USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I > Part 29
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This fiduciary institution is a new one in Clarinda and its success and growth within the short span of six years seem almost incredible to the laymen and is intensely gratifying to its builders and the people of the community generally. The capital stock of the Clarinda Trust & Savings Bank, as has been stated, is $75,000, and in its last report it showed de- posits aggregating $300,000, although at various times since then deposits to the amount of $350,000 have been shown by the bank's books. Being organized as a trust company, the bank can, under the authority of the law, act as guardian, administrator, assignee and receiver, and trustee of es- tates, and perform other acts not within the province of other banks.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SHENANDOAH.
The first bank in Shenandoah was organized by N. B. Moore and W. E. Webster in the fall of 1872, under the firm name of Moore & Webster, in the building and location later occupied by Roberts & Harrington. In 1875 they sold to the Farmers & Merchants Bank, the stockholders being T. H. Read, W. T. Farnum and T. J. Williams. This bank continued until July, 1877, when it was merged into the First National Bank. under its present management. The First National Bank was organized with thirty- two stockholders. The first officers were: Thomas H. Read. president ; and A. J. Crose, cashier. In March, 1881, Mr. Crose resigned and was succeeded by R. W. Carey, who served as assistant cashier and then was promoted to cashier in 1882. He held the position until March, 1887, when he was succeeded by Frank Hooker.
In 1900 the bank building was completely remodeled at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The front is of gray pressed brick, with terra cotta trim- mings. The architecture is pleasing to the eye. There is a large plate glass window. in the front of the desposit and banking room, the latter of which has a large and spacious vault, in which is a modern Manganese steel safe, time lock and burglar proof.
This is one of the old and firmly established banking institutions of southwestern Iowa and does the largest business of any bank in Page county. Its statenient for February 5, 1909. shows the following :
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Loans and discounts. $642,712.58
United States Bonds 55,000.00
Other Bonds 54,045.00
Bank Buildings and Fixtures. 8,000.00
Cash, and due from banks and U. S. Treasurer 131,197.22
$890,954.80
LIABILITIES.
Capital Paid in.
$ 50,000.00
Surplus Fund (net) .
102,097.78
Currency in Circulation
50,000.00
Deposits 688,857.02
$890,954.80
The present officers are : Thomas H. Read, president ; Elbert A. Read, cashier ; Henry Read, and D. B. Miller, assistant cashiers. Directors : J. L. Gwynn, Levi Baker, A. Nordstrom, Elbert A. Read, John T. Stuart, Thomas H. Read.
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL BANK.
The Shenandoah National Bank was organized May 4, 1882, and began business with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. It had the following officers: George Bogart, president ; H. F. Wilson, cashier ; E. S. Farris, assistant cashier. The directors were: A. B. Woodford, D. S. Priest, John Norton, Z. D. Mathuss and George Bogart. They began business in the building that had been used by the Page County National Bank, putting in at that time a new Debolt safe and fire proof vault. In 1882 they pur- chased the building and in 1888 extensive repairs were made. In 1892 further improvements were made to the building and in 1906 the bank moved into its present new and magnificent building. This structure has a sand- stone front and is the handsomest business building in Shenandoah. It has a frontage of twenty-five feet on Sheridan avenue and extends to the alley, which is a depth of one hundred and ten feet. The interior is up-to-date in every particular and would be an ornament in the banking business in cities of much more pretension than Shenandoah. The banking room has a tile floor, with Italian marble wainscoting, and black Vermont marble baseboards. The grill work is of solid cast iron in dead black. The vault is detached from the building and is fourteen by twenty-four feet. It is faced with Italian marble and constructed of vitrified paving brick. It is divided into two compartments and has two doors. In the rear is one hundred deposit boxes. The furniture is all of mahogany, as is also the wood trimmings. There is a customers' waiting room. a room for safety deposits, a smaller room for consultations, and the rear room is devoted to bank parlors and for the directors. There are two fine toilet rooms and the building is heated throughout by the central steam heating plant. It is also electric lighted. This bank has a capital and
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
surplus of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. It is a United States depositary and its deposits in February, 1909 amounted to four hundred thousand dollars.
The present officers of this bank are: president, George Bogart; vice president, E. H. Mitchell; cashier, R. M. Gwynn; assistant cashier, F. M. Schneider. Directors: W. I. McCulloch, E. S. Welch, Maxie Jewett, G. F. Cotrill, George Bogart, E. H. Mitchell, J. J. Dunnegan, Class Nordstrom, Edward Birkhimer and J. W. Lovitt.
THE SECURITY TRUST & SAVINGS BANK, SHENANDOAH.
This concern was organized January 6, 1909, with C. W. Fishbaugh as president, and E. C. Fishbaugh, cashier. It was capitalized at thirty thousand dollars. The first statement of the bank published February 20, 1909. shows the bank in excellent condition, the deposits amounting to twenty-six thousand dollars. It has safety deposit vaults, and Manganese steel safe, time lock. The directors of the bank are James Morhain, W. H. Brammer, D. E. Butte, William Hovenden, J. H. Bright, John B. King, E. C. Fishbaugh, C. W. Fishbaugh, and Martin Fender.
THE COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK OF ESSEX.
This bank started as a private concern, which eventually was merged into the Commercial State Bank, of which A. Brodeen was the president ; R. A. Sanderson, vice president ; T. K. Elliott, cashier ; and J. A. Ekeroth, assistant cashier. In 1901 the bank was reorganized and received its char- ter as the Commercial National Bank, with the following officers: R. A. Sanderson, president: A. Ilalberg, vice president : T. K. Elliott, cashier ; J. A. Ekeroth, assistant cashier. It is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, and is a national depositary. Its last statement shows its deposits to have been three hundred thousand dollars. It now has a capital and surplus of sixty-eight thousand dollars. This is one of the oldest and most substantial banking institutions in Page county. Its present officers are: Levi Baker, president : C. J. Johnson, vice president ; Arthur Lindberg, cashier : C. W. Frederickson, assistant cashier. Directors. Alex Caldwell, W. J. Knox. Abe Lindberg. C. A. Linquist, C. J. Johnson, Levi Baker and George Lindberg.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ESSEX.
This bank was organized in 1901 by A. Brodeen, H. I. Foskett. N. C. Nelson, J. P. Nye, C. P. Nelson, G. J. Liljedahl and others, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. The first officers were : A. Brodeen, presi- dent : H. I. Fishbaugh, vice president ; N. C. Nelson, cashier.
This bank has been very successful from the start and in its last state- ment shows deposits to the amount of one hundred and forty thousand dol- lars. It has pleasant and commodious quarters and the depositors' money is amply secured in a Hibbard, Rodman & Ely, Manganese steel safe. This
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
bank also has safety deposit boxes. Its present officers are: A. Brodeen, president ; N. C. Nelson, vice president ; G. J. Liljedahl, cashier ; John G. E. Carlson, assistant cashier. The board of directors are: A. Brodeen, N. C. Nelson, G. Liljedahl, J. P. Nye, C. J. Sar, F. O. Peterson and Oliver Bussard.
THE FARMERS' SAVINGS BANK OF ESSEX.
This bank was organized in the fall of 1906, by J. A. Ekeroth, R. A San- derson, H. A. Chandler, J. M. Hilgerson, Frank G. Miller, J. F. Falk, A. D. Collins, J. E. North and others, with a capital stock of twenty-five thou- sand dollars. The bank opened for business January 5, 1907, with the following officers: R. A. Sanderson, president; J. A. Ekeroth, cashier ; H. A. Chandler, vice president. This bank met with great success from the very start, even though it had two strong competitors with which to con- tend. The year of the organization of the bank J. E. North erected a mod- ern pressed brick building at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars, of which the bank purchased the corner with frontage on Main street of twenty-two feet and fifty feet on Central street. The bank has a Mosler vault with safety deposit boxes and a Corliss safe, weighing thirteen thousand five hundred pounds. The furnishings are in mahogany.
The present officers of the bank are: R. A. Sanderson, president ; O. W. Freed, vice president ; J. A. Ekeroth, cashier ; Victor Freed, assistant cashier. Directors : R. A. Sanderson, O. W. Freed, J. F. Falk, A. D. Collins, J. M. Kiljerson, Frank G. Miller and O. P. Peterson.
The deposits of this bank increased over twenty thousand dollars dur- ing the last year. The bank pays four per cent interest on savings ac- counts or certificates of deposits, semi-annually if desired.
OTHER BANKS OF THE COUNTY.
Hepburn-The Farmers Savings Bank was organized in 1903, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. The officers are: J. Pollock, presi- dent; C. N. Crain, vice president ; J. N. Swanson, cashier. The deposits amount to ninety thousand dollars.
Northboro-The First National Bank was organized in 1908 with H. J. Scott as president ; A. Harris, vice president ; J. R. Harris, cashier ; H. H. Harris, assistant cashier. The bank is capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars with deposits of one hundred and eight thousand dollars.
Yorktown-The Yorktown Savings Bank was established in 1900 with J. N. Miller, president ; N. H. Harris, vice president ; and M. List, cashier. The bank is capitalized for ten thousand dollars and the deposits amount to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
Braddyville-The Farmers Savings Bank was organized in 1899 with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. The present officers are : L. C. Lawrence, president ; J. T. Wolfe, vice president ; L. G. Martin, cashier. The deposits amount to one hundred and thirty-one thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Coin-The Farmers & Merchants Bank was organized in 1904. The present officers are: Charles Hart, president; J. F. Whitmore, vice presi- dent; G. F. Mitchell, cashier; F. E. Ruby, assistant cashier. The capital stock is twenty-five thousand dollars, with deposits amounting to eighty- five thousand dollars.
College Springs-The Farquhar Savings Bank was organized in 1902. W. S. Farquhar is president ; J. Dee Loudon, cashier. The bank is capital- ized for twenty-five thousand dollars and the deposits amount to one hun- dred and ten thousand dollars.
PAGE COUNTY BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
This financial institution was organized June 15, 1897, by H. R. Spry, L. W. Lewis, J. E. Phillips, Charles Linderman, G. William Richardson, O. V. Hurdle, E. B. Westcott, W. B. Shoemaker, David Tharp and others. The directory was composed of H. R. Spry, L. W. Lewis, G. William Richardson, O. V. Hurdle, E. B. Westcott, W. P. Shoemaker and David Tharp, and the first officers were: President, H. R. Spry ; vice president, L. W. Lewis; secretary, J. E. Phillips ; and treasurer, Charles Linderman. The attributes of the association are purely mutual and the loans are made for building and like purposes. It is upon a sound financial basis and has been in favor with the people of Clarinda and vicinity ever since its incep- tion. The loans are limited to Page county. The company has from the start been very successful and its business is conducted on lines that seek to assist those needing such assistance in securing comfortable homes.
The following is the directory board for 1909: William Orr, H. R. Spry, G. William Richardson, Hugh Miller and Gerald D. Graff. Officers : president, E. B. Westcott; vice president, Norris H. Martin; secretary, C. E. Blair ; treasurer, W. L. Pedersen.
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES OF PAGE COUNTY.
NODAWAY LODGE, NO. 140, A. F. & A. M., CLARINDA. H. H. Scott.
On the 22d day of December, 1852, just two hundred and thirty years to the day after the landing of the Pilgrims, an act of the legislature of this state was approved by the governor, providing for the locating of the county seat of Page county, and fixing its name as Clarinda. In May, 1853, Clarinda was located, surveyed and plat filed. On the 14th day of April, 1854, lot 4, block 25, of the original plat, comprising a frontage of seventy feet, was sold by Page county to one Halsey, for eight dollars a quarter. The north forty-six feet of that lot is now occupied by the build- ing in which this lodge room is now contained.
Under date of July 15, 1858, a certificate was sent by Glenwood Lodge, No. 58, A. F. & A. M., of Glenwood, Iowa, to the grand lodge of this state, stating that on July 14, 1858, a special meeting of that lodge had
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
been held for the purpose of examining the application for a dispensation to open a lodge at Clarinda, Page county, Iowa, and that one Jacob Simon- ton, selected by the petitioners for the proposed lodge, as its first worship- ful master, had appeared before them and that upon a full investigation they had resolved and did report favorably on the application for the dispensation.
This application on the part of Master Masons residing at Clarinda was signed by Jacob Simonton, Alvin H. East, Corydon Winkler, J. H. Conine, D. C. Ribble, Joseph Martin, J. H. Powers, John Pirkins, Cyrus Creal, C. W. Hendricks, Albert Heald and Joseph La Master, and dated July 15, 1858. On the 10th of August of the same year a dispensation was issued by the grand lodge of this state.
It is a mooted question where the first meeting of a Masonic lodge was held in Clarinda. In September, 1858, the firm of Kridelbaugh & Ribble was engaged in a somewhat limited way in the drug business in this town. The firm occupied a small, one and one-half story frame building and the ground covered by the south fraction of that building is now occupied by the north wall of the building in which the room we are now occupying tonight is contained. D. C. Ribble, of the firm, had signed the application for the dispensation. Dr. Kridelbaugh was an entered apprentice, having received that degree a year or two before at Glenwood. Jacob Simonton, Alvin H. East and Jacob Powers, as well as Kridelbaugh & Ribble, had immigrated from Indiana to Clarinda, and there can be no question but what the office and store of Dr. Kridelbaugh was the meeting place of the parties contemplating the institution of a lodge at this place. It is more than probable and according to tradition that the meetings preceding and possibly the first meeting under the dispensation were held in the upper room of the building mentioned. However, the lodge-room that was first recognized as the place of Masonic meetings, was in the second story of a frame building, erected and owned by James B. Chambers, that stood approximately on the ground now occupied by Boyer's barber shop and Dunham's harness shop, and owned by Herman Fessenmire, immediately north and adjoining the W. C. Brown block. The first story of the build- ing was occupied by Chambers as a carpenter shop and in the fall and winter of 1858-59, the upper room was occupied in the day time by the village school, taught by Miss Ann Alden-now the widow of C. W. Fos- ter-and at nights by this lodge.
In 1859 or 1860 the lower floor room was occupied by the Haskins as a store, and years later the building was moved to the west side of the square and was devoted to the business of dispensing that beverage which is presumed to be brewed from barley and hops.
On the evening of the 10th of September. 1858. under dispensation, the first lodge meeting was held with Jacob Simonton, W. M., Alvin H. East, S. W., Corydon Winkler, J. W., and on that evening the following officers were appointed: Jacob H. Powers, treasurer : C. W. Hendricks, secretary ; Cyrus Creal, senior deacon ; David C. Ribble, junior deacon ; John Pirkins, tyler : J. H. Conine, steward.
HIGH SCHOOL, SHENANDOAH
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
At this meeting ten dollars was fixed as the institution fee and five dollars each for the degree of Fellow Craft and Master Mason. There were no members present but the officers.
The next meeing was held on the 17th of September, 1858, with two visiting brothers, W. D. McDonald and W. G. Higley, both hailing from Oregon Lodge, No. 139, in Missouri, they being the first visitors. At this meeting Claiborne McBee made application to become a member of the lodge and at a meeting on the 22d of October, received the entered apprentice degree, being the first initiate of this lodge.
The next applicant for initiation was Lewis H. Wilder, who received his first degree on the evening of December 6. Thomas M. Bowen was either the third or fourth applicant for admission to the lodge, on the date of November 19, 1858, and on the 17th of December received his first degree.
It is fit and proper at this time that some consideration and remem- brance should be given to the principal officers and members of the lodge as then existing. Jacob Simonton was born in Preble county, Ohio, July 19, 1810, and at the time of the institution of this lodge, was but little over forty-eight years of age, and was its Master for the first seven years of its existence and again in 1870-71, making eight years in all. In 1835 he moved to Wabash county, Indiana, remaining there until the spring of 1856, when he came to Clarinda. In this community he held various public offices for a number of years, and died here and was buried in Clarinda cemetery on the 29th of July, 1894. He was a man of fine personal appear- ance and would attract the attention of the stranger as he passed.
Dr. Alvin H. East was reared in Indiana. He had had the benefit of but two weeks of school education. At first he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for some years, in the meantime reading medicine during his spare moments. It is to be doubted whether as a student he was ever inside a medical college. He came to Page county in 1851 and made his home for a time near where Hawleyville is now located. After coming to Iowa, on account of the good health of its people and its limited population, he bestirred himself and got possession of some law books, and at Glenwood, in 1856 or 1857, he was admitted to the practice of law. Soon after he became county attorney of this county, and under some con- struction of the law at that time, he was also county judge, ex officio. This office he held until the law creating the office of county attorney was abolished and that of district attorney created in its place. Later he be- came a member of the law firm of John R. Morledge & Company, and of Morledge, East & Chittenden. Even while engaged in the practice of law he continued his calling as a physician and gained an enviable standing as such. However, as a surgeon he stood at the head of his profession in that day in this and adjoining counties. When the war came, he became assistant surgeon of the Fourth Iowa Infantry and lost an eye at the battle of Pea Ridge. Afterwards he became regimental surgeon of the Twenty- third Iowa Infantry. At the time of his death, September 19, 1872, he was engaged with Dr. Lewellen in the practice of medicine at Clarinda. Dr.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
East was a remarkable man, and one of great natural ability, and in the years of his manhood made up in study for the opportunities that were denied him in youth.
Corydon Winkler at the time of the institution of this lodge was pro- prietor of the Delevan House, a hotel which afterwards was well known under the management of John Beam. Mr. Winkler was the first junior warden. According to the records he attended the first two meetings, none thereafter. Somewhere about that time he sold his hotel to Jacob Butler and went back to some eastern state. On diligent inquiry it seems impossible to learn anything further about him.
Jacob H. Powers was born September 24, 1807, in Virginia. When twelve years of age, in 1819, his parents moved to Indiana. In 1853 Mr. Powers visited Iowa and came to Page county, looked the lands over and made some investments. He moved his family to Clarinda in 1854 and soon after engaged in the mercantile business and continued in that for many years. Mr. Powers from the first was impressed with the future of the county and in making his investments he purchased quite an amount of land adjoining Clarinda. In the earlier days, while yet in the vigor of manhood, no man was more energetic in the upbuilding of the town, or more generous in his public and private charities. Practically every church of the earlier days was built upon lots donated by him. He was a man of sterling integrity, honest and upright in all his dealings. He was a loyal friend and a man of positive character. In the multiplicity of his dealings and transactions-for many of the homes now in Clarinda are located on lots sold and deeded by Mr. Powers-it was said his word was as good as his bond. When the lodge was instituted under dispensation and when it was organized under charter, Mr. Powers was selected as its treasurer. He continued to hold that office without interruption to the day of his death, a period of twenty-six years. Mr. Powers died February 14, 1884, and was buried in the Clarinda cemetery.
Thomas M. Bowen became secretary of this lodge January 24, 1859. While he remained a citizen of the county he was active in the affairs of the lodge. He was an Iowa product, born, matured and reared in the state. The first knowledge obtained of Thomas N. Bowen is that he was working at the tailor's trade at Mount Pleasant, in this state, and between suits, reading law. From Mt. Pleasant he moved to some county-seat east of this, possibly Wayne or Decatur, where he was elected to the state leg- islature. In 1857 or 1858 he came to Clarinda and was engaged in the occupation of practicing law and incidentally running a ditching machine. The only civil office he held here was that of justice of the peace, though he was an important factor in the politics of the county, On the morning of June 19, 1861, he left Clarinda with Company F, First Nebraska In- fantry, of which he was captain. On February 4, 1862, he resigned his captaincy and became colonel of a Kansas regiment, with which he served during the remainder of the Civil war, finally, at the end, obtaining the rank of brigadier-general. After the war and during reconstruction days, he was on earth in Arkansas and became chief justice of the supreme court
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
in that state. Later he was a candidate for United States senator from that state against Senator Dorsey. Dorsey was elected but Brother Bowen received the federal appointment of territorial governor of Montana. He afterwards drifted to Colorado and promoted the Highland Mary mine and was selected as a judge of one of the districts of that state. Soon after there became two vacancies in that state for the office of United States sen- ator, one for the short term, some thirty days, and the other for the six- year term. The legislature, on ballot, elected Bowen, for the term of six years. While he may not have been the most prominent and efficient la- borer in this shift of workmen on the Temple, he certainly attained in civic life as high an altitude as the bulk of the secretaries this lodge has since had. After his retirement from the United States senate he took up his abode in Colorado and died some months since, and his remains lie buried beneath the soughing cedars of that state. There are many others of the old-time members of this lodge who are deserving of mention, but time forbids making any attempt in that direction.
The lodge, during the winter of 1858-9, had a steady growth. Its treasury increased and the purchase of candles for illumination, a stove, twelve dollars expended for chairs and the payment of rent to Chambers, are matters of record.
The meeting of June 24, 1859, was an important one. All officers except C. Winkler, junior warden, were present, also the following brothers : S. H. Kridelbaugh, Thomas Owen, J. H. Conine, B. W. Harlow, A. M. Loranz, J. R. Morledge and J. W. Patterson. It was the first annual elec- tion. It appears by the record that J. W. Patterson, custodian, was pres- ent and presided as worshipful master. Jacob Simonton was chosen as worshipful master: A. H. Bowen, secretary ; L. H. Wilder, senior deacon ; D. C. Ribble, junior deacon ; and Thomas Owen, tyler. They were installed the same evening.
A resolution was passed ratifying the contract made by a portion of the brethren for the renting of Chamber's Hall. Also a resolution was passed thanking Brother J. W. Patterson for his services in organizing the lodge under its charter. So it may safely be said that the first meeting of this lodge under its present charter was on the evening of June 24, 1859.
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