Leclaire Newspaper Articles
N. O. NELSON MFG. EXCURSION
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 26, 1890
From Edwardsville, June 24, 1890
On
the “Try, try again” principle, the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing
Company’s excursion arrived here last Saturday afternoon, via the
Kansas City railroad. There were about 400 people in the eight
coaches. An address of welcome by Mayor Glass, and a response by Mr.
Nelson, occurred soon after the arrival of the excursionists. After
a short time, the pleasure seekers divided into small parties and
took a look at their future neighbor, as the town adjoining this
will be called Leclaire, after a Frenchman by that name, who in 1842
inaugurated the profit-sharing system with his workmen. Our people
were pleased with the visit of the employees and others, and hope
that it will not be long before a large number of them will be
living near us. We hear the statement made that the N. O. Nelson
Company would start the work on fifteen new buildings this week.
LECLAIRE – CHANGE THE NAME!
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 10, 1890
The Edwardsville papers have gotten into a snarl over the naming of
the new manufacturing addition to that town. The citizens of
Edwardsville gave $20,000 to Mr. Nelson to locate his establishment
in that vicinity. He proposes having a town of his own, and has
named it “Leclaire.” Two of the county seat’s papers object to this
name, and think it ought to be “South Edwardsville,” and intimate
that had Mr. Nelson given it out that the name would be “Leclaire,”
the $20,000 would not have been secured. The Intelligencer devotes
several columns of this week’s paper in striving to prove that it
will be all right, and no serious damage will occur by the name.
There is not much in a name except its beauty. And if this sentiment
is considered, certainly “Leclaire” would have 90 out of 100 votes
over “South Edwardsville.” “Leclaire” cannot grow much without
benefitting Edwardsville. The best thing to do is to accept the
issue and help Mr. Nelson not only build up Leclaire, but
Edwardsville also.
LECLAIRE NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 17, 1890
We took a walk out to LeClaire. We found four large factories, about
180 x 40 feet, in different stages of erection. This looked like
business to us. Several dwelling houses are nearly completed. We
were more than satisfied with what we saw. We really believe that
every citizen of our place who would go out and take a look at the
work done would certainly feel well pleased with what he saw. The
buildings are substantial, and show plainly that the company
building them has plenty of funds back of them. LeClaire will be to
us about what the glassworks are to Alton. The center of LeClaire
will be nearer the post office here than the glassworks are to the
post office in Alton.
LECLAIRE NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 21, 1890
From Edwardsville - The LeClaire improvements are showing to better
advantage every week. The Factory buildings, the residences, and the
various other improvements show that very soon we will have a
thriving and busy neighbor. All our citizens are well pleased with
the way things are going on there, and strangers in town seem to be
well posted in regard to the N. O. Nelson Co., and the advantage it
will be to our city.
Mayor E. B. Glass can be well satisfied with the way things have
turned out since he has been at the head of our city government. Two
things have been accomplished that he can feel proud of – the
location of the N. O. Nelson Co., and the funding of our entire city
debt of $25,000, at 4 ½ percent interest, with the certainty that
all will be paid in ten years.
The courthouse square had some fine flowers on exhibition today. At
Joseph Schmidt’s grocery store, there was a fine flower of a melon
thistle cactus, and at the Madison Store there was a night-blooming
cereus in full bloom. The square has everything going.
DISCORDANT NOTES IN LECLAIRE
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, March 12, 1894
A number of years ago, liberal and progressive citizens of
Edwardsville gave $20,000 to the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company
of St. Louis to locate a portion of its plant near their town. Mr.
Nelson, with the money given him, bought 150 acres of ground
immediately adjoining Edwardsville, and at once began the erection
of his plant. The site was outside of the county seat. Mr. Nelson
stated that he wanted to be free from municipal control of
Edwardsville. He laid out a town and called it Leclaire. It has
everything that Edwardsville has. His employees at the plant are
compelled to live in Leclaire. From the very inception of the
enterprise, a certain portion of the people and subscribers to the
fund have been dissatisfied. They felt that the plant was
unsatisfactory; that the town of Leclaire was a rival of
Edwardsville; and that the subscribers to the fund received no
appreciable benefit for the money given Mr. Nelson. Matters have
culminated, and on Sunday morning the St. Louis Republic published
interviews with a number of the leading citizens. Ex-Mayor Kellar,
and Messrs. Bartels and Hack speak in the severest terms both of Mr.
Nelson and his company, and charge that he has violated his
agreement with the subscribers. Judge Krome, on the other hand,
thinks that Edwardsville has been benefited, and has received more
than value for its investment. Mr. Wolf, of the Coal Mining Company,
substantiates this statement. Mr. Charles Boeschenstein of the
Intelligencer makes light of the indignation of the critics of
Nelson and Leclaire, and speaks of them as a “few sore heads.” It
may be that Edwardsville has hoped for too much from the Nelson
plant, and it may also be that Nelson has failed in some respects to
keep the loud promises made by him.