On the 13th of November, 1918, Louis L. Emmerson, the Illinois Secretary of State, authorized the creation of the Vegetable Growers Supply Co. Corporation. A week and a day later, on November 21, 1918, the Vegetable Growers Supply Co., held their first shareholder meeting of the original subscribers of the company’s capital stock. That meeting was held at 7013 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL at 8 PM.

Those initial shareholders were as follows and in the order listed in the minutes:

• J.P. Smith
• Michael Leider
• Nicholas Schmidt
• Nick Kaiser
• Anton Streenski
• John B. Molitor
• J. P. Leider
• Nick Engel
• Jos. Winkin
• Jules Knockaert
• George Guirsch
• Michael Reding
• Nicholas Welter
• F. N. Pesche
• J. P. Kellen (my great grandfather)
• John L. Hoffmann
• Matt Hoffman
• Joseph Rengel
• John May
• John Jaeger
• Nic Schwind
• Mike L. Loutsch
• Anton Ph. Doetsch
• Anton F. Puetz
• M. Zimmer
• Ferdinand Kutz
• Dominick Lambert
• Frank Herff
• Frank J. Klein
• John Muno
• Joe Zimmer
• Anthony Kremer
• Paul Thill
• Val Schroeder
• Peter Mertens
• Math. Welter
• Michael Leider
• Fred Fortmann
• Robert F. Dilger
• Michael Becker
• Anton Schneider
• J. A. Schneider
• WM. Rengel
• Ben Doetsch
• John P. Michelau
• Joe Michelau
• H. G. Modaff
• M. Tjheis
• N. Origer
• J. B. Blaminser
• Mick Reimen
• J. P. Dainst
• Peter Michelau
• Ni. Meyers
• Henry N. Didier
• Chas K. Schwind
• Fred Reitz
• Jacob Harles
• N. Josoph Muller
• Mrs. M. Welter
• Frank Zimmer
• Ben Borst
• Robert J. Molitor
• Nicholas Platz
• Anton A. Fochs
• Nick Watzen
• M. Kinsch
• Chas. Smith
• Charles Muno
• J. J. Jennetten
• J. C. Laubach
• Nick Lichter
• Jacob Romer
• Peter Tiltges
• J. G. Schneider
• Fred Glody
• Nick Olinger
• Anton Kayser
• John Rasqui
• Peter Altmann
• Peter Endre
• Joseph Phillip
• Nic Steffen
• Peter Nepper
• Ed. Halbe
• Chas. Hengesch
• Michael Weber
• Nick Geiden
• Adolph Krueger
• Henry Tholl

The meeting was called to order by J. P. Smith and all were present. John B. Molitor was elected (unanimously) the secretary of the meeting. Fredinand Kutz, Joseph Rengel, John P. Leider, Michael Leider, John C. Laubach, J. Phillip Smith, John B. Molitor, Frank Herff, Nicholas Schmidt, Nicholas Platz and Anton Kramer were elected as directors for one year. The address for the company was officially recorded as 6939 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

As oral history relayed to me indicated, it is entirely likely that short meetings were followed with some gaiety of some kind, most likely enhanced with some libations…

When I get the time, I will summarize each meeting of the Vegetable Growers Supply Co., and in time, time willing, follow up with the minutes of the Chicago Carnation Growers Association.