Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 29

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).

Of its present condition let it be said that the Bulletin is a four page paper 28 by 44 inches in size ; it circulates generally but especially in western Hancock County. It has ever been a Republican newspaper, with editorials of no uncertain sound or meaning. The present pro- prietor erected a new office in 1891, costing $3,500. His paper is printed on a Country Campbell press; he has a good folder known as the "Eclipse" ; general job work is here executed in excellent style; the office has two jobbers. For reference the following list of owners and dates may not be amiss in this connection : August 5, 1865, to March 1, 1866, Henry Lick ; March 1, 1866, to September 20, 1866, Henry Lick and J. Blythe; September 20, 1866, to Feb- ruary 8, 1867, Henry Lick; February 8, 1867, to May 10, 1867, H. Lick and M. Schiffgen; May 10, 1867, to July 1, 1867, F. A. Dallam and M. Schiffgen ; July 1, 1867, to March 20, 1868, F. A. Dallam and Son (F. M. Dallam) ; March, 20, 1868, to August 13, 1870, F. M. Dallam; August 13, 1870, to September 2, 1871, F. M. Dallam and W. C. Hilker; September 2, 1871, to Sep-

787

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

tember 5, 1874, F. M. Dallam ; September 5, 1874, to October 20, 1875, F. M. & Philip Dallam; October 20, 1875, to date, Philip Dallam.

From March 20, 1868, to February 1, 1891, Mrs. A. M. Dallam was sole owner or had an interest in the establishment-her sons conduct- ing the business as publishers for the periods above noted. Philip Dallam, present owner, became financially interested in 1875.

1 HANCOCK COUNTY JOURNAL

The Hancock County Journal is one of the three newspapers now published at the city of Carthage. It was established in 1SS7 by Eugene Moon, and since then its owners have been Eugene Moon, John Cochran, Elbert Rose and the present editor and proprietor, John P. Beckman.

Politically, this newspaper is Democratic. It is a seven column, eight page, all-home-print paper, and has a good circulation in Hancock County. It is the only all-home-print seven column paper in Hancock County. It has for its office equipment a two revolution Cottrell press. a two revolution Whitlock job and book press, Intertype, two Gordon jobbers, Eclipse folder, Mercantile Mailing machine, Southworth punch and a Boston Staple binder. The machinery is all run by electricity. Everything in first class commercial printing is here executed. The Jour- nal is a clean, newsful county seat newspaper, which has for a third of a century visited the homes and firesides of Hancock County, and always stood for the true and good in the com- munity it has ever sought to uplift.

THE CARTHAGE GAZETTE

The Carthage Gazette, a Republican news- paper, was established in 1865 by Fowler & Prentiss, and its various owners and editors have been : Fowler & Prentiss, Thomas C. Sharp, W. O. Sharp. Its day of publication is now Friday of each week. It circulates largely in Hancock County. Its size is a six-column quarto.

In connection with the newspaper there is also. a complete, modern job printing department, fully equipped with presses such as the well- known Gordon jobbing presses-one 8 by 12 and one 12 by 18 inches in its form size; also the

office has a Campbell Newspaper press; all the machinery of the office is run by electricity.

During all of these fifty-four years since No. 1 of Vol. 1 of the Gazette was pulled from the old hand-press until this day, the citizens of Hancock County have been greeted each week by the appearance of a well edited, clean local paper, which has advocated the principles of the Republican party.

CARTHAGE REPUBLICAN

The genealogy (so to speak) of the Carthage Republican dates back to the Hancock Democrat which for a short time was published at La Harpe, edited by Dr. Rankin. It soon passed into the hands of Wesley H. Manier, Esq., of Carthage, and he, in connection with Thaddeus Clarke, moved the material to Carthage and commenced the publication of the Republican. The material was brought from La Harpe in the late autumn of 1853, and within a few weeks the paper was being issued at the county seat where it has never missed an issue since, so far as is now known. Stray copies are to be seen of the Vol. 1, No. 4, dated February, 1854, which fixes the age of the publication so far as Carthage is concerned. The gentleman just named continued to conduct the paper until Oc- tober, 1854. It was an "independent paper" and its subscription price was $2.00 per year. It then passed into the hands of G. M. Child, by whom it was transformed into an intensely Dem- ocratic sheet, and was so conducted by him for a number of years. August, 1861, Robert W. McClaughry, fresh from Monmouth College, with his brother-in-law, Dr. A. J. Griffith, pur- chased the Republican and changed its char- acter, supporting ardently the measures of the Government in suppressing the Rebellion of States.

In August, 1862, Mr. McClaughry enlisted in the Union army wlien Dr. Griffith sold the Re- publican to J. M. Davidson, who on the Sth of October, 1863, issued his first number, and the plant has been solely in the Davidson family's hands ever since. It should be understood that while the name of this paper is "Republican," it is a supporter of the Democratic party. Mr. Davidson, the elder, was a staunch defender of the Union and was of the "War Democrat" stripe, believing in the preservation of the Union of States, and he had no quarter for or sym-

788

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

pathy with those who favored the Southern ideas concerning the great Civil War.

J. M. Davidson was born May 22, 1828, near Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois. In 1845-46, in company with Charles McDowell, he published the Fulton Gazette at Lewistown ; in 1855 he established the Fulton Democrat at the same place, and continued its publication until 1858, when he sold to his brother, William T. Davidson. In 1859-60-61 he published the Squatter Sovereign at Havana, Mason County. During the legislature of 1858-59 he was the cor- respondent of the St. Louis Republican and Chicago Times.

In passing it may be added that. he was an untiring worker, a vigorous writer, fearless in his expressions of what he felt to be right and wrong. The Republican under his administra- tion of many years came to be second to none in all this section of the Middle West.

Mr. Davidson had a large family and many of its members were taught the twin arts of printing and news-gathering for publication. From a tender age the girls and boys were taught the ways of the printing business, even when too short to stand up and reach the "case" without a wooden box to stand upon while at work. So that after all of his eventful busy years as a local journalist, when he was no longer able to conduct the Republican, other members were fully capable and did successfully carry on the business. Mr. Davidson died Sep- tember 30, 1894, and the publication of the paper was continued by the widow, Susan C. Davidson, who, while taking no active part in the management, was ever an inspiration in perpetuating the high ideals and progressive policies of the paper. The direct management of the paper was in the hands of the son, I. C. Davidson, and daughters, Abigail and Mary. After I. C. Davidson's appointment as post- master, the editorial and business policy was entirely in the hands of the daughter Mary. Mrs. Davidson died November 23, 1919. The paper is continued by the estate as before.

This newspaper has been an official paper of Hancock County for fifty-six years. It in- stalled improved type-setting machinery in 1911. The power employed in the plant now is elec- tricity. It is a six-column quarto, all-at-home print, published weekly each Wednesday; is two dollars per year. Politically, now same as ever-Democratic.

CHAPTER VII

BANKS AND BANKING

PIONEER FINANCES-LOCAL BANK NOTES-EARLY FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES-PRIVATE BANKS-PRES- ENT DEVELOPMENTS-HANCOCK NATIONAL BANK OF CARTHAGE-EXCHANGE BANK OF SHERILL, SHOLL & CO. OF CARTHAGE-HILL-DODGE BANKING COMPANY OF CARTHAGE-FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUGUSTA-FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF LA HARPE-PLYMOUTH STATE BANK-FIRST NA- TIONAL BANK OF HAMILTON-FARMERS BANK OF BOWEN-FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DALLAS CITY . -STATE BANK OF NAUVOO-TRI-COUNTY STATE BANK OF PLYMOUTH-LA HARPE STATE BANK- FIRST TRUST & SAVINGS BANK OF NAUVOO-STATE BANK OF WEST POINT-DIME SAVINGS BANK OF CARTHAGE-PEOPLES STATE BANK OF HAMILTON -FIRST TRUST & SAVINGS BANK OF AUGUSTA- STATE BANK OF BURNSIDE-FARMERS STATE BANK OF FERRIS- FARMERS STATE BANK OF DAL- LAS CITY-BASCO STATE BANK-HARMONY STATE BANK OF DENVER-FARMERS STATE BANK OF WARSAW-FARMERS BANK OF STILLWELL- FARMERS EXCHANGE BANK OF ELVASTON-FARM- ERS STATE BANK OF WEST POINT-STATE BANK OF COLUSA-MARINE TRUST COMPANY OF CAR- THAGE-STATE BANK, OF ADRIAN-NIOTA STATE BANK.

PIONEER FINANCES

In the early settlement of this county there were no banks, nor, indeed, was there any de- mand for banks. The pioneers who came here from the east and south, as a rule, were men of limited means, and their means had been con- verted into coin before they set out for this wild and uncultivated land, and this coin was tucked away in a buckskin belt or otherwise secured about the person, and was economically used in the purchase of land or of oxen, horses and farming implements, such as were in use in that day. When a purchase was made, the coin was used for payment. It took five twen- ty-dollar gold pieces to pay for eighty acres of land at a dollar and a quarter per acre, and this was considered a high price in those early days,

789

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

whereas the same land is now worth from $200 to $400 per acre.

Bank-books and checks were unknown in Han- cock County in the thirties and forties and even at later dates. Some of the merchants, and pos- sibly others, conducted a small business in hold- ing and caring for small deposits of money be- longing to others. A system of barter and ex- change existed between the merchants and farmers as to certain farm products, particu- larly as to butter and eggs, and perhaps as to furs and hides and certain other articles, which the merchant received and for which he paid with articles of food or clothing out of his store.

LOCAL BANK NOTES

In the course of time, as traffic on the Missis- sippi river was developed and farmers began marketing grain and live stock through that in- strumentality, money came more and more into circulation and the system of barter and ex- change was gradually disused. Prior to the Civil War, so-called "State Banks" of the coun- try issued much paper money, the value of which depended upon the financial integrity of the bank, which paper currency was a very un- desirable medium of exchange for the reason that a man in Hancock County holding such bank-notes issued by a bank in a distant state had no assurance one day that the bank would be in existence or its paper worth anything the next; for which reason all such paper money was more or less depreciated in value.

During the Civil War a large volume of paper money was necessarily issued by the govern- ment, but it took nearly three dollars in such money to purchase one dollar in gold. As years passed the difference in value became less marked until specie payment was resumed, whereupon all paper money issued by the gov- ernment and paper money issued under the na- tional banking system was brought at once at par with gold.

EARLY FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

We present a few illustrations of the condi- tions then existing.

In the spring of 1851, Capt. Thomas C. Miller, with his family, came to this county from Penn- sylvania, bringing with him checks and bank- notes on an Eastern bank, not realizing the ne- cessity of having ready money with which to

pay for things. Mr. Miller decided to purchase a farm near Jo Duncan and had to have the ready cash with which to pay for it, the sum being $1,200. There being no bank nearer than Quincy he and his father rode to Quincy on horseback and procured the $1,200 in gold. When they returned to Jo Duncan the farmer's wife had rued the bargain and would not sign the deed. Mr. Miller was left with his $1,200 in gold. What to do with it he did not know. He did not wish to make another trip to Quincy to return the money, for he expected to use it in purchasing another farm, so he carried it in a basket wherever he went and slept with a gun by his side at night, while he had the money in his possession. He soon purchased a farm with the money, and never was any man more willing to part with that sum of money than was Mr. Miller.

The editor was told by Judge Dennis Smith, for many years a lawyer of Hancock County, and at one time Judge of the County Court, who died about forty years ago, that when he first came to Hancock County from Ohio, he came on horseback, bringing his property with him in the form of $3,000 in twenty-dollar gold pieces, secured about his person. This weight of gold was undoubtedly a burden, but one which others of that day would have been glad to assume.

PRIVATE BANKS

As the country was developed and business transactions became more numerous and com- plicated, the demand for banking privileges be- came such as to stimulate the organization of banks in some of the principal cities of the county. These banks, at first, were private banks, conducted by individuals under their own names, or under some banking name. Such banks were patronized by certain classes of the people, but there were others who thought their money safer in an old sock or an unused summer stove than in'a bank, and so these persons continued to keep their money, whether coin or paper, con- cealed about their houses. The editor made a sale of land near Tioga in this county on April 23, 1883, which land was purchased by Charles Mund for $3,015. At the request of the pur- chaser the editor called at his house on the way home to receive payment, which payment was made, not in a bank check, but in good coin and paper money of the realm. Mr. Mund would go

790

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

to the cellar, or somewhere else, and bring back an almanac, or some other like imitation of a bank vault, and produce therefrom so much money, $100, $300, or whatever was the con- tent of that particular receptacle. Finally the whole sum of $3,015 was transferred, and the editor rode to Carthage, after dark, with that sum of money upon his person, which would have been a hazardous undertaking in this day of the gunman and automobile robber. Mr. Mund had not at that time progressed beyond that not unusual fear of banks which had been developed in the days of wild-cat money.

PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS

Now every part of Hancock County has one or more banks, and the people are wise enough to trust their moneys to the custody of these institutions. It would be impossible to do busi- ness in this day without checking privileges on banks. A much larger volume of business is transacted with those little pieces of paper called checks than by the actual transfer of currency.

It may be added that the early distrust of banks entertained by the farming population has been practically overcome by the successful and honest administration of Hancock County banks, in connection with the fact, that nearly every community now has one or more banks, in which farmers, as well as others, are glad to be directors or stockholders.

In the following brief history of Hancock County banks, a strenuous effort has been made to treat all banks fairly and to obtain the exact facts in each particular instance. An appeal has been made to each bank for a brief history of the institution or for verification of data obtained by a representative of the pub- lishers. Some banks have responded more gen- erously than others and therefore receive more space. Equal opportunities have been offered to all.

These banks are considered below in the order of time as to original organization.

HANCOCK COUNTY NATIONAL BANK OF CARTHAGE

There was no regular bank in Hancock County until the present Hancock County National Bank was established as a private bank on Oct.

1, 1863, by Hiram G. Ferris and Francis M. Corby. Two years later it was chartered as "No. 1167 National Bank," Carthage, Illinois. It has a savings department organized July 1, 1902. Its first capital was $50,000, but it now carries a capital of $140,000. Its surplus is now $70,000. ' Its recent deposits amount to more than $1,000,000, while its resources and liabili- ties are placed at more than $1,500,000.

The presidents have been Hiram G. Ferris, David Mack, J. C. Ferris. The cashiers have been Edward Cherrill, Will H. Griffith, Charles S. DeHart, S. H. Ferris. The first officers of this banking concern were Hiram G. Ferris, president, F. M. Corby, vice-president, Edward Cherrill, cashier. There have been seven vice- presidents of this bank since its organization as a National Bank in 1865: Francis M. Corby, Dr. Andrew J. Griffith, David Mack, J. C. Ferris, Charles S. DeHart, David E. Mack, L. C. Cher- rill.

When the bank was first organized its place of business was in a frame building on the north side of the public square, near the northeast corner. This was its location until the erec- tion of the present building. The present bank building, opposite the northwest corner of the public square, was built of red brick in 1871 at an approximate cost of $15,000. This included vaults which, together with all the fixtures, are thoroughly modern and safe. Multiplied mil- lions of dollars worth of business have gone over the counters and desks of this financial institu- tion since its formation fifty-seven years ago.

On January 1, 1920, the capital stock of this bank was increased to $140,000, the surplus and undivided profits amounting to $70,000, and at the same time the business of the Exchange Bank of Cherrill, Sholl & Co. was taken over and the two banks were consolidated under the name of the Hancock County National Bank, with the following officers: J. C. Ferris, presi- dent; D. E. Mack, vice-president ; L. C. Cherrill, vice-president ; S. H. Ferris, cashier ; Thos. F. Dunn, assistant cashier; Duane Pennock, as- sistant cashier ; R. D. Denton, assistant cashier ; and the following board of directors: E. K. Cherrill, L. C. Cherrill, J. C. Ferris, S. H. Ferris, H. B. Ferris, D. E. Mack, A. W. O'Harra, F. L. Kimbrough.

The offices of the bank have been enlarged and a new burglar proof vault erected.

MARY A. CAMPBELL

CLINTON S. CAMPBELL

JOHN MILLER

ELIZABETH SCOTT

141905

MARRIED MARCH 1, 1855, NEAR LAHARPE, ILLINOIS, 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED MARCH 1. 1905.

791

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

EXCHANGE BANK OF CHERRILL, SHOLL & CO., OF CARTHAGE

The Exchange Bank of Cherrill, Sholl & Co. above mentioned was organized September 6, 1876, by Edward Cherrill. The first officers were Edward Cherrill, cashier, and Alfred N. Cherrill, assistant cashier.

The officers at the time of the consolidation were Duane Pennock, vice-president; L. C. Cher- rill, cashier, Leo L. Helfrich, assistant cashier.

The capital stock of this bank throughout was $50,000. It was one of the oldest banks in Hancock County.

HILL-DODGE BANKING COMPANY OF WARSAW

The Hill-Dodge Banking Company was estab- lished in 1864 under the name of The First National Bank of Warsaw. It had a capital stock of $100,000, and William Hill was presi- dent. James B. Dodge became identified with the bank, as cashier, in 1869. In 1886 the na- tional charter was surrendered and the business was conducted as the bank of Hill, Dodge & Co. until 1899, at which time it was incorporated under the state banking laws of Illinois as The Hill-Dodge Banking Company. William Hill died in 1890, and was succeeded in the presi- dency by James B. Dodge. The bank has been peculiarly favored in having had but two presi- dents in its fifty-six years of existence, namely, William Hill and James B. Dodge.

The present capital of the bank is $100,000, and the surplus and undivided profits are $125,- 000. It is now officered by James B. Dodge as president, Henry J. M. Luedde as vice-president, William A. Dodge as cashier, and Edward Grimpe and C. E. Brinkman as assistant cashiers.

The statement of this bank, published in the Warsaw Bulletin, as of June 30, 1920, shows total deposits of $1,569,495.05, and total re- sources of $1,806,026.95, leaving a surplus of $236,531.90, which surplus, as a matter of course, becomes the property of stockholders after the depositors are paid.

This bank owns its building, located on Main Street. The conservative, business-like manner with which this banking concern has been conducted has won for it great success among the banks of Illinois and it is pointed to with much pride by the citizens of Hancock County.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUGUSTA

Its capital stock is $60,000; surplus, $30,000. The officers are :

Geo. H. Eastman, president; L. H. Dexter, S. G. Swanson, vice-presidents; S. E. McAfee, cashier ; and H. Earl Robinson, Louise W. Rob- inson, assistant cashiers. The bank is a mem- ber of the Federal Reserve Bank, District No. 7.

The first bank in Augusta was organized by L. H. Holland in 1866, and was successfully con- tinued until the early seventies when the firm of Dexter, Compton and Newcomb succeeded Mr. Holland. On the death of Mr. John Compton in 1886 the bank was reorganized and business continued under the name of Klepper and Dex- ter, Jacob Klepper and L. H. Dexter comprising the firm.

In 1899 the present bank building was com- pleted and the bank moved to its new home and was again reorganized with a paid-up capital stock of $50,000, with Jacob Klepper, president, Geo. H. Eastman, vice-president, L. H. Dexter, cashier, and S. E. McAfee, assistant cashier.

All of the banks up to this time had been private banks, but on June 1, 1900, the bank was again reorganized as a National Bank and the capital stock increased to $60,000, with Jacob Klepper, president, Geo. H. Eastman, S. G. Swanson and F. M. King, vice-presidents, L. H. Dexter, cashier, and S. E. McAfee, assistant cashier. Mr. Klepper served as president from the organization of the National Bank until 1911 when Geo. Catlin was elected president and on the removal of the latter, to California Geo. H. Eastman succeeded him, serving until 1915 when Mr. Klepper was again elected president, serving until his death on Feb. 16, 1919. At the election in Jan., 1920, Geo. H. Eastman was again elected president. S. E. McAfee was elected cashier in 1909 and has held that office to the present time to the satisfaction of all the officers and patrons of the bank.

In March, 1920, the First National took its place among the "million-dollar" banks of the state, the "footing" showing over $1,225,000. In 1919 the bank installed a modern safety deposit box system for the use of its patrons.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF LA HARPE

The original of this bank was a private bank- ing institution, established about the year 1869 by Charles F. Gill, then and for years after-

792

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

wards a prominent business man of La Harpe. In 1873, Mr. Gill transferred the business to John H. Hungate and Quinton C. Ward, who thereafter conducted the business under the name of The Bank of Hungate, Ward & Co. At a later date, Mr. Ward went to Macomb and organized a bank in that city. For some years Mr. Hungate and Mr. Ward were associated in the bankinig business both at La Harpe and Macomb, Mr. Hungate having charge of the La Harpe bank, and Mr. Ward of the Macomb bank.

In 1906, the private bank at La Harpe was organized into a national bank, called The First National Bank of La Harpe, and is being con- ducted under that name at the present time. The first officers of the present bank were John H. Hungate, president; Q. W. Hungate, vice-president ; R. B. Williams, cashier, and J. M. Hungate, assistant cashier. John H. Hun- gate is the present president and Q. W. Hun- gate the present vice-president. For some years Charles H. Ingraham has been, as he now is, the cashier, and Fred Randall is now assistant cashier. It may be stated that John H. Hun- gate has been president of the institution since the purchase of the banking business by him- self and Mr. Ward as above stated.

The bank occupies its own building, which was erected many years ago. The capital stock is $50,000 and the surplus fund $25,000, and the undivided profits $7,SS2.09. The total demand deposits are $290,443.22, and the total time de- posits are $77,514.18. The total resources are $533,559.49. These figures are taken from the report of June 30, 1920, which is attested by W. N. Byler, H. A. Towler, and H. S. Brad- field, directors.

PLYMOUTH STATE BANK

The Plymouth State Bank of Plymouth was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois on May S, 1916. The business was origi- nally established by H. G. Metzger in 1SS6 as the Plymouth Exchange Bank, and was con- ducted by him as sole owner until 1906, at which time his son, J. P. Metzger, entered as a part- ner in the business. This management con- tinued until 1916 when, owing to the declining years and ill health of H. G. Metzger, the busi- ness was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois as the Plymouth State Bank of Plymouth. The new organization is owned

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.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174