USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 51
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Albion's first city earrier service was established October 1. 1889, with three carriers, J. C. Sampson, Samuel S. Berry and Benjamin Bis- sell.
The first rural delivery service was established March 15, 1900, three carriers were appointed-Fred C. Reichow on Route No. 1, E. O. Wat- kins on Route No. 2, Roger C. Cotton on Route No. 3.
The present post office employees are as follows: Arthur D. Bang- ham, postmaster.
Clerks-J. Morris Martin, assistant postmaster; Mary R. Fanning, Fred H. Blanchard, Grover W. Cleveland, Ira C. Denton.
Carriers (City),-Burnia J. Blanchard, Dean C. Young, Willard B. Gardner, Fred C. Durkee, John W. Robinson, Charles E. Dernier.
Carriers (Rural),-Benjamin F. Deweese, Elbert V. Reed, Gardner J. Low, Orville L. Biggs, Bert Wright, Carl Pretzel, John Miller, Fred L. D. Groff.
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Albion receives each day fourteen mails and dispatches twelve.
The gross receipts of the Albion post office steadily increased from $13,111.26 in 1896 to $24,427.33 in 1911.
ALBION ATTORNEYS
By Monfort D. Weeks
Fenner Ferguson was the first lawyer who settled in Albion, arriving here about 1842. He is said to have lived and practiced here until the territory of Nebraska was formed when he received some official appoint- ment and removed to that territory.
George Monroe was the next attorney to settle in Albion and take up the practice of the profession and was quickly followed by Thomas G. Pray, whose father owned and occupied a farm east of Albion and on the eastern branch of the Kalamazoo river. Monroe left Albion about the time the war between the states opened and took up his residence at or near South Haven, Michigan. Thomas G. Pray had a good practice for those days and resided and practiced in Albion until the early '70s when he removed to Marshall, Michigan, where he practiced until about 1880. From Marshall he went to San Antonio, Texas, where he died a few years later.
In the early days of Albion the country lawyers had but little busi- ness in the circuit or supreme courts, their main dependence was justice court work; and such little office business as was obtainable in those days.
George H. Pennaman arrived in Albion about 1860 or 1861, practiced a few years in the village of Albion and then removed to Detroit where he died a few years ago.
Allen M. Culver was born in the state of New York in the year 1828 where he received his literary education. He was there admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession in the city of New York, but his health becoming impaired he came to Albion in 1859, established a home and began the practice of law and continued active in legal work until his death in 1906. For many years Mr. Culver had the most luera- tive and the most desirable law business in Albion and his advice on the difficult legal propositions was frequently sought by clients and by mem- bers of the legal profession as well. He was a painstaking lawyer, careful and accurate in the preparation of his eases and in the drafting of legal papers. Mr. Culver was an excellent chancery and court lawyer and made strong and logical arguments on questions of law. He was a man of aristocrate tastes, exelusive in social life and one of the last of the old school of lawyers.
Rienzi Loud, the father of Edward R. Loud, Esquire, began the prac- tice of law in Albion after the elose of the war of the rebellion in which he had been a soldier. About 1876 he removed to Detroit and engaged in the practice of law in that city where he made his home. He returned to Albion in 1880 and continned in active business until his death. For some years he had offices in Jackson where he transacted the major part of his legal business but for several years prior to his death he made his
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home town his business headquarters. Rienzi Loud had a splendid voice for public speaking and a fine command of language; he was a good trial lawyer and an excellent advocate.
Nelson B. Gardener was a soldier in the war of the rebellion and lost an arm on one of the battlefields near Richmond, Virginia. Ile returned to Albion, studied law, was admitted to the bar and praetieed his profes- sion for about thirty years. Impaired hearing which became more serions as the years passed finally compelled him to give up his praetice and he retired a few years ago. Mr. Gardner was well versed in the law and was a very good justice court lawyer, also at one time had considerable business in the eirenit court. Mr. Gardener's defective hearing without doubt prevented him taking a much higher rank as lawyer than he was able to achieve.
James M. Welsh and Frederick Annis began the practice of law as a firm in the latter part of '76 or early part of '77. Annis got into serious financial troubles and after about a year in Albion abandoned his family and betook himself to parts unknown. Welsh remained in Albion until the latter part of 1879 or beginning of 1880 when he went west where he remained a short time. Returning to Michigan he resided with his father in the town of Parma and died very suddenly while present at a trial in the Jackson circuit court.
S. W. Fitzgerald resided in Albion for many years practicing exten- sively in the justice courts and had some divorce work in the circuit court. He died about twenty-three years ago. He was a brother to the late J. C. Fitzgerald, for many years a distinguished lawyer of Grand Rapids.
Alvan Peck was a lawyer, justice of the peace and conveyaneer, who lived in Albion for several years, but was not very active in the practice of law and had few cases. Ile died about thirty-four or thirty-five years ago.
Briggs & Drake formed a eo-partnership for the practice of law in Albion in the early '90s, Drake having preceded Briggs by a year or thereabouts. This partnership was shortlived. Drake went to Iowa where he died. Biggs went west, subsequently returned to Michigan. A few years ago he received the appointment of referee in bankruptcy for the western district of Michigan, having an office in the federal building of Kalamazoo in which eity he resides.
Adelbert Culver, only son of Allen M. Culver, was graduated from the law department of the university of Michigan in 1877. A short time after his graduation he established a law office in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, but the acquisition of legal business was a slow process in that old conservative eity, so that after spending upwards of a year there he returned to Albion and associated himself with his father, ocenpying the same offices with him and assisting him in the business until the death of his father in 1906. Mr. Culver ceased practice about two years ago and has removed with his family to Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.
Frederick Mains. brother of the notorious Chas. R. Mains, late of Battle Creek, opened an office in Albion in 1891 and for a time the busi-
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ness was carried on under the firm name of Mains & Mains. Chas. R. Mains, the other member of the firm, then lived in Homer, maintaining an office there and was a very active practitioner. Chas. R. Mains sub- sequently established himself in Battle Creek and the firm of Mains & Mains appears to have dissolved. Louis E. Stewart, now one of the leading members of the Battle Creek bar, formed a co-partnership with Frederick Mains under the name of Mains & Stewart, but the firm was of short duration. Mains went to the city of Chicago and engaged in the practice of law in that city and now resides there.
Howard H. Williams graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1900, settling in Albion in that year and com- menced the practice of law. In the spring of 1901 he was appointed city attorney and in the summer of the same year he formed a co-partnership with M. D. Weeks under the firm name of Weeks & Williams. Mr. Wil- liams' health began to fail so that in October, 1901, he gave up practice, removed from Albion and took up his residence on the farm. About a year later he removed to Nebraska where he has taught school, farmed and practiced law to a limited extent. While in Albion he gave promise of becoming a very good lawyer.
Frederick A. Wheeloek, whose father was one of the early physicians of Albion, was a student in Albion College and later became a merchant, which business he followed for quite a good many years. He retired from the mercantile business and a little later was elected justice of the peace in which office he served the public for two or three terms. After his last term of office expired he practiced law to a limited extent having been admitted to the bar in his early manhood. He tried but very few cases, but did considerable office work and assisted other lawyers to some extent in taking care of their matters. Mr. Wheelock was naturally a bright man, but took up the profession of the law too late in life. He died in Albion a number of years ago.
ALBION CITY HOSPITAL
On a cold winter night in the closing month of 1908, two women, in whom civic pride is strong, sat before a blazing grate fire and discussed the failing strength of an institution in whose mission they had the utmost faith.
That institution was the little hospital that Miss Sarah Wade, one of Albion's foremost nurses, had established the preceding year. And to keep it alive, she had struggled as only a woman of faith and courage can struggle for a loved project.
It is to Miss Wade that the Albion city hospital owes its existence, for it is but the ontgrowth of her brave beginning.
She relinquished her institution eventually, not because of ina- bility to manage it, but the project presented complications too great for one woman to cope with single-handed. What Miss Wade had sac- rificed two years of her life to establish and prove the need of, her friends felt should not be allowed to pass out of existence.
Accordingly, the Daughters of the American Revolution issued an appeal to all the women's organizations of Albion to come to the front
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and save the little hospital and re-create it for public service. The appeal was not in vain. The women of AAlbion unitedly concentrated their efforts, and the result was that on April 18, 1909. the Albion City Hospital was opened at 218 east Erie street, Miss Wade's old quarters. with a modest bank account of about $1,500.00 raised by popular sub- seription among the generous citizens of the town. Miss Mary L. Binger. of Battle Creek, Michigan, was the efficient matron in charge, and the board of control was composed of five Albion residents, viz: Mr. Dan MeAnliffe, Mr. Charles E. Barr, Prof. W. J. MeKone, Mrs. W. S. Kon- nedy, Mrs. A. J. Brosseau.
The members of the board had been elected at a mass meeting of the citizens, held the previous January when the organization of a hospital had been definitely decided upon.
The beginning was most humble. There were five beds and two nurses.
During the three years and a half of its life, the hospital has had a marvelous growth. Four hundred and ten patients have been entered upon the books, a large percentage of which number have been operative cases.
It now maintains eleven beds, and has a training school with five pupil nurses. Miss Ethel Mench, the superintendent, has direct charge of the nurses in training, her work being supplemented by a board of control composed of three physicians, viz: Dr. Marsh, Dr. Hafford and Dr. Heman Grant. Class lectures are delivered twice a week by the various city physicians associated with and interested in the hospital.
Private rooms have been furnished, and are being generously main- tained by the following organizations: E. L. T. Club, Eastern Star, Review Club and Daughters of the American Revolution.
The operating room has been equipped with the most modern ap- plianees, largely through the generosity of Mrs. II. K. White. of Detroit.
The Woman's Auxiliary has done a wonderful work in the raising of supplementary funds, and in keeping up the general equipment, aside from the private rooms.
The Albion City Hospital is duly incorporated under the laws of the state of Michigan, and while it is not under city control, the council voted in June, 1912, to give $600.00 toward its maintainance for the en- sning year. The success of the institution is due, in part, to the fact that it is a community interest and all work for the common good. Another factor is the perfect harmony that has always existed among the physicians, nurses and the board of managers. Where the spirit of all concerned is so kindly, the institution cannot but sueeeed in its splendid mission.
BANKS AND BANKERS OF ALBION By Arthur C. Hudnutt
We would pause and, if possible, pass over this blot on the fair name of our city, but "Truth is mighty and must prevail." The history of
* The article on the Banks and Bankers of Albion was, by request, prepared by Mr. Arthur C. Hudnutt, one of the bright young' men of that city.
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the National Bank of Albion is the history of one of the greatest whole- sale forgeries in modern times. It is the history of the downfall of one of the most respected men of the community. Trusted, reverenced and honored, H. M. Dearing, cashier of the National Bank, betrayed his sacred trust. January 1, 1912, will be a day long remembered by the people of Albion. It records the failure of the Albion National Bank. It was upon this day that National Bank Examiner, Herbert E. John- son, closed the doors of the institution. Following directly came the news from the Comptroller of the Currency at Washington that he had found forged paper, to the astounding amount of over $150,000.00. The residents of the college town were dumbfounded.
The National Exchange, with a capital of $100,000.00, was the parent organization of the present National and was organized in March, 1865, succeeding to the business of Mayhew & Irwin. Upon its organization, Samuel V. Irwin was elected its president. In 1885, the First National Bank, with a capital of $150,000.00, was organized and took over the business of its predecessor and continued in business until the expira- tion of its charter in 1905. During this period, in 1897, through mis- management on the part of II. M. Dearing, the bank was forced to re- duce its capital $50,000.00 and also charge off approximately an equal amount of surplus and undivided profits, when the present organiza- tion was formed and undertook the liquidation of its predecessor, the First National Bank, in the course of which it developed there were shortages existing in that bank to a large amount, and owing to these shortages which the the present bank was forced to assume and coupled with the losses of the Cook Company, the present bank was forced into the hands of a receiver in January, 1912.
Soon after the bank's reorganization in 1905, a man named Charles Youngs, a hay dealer in Jackson, Michigan, involved Dearing in one of a number of fraudulent deals he had perpetrated at the time, causing the loss of $21,000.00 of the bank's funds, which Dearing used to invest in the project. Soon after Youngs "skipped," and to this day is a fugitive from justice.
Fearing to tell his directors of the loss, Dearing committed the crime of placing forged notes in the bank on prominent men of Albion, to cover the loss, probably hoping soon to repay the money from his private account. It seemed such an easy matter, however, to hide the shortage from his associates and the bank examiner, that he soon gave up the idea of replacing the funds, until he should be compelled, by cir- cumstanees, to do so.
Soon after the Youngs' episode, Dearing had an opportunity to buy the controling interest in the Cook Manufacturing Company, a promis- ing Albion concern making wind-mills and gasoline engines. He became its president, and he placed his son, Palmer M. Dearing, in active charge of the plant, as secretary and treasurer. Palmer had been prominent in local affairs in the city. He had also taken a noticeable part in local politics, and had been a member of the common council and city clerk for several years. It was soon after their connection with the Cook Company that the great series of forgeries, which makes the case ahnost unique, was commenced.
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It happened in this way: In making loans to the Cook, as cashier of the National, Montgomery Dearing found that more money was going into the company than its earnings warranted, and he soon dis- covered that the concern owed a sum to the bank, the collection of which was impossible without forcing the company into bankruptey. It was then that he went to his son, told him of the ease with which he had covered the Youngs' shortage by "faking" notes, and how it would be an easier matter to cover the Cook loans in the same way, from the fact that notes in the case of the Cook Company could be fraudulently signed by people from all parts of the country, instead of right in the city, making the chances of disclosure much less.
The son may or may not have been greatly surprised and shocked at learning of his father's privious crime, and his suggestion that they jointly commit a further one. As time passed and the needs of the Cook Company increased, Miss Addie M. Hollon, Palmer Dearing's stenographer, was introduced to the forging system and the three started on a forging campaign, unprecedented in the banking world.
The total deposits were above $400,000.00, while the last statement issued Deeember 5, showed only $211,876. The defaleations were ap- proximately $300,000.00, divided as follows: Dearing forgeries, $100,- 000.00; Cook forgeries, $52,000.00; suppressed deposits, over $80,000.00, leaving a balance of about $70,000.00 which has disappeared and still remains a mystery.
All three, Henry M. Dearing, Palmer M. Dearing and Miss Addie M. Hollon, were indieted and confessed to their crime. On April 18, 1912, Henry M. Dearing and Palmer M. Dearing were sentenced five years each in the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, and Miss Hollon was given a year in the Detroit house of correction. After- wards her term was changed to three months.
And thus passed two men from honor and position to disgrace.
Mr. Frank Irwin was appointed receiver of the National Bank and through his careful and prudent management, the bank up to writing has paid 20 per cent in dividends, with good prospects for later divi- dends.
Throughout the evil, dark days which followed the bank's failure, the people of Albion bravely faced the issues, fought their personal trials with fortitude and courage. Business progressed as usual, which speaks volumes for the stability of Albion people and Albion institu- tions.
Dr. Willoughby O'Dononghne, president of the First National Bank, was born in Bergen, Genesee county, New York, April 13. 1832. His medical education was completed in Albany Medical College in 1853. He came to Albion, Michigan, shortly afterwards and practiced medicine until the fall of 1861. He then entered the army as assistant surgeon of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. In 1865, he was mustered out as surgeon and afterwards engaged in commercial activities. Hle was elected president of the First National Bank in 1890.
At the time of the failure of the bank and all during the trying days that followed, the Doctor was at his post answering questions of the depositors. It is a tribute to the man that today. after the tremendous
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failure, depositors and non-depositors of the bank have a profound re- spect for this aged gentleman and his character is above suspicion and reproach.
Henry Montgomery Dearing was born August 15, 1839, at Pough- keepsie, New York. He was educated in the public schools and attended Albion college for a few terms. His first commercial activity was in a dry goods store beginning at the age of 17. In 1877, he was elected cashier of the National Exchange Bank of Albion. Ile still retained this position throughout the re-organization, as explained in the above nar- ative, until the failure of the bank, January 1, 1912.
The Albion State Bank received its charter from the commonwealth of Michigan, March 29, 1895. It had for its organizer, Engene P. Robert- son, who, since the day of its birth, has been identified with all of its activities.
In 1863, Mr. Robertson entered the employment of Messrs. Mayhew & Irwin, who were operating a private bank in the then village of Albion. At a later date, during that same year, Mr. Mayhew sold ont his interest to his son-in-law, Mr. Sutton, who became active in the affairs of the bank.
At the dissolution of the firm of Mayhew & Irwin, Mr. Robertson went as clerk with Mr. James W. Sheldon, a private banker in the village. This bank was known as the Albion Exchange Bank. Robertson event- nally became a partner in this institution and continued as such until the death of Mr. Sheldon, September 24, 1894.
It was at this period that Mr. Robertson conceived the idea of organiz- ing a state bank. It was organized, and April 2, 1895, found the Albion State Bank inviting the public to its home.
It has a capital stock of $50,000, with surplus and undivided profits of over $20,000.
From the first, this bank has appealed to the depositing public as a safe, sane and substantial institution. Along with this spirit of confid- enee has gone a steady increase in deposits in the savings and com- mercial departments, until today the total deposits in both departments aggregate the sum of $370,395.02.
A unique feature of the bank is a very progressive school savings department, which is having a marked influence upon the youths of the city. In this department, as well as in the regular savings department and upon certificates of deposits, three per cent interest is paid upon deposits if left in the bank for three months.
There has been but a slight change in the personnel of the officers and directors of the bank since its organization. At present, Seth Hyney is cashier and T. W. Broekway, assistant cashier, with O. A. Leonard, George T. Bullen and D. M. McAuliffe occupying the positions as direc- ' tors, with S. Y. Hill, W. H. Rodenbach, G. W. Schneider, W. S. Kessler, D. A. Garfield and Eugene P. Robertson.
The bank at all times has been a most prosperous and useful institu- tion, serving its patrons in a most courteous and efficient manner. It has been a favorite institution with small and large depositors. pru- dently managed and well officered.
The orignal officers were as follows : President, Eugene P. Robertson ;
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vice-president, W. S. Kessler; cashier, D. A. Garfield; directors, A. J. Gale, S. Y. Hill, M. O. Shepard, W. H. Rodenbach, G. W. Schneider, Engene P. Robertson, W. S. Kessler and D. A. Garfield.
Engene P. Robertson president of the Albion State bank since its organization, was born in Albion and received his rudimenary education in the typical little red school house of the time and later completed his educational activities at Albion College and at the university of Michigan. Mr. Robertson has been prominently identified with the business, poli- tical and social life of his native city.
He has been president of the village of Albion and mayor and treasurer of the city of Albion, served upon the school board, director and treasurer of several industrial companies and at present he is treasurer of Albion College. From 1891 to 1892, he was treasurer of the Michigan Bankers' Association.
Mr. Robertson is a very prominent Mason in Michigan, having held a number of very exalted positions in that order, including those of R. E. grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Michigan and M. E. grand high priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Michigan. He is a man of unswerving business judgment, uncompromising in his duty to his depositors, kind-hearted and a cour- teons gentleman. Ile fills his office as with a sacred trust.
With the growth of the industrial activities and increase in the popn- lation of Albion, the need for larger banking facilities became apparent. To meet this need, the Commercial and Savings Bank of Albion was organized September 30, 1893, by Messrs. L. J. Wolcott, John G. Brown, S. B. Allen and Fred F. IToaglin.
The capital stock of the new institution was $35,000. Its early officers and directors were : John G. Brown, president; S. B. Allen, vice-presi- dent ; C. G. Bigelow, assistant cashier; directors, Samnel Dickie, Wash- ington Gardner, Robert J. Frost, Fred F. Hoaglin, E. Sutton, S. B. Allen, L. J. Wolcott, F. E. Marsh, of Quincy, and John G. Brown This enterprising establishment has enjoyed the esteem of the public which is evidenced by the growth in deposits since its organization.
The bank pays its depositors 3 per cent. interest on savings accounts and upon certificates of deposit. Very recently it was given the commis- sion as depository for the United States Postal Savings fund. At the last election, the following officers and directors were elected to represent the stock holdings in the bank's management: President, Homer C. Blair; Vice-president, Dr. W. C. Marsh; Cashier, C. G. Bigelow; Di- rectors, Samuel Dickie, Washington Gardner, L. J. Wolcott, E. R. Lond and B. D. Brown.
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