Banking
Prior to 1884 there was no actual organized banking institution in Roanoke. However,
Z. H. Whitmore, M.D. posted a notice in the Era offering money to loan at low interest rates in July, 1884.
Sometime in 1880, Cyrus F. Brown, a livestock buyer and shipper, opened the first bank
in Roanoke. He rented a room adjoining Henry Tropitz's grain office, announce it was the bank, and thus met the
feeble banking laws of that day. Brown's bank continued until his death until 1892. The room he occupied was in
a building west of John Nutt's present tavern. After this, but prior to 1895 when the Farmers' Bank was organized,
Herbst, Altorfer and Sauder provided limited banking services.
In October of 1893, most of the businesses in the bank block burned to the ground. Lewis
and Henry harms of Washington, Illinois, opened the Roanoke State Bank on the west side of Main Street shortly
after 1893.
The Farmers Bank opened its doors in 1895. In 1910 the controlling officers were: President,
H. D. Harms; Cashier, L. W. Harms; Asst. Cashier, H. D. Hollenback. In 1911 the Postal savings Bank began next
to the grain office.
February 21, 1913, the German-American Bank was established at Main and Broad in the
building now occupied by the Roanoke Family Practice Center. Benjamin Schertz was President; Emil Rediger, Vice
President; Ben W. Belsley, Secretary; and Sol Herbst, Samuel Sauder, and Louis Schertz, Directors.
The Roanoke State Bank sold out in May, 1913, to the German-American State Bank and business
was continued in the Roanoke State Bank building.
The bank closed in February, 1933, along with all the others across the nation. Following
a government audit, the business opened in June of that year after 90 per cent of the depositors agreed to waive
50 per cent of their deposits.
In December, 1936, the bank paid 30 per cent of the waivers.
Benjamin Belsley, who held controlling interest in the bank, died in September, 1937,
and the bank was forced to close. For nearly eight years Roanoke had no bank, and the building and fixtures were
sold.
May 17, 1945, Simon E. Naffziger and his son Byron of Goodfield, opened the Peoples State
Bank of Roanoke. The senior Naffziger resigned from the Board of Directors at a special meeting November 27, 1951.
J. Thomas Edwards was elected to fill his term and serve as President for the remainder of the year.
On September 21, 1957, W. S. Goodwin and Pauline Goodwin were elected to fill the unexpired
terms of J. Thomas Edwards and Robert Dickinson who had resigned and disposed of their stock.
Willard J. Sauder was elected President on January 8, 1959, and several members of the
Sam martin family became stockholders of the bank. That year a 100 per cent Capital Stock dividend was issued and
again January 0, 1972.
A new bank building was begun in September, 1973, on Illinois 116 in the Legel subdivision
on the west edge of Roanoke. The banking facilities in Roanoke are to be moved there upon completion of the building
in the late fall of 1974.
The present officers and directors are: President, Willard J. Sauder; Vice President,
Robert S. Martin; Assistant Vice President, Ivan Bachman; Cashier and Secretary, Marilyn Weyeneth; Assistant Cashier,
Phyllis J. Aeschleman; Directors, Eugene Martin, John Martin, Robert Martin, Carl McGhee, Curtis Sauder, Dorothy
Sauder and Willard Sauder.
Blacksmith Shops
A number of the early settlers were proficient at smithing. Stephenson worked at this
far. Joseph Causey built the first shop used solely for the purpose. William Beeman opened one of the earliest
shops in the village proper. A. J. darling began business just east of the crooked bridge in 1866. The exact locations
of the earliest shops are not clear. George W. Karl, Sr. in 1865 had a shop reportedly at the west end of the present
Riviere Hardware building, and others remembered the shop as having been east of the bridge near the Christian
Church. Karl planted trees along some of the main streets when the town was laid out.
On the site of the present blacksmith shop, several such as Ulrich Beer, the Martin Brothers,
etc., have been employed at various times. The old wooden building was called Roanoke Blacksmith Wagon and Machine
Shop, operated by H. Hillen and Joe Full.
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Roanoke Blacksmith, Wagon and Machine Shop. H. Hillen, second from left,
Joe Full, second from right
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In 1917, Ben J. Fehr purchased the business from Joe Full. He operated the business about
nine months, and during that time fire gutted the building. The present building was built next to the burned building,
later torn down. Most of the woodwork on wagons and carriages had been done on the second floor of the old shop.
Upon completion of a vehicle, two large doors on the second floor of the shop were opened, planks laid from the
floor on an incline to the ground and the buggy lowered with ropes.
The new shop was fitted out with the latest equipment of the period. Ben's brother, Carl,
came to help him out for about two months, but Carl remained and is still helping his nephew.
Walter Fehr joined his father in 1937 and in 1970 purchased the business. His sons Tom
and Mike help with the business.
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B. J. Fehr, Blacksmith and Machine Shop, 1919
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Herbst & Company
E. L., Theophil, and Joe Herbst began Herbst and Company in the Rosenak building, now
the location of Schrock's Variety. Later Theophil Herbst sold his portion of the business and formed Herbst and
Hellwig, a bakery and variety store on Woodford Street. At that time William Herbst came into the Herbst and Company.
Next, Joe sold out and went to Peoria, leaving E. H. and William. After 50 years in business, William sold to a
Mr. Potter who ran a grocery store at the location, until Schrock Variety opened there.
Bill Riley operated a restaurant in the Herbst and Hellwig bakery until Fed Riley bought
the building and enlarged it for his grocery business. Emil Hoerr opened a variety store after Fred Riley left
the Broad Street location, then sold his business to Zueleger, who in turn sold it to Fred Getz, who in turn sold
to ?Schrock. Schrock bought Mr. Potter's grocery store and moved to his present location. Getz's old store, in
turn was bought by Ben Chiotti and Hank Micheletti who formed Roanoke Plumbing and Heating in April, 1968. In 1969,
Chiotti bought out Micheletti and has operated it since.
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Eddie Schafer delivering groceries for Herbst Grocery, in 1930's
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Pioletti's Store
Joseph Pioletti operated a mercantile business in Roanoke for 40 years. Pioletti had
served as bookkeeper for the Union Italian Supply Association General Store. When the association discontinued
its store in 1920, Pioletti took over the business and operated it independently.
Andrew Paluska operated his cobbler shop in Pioletti's store near the front door.
At the present time, Harley King and Hiatt's sharpening service occupy the Pioletti building.
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Pioletti Mercantile Co., 1924. Joe Pioletti, center, and Andy Paluska, far
right
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Bills Thomas' Store
A colorful local merchant well-known in Roanoke was Bill Thomas. Thomas operated an oil
station where the Aeschleman Amoco station is now located. He started selling a few groceries in the office of
the oil station, then later operated a full-time grocery store after he stopped selling gas.
Thomas rarely left his station-store. Once, when he did go up town in Roanoke, the event
was written up in the local newspaper, since it had been 20 years since he had done so. Thomas' wife was an invalid
confined to a wheelchair and was unable to come and go. Thus, he stayed close to home.
Roanoke Theater
Roanoke Theater opened December 6, 1946. It was owned and operated by Martin Moritz.
The theater closed in 1958 and in 1959 the projection equipment was disposed of. The building was sold to Minger
Brothers Equipment in 1965.
Lumber Yards
The earliest lumberyards operated in Roanoke were managed by Phillip Moore and Mr. Brown.
J. B. Snyder was probably the best-known of the early lumberyards. Snyder had worked for J. N. Fischer Lumberyard
and later bought this yard. J. B. Snyder Lumberyard sold out abut 1960. Roanoke Farmer's Association carried lumber,
tile, and building material until sometime in the 60's. The remaining lumberyard in Roanoke is Illinois Builders
Material Company which was incorporated in 1946. In 1947, Illinois Builders started making concrete blocks, which
were later handled by Roanoke Concrete Products Company, beginning in 1958. Several additions were made in 1952,
to Illinois Builders and later an office and show room were added on Front Street. Real estate and development
have recently been added to their line of services.
Gas Stations
Rudolph Moser opened Roanoke's first gasoline station in a barn near the ABC Co.
At one time a gas station occupied the northwest corner of the square where Harold Schrock
built his new store, now known as Buehlers. D. B. Hodel, Fred Moser, Casey and Brick Herbst were some who operated
it.
When the Herbst station closed, Clarence Aeschleman operated it and sold Farm Bureau
gas. The Farm Service Bulk plant was built east of town and the gas station was moved there.
Herman Willems built the station near the curve on Rt. 116 around the early 1920's. Later
Raymond Vogel operated the Veedol Station there and ran a bulk truck until 1967, when the house and station were
sold to Illinois Builders. Later the building was demolished.
Vic Blunier built a Texaco station and lunch room on the corner of Front and Cleveland
in 1941. Later he sold it to Hugh White, who ran it for a number of years. Some of those who operated the station
later were: Earl Bachman, Cletus Knoll, Jerry Ross, Richard Keller, Gene Blain and Carl Teeters. It has since been
closed.
Bill Thomas sold groceries in his Phillips 66 Station at Green and Front for many years.
In 1958, Simeom Bates built a Cities Service station on that corner. It became Gulf when it was sold to Harley
and Marvin Aeschleman and is now known as Aeschleman Amoco. The station also does service and repair work and also
providing wrecker service.
Doctors
The following doctors have served the townspeople:
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Dr. Urban - present Doctor
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Dr. F. C. Vogt
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Dr. Wm Madison
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Dr. M. E. Aaberg
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Dr. Rodaway
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Dr. J. T. Wyatt
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Dr. Melvin Glick
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Dr. John Scheen
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Dr. R. J. Davies
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Dentists
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1908-32
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Dr. C. W. Hubbell
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1920-
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Dr. E. H. Wallace
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1950-
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Dr. Robert Wallace
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