Macomb's transformation into its modern state began in earnest during the 1920s. The 1920s brought about immense economic shifts in the county as industries that once defined the county began to erode under the pressure of national and international competition. Agriculture became the only industry of the “old guard” that continued to employ thousands of residents and be profitable. Macomb began its transformation into a retail economy as economic power began to consolidate in Macomb. The 1920s also included a great amount of political turmoil regarding the institution of prohibition throughout the United States. The consumption of alcohol would not be stopped and a number of individuals would take advantage of the end to legal sales of alcohol by acquiring and then selling their own stashes of alcohol to residents of McDonough County.
None would be more successful than Henry Wagle in this endeavor. McDonough County was also home to Illinois’ only female mayor in 1925, Hattie Polk of Colchester. She was most known for her staunch stance against the consumption and sale of alcohol, and she'd launch a long-lasting campaign against many bootleggers in the county.
Farmers were recovering from the agricultural depression that stemmed from the end of World War One. Debt had taken a stranglehold over numerous family farms in the county which led to nearly 130 foreclosures between 1920 and 1925. In most cases, these farms would be ripped up and purchased by other farmers who were in a better financial position. These farmers were able to take advantage of the modernization of farming equipment as specialized tractors became more reliable and more affordable. Farmers of the 1920s owned more assets and produced more crops than any of their ancestors prior to 1910.
Farmers were also some of the first in McDonough County to purchase cars for everyday use. Their familiarity with engine-powered vehicles made them more likely to be comfortable with the prospect of trading in the horse and buggy for the automobile. Many farmers spent their weekends going to Macomb to do their weekly shopping and to enjoy some of the entertainment options available. Barbershops, theaters, and businesses on the square were regularly filled with these farmers. The increased mobility of thousands of residents allowed for Macomb to become the biggest consumer market in the county. Big retail stores began to set up shop in Macomb during this decade and effectively destroyed the small community economies of the surrounding towns. This is evident today as Macomb is home to Walmart, Hy-Vee, Farm King and a number of other chain stores.
McDonough County fervently enforced prohibition throughout the 1920s. Mayor Polk teamed up with Andrew Hainline, who was a state’s attorney based in Macomb.
Together they worked to promote sufferance and to crack down on local bootleggers who ignored prohibition laws. In their efforts to end bootlegging in the county, nearly a third of all judicial cases in the county courts involved charges that stemmed from the breaking of prohibition laws.
Wagle was a bootlegger from Colchester who became one of the most notorious bootleggers in the Midwest. He formed connections from Chicago to Omaha and he waged a long battle with the legal system in this county and regularly avoided jail time.
From 1925-1927, there were three bombing attacks that targeted local officials. This led to an increased amount of attention on law breakers in the county and Wagle was caught in the crosshairs. Hainline was able to convict Wagle on charges related to the transportation of alcohol and served him with a 90-day stint in jail and a hefty fine.
Eventually, prohibition ended and just as bootleggers had proven, the taste for alcohol never went away and bars opened across the county once again.
Macomb was transforming into its modern state in the 1920s. Many industries fell as the retail and agricultural industries became dominant. Macomb became the center of the economy and surrounding towns suffered economically due to the centralization of businesses. Prohibition proved to be futile and the return of bars remains a social pillar for McDonough County today.
