Illiopolis
Business Association 
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Illiopolis
Business Association
Local History
Taken from a 1901 Supplement to The (Illiopolis) State Center Record
Sovereign Medicine Co.
W. G. McNier, Treasurer and General Manager G. E. Clendennen, Secretary
That popular appreciation and recognition
are but the natural and inevitable rewards of true merit, and that methods
characteristic of the strictest integrity meet with a generous and hearty
response wherever and whenever enforced are well exemplified in the steady
development and marked progress of the Sovereign Medicine Co. This enterprise
was founded and organized June, 1898, for the purpose of manufacturing and
distributing a remedy which has, because of its wonderful and reliable
results, achieved a triumph unparalleled in therapeutics, and which is widely
known as McNier’s Sovereign Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure. The discovery of
this wonderful specific was due neither to chance nor inspiration, but was the
direct result of studied and close investigation in pharmaceutical science by
expert ability. Some years ago, whilst following his
chosen profession as a pharmacist in the city of Chicago, Mr. W. G. McNier’s
attention was directed to the many cases of rheumatism and neuralgia constantly
prevalent. The sufferer’s pathetic pleadings for relief was a common
experience
but the hope of permanent immunity was not entertained, the secret was locked up
in the storehouse of Mother Nature and as yet, it
awaited the diligent
efforts of the intelligent investigator. Many of those who sought Mr.
McNier’s professional services were poor, plain people living in the city’s congested districts and whose scanty earnings could not permit of the
advantages of professional skill and knowledge. The sufferings of these people
exacted pity and compassion, their patience and endurance in their pain and
anguish commanded admiration, and their &lent and tearless self-denial
appealed in the most forcible terms for something; any thing to alleviate
their physical distress. Here then was an opportunity prolific in results by the
solution of the problem presented of providing a cure for rheumatic and
nervous troubles and at a price within the reach of the plain people. These
conditions commanded the attention of Mr. McNier and forthwith his knowledge
and energies were concentrated on that part of pharmaceutical science bearing
directly on rheumatic and nervous maladies. Time, patience, and persistent
intelligent effort brought their reward, and a formula was at length discovered
which is today known as McNier’s Sovereign Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure. In
order the better to test its efficiency and establish beyond all doubt its
absolute reliability as a curative agent, years were allowed to elapse during
which period hundreds of cases, whose histories were well known and authentic,
were treated successfully and cured. In this manner was the reputation of the
McNier Sovereign Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure built up through its merits alone
and vouched for by people knowing each other, their physical disability, their
consequent improvement, and beyond. all else, their
integrity and veracity. It was not, however, until June, 1898, that any attempt
was made to put this wonderful remedy on the market, and thus give the general
public its benefits. At that time a company was organized, consisting of I. C.
Loose, W. G. McNier and G. E. Clendennen, and steps were at once taken for the manufacture
and distribution of the medicine in quantities. Representatives
were employed to call at the homes of those afflicted with rheumatism or
neuralgia in a stated territory, furnish them with the cure free of all cost,
and through the results directly obtained create both confidence and a demand.
The marvelous success of this method was beyond the expectations of those
interested in the enterprise, for, whilst they had full confidence in the
efficacy of their remedy which, trial after trial, had repeatedly
substantiated, they were obliged to contend against strong odds arising from the
popular prejudice against proprietary medicines, the distrust. fostered for
the cure-alls and nostrums which flood the market and last, but not by any means
least, the difficulties which invariably attend the introduction of an unknown
article in a community. Systematic and intelligent effort has overcome all these
obstacles so that throughout the Central States, where representatives are at
work; McNier’s Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure is meeting with universal
recognition and its consequence; increasing demand. Such has been the progress made that
the original plans
and facilities have become inadequate. Accordingly, on Jan. 1st of the present
year, the Sovereign Medicine Co. was incorporated under the laws of the State of
Illinois, a policy of expansion in trade territory outlined and adopted, and
every advantage that capital and experience could suggest was secured to develop
the business by being able to respond faithfully and quickly to its
needs.
The Sovereign Medicine Co. has for its officers Mr. I. C. Loose, President; G. E. Clendennen, Secretary; and W. G. McNier, General Manager and Treasurer. Mr. Loose is among the successful business men and extensive land owners of Central Illinois. He is also engaged in the banking business, being one of the owners of the Farmer’s State Batik of Illiopolis Ills. Mr. G. E. Clendennen is among Illinois’ popular and leading educators, Mr. W. G. McNier conducts a successful drug business, his expert ability as a pharmacist always gaining the recognition and preference of the medical profession generally. All the gentlemen above named are of the strictest integrity, successful in their several enterprises and pursuits, and enjoy the esteem and regard of all who have held relations with them in a business or social capacity. McNier’s Sovereign Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure is put up in tablet form and is composed of health giving ingredients, each having a specific action upon certain elements of disease and when in combination unite to form a powerful and invincible specific for curing all rheumatic neuralgic and nervous troubles. This great remedy contains no opiates such as morphine, quinine, acetanilide or other injurious narcotics. As an evidence of absolute faith in its curative properties and to awaken an interest and confidence which must precede demand, the Sovereign Medicine Co. offers to each purchaser a positive guarantee that, should he receive no benefit whatever from the use of the first box all precautions as recited in the published booklet pertaining to diet arid exposure being faithfully observed, the money will in every case be cheerfully refunded. With this guarantee always in force remittances on the part of the company are unheard of, on the contrary, testimonials continue to arrive by every mail; each and every ones expressive of gratitude for the wonderful benefits bestowed. Testimonials certain, clear, direct in their meaning from your own friends and acquaintances are the sure and infallible test. These are the solid foundation upon which the reputation of McNier’s Sovereign Rheumatic and Neuralgia Cure rests. These are the all powerful pleaders of its curative properties and they present an avalanche of argument convincing and unanswerable. Merit and merit alone has stamped this wonderful remedy with the seal of popular recognition and has made welcome its visitation to the homes of suffering humanity.
The Main office of the Sovereign Medicine Co. is located at Chicago, Ill., branch office and laboratory at Illiopolis, Ill. At either of which places orders will receive, prompt attention.