USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 15
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Arthur F. Amundsen, oldest son of the late B. Anundsen, founder of Decorah- Posten, was a member of the local bar for a period in the 'gos and the years immediately following. He was a man of recognized ability, but abandoned his
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practice to go into the banking business at Detroit, Minnesota, where he died three years ago.
The bar as it is composed today claims as its members Messrs. Willett, Port- man, Harmon, Carter, and Adams, heretofore mentioned; Charles N. Houck, County Attorney : E. R. Acres, Frank Sayre, E. W. Cutting, C. S. Boice, E. J. Hook, H. F. Barthell, J. A. Nelson, W. M. Strand, and E. P. Shea, all of Decorah; W. M. Allen of Ossian, and T. H. Goheen of Calmar.
The foregoing record takes no account of a number of the profession who either remained here only a short time, or failed to leave an impress upon the public mind. Nor does it take into account the career of E. P. Johnson, whose disbarment was the sensation of the February term of court in 1910.
Possibly what has been written may inspire some one to complete the record. It would prove an interesting document for the files of the Winneshiek County Bar Association when the organization of that body, which was commenced some years ago, is completed.
Vol. I-9
CHAPTER XIV BANKS AND BANKERS
The chronological data of Winneshiek county states that in the winter of !855-56 there were nine banking houses in Decorah, from two of which subse- quently developed the Winneshiek County Bank and the First National Bank. If there is any record of the other seven banks we are unable to locate it.
THE WINNESIHEK COUNTY STATE BANK
It was in 1855 that Horace Weiser, then a young man, came to lowa from York, Pennsylvania, and located in Decorah. With the ownership vested in H. S. Weiser & Co., he at once engaged in the business of banking, choosing the title of Winneshiek County Bank. That he was a shrewd and an able financier is the uniform testimony of all who knew him, and the fact that his institution weathered the vicissitudes that imperiled many of the banks of that day is a force- ful testimonial to his good judgment. Yet with all his conservatism he bore a splendid reputation for fairness and consideration of the man who, through misfortune or other cause, found himself in financial straits. For twenty years he remained at the head of the bank. Death elaimed him on July 19, 1875. when, it may well be said, he was in the prime of manhood and executive ability. The business that he had so successfully established passed into the control of his family, and with the exception that the title of the firm became Mrs. H. S. Weiser & Co. there was no change. E. W. D. Holway became the bank's cashier and C. J. Weiser, assistant cashier, and under their management enjoyed splendid growth. Mrs. Weiser died November 8, 1808. During all these years the institution remained a private bank. In 1902 the owners decided to incorpo- rate under the state banking laws, and the title was changed to the Winneshiek County State Bank. Charles J. Weiser, who entered the bank as a young man, has been with it through its years of greatest advancement and usefulness to the community, building upon the foundation laid by his father and planning for years to come when he may have put aside the active management to give place to his sons that they may carry on the policies that have made the bank so successful and substantial. It is worthy of note that the Winneshiek County
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State Bank is the oldest bank in Iowa, either private or organized under laws of lowa or the nation, and it has always been under one family management. At the present time the bank's resources are nearly a million and three-quarters of dollars and its deposits are over that amount. Twenty years ago the business outgrew the old building that had housed it so long and a new modern structure was erected. As this history is being prepared another new building to take the place of the one of twenty years ago is nearing completion. It will be one of the finest banking houses in Iowa, excelling in beauty and completeness any- thing in this portion of the state.
The officers of the bank are-C. J. Weiser, president; E. W. D. Holway and R. Algar, vice presidents; A. Anfinson, cashier ; Anna C. Whalen, assistant cashier.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
In 1854 the firm of Easton, Cooley & Co., opened the Decorah Bank. The members of the firm were W. L. Easton of Lowville, New York; E. E. Cooley and Leonard Standring. Success attended their activities from the first, and in 1862 James H. Easton, oldest son of W. L. Easton, joined the institution, becoming its president. The interests of the other partners were acquired by the Eastons and for several years the firm was known as W. L. Easton & Son. In 1870 advantage was taken of the National banking act and the First National Bank of Decorah took its place. In the years that followed it forged to the front and was recognized as the leading financial institution in this portion of lowa. It may be said the bank enjoyed too much prosperity, and as a result some of its officers sought investments elsewhere. Almost without exception these investments proved unfortunate, large losses were sustained, and the bank became so involved that in November, 1896, it was forced to close its doors.
The Savings Bank of Decorah was an adjunct of the First National Bank, organized in 1873 for the purpose of handling a certain line of business that was not permitted under the national banking act. After an existence of thirteen years it went into voluntary liquidation, the exigency for its maintenance having passed.
THE CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK
The third bank to be opened in Decorah was the Citizens Savings Bank. Its incorporators were C. W. Burdick, L. L. Cadwell, George Phelps, A. W. Grow and Nelson Burdick, and it opened for business on February 20, 1884. Its growth was not rapid, but it was steady and substantial. Up to October. 1907. it was located in the building now occupied by the Decorah Tailoring Co. at 111 Winnebago street. In that year the building at the corner of Winne- bago and Water streets, opposite Ben Bear's store, was purchased and remodeled as a banking home and office building. Here the bank has continued to thrive, win- ning new friends and patrons each year and holding its old ones as well by its sound policies and courteous treatment to all.
In January. 1904. C. W. Burdick, who had been the bank's president from its organization, sold his interests to his associates, and E. J. Curtin was elected
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OPERA HOUSE, DECORAH
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NEW STATE BANK, DECORAH
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to succeed him. Mr. Curtin became associated with the bank as messenger and bookkeeper soon after it opened for business and advanced steadily, both in official capacity and in the esteem of its patrons, proving his capacity in all departments. His worth has also been recognized among the bankers of the state. Within the past five years he has served as treasurer and president of their state organization, as well as on important committees of the national organization. He is a member of the board of directors of the Iowa State Agri- cultural Society and has financial interests at Beach and Sterling, North Dakota, in addition to his local interests, which combine to make him one of Decorah's busiest business men.
Associated with him in the management of the Citizens Savings Bank are Ogden Casterton, R. F. B. Portman, Dr. F. W. Conover and John Curtin as directors. Ogden Casterton is vice president, B. J. MeKay is cashier, F. E. Cratsenberg and Richard E. Bucknell are assistant cashiers, and Miss Minnie Palmer as stenographer and bookkeeper completes the personnel of the force. The bank's resources are between $500,000 and $600,000 and each year sees a healthy increase in its volume.
THE NATIONAL BANK OF DECORAH
The National Bank of Decorah was opened for business on July 12, 1897. Anticipatory of this event the stockholders purchased the building of the de- funct First National Bank. In so doing they secured without the necessity of construction a plant that was ample in its capacity, admirable in its appoint- ments, and central in its location. Engaging in business at a time when there was not a little prejudice in the local mind because of the failure of the First National Bank, it was to be expected that their growth would be slow. They soon outlived this prejudice, however, and the close of the first ten years of its existence found it carrying deposits of $425,433.63 and resources of $549,- 522.62, its capital of $50,000 having been augmented by a surplus fund of $10,000. The men who made this growth possible are among the substantial men of the county. L. B. Whitney, the president, began commercial life as a member of the firm of Cratsenberg & Whitney at Burr Oak. Subsequently he served as treasurer of Winneshiek county for four years, and in these relations sustained a splendid reputation for ability and integrity. O. C. Johnson, the vice president, was for many years a merchant in Decorah, later county auditor; a man of sterling character. H. C. Hjerlaid, the cashier, came to Decorah from the Cresco Union Savings Bank and at once established the fact that he was a capable banker. W. F. Baker, the assistant cashier has grown up with the bank and has won deserved recognition both as a bank officer and on the city council where he has served with distinction as alderman for several years. The directors of the bank are J. J. Haug of Spillville, G. F. Gunderson of Ossian, F. II. and A. C. Baker of Decorah, O. L. Wennes of Highlandville, and E. R. Thompson of Cresco, all men of recognized high standing in their various communities.
Some years ago the bank acquired the abstract books of C. W. Burdick and these have become a valuable adjunct of the business. They are in charge of Miss Cora Auchmoody, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the most accurate abstracters in Northern Iowa. Miss Lilian Wise is Miss Auchmoody's assistant.
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THE DECORVII STATE BANK
In September, 1906. the Decorah State Bank was organized in Decorah. Its incorporators were R. A. Engbretson, A. L. Haakenson. G. E. Soland. . \. J. Dyrland, T. O. Storla, Dr. T. Stabo, E. J. Hook, and E. P. Johnson. The bank opened about October Ist, with a capital of $25.000, in the Sampson building ( at the corner of Water and Washington streets ) which had been purchased and remodeled to meet its requirements. The equipment was modest, but ample for a considerable period of growth, and while it has not yet made a demand upon its full capacity, the bank has enjoyed a steady, substantial success from the first. By many it was not believed that a fourth bank could find a place in Decorah without taking business from other local institutions, but this prediction has not been borne out, in any respect. In fact, the reverse has been the result. The business that has come to this bank has, in a large measure, been new busi- ness, and at the same time the other banks have enjoyed the most prosperous period in their existence. When the bank was first organized R. A. Engbretson was chosen as president : E. P. Johnson, vice president ; A. L. Haakenson, cashier. Mr. Hlaakenson was compelled by ill health to resign two years ago, and the vacancy was filled by the election of E. E. Berg, who had formerly been assistant cashier. E. P. Johnson retired from the vice presidency and moved to Minne- apolis, 1. S. Reque taking his place. AAt the annual meeting last January, Arthur R. Johnson was made assistant cashier. The board of directors include Messrs. Engbretson, Reque, Berg, G. E. Soland, Dr. T. Stabo, E. J. Hook and Borger Hanson. The bank has capital and surplus of $57.500. the deposits and loans being about $200,000 each, and total resources of $258,000.
Affiliated with the Wineshick County State Bank of Decorah, but inde- pendent in their management, are the Winneshiek County Banks at Calmar and Ridgeway. the Home Savings Bank at Fort AAtkinson, the Citizens Bank at Spillville, and the Canton State Bank at Canton, Minnesota. The Winneshick County Bank at Calmar was organized about seventeen years ago with Ole P'. Ode as cashier. He has remained as the manager through these successive years and II. A. Dessel is his assistant. The Ridgeway Bank was acquired by purchase in February, 1902, from George R. Baker, who had for several years been engaged in the banking business there. Sivert R. Ringeon was made cashier. At the present time he is being assisted by his nephew. Elmer Ringeon. . \ month following the purchase of the Ridgeway Bank, the bank at Fort Atkinson was purchased from W. F. Miller. Several years ago the business was incorpo- rated under the state law, the title being changed to the Home Savings Bank. Frank J. Pouska is its cashier and Fred J. Huber is his assistant. The Citizens Bank of Spillville was organized in 1908. Local interests at Spillville joined with the owners of the Winneshiek County State Bank in the organization. Chas. E. Houser was its first cashier, but on his removal from Spillville, A. A. Novak succeeded to the cashiership. C. J. Andera is his assistant. F. A. Masters is cashier of the Canton State Bank. Although not a Winneshick county institution we mention it because of its association with the Winneshick County State Bank and the further fact that considerable Winneshick county money is on deposit there. These banks have been uniformly successful, serving their several communities in a manner that is in every way satisfactory.
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At the time of the organization of the Winneshiek County Bank at Calmar, A. McRobert was in the banking business. He was compelled eventually to close the institution. Among the early bankers of Calmar was John Scott, postmaster and druggist.
In 1911 the Cahar Savings Bank was organized with a capital of $10,000. The incorporators included some of the officials of the Citizens Savings Bank of Decorah as well as prominent citizens of Calmar. It has established a surplus fund of $1,000. It deposits aggregate $25,000 and its loans and discounts $18,000.
For its size the town of Ossian is as well fortified in its financial interests as any town in this section of the state. In 1880 the Ossian Bank, with Meyer, Carter and Figge as partners, came into existence. It enjoyed a steady and increas- ing patronage for about a score of years, when it was organized under Iowa law as the Ossian State Bank with capital of $25,000 and surplus of $5,000. Its deposits, according to a recent bank directory, are over $500,000 and its loans and discounts approximate $450,000. Its officers are Fred J. Figge, president ; L. A. Meyer, vice president ; J. W. Meyer, cashier ; Cornell Riveland, assistant cashier.
In 1901 a competitor entered the field in the Citizens Bank of Ossian. Its incorporators were some of the prominent business men of the town. The original capital of $10,000 has never been increased, but a surplus fund of $18,000 has been established. Its deposits approach the $400,000 mark and its loans and discounts are $300,000 or better. R. W. Anderson is its president ; G. F. Gunder- son, vice president ; M. J. Klein is its cashier, and E. Il. Kleisart is assistant cashier.
At Castalia, the Castalia Savings Bank, organized in 1902, may be considered an offspring of the Ossian State Bank. It has a capital of $15,000, surplus of $5,000, deposits of $120,000 and loans and discounts of $110,000. L. A. Meyer is its president and D. C. Malloy its cashier.
Burr Oak has a substantial little organization in its savings bank which was organized in 1910. Dr. W. H. Emmons is its president, J. A. Thompson its vice president and E. Kippe its cashier. Its capital is $10,000, deposits $61,000 and loans and discounts $48,000.
Another bank that has Decorah affiliations, but which is not strictly a Winne- shiek county bank, is the State Line Bank of Prosper, organized in 1911. John T. Ask is its president, G. O. Lermo is its cashier, while stockholders in the National Bank of Decorah are also interested along with a number of prominent farmers and business men in Prosper and vicinity.
For many years it has been a matter of common knowledge that Winneshiek county has provided the Northwest with more bankers than almost any county in the state of Iowa. Scattered throughout the Northwest are men who have received their grounding in the banking business in Winneshiek county institu- tions or have entered the business after leaving here. With few exceptions they have won worthy successes and have had much to do with the building up of the communities in which they have located. Were it possible to take an accurate census of the men who now are and have been engaged in banking and once claimed Winneshiek county as their home we dare say that the number would reach well up towards five hundred.
CHAPTER XV
MANUFACTURING
The record of manufacturing in Winneshiek county has not been one of marked successes. Yet here and there may be cited instances that give evidence that success can be won. If the reader follows the course of the Upper Iowa river as it winds through the county he will be impressed with the opportunity it affords for natural and cheap power. It must have so impressed the early settler, for from Kendallville down to the east line of Glenwood township, where it says good-bye to Winneshiek and hurries on its way through the northern part of Allamakee county to empty into the Mississippi, there are evi- dences in many places of dams that were built to supply power for some primi- tive grist or saw mill. Down in the southern part of the county where the Turkey river flows we find the same thing. Nor is that all; the smaller streams were made to do duty in a similar, though less forceful, way. The march of civilization may be blamed for the failure of some of these projects.
Of the early day mills on the Upper Iowa, but two remain-the Kendallville mill and the old stone mill in Decorah. To them may be added the Ice Cave mill built by James Hunter and John Greer in 1873 and the Tavener grist mill. Over on the Turkey we find the mills at Fort Atkinson and Spillville. The Bernatz family-once owners of Evergreen mill at Fort Atkinson (they sold it to the present owner, George Weist, I believe), are the leaders in milling today. A. Bernatz & Sons own the two Decorah mills, which have become very successful properties under their management, and John Bernatz owns the Spillville mill.
In the early days of Decorah there grew up the plant of Ammon, Scott & Co., manufacturers of wagons, plows, etc. One of the adjuncts of the busi- ness was the old stone mill, where a grade of flour was made that commanded a ready sale. Their wagons and plows enjoyed prestige also because they were made on honor, but one morning the firm awoke to the fact that they were facing a financial crisis. For some cause their flour was being refused by dealers who had handled it steadily, stocks had piled up, sales were few, and every effort to unload proved unavailing. A run of poor wheat-unsuspected and unknown until efforts to use the flour made from it proved futile-had
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so spoiled the reputation of the mill's output as to jeopardize the whole manu- facturing enterprise, and the institution closed its doors.
We might go on down the line, citing such cases as the Decorah and Trout river woolen mills, the Freeport paper mill, the Decorah Manufacturing Com- pany, the scale works, the windmill factory, and others, but why dwell upon an unpleasant subject ? The various causes that contributed to their failure or removal would extend the pages of this chapter beyond the patience of the reader. They may be summed up in a few words-superior competitive equip- ment lack of knowledge of the business undertaken, mismanagement, faulty sales management, to say nothing of inadequate transportation facilities.
But let us look at the other side of the picture. In Decorah there have grown up five establishments in one line whose combined pay rolls are probably the largest of any single manufacturing business in the county. We refer to the printing industry. Few people look upon a printing office as a manufactur- ing plant, but it is essentially of that class. Every piece of work produced is a separate and distinct article-a special order. that is seldom duplicated in every detail. Whether it be the issuing of a newspaper or the printing of a wedding invitation, or any other piece of printing, there may be a general outline or pattern to follow, but each time the details and results are different.
Decorah has successful machine shops, marble works, bottling works, valve works, sheet metal shops and an ice cream factory that sends its products all over northeastern Iowa.
A notable success had been attained in the production of electricity for commercial use. Twice within the past five years the Upper Iowa river has been harnessed, and its dams and power plants in Glenwood township are models of engineering. From them power and light is radiated to Decorah, Waukon, C'resco, Postville and Lansing.
At Ossian, Bullard Brothers have just established an electric plant to serve the town.
The Decorah Gas Company's plant and the municipal gas plant at Calmar are rightly classed among the manufactories that are successes.
Calmar presents two cases of going enterprises in the Henry Miller wagon works and the Calmar Manufacturing Co. The product of both these institu- tions is known throughout a wide territory and alone constitute a refutation of the claim that manufacturing does not pay in Winneshiek county.
The successful creameries of the county emphasize this refutation.
The time will come when the resources that surround this community will be recognized, and they will be put to work. No magic need be used-all that is required is accurate knowledge and ability to apply it. For years opportunity has been calling for some one to establish rock crushing plants within our county lines and to develop the building stone industry. The pioneer burned his lime from the rock that crops out in a thousand places about the county, yet today we ship in our lime and send our money away to keep the industry prosperous elsewhere.
Of mining there is none, nor is there any evidence of mineral wealth to cause one to spend valuable time in investigation.
CHAPTER XVI PARKS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS
DECORAH CITY PARK
The people of Winneshiek county have never realized the necessity for parks. A kind Providence caused the glacial flow to turn this corner of Iowa into a series of the most beautiful hills and valleys that can be found in any land, and then he studded them with nature's choicest gifts-trees of many kinds, flowers and ferns and shrubs of countless variety-and scattered through the valleys streams of crystal water that wend their way toward the Father of Waters that fornis one of the boundaries of the state. With such an environment, need one think of a park? It is only within the past three years that a systematic effort to establish and maintain a park has been made at any point in the county. Three years ago Mr. Sivert Larsen secured an option from Mr. Milton Updegraff upon a tract of ground on the heights overlooking the Fifth ward and the valley northwest of Decorah. It held admirable possibilities that were not realized by the majority of the citizens, but when the project was placed before the Decoralı Commercial Club, that body took steps at once to secure the property. While it is yet in the formative period much has been done in the way of improvement, and its fame is spreading to surrounding counties and states. It is first of all a natural park, and an endeavor has been made to retain all of its native beauty. Here during the summer months scarcely a day passes that does not see little gatherings of people bent upon wholesome pleasure. Mr. Larsen, Mr. L. B. Whitney and Mr. N. L. Bailey are the park commissioners.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The first public building in Winneshiek county was that little stone school- house, built in 1852 at the four township corners southeast of the city of Decoral, wherein the first public school was taught. It is not the writer's purpose, how- ever. to go into the details of this structure, or to refer particularly to the school- houses as public buildings further than to point to them as evidences of the belief of the residents of the county in schools. By some it might be considered
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proper to include a number of buildings such as hotels, in this chapter. but importance could attach to but few of these. A notable exception would probably be the old Winneshiek hotel, built by William Day in 1854-55. Its predecessor was the Day log cabin home, which was a family abode as well as a place of shelter for the traveler until the hotel was built.
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