Zeigler, Illinois – A Breath Away From Being the Nation’s Capitol
Tucked away amidst the gentle, undulating landscape of Franklin County in Southern Illinois lies Zeigler, a town with a past far grander than its present size suggests. Once a vibrant hub fueled by the promise of abundant coal, Zeigler, Illinois, in the early 20th century, stood on the precipice of a transformation that could have redefined the very heart of the United States. The year was 1904, and the whispers of a bold proposition – to relocate the nation’s capital to this burgeoning Illinois town – echoed through its streets. This is the story of Zeigler, a town that came within a breath of becoming the nation’s capital.
The narrative begins in 1901, with the arrival of Levi Zeigler Leiter, a Chicago multi-millionaire, and his son, Joseph. They saw the potential beneath the soil of Franklin County and invested their considerable family fortune into developing a vast coal mining operation. Purchasing 8,000 acres of land, Joseph embarked on sinking the mine that would become the cornerstone of the Zeigler Coal Company, a name destined to resonate nationally.
Joseph Leiter possessed an unwavering conviction in the scale and modernity of his mine. Legend has it that he used champagne instead of water when mixing the concrete for the cornerstone, infusing it with an extravagant gesture of confidence. Further symbolizing his grand vision, he tossed in a couple of expensive diamond rings and his gold watch into the wet concrete. The cornerstone was engraved with the date 2004, a bold declaration that the mine’s modernization would be a century ahead of its time.
By 1903, the land surrounding the mine was being cleared in preparation for a meticulously planned town. Joseph, armed with a blank check, his father’s blessing, and the backing of his influential friends from Chicago, began to shape his vision for the future. Among the Leiter family’s inner circle were the titans of industry: Palmer Potter, Marshall Field, and George Pullman. These men collectively controlled a significant portion of the nation’s wealth, wielding the prestige and power to unlock doors of opportunity, including the coveted door to the White House. It was a time when presidential administrations often relied on substantial financial contributions for political favors.
The Leiters had generously supported Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential campaign. Now, they sought a return on their investment, a political favor that would elevate them to the pinnacle of society, eclipsing all previous achievements. Their ambition extended beyond simply influencing the election; they sought to indelibly stamp their legacy on the nation’s landscape.
Inspired by George Pullman’s model company town south of Chicago, the Leiters envisioned a similar undertaking in Franklin County. President Roosevelt, a self-proclaimed country boy with a passion for hunting and fishing, provided the perfect opportunity. The Leiter property teemed with wildlife, an abundance of quail, ducks, buffalo, deer, rabbits, and squirrels – an ideal haven for the President’s favorite pastimes. Joseph, recognizing this, commissioned an architect familiar with the layout of Washington, D.C., to design the town he envisioned.
The design mirrored the nation’s capital, featuring a central circle with streets radiating outwards like spokes on a wheel. As the town began to take shape, Leiter christened it Zeigler, in honor of his father’s middle name. With their financial clout and political connections, the Leiters and their wealthy allies began to orchestrate a daring plan: to persuade President Roosevelt to relocate the White House and the nation’s capital to their burgeoning town of Zeigler, Illinois.
The political machinery was set in motion, the lobbying commenced, and the wheels turned towards making Zeigler the new heart of the nation. Momentum seemed to favor the Leiters, and Joseph proudly opened his coal mine on June 8th, 1904, bringing the first load of coal to the surface. His future appeared brighter than ever, but fate had a cruel twist in store.
Tragedy struck the very next day when Joseph’s father succumbed to a rare heart disease. Joseph’s future suddenly dimmed, and the blank checks he had enjoyed were now in jeopardy. The prospect of moving the Presidential White House to Zeigler, Illinois, seemed to die with his influential father. Labor disputes involving the Ku Klux Klan and labor unions further complicated matters for Joseph, who had vowed to operate a "union-free" mine. Protecting his property became a constant struggle.
He erected a fortified fence around his mine, resembling an army installation, and installed powerful searchlights and large-caliber "Gattling Guns" at strategic points around the mine and town entrances. Security guards, hand-picked and armed to the teeth, were instructed to "shoot to kill" any trespassers. Despite these challenges, Joseph continued to build his town. He constructed a large two-story colonial-style office building in the center of the circle, along with a grand personal residence and a company store. He also provided schools and donated land for the construction of local churches. However, Joseph’s "master & slave" attitude ultimately led to his downfall in the coal industry. Following a series of devastating mine explosions, he exited the business in 1910, leasing his holdings to the Bell and Zoller Coal Company. His dreams shattered, he returned to Chicago, where he continued to find success in other ventures.
Bell and Zoller Coal Company kept the town of Zeigler moving forward. Zeigler reached its peak in 1926, boasting a population of nearly 7,000 residents, 3,500 employees, and 174 businesses. When the Great Depression gripped the nation, Zeigler initially seemed immune to its effects. The Bank of Zeigler was one of the few banks to survive the economic crisis, thanks to the extraordinary measure of flying in large sums of money from St. Louis, Missouri. In a bold display of resilience, bank officials obtained special permission from the US Treasury Department to print their own money, which they put into circulation. Despite this effort, businesses began to relocate from Zeigler, and the population dwindled with the decline of the coal industry.
During the early 1940s, a memorial board was erected on the circle to honor the men from Zeigler who were serving in the military. It is remarkable that this small town contributed over 450 men to the war effort. The board was later replaced with a stone monument to honor those who lost their lives in the wars. Over the years, as the demand for coal continued to decline, so did the population of Zeigler. Today, the town has a population of approximately 1,700 and is a shadow of its former self.
Today, little remains of the large coal mine, the mine office in the circle, or the hospital and company store. The grand home Leiter built for his residence has been remodeled and remains a private residence on the circle. While the name of Joseph Leiter may occasionally surface in conversations among history enthusiasts or elderly residents, for the younger generation, Zeigler is simply the small town they call home. They are often unaware that their town once stood within a breath of becoming the home of the Presidential White House and the nation’s capital. The history of Zeigler, Illinois, is a reminder of ambition, dreams, and the unpredictable nature of fate.
Approximately 550 photographs of Zeigler’s original buildings and early settlers, dating from 1900 to 2000, have been collected by the people of Zeigler. They have compiled 100 of the best photos into two volumes and donated them to the city of Zeigler. A historical book of Zeigler titled “The Town That Big Joe Built” was completed by this writer, and copies have been donated to the Zeigler Women’s Club, which sells them.