged in construction contracting, at present member of the firm of Smith & Minor, dealers in harness, pumps, and farm implements; a Republican in politics and always active in the interests of his party, a member of the county central committee for ten years, member of the school board, director in Sesser Building & Loan Association and member of the Franklin County War History Society.

LON BATEMAN, Alderman - Reelected for term 1919 to 1921 ; three terms as alderman, first term 1912; came to Sesser in 1910 from Marion, Williamson county; for many years master mechanic for Old Ben Coal Corporation, now top foreman.

HARRY DANIELS, Alderman - Elected for term 1920 to 1921; first term but has proven a popular and efficient alderman; a Franklin county boy, born and reared in

H. E. GILLOOLY, Alderman - Reelected for term 1919 to 1921 ; three terms as alderman, first in 1912; came to Sesser from Murphysboro in 1909 and was employed for several years at the Stoelze Hardware store; now employed as miner.

RILEY D. WEBB, Treasurer - Reelected for term 1919 to 1921; has been treasurer since Sesser was incorporated as a village in 1906; see review of Sesser State Bank for biography.

MRS. JESSIE GRAY, City Clerk - Elected for term 1920; wife of postmaster G. B. Gray; first woman city officer to be elected in Franklin county.

A. J. EUBANKS, Police Magistrate- Elected for term 1920; a member of one of Franklin county's oldest families; born and reared in Browning township.

LESS than fifteen years ago the land on which Sesser is built was principally prairie. Now the City of Sesser is a hustling and bustling city of more than 4000 inhabitants and rapidly growing. It is located in the northwestern part of the county on the C. B. & Q. railroad, which has no direct connection with the county seat, always considered a handicap in business intercourse between the two cities.

The first mine was sunk during the years 1905 and 1906, and this mine put Sesser on the map. It was incorporated as a village in 1 906 and re-incorporated as a city in 1 909.

The community spirit is very apparent among the citizens. They are always boosting for their town, and with the sinking of the second mine in 1916, they have had the satisfaction of seeing their city more than double in population in less than four years.

The city is served with electrical current from the Central Illinois Public Service Company and has a very efficient system of street lighting. While at present there is no water works system, preparations are under way by which the city will have an elaborate water works system in the near future.

The present and past city officers are to be congratulated on the efficient administration of financial affairs - at no time during the incorporation of Sesser as a village and later as city, has the city not been able to pay their warrants. This record is exceptional as no other city in Franklin county can boast of such a record.

The city cemetery - "Maple Hill", consisting of five acres, is owned by the city. A concrete walk has been laid from the city to the cemetery.

Sesser schools are being rapidly improved and a new High School building will be built in 1 92 1 , as Sesser is on the list of accredited schools.

Since the incorporation of Sesser as a village, the following have served as president of the village and after incorporation as a city in 1909, as mayor:

ONE of the institutions of Sesser, and perhaps the most important, in that the institution has kept pace with the rapid growth of the city, is the First National Bank.

The bank was organized on the 5 th of September, 1906, and for nine months was conducted as a prvate bank and known as the Bank of Sesser. The rapid growth of the city, however, made it desirable to reorganize as a national bank, which was done on July 1, 1907.

The officers of the bank are: Evan Fitzgerrell, president; C. B. Lewis, vice-president; Riley D. Webb, cashier, and Don Lionberger, assistant cashier. These officers were the first officers and have remained in their respective capacities throughout the history of the bank. Directors other than the officers mentioned are: J. F. Kirkpatrick, Carroll Moore, F. H. Stamper, J. W. Huie, and W. S. Hutson.

Although the bank has the reputation of being safe and conservative, it is progressive and a popular institution. The capital stock is $25,000.00, with a surplus of $20,000.00. The deposits have grown constantly and are now $380,000.00. The reputation of the bank and efficiency of the local officers have made stock in the bank a very profitable investment - every year the bank regularly declares a dividend. The bank is a member of the Federal Reserve system.

He was born April 24, 1855, in Webbs Prarie, and grew to manhood on his father's farm near that place. With three year's banking experience to his credit with the Ewing bank, he came to Sesser when it was first platted and before incorporation as a village, and has been identified with the building of the bank and city of Sesser since their infancy. He married Miss Minnie Lionberger, January 31, 1892. They are the parents of one daughter, Jennie, now twentytwo years of age. As has been mentioned in the roster of the city, Mr. Webb has been the treasurer of the city since its incorporation as a village. He was chairman of the Sesser district during the Liberty Loan campaigns and was active in other patriotic endeavors during the war.

THE reader of the industrial section of this history will note the many successful men who began life as school teachers - among those who have advanced rapidly and become efficient business men by application of their own preachments is C. O. Hutson, general merchant and real estate operator of Sesser. He was born August 4, 1876, in Franklin county four and onehalf miles south of Sesser, the son of Dr. Ulyses and Florence M. (Wheeler) Hutson. The Hutson family is one of the pioneer families of the county, the progenitor of the Hutson family being Fen Moses Hutson, the father of Dr. Hutson, who came from Tennessee many years before the Civil War.

Clarence Hutson grew to early manhood on the Hutson farm and received his early education in the common schools and Benton High School, later taking special courses at Ewing college and the State Normal at Carbondale. He began teaching school at the age of nineteen, but desiring to take up law he entered the Dixon Law School, but illness compelled him to give up this ambition, and he then went to Texas where he again took up the profession of teaching. In all he taught school for thirteen years, teaching in Illinois, Texas and Arkansas.

He returned to Illinois and again took up farming and at present owns two fine farms adjoining the old Hutson homestead. He. continued farming and buying and selling stock until he came to Sesser in 1916, where he entered the general mercantile field and also became interested in extensive real estate operations. He with Jesse Dimond owns the Enoch N. Rea addition to Sesser, and he is also a member of the firm of Gualdoni, Gray & Hutson, who do an extensive real estate and loan business under the name of Sesser Real Estate and Loan Co. Mr. Hutson is also a director of the Sesser Building and Loan Association. In the past he has been active in politics and as a worker in the Democratic rank has represented his party in various capacities. He was township supervisor for four years and chairman of the county board one year, and also ex-officio chairman of the county board of Reviews. He is a diretor in the Southern Gem Coal Corporation.

Mr. Hutson was married to Miss Pearl Rea, daughter of Enoch N. and Julia (Harrison) Rea. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson are the parents of two children - Eugene, now a student of the State University at Urbana, and a daughter, Dahpine, a sophomore in the Benton High School.

THE city of Sesser is fortunate in having as citizens several men who are constantly in touch with all civic affairs and ever ready to lend their assistance and cooperation in boosting for everything beneficial to the city of Sesser and surrounding country, and among such citizens there are none more prominent in the work than

George B. Gray. He was born in Marion county, May 25, 1862, son of Henry Gray, a prominent insurance man of that county. He was married to Miss Jessie Audereck of Centralia, November 25, 1904. Mr. Gray came to Sesser during the first year of its incorporation as a village, 1906. He has been postmaster since April, 1914; one of the incorporators of the Sesser Loan and Improvement Association and president of that organization; one of the organizers of the Sesser Real Estate Company and a member of that firm; president of the Goode-Barren Township High School Board and a director of the Sesser Lumber Company. During the war period, Mr. Gray was one of the most active workers and served as president of the local organization of Red Cross at Sesser and has assisted in operating an emergency hospital for two years during the influenza epidemic - every activity for the benefit of the soldiers has his hearty cooperation and active assistance.

FRANKLIN county on account of its large coal fieMs and mines has many citizens of foreign birth, and among the most active and one that has made one of the best citizens is Chas. Gualdoni, who was born in North Italy. Mr. Gualdoni was among the colony that first settled in Murphysboro and when the coal field of Williamson county opened, went to Herrin. where the firm of Berra. Dell'Era and Gualdoni was formed. In 1906. Mr. Gualdoni came to Sesser to participate in the development of the town. His firm, through the influence of Mr. Gualdoni, and his confidence in the future of Sesser, was the fiist to begin the improvement of Sesser with modern brick buildings - the Opera House, Hotel and several other modern buildings are the results of his efforts.

Mr. Gualdoni is a stock holder in both banks in the city of Sesser, a member of the Sesser Commercial Club and always a prime factor in everything tending to build

During the preparation of this history Mr. Gualdoni was making a return visit to his native country, but his partners know his wishes in work of this nature, and authorized this review.

THE above firm is the successor of the Stoelze Hardware Co., which was established about eight yeais ago by John Stoelze, Jr., son of John Stoelze, a prominent hardware merchant of Murphysboro. John Stoelze, Jr. died during the influenza epidemic of 1918, and it is said that the many activities he was engaged in, such as the Red Cross, of Sesser, which he started, and much work of a like nature, weakened his constitution, as he was seemingly a tireless worker.

In July, 1919, Schroeder Hope, son of A. C. Hope, proprietor of Alexander Hotel of Carterville, a former sergeant in the ordnance department who was discharged March 15, 1919, purchased an interest in the business. Mr. Hope, while a young man has had considerable business experience - formerly service manager for Prestolite Storage Battery Co. of St. Louis and automobile salesman for Hayton Bros, at Carterville. As will be seen from the interior of the store, the Stoelze-Hope Hardware Co., maintains a very complete store of its kind. Everything in the general hardware line is carried in stock, and an especial effort is made to specialize on the better grade of hardware merchandise, such as the advertised Robeson cutlery, Keen Cutter tools.

Rochester stamping ware. Atkins saws and tools. The line of stoves is very complete and embraces the Estate, Florence, Majestic and Foster lines.

The Stoelze-Hope store is the Winchester arms agency for Sesser. In no other hardware store of the county can a better selection of these reliable guns be found.

THE subject of this personal sketch, Roy A. Gulley, is a native of Franklin county, born in Barren township, near the present site of Rend, November 19, 1887, the son of L. R. and Sarah (Silkwood) Gulley. He was educated in the common school and later took special work in the Ewing college and the Illinois State Normal at Carbondale. He began teaching school early in life and continued this profession for thirteen years. Deciding to quit the profession for a business life, he located in Sesser in July, 1910, and became manager of the Sesser Supply Company and continued in this capacity for two years. In 1919 he opened a general insurance and real estate office at Sesser and as he has always been one of the leading spirits in the building of Sesser, he at once built up a large and lucrative insurance and real estate business. He served his county as supervisor of Goode township in 1911, and was alderman of the City of Sesser from 1914 to 1915. An active worker in the home activities during the World War and one of the Four Minute speakers who did good work in encouraging the people and developing enthusiasm. He is a member of the Christian church and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Gulley has been secretary of the Sesser lodge 908, A. F. & A. M. for five years.

On February 17. 1909, in the State Capitol building at Springfield there occurred the marriage of Roy A. Gulley and Miss Mary Martel, daughter of O. S. and Mary E. Martel. Mr. and Mrs. Gulley are the parents of five children : Gerald, age ten years; Kathryn, age eight years; Lida, age six years; Ronald, age four years; and Albert, age one year.

THE farms often produce men who are successful in other pursuits, and the subject of this personal sketch, W. J. McLane, has been a successful farmer, later carpenter and now hardware merchant.

Mr. McLane was born in Garden City, Mo., Oct. 30, 1884. The family came to Illinois and settled just south of Sesser, where our subject engaged in farming until 1916 and was then employed a few years as a carpenter. On March 12, 1919, he purchased the present store from M. J. Cockrum, who established the store in 1905 - one of the first stores in Sesser.

The picture here shows the interior of the store, and in spite of the fact that the store building is among the first built in Sesser, the stock is nicely displayed and shows that Mr. McLane is rapidly developing into a live and upto-date hardware merchant. At this writing, he is negotiating the lease of a modern store room in a brick building nearing completion.

Besides the complete line of general hardware, Mr. McLane has an extensive trade in stoves and ranges - "Buck's" and "Favorite" being the principal lines. A full and complete line of the well known "Diamond Edge" cutlery and all kinds of electrical and sporting goods are carried in stock.

THE lumber business of Sesser has been and is one of the most important industries. The rapid building of a large and flourishing city in a few years demands unlimited building facilities. The one firm that has been closely identified with the building of the city is the Winchester Lumber Co., who are successors of the J. W. Heine Lumber Co., which was built as the city grew. The Winchester Lumber Co. was organized May 5, 1917, by Lloyd and Roy Winchester. Lloyd, the manager, was born in Jackson county and Roy in Six Mile township of Franklin county after the family had moved here. Lloyd was married in 1908 to Miss Zola Snyder - they have three children: Rea, Juanita and Dwight. Roy was married in 1910 to Miss Bessie Miller of Marion - they have one daughter, Violet.

The Winchester brothers are progressive citizens and take an active interest in everything that tends to build their town and community. Their lumber yard is a complete building headquarters - everything needed to build a residence or business building can be secured at their yards and at figures that compare favorably with any like establishment.

THE picture above shows the best building in Franklin County, housing a complete lumber yard and stock of building material. It was built by the William Hutson Lumber Co., which concern had been in the lumber business in Sesser for about 10 years. The building was completed in 1918. The business was purchased May 2, 1920, by J. F. Johnson, chief clerk of the "South Mine" at Sesser. Mr. Johnson has for his manager, J. F. Smith, who is widely known in Franklin county as a man who begets and keeps the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact.

of age his parents moved to Chicago where he entered the Chicago schools and later graduated from the Englewood High School and the Kimball Business College. At 18 years of age he entered the employ of T. C. Kellar and Company, coal operators, Old Colony Building, Chicago, and has continued with this firm for 1 5 years, the last 1 1 years of which has been at Sesser in the capacity of chief clerk. He established his residence at Sesser in 1909.

Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Margaret McGifford of Chicago, December 16, 1907, they are the parents of four children, Jessie F. Jr., Margaret, Jr., Winifred and Dorothy. He is a member of the Blue and Royal Arch Masonic Lodge of Benton.

THE NEW business communities which have developed in the last few years, have created new financial institutions to supply the demand for convenient depositories and exchange facilities. The youngest institution of this kind is the Valier State Bank, which was organized Sept. 10, 1918. This bank was organized and incorporated as a State bank with a capital of $25,000. J. F. Mackey, president of the Centralia Trust & Savings Bank, is the president; S. H. Long, cashier; and W. H. Hake, assistant cashier; other officers and directors are Thomas Kelso, W. E. Mackey, and W. G. Lambert, all of Valier, the last two names being prominent merchants.

The need of banking facilities and the immediate popularity of the Valier State Bank, is clearly shown by the fact that the first year's deposits were $55,000 and the resources $82,000. The last financial statement issued June 20, 1920 was as follows:

A continued, astonishing growth is shown by the fact that at this writing, July 23, 1 920, the deposits had reached $180,000 with resources of $210,000.

This bank was the scene of a bold daylight holdup in July, 1920, by robbers who escaped with over $9,000, but as the bank is insured and the funds of depositors carefully safeguarded no loss was incurred to depositors or the institution.

S. H. Long, the cashier, who has shown marked ability in banking circles and directed the upbuilding of this bank, came from Georgetown, where he was assistant cashier of the First State Bank of that city for five years. Mr. Long was born in Georgetown Jan. 1, 1891, the son of W. L. Long, a retired farmer, now deceased.

THE Royalton State bank was established September 15th, 1919, succeeding the Carterville-Royalton Banking Company which was organized some eight years before. William Lovel.at present head of the institution, was cashier of the Carterville-Royalton Banking Company and with the new organization W. R. Tweedy became vice - president and Howard Lovel cashier. The board of directors other than officers just named are Sam Inger, George Cunitz and Solomon Snider. Ferrell Starnes is the bookkeeper.

The last official report for September, 1920, shows the total resources of $237,028.74. During the war period this institution achieved a record in liberty bond selling rarely equalled by any institution in this section of Illinois. Its allotment of the third liberty bond sale was $16,000 and it sold $58,000. Of the fourth drive it was allotted $22,000 and sold $60,000. It was very patriotic in meeting all other obligations placed upon it by the war work, and its officers gave freely of their time and means to help win the war.

This little institution is up to the minute in its equipment, having a Corliss burglar proof safe and employing a Burroughs ledger posting machine.

Howard, December 26, 1895. They are both graduates of the Gem City Business College of Quincy. William was married in November, 1913, to Miss Mildred Wolf of Marion and they have a little son. Howard was married to Miss Arah Smith of Royalton in December, 1918. They have two children.

PHE appellation "the biggest little bank .. in the county" is well fitted to this institution, for none enjoys a better record. The officers and directors are: W. L. Johnson, president; Harry A. Burns, vicepresident; Bert Casteel, cashier; Robt. R. Ward, A. J. Puckett, E. S. Bundy and J. R. Garther, directors.

The bank was started as a private institution in 1900 by John C. Bundy, and was later sold to J. T. and L. E. Chenault, of Benton, the latter becoming cashier and resident manager. The present management bought the bank May 4, 1910, and immediately incorporated it into a State bank. At that time the deposits ran something like $50,000.00, while now they do not fall below $240,000.00. The original capital was $25,000.00, and besides paying its stockholders a handsome dividend each

This substantial growth has been to a large extent due to the careful and businesslike management of B. L. Casteel, who as cashier, has the real local responsibility of conducting the institution along safe and sane policies.

The community of Thompsonville depends more largely than any other in the county upon agricultural and horticultural pursuits, and the farmers have always found the Thompsonville State Bank an institution ever ready to lend them any assistance needed, and at the time they needed it. It is no wonder therefore that the bank is one of the most solid and popular ones in Franklin county. Cashier Casteel is also vitally interested in all things that tend to build up the community.

IT is characteristic of pure Americanism to give credit to a fellow citizen who has step by step, honestly and industriously, climbed the ladder of success. Some large enterprises are developed by a rapidly growing community where trade is forced, but the test of business building is in small communities where it is a case of the "survival of the fittest" - the best business man gradually winning trade from others. Such continuous developing of a large industry must be engineered by a man who has carefully prepared himself in the school of experience. There is no greater example of a selfmade man, who has gained success by building "from the ground up" than Chas. Crisp, of Akin, a small farming community about ten miles east of Benton. He was born March 29, 1 87 1 , the son of John F. Crisp, a woodworker. At the early age of twelve he entered the business world as a clerk and general utility boy for John N. Miller, receiving the sum of fifty-cents a week and board. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Bowman Bros., and continued with this firm until he reached his majority. This was an epochal year in the life of our subject, as he entered business for himself, married his life's help-mate, and became a Mason - Three events which he happily recalls with fond remembrances. Learning the mercantile business as he had, in these small country stores which sold a large variety of merchandise, he was at an early age far above the average business man. His first business venture on his own hook was at Parrish, among the many friends he had made through his long years of apprenticeship. In 1902 he sold his business and moved to Akin, where by steady and honest business methods he has built one of the largest retail business institutions in Franklin county. The pictures in this page show two of the seven buildings necessary to house the merchandise sold by this large institution - complete, in that under one management are stores selling everything used in the home or on the farm. This enterprise is exceptional, as where no competition exists, there is a tendency to exact a large profit - the Crisp store has never had this reputation - all commodities are sold here cheaper than in cities where competition is strong.

Mr. Crisp was married May 17, 1899, to Miss Laura Bell Burns, daughter of G. W. Burns of Thompsonville, a prominent railroader. He has in Mrs. Crisp a life partner - always active in all the varied problems that have contributed to the success of the Crisp stores. He loyally attributes much of his success to his wonderful help-mate.

Mr. and Mrs. Crisp are the parents of three children: James Vernon, Harry Lee and Helen Monette. The two sons have just graduated from the Benton High School, and will enter college this year - James to the law department of Chicago University, and Harry to Peacock's Military Academy at San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Crisp is an uncle of Curtis Crisp, one of the World War heroes, whose photograph and military record will be found in the Honor Roll section of this book. Curtis is now a valued employee of the Crisp stores.

Store And Bank At Logan

ONE of the most prosperous business men of the county and who has continuously builded a business monument to his posterity, is M. Heard, the senior member of the firm of M. Heard & Son, at Logan and Rend City.

M. Heard was born October 3, 1852, on a farm in Hamilton county, and resided here until thirty-five years of age when he moved to Thompsonville and engaged in the livery business and two years later opened a hardware and farm machinery store and continued in this line of business until 1916. In 1912, he bought a general store in Logan, and in 1917 purchased a store in Rend City, which business institutions have been successfully conducted by Mr. Heard and his sons, who are able assistants of their father.

Mr. and Mrs. Heard have raised nine children, two of which are deceased, Mrs. Claudia M. Jones, who died Aug. 7, 1917, and Ross M. Heard, who was killed in the battle of Argonne Forrest, Oct. 11, 1918. Ross' picture and military record will be found in the Gold Star section.

Store And Bank At Rend City

THIS firm is successor to J. R. Martin & Co., and does a big business in general merchandising in Thompson ville. It was established in 1915, C. E. Phillips being the leading spirit in the firm almost from its organization.

Mr. Phillips was born near Thompson ville, November 21, 1886. Almost all his life he has been interested in the community's activities. For several years he taught school, and for a term edited a newspaper and did a general line of printing.

Mr. Phillips was married in 1910. His wife was Miss Myrtle Bourland of Harrisburg. They have a little seven year old daughter in her second year of school.

No business man in the community is more popular and no store has a better line of merchandise of every description. Farmers drive in from a radius of many miles to trade with Mr. Phillips because he has the

THE McCreery Lumber Co. was organized in Thompson ville in 1918 to purchase the yards of T. G. Puckett & Co., and the Walker & Summers Lumber Co. The officers are W. W. McCreery, president, Mack McCreery, vice-president, both of Benton, and Wm. N. McCreery, secretary and local manager.

The yard is one of the best equipped in the county, doing a general business in all kinds of building material within a radius of fifteen miles. The McCreerys, father and sons, are ripe in practical knowledge in the business, having conducted a yard in Benton

Wm. N. McCreery, the local manager, has a home within a short distance of the yards. He was wedded in 1915 to Miss Fay Davis of Benton. The union has been blessed with one boy, now four years old.

Mr. McCreery has entered fully into the business and social interests of the community, being at present Mayor of Thompsonville. Under his administration the village has shown more advancement than in many years before.

AMONG the dependable citizens and business men of foreign birth, none rank higher in the estimation of the public than Sam Y. Donko of Logan, who has one of the best business places in that town.

Sam was born March 9, 1 879, in Lithuania, and emigrated to this country eighteen years ago, and immediately became a member of the "melting pot" - training into citizenship by first working on a farm in Minnesota. He came to Franklin County in 1911 and worked in the mines and in a butcher shop. In 1915, he moved to Logan where he entered business for himself, and by his thrifty habits and reputation for square business methods was able to build the present business place pictured here, in 1918, where he conducts one of the most sanitary meat and grocery markets in the county. He has a complete ammonia refrigeratory plant, which is a guarantee of well kept meats and produce.

AKIN is a small inland town near the eastern boundary of the county - there are not many business enterprises, but one that is very important to the farmers who make Akin the shopping point, is the mill operated and owned by R. Y. Walker, who is also dealer in flour, meal, bran, ships and chopped corn.

Mr. Walker was born in Indiana, Wells county, January 25, 1857. He was reared in Champaign county, Illinois, but returned to Indiana where he married Miss Alice Brown at Marion on January 21, 1881. He came to Akin twenty-nine years ago and engaged in farming and upon the death of his father, purchased the farm. He later rented the Peters & Gullie mill which he operated only a year before it burned

He at once began the erection of a new and modern mill, which has a capacity of thirty barrels of flour and also facilities for grinding meal, bran and ships.

THIS firm consisting of two brothers, Ike and Sam Inger, operated the only lumber yard in Royalton during the war period and at the present time. They established their lumber business in March 1915, after selling out their mercantile interests in Royalton to the Franklin Supply Company. By their fair and honest dealng, they have built up a large business which serves the southwest section of Franklin county and the northwest portion of Williamson. They were both born in Poland Russia and came to America when little boys. They spent their early years in St. Louis, Ike later going to Chicago where he entered business, Sam to Herrin, and some ten years ago each locating in Royalton. Ike was married

Dec. 25, 1905, to Miss Sadie Waxman of Chicago and they have four children. Sam was married in March, 1906, to Miss Sarah Rosenthal of St. Louis. His family consists of a wife and five children. Fraternally he is a Mason as is Ike, the latter also belonging to the Jewish order of J. O. B. A. and the former to the Jewish order of P. O. W. Sam served Royalton for two terms, from 1916 to 1920, as mayor. He is also a director in the Royalton State bank. Ike is a director in the Royalton Building & Loan Association. This firm was one hundred per cent in its meeting all war fund obligations placed upon it and a younger brother, Henry, left the firm and went into service in April, 1918. and remained until the armistice was signed and he was granted a discharge.

Food Administrator

THE report of the Food Administrator which appears on page sixty-two should have included the photograph of the official food administrator, Rev. L. S. McKown, D. D., now pastor of the M. E. Church at Robinson. He was a willing and hard worker and deserves credit for the work he accomplished. His car carried him over the county investigating charges of food hoarding and other violations of the law. In most cases the charges were false however.