Two Elgin women gain attention in July 1908

Two Elgin women gained quite a bit of attention in July 1908 ˆ­ˆ­- one by marriage and another by a feat usually reserved for men.

Elgin's mayor made some comments you wouldn't likely hear today, area merchants devised their own method of determining a customer's credit worthiness, and two high profile crimes reminded us that the good old days weren't always so good.

Here's a look at those stories and others that made Elgin area headlines in July 1908.

Most would have to admit that she was one remarkable woman. While recently divorced, Alice Byrd Potter was one of Elgin's first women drivers and had even competed in local races, this adventuresome lady wanted to do something even more noteworthy. She wanted to be the first woman to drive from Chicago to New York and back.

Driving a four cylinder Hayes automobile and traveling with three female friends, the journey took her over largely unpaved streets with stops at South Bend, Toledo, Erie, Syracuse, and Albany. How did she fare? Be sure to read this column next month to find out.

So how did merchants make a decision about a customer's credit worthiness in the era before credit cards? Why, they looked in a great big book, of course. The most recent edition of this annual report - some 176 pages - contained information on the payment history of most individuals in the city. Those with a "1" next to their name had the highest rating and were considered "prompt pay-financially good." A score of "2" indicated the individual was a "slow pay," while those with a "3" or "4" were considered even higher credit risks Anyone with a score of "5" was identified as the highest risk and merchants were advised to make all sales "C.O.D." and "demand cash."

No serious crime in the good old days? Think again. Upset that his wife refused to provide him any spending money, an Elgin man reportedly stabbed the woman 14 times. The offender, who was a onetime liquor dealer and a current employee of a brewery, escaped and traveled west of Elgin before being caught by authorities. Newspapers said his "police record was a long one."

In another police action, an Elgin man was arrested for both the murder of his wife and for having an incestuous relationship with his 14-year-old daughter - wrong doings that had gone on since the woman's death five years earlier. Called "one of the most atrocious crimes in the history of Elgin," the wife's death was believed to be due to a blow on the head - an event witnessed by the daughter as a younger child. Neighbors reported hearing screams at the time of the woman's death, but found her unable to talk upon their arrival.

"She was probably the first Elgin woman who married into European royalty," said an Elgin newspaper. Though they couple had hoped to keep the matter private, newspapers were able to learn of the marriage of Alexandrine Akeren of Elgin to Waldemar Baron von Wangenheim of Germany.

Originally from Hamburg, the groom was said to be the son of a German army general and a personal friend of the King of Spain. After their marriage in New York, the couple stopped in Elgin for a few days to spend time with the bride's mother who lived in the 100 block of Seneca Street. The bride said she met her husband at a "social function" while traveling in Europe.

So, how did you spend your summer vacation? For many Elginites in 1908, the answer was camping along the banks of the Fox River. Newspapers reported that tents were especially numerous from the Kimball Street Bridge to Trout Park south of the current I-90. A regular feature in the newspapers also recorded activity at the camps with gramophone entertainment and swimming and boating reported to be popular activities with many. The increase in water craft also prompted the city council to pass an ordinance requiring all boats to have lights, but Elgin Mayor Arwin Price refused to fund a special "water police."

Price was a politician of different era - not the type of person you'd likely find in our "politically correct" world today - and the mayor's remarks often provided some unexpected amusement at city council meetings.

"That's a lie," shouted Price during a city council meeting to an eastside alderman who claimed the chief executive had agreed to support sewer installation in the man's ward.

"I've been in public office too long to let anybody like you insult me - especially a little snot like you. I wouldn't take your word for good morning."

"Same to you and thank you," the alderman retorted, and the dispute ended.