USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
Further examination revealed the fact that the National State's drafts on the Cook County National were only $20,000 instead of $50,000, thus leaving the capital stock unimpaired.
In East Des Moines a similar meeting was held at the Capital City Bank. H. C. Page, C. H. Ward, M. H. Bishard and W. F. Gruss were appointed a commit- tee to draft resolutions. Their report, similar to that of the West side meeting, was signed by over sixty individuals and firms. Gen. J. M. Tuttle reported that he had examined the books of the Capital City Bank, and found its credit in no way affected by the suspension and further that he would individually guarantee A. L. West, its owner, to be financially "good." The reports as to the mortgage of Mr. Allen's personal effects, was that he had mortgaged his house, furniture, silverware, etc., to a friend and director of the bank, and had encumbered his Iowa property to the amount of nearly half a million.
The Journal of Des Moines styled Mr. Allen "a second Jay Cooke," without Cooke's frankness. It wanted to know where the money had gone and why Mr. 'Allen had made way with all his available assets. The Register, on the other hand, maintained that "Frank" Allen was stronger than ever in Des Moines and in Iowa. It quoted many citizens, all of whom expressed unlimited confidence in their banker friend.
On Mr. Allen's return to Des Moines he was met by many friends and neigh- bors and on their behalf Thomas S. Wright presented him with an address of welcome full of expressions of affection and confidence-a tribute such as is rarely paid a banker in financial straits. The address was signed by one hun- dred and thirty-five citizens. With no intimation of the welcome prepared for him, Mr. Allen when he arrived in Des Moines was met at the door of the car by Mayor Newton and Harry West. The mayor and Mr. Allen passed along the line of their fellow-citizens to the Allen bank where a general hand-shaking followed. Mr. Allen was deeply moved by Mr. Wright's address and by the cordiality of the welcome and could only say that it required less courage to face the crowd in Chicago on that blue Monday than to face the multitude of friends who had welcomed him home.
The Register, editorially referring to Mr. Allen's career in Des Moines, styled him "the strong pillar in past financial crises, as in the crash of '56, when his bank and his money were the mainstays in our finances and in our business."
January 26, soon as he could report his affairs in any understandable shape, Mr. Allen made a public statement. He related that on May 29, 1873, he pur- chased of D. D. Spencer 2,665 shares of the capital stock of the Cook County Bank, Spencer giving his bond guaranteeing the assets of the bank to an extent proportional to the stock bought,-assets executed by Chicago parties of whom he knew little, and secured, if at all, by property of which he knew less. He
533
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
later found these assets were not as they had been represented to be and that Spencer's guaranty was of doubtful value. He therefore made the best terms possible with him,-in consideration of $12,000 discharging him from all claims and demands growing out of the guaranty. On the very eve of the "panic," and while Mr. Allen was in New York, Spencer's brother-in-law (who had remained cashier of the bank), handed over $100,000 in currency to a Chicago real estate operator in exchange for drafts drawn on New York which drafts returned pro- tested. The panic found the bank with its capital stock tied up, its credit im- paired and with nothing but Allen's individual credit to stand upon.
Mr. Allen admitted that if any mistake had been made, it was in not turning the bank over for liquidation on learning its true condition. He admitted also there were many things done by him, in the emergency in which he was thrown, that were not consistent with sound banking; but, feeling confident of his ability to carry it through, he determined to protect the bank. He made arrangements through his New York house, Allen, Stephens & Co., and other sources, for negotiating loans sufficient to meet his necessities. The much-talked-of mort- gage was intended as a private pledge of his willingness to pledge all his real property for future advances and ultimate balances. His New York associates "in their mistaken zeal to place the paper on record misinterpreted the purpose for which it was given, and defeated that purpose, by their act, conveying the impression that it was to give his New York house priority as a creditor in the event of his not being able to meet his obligations." He hastened to discharge the mortgage of record, to undo as far as possible the injury done.
The refusal of Allen, Stephens and Co. to pay the drafts of the Cook County Bank on Monday, January 18, when they received, that very morning, $85,000 of remittances from the bank was "a little remarkable." He pledged all his property and all his energies for the benefit of his creditors, and declared his re- sources far exceeded his liabilities. He had determined to suspend his banking business in Des Moines until his creditors should become fully reinstated. He asked a meeting of all, or a majority, of his creditors at an early day and pledged himself to abide by their wishes. He closed with expression of "a rigid deter- mination to do nothing that in any event" could "be construed into favoritism, even though such policy might alienate friends."
To the long list given by Mr. Allen of his creditors and his indebtedness, there is added a foot-note stating that there are other claims, for a large amount, made by Stephens & Blennerhasset, the validity of which he denied.
When Mr. Allen failed, and his Des Moines bank closed, proceedings were commenced in the federal court to close up his affairs and protect his creditors. Hoyt Sherman was named as assignee, to whom Allen made an assignment of all his property, except "Terrace Hill." The assignee held that this should also be included, since Mr. Allen had removed to Chicago. Allen claimed his former residence as a homestead. Judges Love and Dillon, of the federal court, were inclined to favor Allen's contention. The assignee, fearing he might lose all, compromised with Allen, who had returned to Des Moines and was then occupy- ing the old home. He conceding the house and about six acres to Allen, the re- mainder of the property to be disposed of for the benefit of the creditors. The compromise was approved by the court, and in June, 1884, "Terrace Hill" was sold by Mr. Allen to F. M. Hubbell, and on the 24th of August, Mr. Hubbell took possession of the property.
Meantime the National State Bank underwent a temporary reorganization with James Callanan as president. It then, in 1876, became a State bank, under the firm name of F. R. West & Sons. But notwithstanding all the reassuring statements made and the efforts of local capitalists to bolster it up, the standing of the reorganized bank was found to have been seriously impaired and on the 18th day of July, 1877, more than two years after the Allen failure, the bank- ing house of F. R. West & Sons suspended. While this second suspension was not such a serious loss to the community and the county as was the first, yet
534
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
the one, following upon the other, and in large measure a consequent of the other, had a very depressing effect upon the business men of the city and, for a time, gave the city a bad name in the business world. The second suspension was reported by the State Register as a great surprise. Many of the heaviest depositors had been induced by personal solicitation and had responded through personal friendship.
The Iowa National was organized October 20. 1875, with a capital of $100,- 000. It was located at the northeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets until the consolidation with the Des Moines Savings. Its first officers were: H. K. Love, president; George H. Maish, cashier ; George A. Dissmore, assistant cash- ier ; H. K. Love, J. S. Polk, H. R. Heath, N. G. Hedges, C. P. Reeve, C. Beck- ington, G. H. Maish, M. T. V. Bowman, O. H. Perkins, S. A. Robertson, J. F. Ankeny and Fred Getchell, directors. In the Spring of 1904, Harry T. Black- burn was elected cashier of the Iowa National succeeding Leland Windsor, who resigned to engage in wholesale business in Des Moines.
In 1876, after the storm had given way to a calm, there were nine banks doing business in Des Moines as follows: The National State, James Callanan, president ; F. R. West, cashier ; the Iowa National, H. K. Love, president ; George H. Maish, cashier; the Citizens' National, Samuel Merrill, president; J. G. Rounds, cashier ; the Valley Bank, G. M. Hippee, president; J. J. Town, cashier ; the Des Moines Bank, Simon Casady, president; Elwood Gatch, cashier; the Iowa Loan and Trust, Samuel Merrill, president; Jas. B. Hartwell, secretary ; Corydon E. Fuller, treasurer ; the State Safety Bank, E. J. Ingersoll, president ; James Stutz, cashier ; the Capital City Bank, East Des Moines. A. L. West, president; the I. N. Thomas Bank, of East Des Moines.
Banking in Des Moines in '78.
In a package of old letters recently donated the Historical Department of Iowa, by Mr. Hoyt Sherman, son of James Sherman, and a nephew of the late Hoyt Sherman of Des Moines, is a letter which throws light upon the practical effect of the Resumption Act upon the banking business in Des Moines. The letter was written April 17, 1878, by George H. Maish, cashier of the Iowa National Bank, of which H. K. Love was president. Addressing Senator Sher- man, Mr. Maish said :
"Thinking that our first days experience in "Redemption" might be of some comfort to you, I desire to say, that having prepared ourselves with a sufficiency of gold coin, we gave notice in our city papers on Monday the 15th inst, that on the morning of the 17th inst, we would commence redeeming our circulation in gold. As the result of our first days experience we had one five dollar bill presented for redemption. When we commenced busi- ness, two and a half years ago, every dollar of our circulation was paid out over the coun- ter, and not sent to remote places for distribution.
"Our experience of today, it would seem, proves the fact that the people of the country have already resumed, and with a knowledge of the fact that the U. S. or National Bank Bill in their pocket is worth dollar for dollar in gold, that the paper is preferable to the gold.
"Let Congress legalize the 'reception of U. S. Notes for duties on imports, etc., as con- templated by the Senate Finance Committee, commencing July I, '78, and let us have re- sumption, full and complete, January 1, 1879; and the result will be that an era of prosperity will set in, such as we have not experienced in this Country for years."
The Des Moines National Bank came into being September 17, 1881, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. In 1884 it moved into the
535
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
brick building on the southeast corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, on the site of the present unique and beautiful one-story-and-basement building which it now owns and occupies -- perhaps the most down-to-date bank building in Iowa. The bank's capitalization has latterly been increased from $300,000 to $500,000. The first officers of the Des Moines National were: B. L. Harding, president ; W. E. Hazen, cashier; J. S. Clarkson, J. S. Polk, B. L. Harding, W. E. Hazen, John Wyman, John Browne and G. W. Seevers, directors. The bank has under- gone many changes since '81. Its present officers are: Arthur Reynolds, presi- dent ; John H. Blair, vice president; Cyrus A. Barr, cashier ; J. H. Blair, Arthur Reynolds, W. S. Regur, Carroll Wright, C. W. Pitcairn, George M. Reynolds, D. G. Edmundson, L. Sheuerman, H. R. Howell, N. Frankel, and C. A. Raw- son, directors.
In 1882 Ira W. Anderson opened a bank on Fourth and Walnut, but con- tinued for only a single year. For a time Kellogg & McDougall operated a small bank on the same corner. Spencer Kellogg afterwards became a wealthy banker in Buffalo, N. Y.
The name, "Polk County Savings Bank" suggests Judge Wright, whose ge- nial personality was long a source of strength to the bank. Organized in 1882 with a capital stock of $50,000, the stock was later increased to $100,000. Its first and only president was George G. Wright. The other officers were: C. D. Reinking, vice president; A. J. Zwart, cashier; G. G. Wright, G. H. Maish, Wes- ley Redhead, R. T. Wellslager, C. D. Reinking, Fayette Meek, J. B. Tuttle, J. H. Windsor, John A. Elliott, directors. The old two-story building which it occu- pied, standing on the corner of Locust and Fifth, was torn down to make way for the Crocker building. The bank had previously been absorbed by the Des Moines National. On the 20th of June, 1894, "the Polk County Savings" was consolidated with the Des Moines National Bank. The effects of the bank were removed to the Des Moines National building on the site of the present new building, the southeast corner of Sixth and Walnut. A. J. Zwart, long cashier of the old bank, was made assistant cashier of the new, and two directors of the Polk County Savings Bank, C. W. Pitcairn and Carroll Wright, were added to the Des Moines National directory. The capital stock of the Des Moines Na- tional was then $300,000. George M. Reynolds of Chicago, was the bank's presi- dent, C. B. Atkins and E. A. Lynd, vice presidents. Arthur Reynolds, now presi- dent, was then cashier. The directors were: G. M. and Arthur Reynolds, W. S. Regur, M. P. Turner, Henry Riegelman, E. A. Lynd, C. B. Atkins, John L. Bacon, and Adam Dickey.
The American Savings was organized in 1883, with a capital stock of $50,- 000-later increased to $75,000. It was located on East Fifth and Locust. Its president was James Garrity; vice president, James Harter; second vice presi- dent, F. E. Elliott ; cashier, R. L. Chase. Several years ago it was absorbed by the Capital City State Bank.
The Merchants' National was also organized in 1883, on East Fifth and Wal- nut. Three years afterward it removed to West Fourth and Walnut. After a year's trial on the west side it went into the hands of a receiver. Its first officers were: H. J. Ranson, president; William Christy, cashier; H. J. Ranson, Thomas Mitchell, Gus Newton, W. Christy, Dr. Simonton and C. H. Ward, directors.
The State Savings started out in 1887 with $50,000 capital, which was sub- sequently raised to $100,000. It began business in the Manhattan building. A year later, it was removed to the Fifth and Walnut, rooms formerly occupied by the Iowa Loan and Trust. Its first officers were: J. H. Merrill, president; M. P. Turner, vice president; J. W. Geneser, cashier; J. H. Merrill, J. R. Rol- lins, M. Strauss, D. W. Smouse, Francis and J. W. Geneser, J. H. Phillips, M. P. Turner, and J. E. McGorrisk, directors. In 1895, it was taken over by the Citizens' National and maintained as a savings department. The present officers of the State Savings are: M. Strauss, president; J. G. Rounds, vice presi- dent ; G. E. Pearsall, cashier ; S. A. Merrill, D. W. Smouse, M. Strauss, G. E. Pearsall, N. E. Coffin, J. G. Rounds, S. T. Slade, directors.
536
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The People's Savings was founded July 1, 1890, with a capital stock of $50,- 000. It is still "doing business at the old stand"-corner of Locust and Seventh- but around and above it was recently erected a new Flynn building, much larger and handsomer than the old. Its capital stock is now $100,000. Its first officers were: Martin Flynn, president; A. Dickey, vice president; C. H. Martin, cash- ier ; O. H. Perkins, Martin Flynn, H. Y. Smith, Martin Tuttle, J. A. Garver, A. Dickey, C. C. Loomis, W. W. Warfield, and A. Sheuerman, directors. Its pres- ent officiary is as follows : Charles H. Martin, president ; F. P. Flynn, vice presi- dent; E. A. Slininger, cashier; J. S. Carpenter, L. Sheuerman, O. H. Perkins, C. H. Martin, D. W. Smouse, T. F. and F. P. Flynn, R. J. Fleming and M. Man- delbaum, directors.
The Marquardt Savings Bank was organized July 19, 1890. Its first officers were G. W. Marquardt, president and F. A. Baylies, cashier. The first trustees were G. W. Marquardt, B. F. Kauffman, E. C. Finkbine, P. M. Casady, F. M. Hubbell, James G. Berryhill, W. O. Curtiss and Henry Wagner. G. D. Ellyson was elected cashier February 6, 1893, and president January 9, 1905. The name was changed to Commercial Savings Bank May 25, 1909.
The Home Savings is a strong East side bank, organized January 29, 1891, V. P. Twombly was its first president, H. E. Teachout, vice president ; A. C. Miller, cashier; V. P. Twombly, Andrew Nelson, B. A. Lockwood, H. E. Teach- out, H. C. Hansen, F. A. Baylies, H. H. Taylor, S. B. Garton and T. A. Cheshire, directors. The present management is in the following hands: A. C. Miller, president; W. B. Lutz, vice president; Bert McKee, cashier ; A. Nelson, A. C. Miller, W. B. Lutz, E. L. Bowen, Arthur Reynolds and Bert McKee, directors.
In 1892, Fairburn & Aitchison opened a private bank in the Manhattan build- ing on Fifth street. The ill-health of Mr. Aitchison, manager, compelled the firm, after two years, to dissolve and retire. Mr. Aitchison has since died.
The death of H. K. Love, former president, resulted in a reorganization of the Iowa National Bank. A new board of directors was chosen, January 12, 1892, as follows: G. W. Marquardt, H. A. Elliott, S. A. Robertson, M. T. V. Bowman, E. H. Hunter, B. F. Kauffman, Frederick Field. The board elected B. F. Kauffman president, E. H. Hunter vice president, George Dissmore as- sistant cashier. C. B. Worthington continued as cashier.
The German Savings Bank is a bank with a history of success following fail- ure. It was organized January 10, 1893. Its officers were Francis Geneser, president; J. D. Whisenand, vice president; J. W. Geneser, cashier ; Francis and J. W. Geneser, G. Van Ginkel, Charles Weitz, Phil Schmitt, C. L. Kahler, J. B. Schuster, J. D. Whisenand, and W. B. Bentley, directors. The story of the suspension of the bank and of its reorganization with James Watt at its head, is told farther on in this chapter. The bank was originally located in a basement on Fifth street, between Walnut and Mulberry; but has for several years been well-housed on Sixth avenue, between Walnut and Locust. Its pres- ent officers are : Jesse O. Wells, president ; J. C. O'Donnell, vice president ; John Hogan, cashier ; William Wilcoxen, J. O. Wells, L. H. Kurtz, H. B. Hawley, L. J. Klemm, Jerry B. Sullivan, L. C. Kurtz, J. C. O'Donnell and Forest Hutten- locher, directors.
The Bankers' Iowa State Bank was organized in 1893, with a capital stock of $160,000. It occupied the first floor rooms in the Equitable building now occupied by F. M. Hubbell. Albert Head was president, A. O. Garlock and J. R. Baxter, vice presidents; V. F. Newell cashier. Its directors were: A. O. Gar- lock, George Fairburn, S. F. Prouty, J. W. Reed, C. F. McCarty, C. T. Cole, George L. Brower, L. Linebarger, J. B. Burton, V. F. Newell, Albert Head, Charles Yate, Robert Eason, and N. B. Raymond. After a number of years it was absorbed by the Des Moines Savings.
In 1893. Des Moines had sixteen banks.
The directors of the Des Moines National Bank on the 6th of March, 1893, started a young banker from Panora on a remarkably successful career in the
537
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
world of finance. The resignation of V. F. Newell as cashier, created a vacancy which the directory filled by the election of George M. Reynolds to succeed Mr. Newell. Mr. Reynolds resigned the cashiership of the Guthrie County National Bank and entered upon his career in Des Moines April 10, 1893.
The Savings Bank of Iowa was organized in 1893, with an office on Seventh and Walnut. In 1896 it was absorbed by the German Savings Bank. Its of- ficers were F. A. Baylies, president; G. Van Ginkel, vice president; George W. Rhine, cashier.
The new year, 1895, brought with it a new organization of the Des Moines, National Bank. W. W. Lyons retired from the presidency of that institution, and Cashier George M. Reynolds was elected as his successor. Arthur Reynolds succeeded his brother as cashier, having resigned his position of cashier in the Guthrie County National Bank, Panora.
The Central State Bank began business May 1, 1895, at 235 Fifth street. Its officers were: President, Martin Tuttle; vice president, H. A. Elliott; cashier, J. D. Whisenand; directors, H. B. Hedge, Martin Tuttle, H. A. Elliott, R. T. Wellslager, W. B. Bentley, Robert Dempster, C. R. Chase, C. E. Rawson, J. G. Berryhill and J. D. Whisenand. A notable event in the history of this bank was the retirement of Simon Casady from the consolidated Iowa National, and the merging of Mr. Casady's interests with those of Mr. Whisenand in the manage- ment of the Central State. The combination made one more heavily capitalized bank in Des Moines and by so much strengthened Des Moines as a commercial center. The bank as now organized has a capital stock of $200,000, and a large surplus. The present officers of the Central State are: Simon Casady, presi- dent ; J. D. Whisenand and H. B. Hedge, vice presidents; Fred S. Risser, cash- ier; R. T. Wellslager, J. G. Olmsted, Simon Casady, W. H. Langan, H. B. Hedge, C. R. Chase, H. A. Elliott, J. W. Hill, Fred S. Risser, J. D. Whisenand, directors. The little two-story building on Fifth street had long been too small for the steadily enlarging business of the Central State, and so, in 19II, the bank purchased the old Dawson hardware store property, on Fifth between Walnut and Locust, and has under way a modern one-story and basement building, to be built and equipped of elegant and costly material and in beautiful design.
On the first of November, 1895, J. H. Merrill, for many years president of the Citizens' National Bank, resigned and J. G. Rounds, cashier, was elected to the presidency. G. E. Pearsall, cashier of the State Savings, was elected cashier of the consolidated institution. M. Strauss remained president of the State Savings. Mr. Rounds had been associated with the Citizens for a score of years. Mr. Pearsall had removed from Spirit Lake about four years before.
The Failure and Reorganization of the German Savings.
The resignation of Harry T. Blackburn as assistant cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, and his acceptance of the cashiership of the German Savings was announced January 15, 1897. The assignment of the German Savings Bank, with Harry T. Blackburn appointed receiver, quickly followed, on the 21st. There was no excitement in financial circles.
The clearing house held a meeting after banking hours and discussed the local financial situation. There had been no evidences of panic, and there were few withdrawals during the day. The general impression-which was sustained by after results-was that ultimately depositors in the German Savings would get dollar for dollar. The bank closed with $5,000 cash. Much slow paper, some bad paper and more of doubtful value was found to be the cause of the suspension. The failure was a surprise to State Auditor McCarthy, who had found nothing in the last statement he had examined, which could raise a ques- tion as to its solvency. It was a question with the directors whether to assess the stockholders 33 1/3 per cent, or call in the clearance-house officers and take such action as they might recommend. They chose the latter alternative. An examination not proving satisfactory, the assignment followed.
538
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
Receiver Blackburn filed his report February 3, showing assets amounting to $459,927.79-which with assets held in trust, $67,000-made the total assets $526,929.79. The liabilities were listed at $465,153.06-of which $108,871.30 were in saving deposits, and $183,112.91 in time certificates. A few days later the assets were reported increased about $20,000. The round-up showed a clear margin of about $82,000.
The German Savings reopened for business June 7, 1897, with its old stock retired and a paid-up capital stock of $100,000. Many depositors, on invitation, took stock in the reorganized bank. The reorganization was effected chiefly by Receiver Blackburn and vice president Geneser, assisted by a committee com- posed of W. H. Cathcart, W. M. Wilcoxen and E. H. Hunter. The reorganiza- tion in 1899 was the beginning of a new and successful career for the old Ger- man Savings. The bank was reorganized with L. J. Wells, president; Charles Weitz, vice president; James Watt, cashier; W. G. Harvison, Charles Weitz, William Wilcoxen, L. J. Wells, J. R. Rollins, C. L. Kahler and James Watt, directors.
November 4, 1897, there arrived in Des Moines one Isaac Norton Perry, a vice president of the Continental National Bank-the second largest bank in Chicago. In time, the object of his visit became known. It was to tender the cashiership of his bank to George M. Reynolds, president of the Des Moines National Bank. The fast succeeding chapters of the remarkable story are familiar to the banking world; the promotion of the Des Moines banker to the presidency of the Chicago bank; the merger of the Continental with the third larg- est bank in Chicago, the Commercial National, and the election of Mr. Reynolds to the presidency of the giant concern. It reads like a Rupert-of-Hentzau romance !
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.