JERSEY: 100 years of family service

By Editor | June 28, 2023 |

By Steven Spencer

Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
Tons of people stopped by Jersey Motor Company last week to congratulate and celebrate the Dwyer family on the businesses 100th anniversary.

The Jerseyville Motor Company celebrated their 100th anniversary last week with a huge party and a resolution from the House of Representatives recognizing the Dwyer family for their dedication and hard work.

John David Dwyer said it was a special day with an overwhelming show of support.

“When I first started here this was like the day that I couldn’t wait for. I’ve been counting down and can’t believe it’s here,” Dwyer said. “I Feel very lucky to have everybody here. I’m lucky for a lot of things. I’m lucky for the foresight and the vision of Leo Smith, my great-grandfather who started it. Lucky for the courage that my grandfather Matt had to come from Memphis to take over his wife’s family business. Lucky for the dedication and handwork that my dad has shown me everyday. There has never been a day that I didn’t want to come to work. Lucky for everybody here, the community, the best employees. Couldn’t do it without you.”

In a resolution from the House of Representatives, the Jerseyville Motor Company was congratulated on their success as a local family-owned business spanning four generations.

“Today, the Jerseyville Motor Company is one of the largest privately owned employers in Jersey County; the business currently employs 22 loyal workers, with the average tenure per employee being 17 years; and whereas, The Jerseyville Motor Company has received multiple Ford President’s Awards from the Ford Motor Company, one of the motor company’s most prestigious awards in recognition of dealers who have achieved the highest levels of customer satisfaction in their respective Customer Viewpoint Group,” the resolution stated. “Be it resolved, by the House of Representatives of the One Hundred Third General Assembly of the State of Illinois, that we congratulate the Jerseyville Motor Company, Inc. on its 100th anniversary, and we wish the business continued success in the future.”

Dwyer said the company and family is looking forward to what the future holds and hopes to celebrate more milestones together soon.

“It’s very exciting, it’s really made this whole day special for everybody,” Dwyer said of the support from the community. ”We wouldn’t be able to do this without these people here, so to get everybody together to celebrate this together as a community is amazing. It made our day.”