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eoriible, ant, num ility any. i of*****d of airtdirett,1853—Du Quoin Centennial—1953Jake Naumer Gave City First Electrical Service, Led Du Quoin Packing Company Organization* *Herman Oldetidorph earned a reputation for himself in the Du'topher, the first electric raw \va-Jacob NaumerOlive street. Naumer built his home just a block away on OliveiHis custom was to arise early, go to the plant for two hours, then home for breakfast.An old settler says she can re-member his “peddling his ice around town in a little one horse wagon with a tarpaulin over itto shade the ice. And how the housewives appreciated the ice, but blessed him out for trackingup their kitchen floors!”Quoin area making good old-fashioned Gorman sausage. But this is the story of his good friend, .Take Naumer, who had n bright idea. One cokl November morning in 1922, the two of them got together and started sausage making on a wholesale scale.Their factory was a woodshed at the rear of the Naumer home on Last Olive street. This place proved too cold, as the quantity of sausage they had planned to work into “Jinks” that morning was frozen. Temporarily, operations were moved into the basement, „Jake Naumer came to Du Quoin in 1897. He was horn In Asset!• helm, Germany, October 17, 1895, and came to the LJ. S. A, with his pa re nix, Fred and Kva Naumer, 'landing in New Orleans in 1867. A few years later Jake wanted to see the country, so, at the age of 14, he went from Lebanon, Illinois, where his father had obtained employment as a cooper, to Socora, New Mexico.Ten years Jake spent in the southwest, learning the ice manufacturing business.The N. O. Nelson Ice Machine Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis sent him as construction engineer on an ice plant and brewery theyhad contracted to erect at Monterey, Mexico. After two years in Monterey, he returned to his parents home in Lebanon, in 1891 he was sent to install new machinery in the Rudolph Steelier Brewery at Murphysboro. Steelier thought well of the young German's mechanical ability and upon the completion of the job,Naumer was asked to remain as chief engineer.On October 3, 1894, Olive White of Lebanon and Jake Naumer were married. They lived for the next three years in Murphysboro,' then came to Du Quoin for one year. Returning to Murphysboro, they remained until 1901, then moved to Du Quoin for permanent residence.Two of the Naumer’s four children met tragic deaths. One of twins, Lester Jacob, in 1915, while working for the light plant, was electrocuted. The second son,Oliver Vernon, was killed in an auto accident in 1947. The other twin, Celeste, married Lyle D.FI a veil. The youngest son, Walter. is now president of the'Du Quoin Packing Company.Du Quoin has had many civic minded citizens, but few showedthe unselfish far-sightedness of Jake Naumer. Upon settling in Du Quoin in 1901 he was instru-I mental in organizing the Du ! Quoin Utility Co. The following |men were associated with him;1 Henry Ward, R. O. Lchn, Harry j Ross and George Crocssmann.! The first project of the new | firm was the establishing of anter Ice plant in this part of the country.This was not enough, Jake Naumet's rugged personalityneeded more to do, so ho begansetting up numerous ice and cold storage plants in centeral and southern*Illinois. He was a pioneer in mechanical refrigeration and supplied ideas and mechanical know-how to other firms.AH the industries of which Jake Naumer was the parent gave him great satisfaction. But he took more pride in the Du Quoin Packing Company which he and his associates founded in/March, 1923, as an outgrowth of the sausage business, than in any other. From the beginning he personally directed the concern as president, with characteristic thoroughness.From the start of 400 pounds ofso he could he near the business.!sausa£e a \v,ee^» a{^ so^ t0 l°cajJake Naumer’s genius for things mechanical was almost uncanny, and being an ambitious soul, lie was never satisfied with tilings as they were. Consequently he next spark - plugged the Utility Company to give the city its first waterworks and electric service.Du Quoin had had a taste of electric lighting when arrange*; meats were made to supply electricity for the Majestic Theatre from the ‘ ice plant, but when lights were turned on in 1905 for the stores and homes, the town got a thrill. Celeste Naumer Flaveil relates that she can re*' call the neighbors Hocking into the Naumer home to see the lights.The Du Quoin Utilities Company was disposed of in 1916 to the Saline Licet rie Company, which is today the Illinois Power Company.Released from major responsibilities, Jake Naumer took his ailing wife and children and went to California, then to Doming. New Mexico. His plan had been to go in business in New Mexico. He had bought ice machinery to he sent there. But the family was home-sick.The result was that the Naumers treked back to Du Quoin, in 1918 the purchased ice plant, which stood on East equipment was set up in Chris-merchants, the business grew ami grew to proportions demanding a plant. The first one built on the present site burned in 1925.With a real faith in his future business and his town Jake set about constructing a new building. In 193b a modern addition was opened and in 1941 a power plant added. More recently other buildings have been grouped near Uhe main one, and now a remodeling is planned to make the plant more adequate.The original founders utilized the names of popular nearby sites for their brand names. Today the Blue Bell products of the Du Quoin Packing Company are familiar all over southern Illinois.Jake Naumer had a host of friends throughout central and southern Illinois where business interests gave him innumerable contacts. His Kindly benefactions over the years were exceeded only by the joy he took in them. He was a jovial member of the Elks' club, Rotary and Murphysboro Knights of Pythias. The entire family are Presbyterians.Mrs. Jake Naumer was born in Lebanon, 111., the daughter of James and Sarah White. She was always greatly interested in her husband’s enterprises and was of decided assistance to him. The death of her son, Lester, was a shock from which she never fully recovered. She died July 2, 1935.Jake Naumer left his business interests in hands he had trained. Walter Naumer is president and Llye D. Flaveil, husband of Celeste Naumer, is vice-president and treasurer. Now his grandsonand namesake, Jake, secretary of the company and son of Walter Naumer, is learning all phase* of the business.
Newspaper Details
Du Quoin Evening Call
Du Quoin, Illinois, US
Sat, Sep 19, 1953
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Darren H.
USA 18 Jan 2021
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Du Quoin Evening Call
