USA > Iowa > Monroe County > An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa > Part 14
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The Union alleged that several hundred of the Republi- can's certified yearly subscribers were not bona fide, as they were 25-cent subscribers. The Republican's list exceeded that of the Union by several hundred, and this excess, the Union alleged, was made up of 25-cent sub- scribers. The Union also alleges fraud. There was but little doubt that the Republican's subscription list was made up largely of 25-cent subscriptions, and whether these should be recognized as bona fide yearly subscriptions is a problem for the courts to decide.
In addition to the secular press of the county, the Messenger Publishing Company of Albia have lately started a small weekly in quarto form, going by the name of The Messenger. Its staff of publishers consists of L. J. Harring- ton, office editor; E. G. Powers, associate editor; and F. K. Morris, business manager. The publication is devoted exclusively to religious topics, and is an exponent of the modern doctrine of "holiness," or entire sanctification.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
CHAPTER IX.
County Government.
When the county was first organized, it was under the triumvirate of three officers, known as the Board of County Commissioners. Their duties were restricted mainly to the organizing of townships within the county, the laying out of town plats, the location of public highways, the levying of taxes, the canvass of election returns, and the auditing of public claims and accounts. Their duties were identical with those of the Board of Supervisors of the present day. Their tax levies were not burdensome, as will be seen by the action of their meeting of August 20, 1848:
"Ordered, That there be levied a tax of 5 mills upon all the taxable property of Kishkekosh County; a tax of ¿ mill for Territorial purposes, subject to the order of the Legisla- ture of the Territory, and also a poll-tax of 50 cents upon every male person in the county subject to a poll-tax."
W. G. Clark was the first man to be elected to a public office in the county. He was elected justice of the peace in August, 1844.
Following is a list of County Commissioners given in the order of their election from 1845 to 1851, when their office was discontinued: Joseph McMullen, Jas. S. Bradley, Moses H. Clark, Jeremiah Miller, clerk; Wm. McBride, An- dew Elswisk, Smith Judson, Dudley C. Barber, clerk; Andrew Elswick, Win. McBride, Geo. R. Holliday, Smithi Judson, Geo. Holliday, John Clark, Geo. R. Holliday, John Clark, and Lewis Arnold. Geo. W. Piper was clerk from 1849 to 1851.
From 1851 to 1861 the county was under the rule of an autocracy, consisting of a single officer, called the County Judge. Those who served as County Judges were D. A. Richardson and James Hilton. In 1855 J. N. Massey was elected to the office, but it was decided that he was ineligible to the office, owing to the fact that when elected he held the office of School-fund Commissioner. John Phillips was his opponent, and as he was also incumbered with a Federal office, being postmaster at Albia, the office was declared vacant, and Judge Richardson held over. The case was con- tested by John Webb, and Judge Richardson, Lewis Arnold
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
and Hillah Hayes constituted the tribunal to try the case. They held that the office was vacant.
It was during Judge Hilton's term that the construction of Monroe County's present court-house was begun. There was considerable opposition to its construction at the time, and especially to its location in the town park, which did not comprise a part of the town plat set apart for public build- ings. Judge Hilton, however, bluntly ordered the structure built in the center of the park, and the order was obeyed.
THE MONROE COUNTY COURT-HOUSE.
The Sentinel, at the time, stated that two designs of architecture were submitted, and that the design chosen by Judge Hilton was the worse of the two, being after the architecture of the Tudors. In later years it seems that none of the county's citizens have ever refused to become an occupant of the building on account of the alleged medieval style of architecture. The average office-seeker does not seem to care whether the style of the building is Ionic, Doric, Tuscan or medieval, so long as he gets a chance to occupy the building.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1861 the office of County Judge was abolished by an act of the Legislature, and another Supervisor system adopted. It consisted of one member from each of the twelve townships.
Those who served as members from 1861 to 1871, when the plan was further changed so that the number of meni- bers was restricted to three, as at the present time, were as follows, serving in the order of their enumeration:
1861: J. M. Richardson, William Mercer, Sebastian Streeter, Warren L. Rall, D. J. Prayther, John Kirby, John Clark, John McFarland, Hiram Hough, W. G. Clark, W. A. Lamaster, John Hayes.
1862: R. W. Moss, C. L. Osburn, H. Hough, J. McFar- land, Wm. Mercer, Samuel Richmond, D. J. Prayther, Michael Campbell, John Clark, T. C. Crouch, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1863: R. W. Moss, Joseph Robb, C. C. Osburn, Lot King, Henry Freeland, M. Campbell, John Clark, W. F. Walker, Hiram Hough, T. C. Crouch, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1864 Wareham G. Clark, R. W. Moss, Joseph Robb, C. C. Osburn, Lot King, H. Freeland, W. B. Hill, W. A. Dean, G. W. Gammond, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock, W. F. Walker.
1865: Washington Atkins, H. Fullerton, C. C. Osburn, R. M. Thompson, W. H. H. Lind, W. B. Hill. W. A. Dean, J. L. Anderson, S. G. Finney, W. G. Clark, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1866: W. V. Beedle. H. Fullerton, T. H. Duncan, R. M. Thompson, W. H. H. Lind, L. McGuirk, W. A. Dean, J. L. Anderson, S. G. Finney, O. P. Rowles, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Hurford.
1867: W. V. Beedle, S. Wyckoff, T. H. Duncan, D. Cross, Wm. Kelsey, L. McGuirk, John Clark, J. McCormick, S. G. Finney, O. P. Rowles, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Hurford.
1868: J. R. Hurford, Wm. Kelsey, G. W. Grass, S. Wyckoff, R. A. Hewitt, D. Cross, L. McGuirk, John Clark, J. McCormick, S. G. Finney, Jas. Hilton, W. A. Lamaster.
1869: Lewis Henninger, H. R. Teller, J. Findlay, Jr., J. S. Hogeland, Wm. Jenkins, L. McGuirk, W. R. Ross, Samuel Bain, S. G. Finney, Jas. Hilton, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Hurford.
1870: Lewis Henninger, H. R. Teller, J. Findlay, Jr.,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
J. S. Hogeland, Wm. Jenkins, L. MeGuirk, W. R. Ross, Samuel Bain, G. W. Reading, W. D. Kinser, W. A. Lamaster. V. G. Kemper.
The members of the present system were:
1871: H. R. Teller, P. T. Lambert, and C. A. Miller.
1872: John Clark, H. R. Teller, and C. A. Miller.
1873: John Clark, C. A. Miller, and Wm. Hardy.
1874: John Clark, J. B. Bell, and H. L. Vosburg.
1875: John Clark, H. L. Vosburg, and Wm. Mercer.
1876: John Clark, H. L. Vosburg, and Joseph Nichol.
1877: John Clark, Joseph Nichol, and T. B. O'Bryan.
1878: Joseph Nichol, Val Fuller, and T. B. O'Bryan.
1879: Val Fuller, T. B. O'Bryan, and David Hammond.
1SS0: Val Fuller, J. R. Hurd, and Thos. O'Bryan.
1881: .J. R. Hurd, Thos. O'Bryan, and David Hammond.
1882: J. R. Hurd, David Hammond, and Geo. Kerr.
1SS3:
.J. R. Hurd, Thos. O'Bryan, and Wm. Mercer.
1884: W. A. Koontz, Thos. O'Bryan, and J. B. Castner.
1SS5: Herman Snow, Thos. O'Bryan, and J. B. Castner. 1886: J. B. Castner, John Walsh, and Herman Snow.
1887: John Walsh, Herman Snow, and Edward Can-
ning. 1SSS:
John Walsh, Edward Canning, and Henry Berry. 1889: Lahart. 1890: Canning. 1891 :
Edward Canning, Henry Berry, and William Henry Berry, William Lahart, and Edward
William Lahart, Henry Berry, and Edward
Canning. 1892: Edward Canning, Henry Berry, and William Lahart. 1893: Henry Berry, William Lahart, and Geo. L. Robb.
1894: Geo. L. Robb, Elmer Thayer, and Wm. Lahart.
1895: Geo. L. Robb, Elmer Thayer, and J. C. Currier. 1896: Elmer Thayer. J. C. Currier, and Wm. Davis.
Mr. Kerr died soon after election, and Wm. Mercer was elected to fill the vacancy.
Sheriffs.
John Clark. 1845: Ezra P. Coen. 1847; D. Durall, 1851; Willis Arnold, 1853; John M. Porter. 1855; E. R. Rockwell, 1857; Riley Wescoatt, 1859; E. P. Coen, 1861; A. J. McDon- ald, 1865; J. M. Robb, 1871; Sam'l F. Miller, 1877.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
When the Monroe County Bank went down, October 11, 1882, Sheriff Miller was involved in the affair in some man- ner, and resigned the office of Sheriff. The County Board of Supervisors appointed Martin Clever to fill the unexpired portion of his term up to the time for holding the general election, when P. L. Hoskins was elected for the remainder of the vacant term.
J. P. LAMBERSON, Ex-SHERIFF OF MONROE COUNTY.
John M. Menan was elected in 1884, but was incom- petent to fill the office and resigned. The County Board ap- pointed W. W. O'Bryan to fill the vacancy up to election, and J. W. Lewis was elected to fill the remaining portion of the vacancy.
L. T. Richmond served one term, in 1886; C. M. Forest then served two terms, and J. P. Lamberson served two terms.
The next is the present incumbent, Captain John Doner, who was elected in November, 1895, on the Populist ticket. He was elected in the face of a heavy Republican majority in the county, given to other nominees.
Probate Judges.
The office of Probate Judge was consolidated with that of County Judge, when the County Commissioner system
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
was abandoned. After this change had taken place, there were three Judges elected. The entire list of these Judges was: W. G. Clark, 1845; Geo. W. Reading, 1847; W. P. Hammond, 1862; A. A. Mason, 1863; Geo. Hickenlooper, 1866.
The emoluments of the office were not quite so dis- tinguished as those which attach to the title of a judge of the present day, but each official contrived to cling to the title, and for all intents and purposes it is just as good a title socially as if prefixed to the name of a member of the Supreme Court.
Clerks of the District Court.
Jas. Hilton, 1845; Jonas Wescoatt, 1848; Jacob Webb, 1850; S. E. L. Moore, 1854; Sam'l Buchanan, 1856; W. E. Neville, 1858; Henry Miller, 1860; Josiah T. Young. 1867; John W. H. Griffin, 1873; Henry McCahan, 1896.
Circuit Judge.
Henry I. Dashiell held the office of Circuit Judge from 1869 to 1873.
County Auditor.
On the suspension of the office of Probate Judge, in 1868, the office of Auditor was created to take its place. Geo. Hickenlooper, who was Probate Judge when the Auditor's office was created, performed the Auditor's duties for one year; Samuel T. Craig then held the office until December 30, 1877; John W. Moss succeeded to the office in 1878: Edward A. Canning, 1883; A. J. Cassaday, 1885; J. W. Van Gilder, 1887; John R. Clark, 1892; B. P. Castner. 1894 to 1896.
Treasurer.
T. G. Templeton, 1845; C. W. Anderson, 1846; JJohn Webb, 1855; D. A. Noble, 1856; John M. Wilson, 1860; John R. Duncan, 1862; Harrison Hickenlooper, 1866; John R. May, 1870; Harrison Hickenlooper, 1874; Edward MeDon- ald, 1876; John W. Moss, 1SS0; David Hammond, 1885; John C. Coffman, 1889; John M. M. Roberts, 1895-6.
Recorder.
In 1865 the office of Recorder was created. Prior to that time the functions of the Recorder were performed by the
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
Treasurer. John R. Duncan, who was Treasurer when the change was made, held the office of Recorder until 1867, when Jas. Coen was elected in that year; Calvin Barnard, 1869; J. R. Castle, 1875; C. W. Prindle, 1878; Ed. I. Ramsay. 1880; Boyd Miller, 1887; Ed. I. Ramsay, 1891; John Morrissey, 1894; Robt. Clapp, 1896.
WM. E. ELDER, EX-SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF MONROE COUNTY.
School Superintendent.
Samuel Adams, 1855; E. M. Bills, 1856; J. W. H. Griffin, 1865; W. A. Nichol, 1869; Thos. Kelly, 1872; A. J. Cassa- day, 1875; Wm. E. Elder, 1879; H. J. Bell, 1881; D. W. Nevins, 1890; A. J. Henderson, 1894; Mrs. Angie Reit- zel, 1896.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
County Attorney.
In 1896 the office of the County Attorney was created. Prior to that time the Prosecuting Attorney's jurisdiction was coëxtensive with that of the judicial district, but it was found expedient to institute a change, owing to the increase of official duties devolving on the district prosecutor.
Those who have occupied the position in Monroe County are: Ed. Morrison, 1887; Fred Townsend, 1891; N. E. Kendall, 1896.
Coroner.
The office of Coroner in the earlier period of Monroe County's history was rather an intermittent one. Some times an officer was elected, and at other times the place was vacant, in which latter case the Sheriff was supposed to at- tend to any duties pertaining to the holding of inquests. Some of those who have served as Coroner were: John Webb, Dr. Moses Cousins, Casper Dull, Jacob Webb, Wm. Webb, Maurice O'Connell, and Dr. Gray, the present in- cumbent.
Monroe County in the General Assembly.
Monroe County was represented in the State Senate by Jas. Davis, Barney Royston, H. B. Hendershot, D. Ander- son, Warren S. Dungan, W. C. Shippen, E. M. Bills, Martin Read, A. C. Reck. H. L. Dashiell, A. A. Ramsay, Dr. Cassatt, and T. B. Perry, the present Senator, elected from the Mon- roe-Marion district
In the House by Chas. Anderson, Win. M. Allison, N. B. Preston, Henry Allen, M. A. Goodfellow, Samuel Gossage, John Reitzel, L. O. Haskell, O. P. Rowles, John Clark, H. L. Dashiell, A. A. Ramsay, B. F. Elbert, Jas. Hilton, L. O. Haskell. A M. Giltner. R. W. Duncan, J. M. Robb. Jas. Hoge- land, A. A. Ramsay, T. C. Robinson, Austin JJay, and D. H. Scott.
Monroe County Agricultural Society.
In a financial sense, the Monroe County Agricultural Society never prospered.
The society was organized in 1853, and the officers were Joseph Sherod, president; Wm. Robinson, vice-president; V. K. Read, secretary.
In 1858 Elisha Hollingshead was made president; and Lewis Arnold, John Castle, Sr., W. W. Fall, E. P. Cone, 11-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
Michael Lower, J. W. Boyd, Andrew Lamaster, Gordon Pike, John Walker, D. Gladson, W. H. H. Lind, and Jon- athan Hancock were made vice-presidents. P. T. Lambert was corresponding secretary and J. M. Humphrey recording secretary ; John Clark was elected treasurer.
In 1886 the society reorganized as a corporate body, so as to receive the annual fund appropriated by the State to the agricultural societies of the various counties in the State.
HON. AUSTIN JAY, EX.REPRESENTATIVE OF MONROE COUNTY.
In 1SS5 or 1SS6 the Society ceased to hold its annual fairs and since then the organization has dissolved as a corporate body. The grounds on which the fairs were held, situated about a mile northeast of Albia, are now owned by Mr. Geo. Walton, and the inclosing wall has nearly all fallen down. The first county fairs were held in Mock's addition to the city of Albia, just north of Dr. Gutch's present residence.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
The Albia Post-Office.
As in all other cities and towns on the face of the earth, where there is a postal system, the Albia post-office has been a bone of contention on every change of administration. It is the highest persimmon growing on the local tree of party patronage, and he who wields the longest partisan pole invariably knocks off the coveted fruit. Usage and the finesse of political party management have established a sort of "order of succession" governing the aspirant's heirship to the post-office.
The "heir apparent" is in most cases the publisher of the administration party organ of the town or county in which the post-office is situated. He is not only supposed to have the "pull" on the Congressman of the district, but is usually the chairman of the county central committee-the fountain- head from which source all advantages in the contest flow. The chairman of the county committee makes the recom- mendation to the State committee chairman, or to the mem- ber of Congress, and if the county chairman wants the post- office-which he invariably does-he recommends himself, if he is a shrewd diplomat. There is only one rule in the game under which this move can be check-mated. If the publisher of the paper has no office, and wants the post- office-which he invariably does-the central committee man cannot place himself in check with the publisher by recommending himself. The "divine rights" of these two individuals are vested in the equity of rewarding the news- paper man for the martyrdom he has suffered in behalf of his party, and in the case of the committee man, for his faithful stewardship as a party worker.
Thus it is that the office is seldom bestowed on a citizen on the basis of genuine merit and business capacity. This is why the impracticable plan of electing the postmaster by popular vote is so often urged.
The next step towards securing the post-office is to start a man around with a petition to secure the names of persons who are supposed to be desirous of having the applicant appointed. The petition states in the start that the "under- signed subscribers" are of that party persuasion to which the administration adheres, and it never omits to wind up with the assurance that for the speedy appointment of the candidate "we, the undersigned. will ever pray." These "prayers," which are rolled in upon the Postmaster-General,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
are scarcely ever heard at the appointing functionary's throne of grace, and the work of securing the signatures is usually a useless effort.
Dudley C. Barber was the first postmaster at Albia. He held the office until 1849; John Marck held until 1851; John Phillips until 1861; Wm. Collins until 1865; Jas. H. Morris until 1866; Thos. G. Craig held the office for about three months, but was superseded by Mr. Morris, who again held the office until he was succeeded by Val Mendel in 1877. In 1882 J. P. Early succeeded Mendel, and held the office until 1886. A. J. Weber, of the Albia Democrat, was appointed by the Cleveland administration, and after some months' delay in the Senate in securing the confirmation of his appointment, he took the office and conducted it until 1888, when he resigned on the election of Harrison to the Presidency.
A. R. Barnes was appointed to the place under Harri- son's administration, and served nearly four years, when he was bounced for "intense partisanship," by the next Cleve- land administration, a few months before his commission had expired.
In 1881, when President Garfield was assassinated, and Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as President, J. P. Early became an aspirant for the Albia post-office, then being held by Val Mendel, who was appointed at the beginning of Hayes' term of office. M. E. Cutts, the member of Congress from the Sixth District, declined to use his influence in behalf of either party- at least, it was so understood. Mr. Mendel, however, went to Washington and learned, as he states, that Mr. Cutts never presented his petitions and endorsements to the Department. He accused Mr. Cutts of secretly furthering the interests of Mr. Early. He ac- cused Hon. B. F. Elbert with the commission of all the alleged trickery resorted to in securing the appointment of Early.
Charges of fraud were bandied back and forth from one aspirant to the other. but the general public took little interest in the matter, and cared still less which man got the office. Both were popular men in the county, and each represented a distinct faction of the Republican party in the county.
In this connection it may not be out of place to note the lack of unity of the Republican party in Monroe County,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
which has existed for some years, and which exists at the present day. Sometimes this spirit of dissension is so bitter that it has more than once proven the instrument of bringing defeat to the party.
On the beginning of Mr. Harrison's term of the Presi- deney, Mr. Early and A. R. Barnes were aspirants for the post-office. Both mon secured a formidable list of sub- scribers to their respective petitions. The contest waxed so warm that Mr. Lacey, the member of Congress from the Sixth District, declined to discriminate in behalf of either contestant, and finally settled the dispute by visiting Albia and inducing the interested parties to toss up a coin to end the contest. They tossed, and Mr. Barnes won the place. To alleviate Mr. Early's probable disappointment, Mr. Lacey secured for him a Federal appointment as a special land agent in the West. He resigned the place some time later.
This latter contest has promoted some discord in the Republican ranks in the county, which continues to the present time, and will no doubt be revived and heightened should a Republican President be elected next November. calling forth the appointment of another postmaster for Albia. Mr. Barnes, it is understood, is already in the field, anticipating the election of Mr. Mckinley to the Presidency.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
CHAPTER X.
Banks and Bank Failures.
During the early '60s N. W. Brown, D. Steele, and his brother H. K. Steele established a bank of deposit at Albia. The concern did a general banking business under the old Iowa State banking statute. Brown was president, D. Steele treasurer, and H. K. Steele cashier. The practical management of the concern, however, seems to have been under the cashier.
In 1870 the funds on deposit in the bank disappeared and H. K. Steele left for parts unknown. The funds on deposit were chiefly the small savings of private individuals, and the amount aggregated about $25,000. Nearly every- body who had accumulated a little surplus money had placed it in this bank, and when the concern went down, there was great excitement.
Israel Mills, one of the largest depositors, went in pur- suit of Steele, and arrested him at Cincinnati, Ohio, and brought him back to Albia. Here Mr. Steele promised his creditors that he would disgorge the embezzled funds. Some of his creditors arranged with his custodian, Mr. Mills, that the prisoner be driven to the court-room, where negotia- tions looking towards a settlement were to be arranged. Steele feigned sickness, but he was loaded into a sled and started for the court-house, but while emerging on the Square the sled was boarded by a crowd of creditors and the entire party was driven rapidly out of town. Mr. Mills, who had Steele in custody, was forcibly ejected from the sled. The sleighing party drove to the residence of Thomas Brandon, in Franklin Township, but, being pursued by Sheriff McDonald and posse, pushed farther to the south- west and entered Wayne County.
Steele made some satisfactory verbal promises to his custodians, and he was brought back to the custody of Mr. Mills. He then went back on his promises, and finally was arraigned on a charge of perjury and obtaining money under false pretenses.
He was never punished for his crimes. The people never recovered their money, and Mr. Steele spent the remainder of his days in Albia.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Steele laid the blame on the president of the bank, and probably on this account escaped conviction. The bank president, in turn, shifted the responsibility on Wag- staff & Company, bankers, of New York. It was a clever piece of thievery, and Mr. Steele never succeeded in living down the calumny which elnng to his name.
A part of the embezzled funds belonged to one or more of the churches. He made no discrimination, but seized every cent he could get his hands on, and held it to the last, even at the risk of being lynched by an outraged community.
The next bank failure occurred in 1883. The Monroe County Bank, which was established at Albia on March 15, 1875, by T. S. Tharp & Company as a joint- stock company, was instituted on a solid basis, so far as the financial backing of its stockholders was concerned. It was not begun as an incorporated banking institution under the State banking laws. Its correspondents were Geo. Opdyke & Company, New York, and the First National Bank of Chicago. Its stockholders were T. S. Tharp, D. M. Miller, Lewis Miller, W. M. Tharp, Jas. Elder, Zadoc Chedister, Fred Seifert, N. E. Hendrix, John Thompson, J. B. Bell, L. S. Chedister, Nelson Gillespie, B. P. Tharp, Cyrus Kerr, J. B. Turner, A. M. Andrews, Clendenin Boggs, Geo. P. Cramer, H. Hickenlooper, Robt. Simpson, Geo. Kerr, Martin Clever, J. A. Edwards, J. M. Richardson, Parmenus Tuttle, Dr. J. H. Russell, B. Fritz, T. E. Bower, Dr. T. H. Elder, Monroe Miller, M. R. Miller, J. Baldauf & Company, and Henry Miller.
Various changes were made in its management from time to time. T. S. Tharp retired from the concern before its fall. At about the time of its dissolution Lewis Miller was president, John Clemons vice-president, and Dan'l M. Miller cashier. Lewis Miller, John E. Carhart, D. Miller, Zadoc Chedister, John Clemons, J. D. Shields, L. O. Haskell, Cyrus Kerr and Matthew Elder were its board of directors.
The bank claimed a capital stock of $50,000, and a sur- plus of $10,000 just prior to its collapse.
The board of directors was composed of men who had no knowledge of banking methods, and it was an easy matter for the cashier, Mr. Miller, to so juggle the books that the board of directors did not suspect any crockedness. The directors had implicit confidence in Mr. Miller's honesty and
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