USA > Michigan > Montcalm County > History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families Volume I > Part 36
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GREENVILLE STATE BANK.
The State Bank of Greenville was organized on April 21. 1896. with the following named persons as organizers and first stockholders: C. Jesse Church. F. N. Wright. C. W. Johnson. Mary E. Taylor, Engene Rutan. Charles A. Church, F. S. Gibson. W. H. Browne. W. D. Johnson, Rebecca I .. Ellsworth. O. C. McDonnell and Cass T. Wright. The first officers to serve the bank were: F. N. Wright. president; C. J. Church, first vice- president : W. D. Johnson, second vice-president : W. H. Browne. cashier. The capital stock was placed at $25.000. Frank S. Gibson is the present president : E. Rutan and C. H. Gibson are the vice-presidents ; W. H. Browne
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 387
is the cashier, in which capacity he served since the organization of the bank. The bank occupies a substantial three-story brick building which cost $12,500. The beautiful fixtures are in keeping with the building and are valued at $3,000. According to the last statement of this bank it has deposits amounting to $475,000 and a surplus of $25,000.
O'DONALDS BANK OF HOWARD CITY.
The present O'Donalds Bank of Howard City was organized by N. W. Mather in 1872 with a capital stock of $25,000. Mr. Mather stood at the helm of this bank until 1805 when he sold it to R. H. O'Donald and Stephen C. Scott. They continued in business under the firm name of O'Donald & Scott up to the death of Mr. Scott in 1910. Now Mr. O'Donald has sole charge of the bank and is running a fine business. The building occupied by the bank is made of brick, and was constructed at a cost of $5,000. The fixtures are carried at $2.600. The last statement of the bank shows deposits amounting to $350.000 and a surplus of $45,000.
COMMERCIAL STATE SAVINGS BANK.
The Commercial State Savings Bank of Greenville was organized on September 2. 1902, with a capital stock of $25.000. The following persons were the organizers and first stockholders: D. K. Black. C. V. Coats, C. A. Miller. T. J. Potter, K. L. Paine, E. A. Kemp. Paul Van Deinse, O. C. Miller. Silas Kent. F. D. Briggs, E. S. Rowley. C. Il. Wells and R. J. Tower. T. J. Potter served as first president and served in this capacity until January, 1904. F. E. Ranney was then elected and has been president ever since. D. K. Black and C. A. Miller were the first vice-presidents and C. V. Coats the first cashier and all three men have retained their respective offices. The last statement shows deposits amounting to $475.000. with a surplus of $30,000.
SIX LAKES STATE BANK.
The State Bank of Six Lakes was organized on the 30th of November, 1914. with a capital stock of $20,000. William J. Orr. William H. Wallace, George Bilbrough, Aaron Amon, Andrew W. Orr and Benjamin F. Plumby were the organizers and first shareholders of this bank. Of these persons William J. Orr was chosen president : Aaron Amon, vice-president. Benjamin F. Plumley. cashier. These persons are still taking care of the interests of
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the bank. The bank building, which is located on Clark street, is constructed of cement blocks and presents a very pleasing appearance. The fixtures are valued at $1,500. The last statement of this bank shows the deposits to be $31.270.30.
PEOPLES STATE BANK.
The People's State Bank of Edmore was originally organized or rather established by E. S. Wagar, in 1897, who managed it as a private bank under the name of E. S. Wagar's Bank. In 1908 Mr. Wagar incorporated it as a state bank and gave it the name which it now bears. The original capital stock was placed at $20.000 and this has never been changed. The first officers were E. S. Wagar, president; William A. Wood, vice-president ; Harry E. Wagar, cashier. Mr. Wagar served at the helm of this bank until his death in 1914 and in his seventeen years as head of this institution he always tried to conduct the business of the bank to the best interests of the stockholders and patrons. William A. Wood succeeded Mr. Wagar to the presidency with James Purdon as vice-president and Harry E. Wagar retained the position of cashier. The bank is on a firm financial basis with deposits in 1915 amounting to $150,000 and a surplus of $3,000. This bank is situated in a beautiful and commodious bank building which was erected at a cost of $4.000. It is beautifully furnished with fixtures valued at $2,000.
CORAL BANK.
The Coral Bank was organized in the village of Coral in 1906. Paul R. Dinsmore and Stephen M. Dinsmore were the organizers and first stock- holders of this bank, which was incorporated for $10,000. The first officers were Paul R. Dinsmore, president, and Stephen M. Dinsmore, vice-presi- dent and cashier. April 21. 1908, this bank was organized as the State Bank of Montcalm County with a capital stock of $20,000, with the follow- ing stockholders: Thomas Hill. J. Stewart Newell, Hugh S. Newell. W. D Day, Robert P. Skeoch, Sr., Frank W. Bailey. Wesley Taylor, E. A. Bartlett, Charles D. Richard. John Doe. Lincoln Avery, Nelson J. Fuehr, Elizabeth Bartlett, Paul R. Dinsmore and D. M. Dinsmore. The present officers are J. S. Newell, president : Thomas Hill and Van S. Reynolds, vice- presidents: S. M. Dinsmore, cashier : H. S. Newell, assistant cashier. The present directors are J. S. Newell, H. S. Newell, P. R. Dinsmore, Thomas Hill, Van S. Reynolds, A. N. Shook. W. F. Arbogast and M. C. Arbogast. This bank has deposits at present aggregating $110,000, with a surplus of
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
$5,000. The bank building was constructed of red brick at a cost of $4,172.50 and the fixtures, which amount to $2,200, are highly in keeping with the beautiful building.
BANK OF SHERIDAN.
The Bank of Sheridan was organized on June 22, 1903, with D. H. Power and B. B. Power as the organizers and stockholders. The bank was under this direction, however, only until December, 1904, when another co-partnership was formed, which was composed of E. Burt Jenney and D. H. Power, one of the former owners. It was not destined to remain under this management, for in April. 1905, C. S. Jenny became the partner of E. Burt Jenny. Mr. Jenny then conducted this bank for many years and served his patrons well. It grew to be a very prosperous business, but finally it began to decline and in April, 1914, it passed into the hands of Slocum, Ealy & Hudson, the present owners of the bank. All are experienced bankers. Mr. Ealy is a member of the Ealy-McNair Company of Clare, Michigan, who own and operate many banks in the "Thumb" of Michigan. Mr. Hud- son is manager of the firm's banks and cashier of the Peoples State Bank, Middleton, Michigan. Mr. Slocum is the founder of the Gleaner Order with headquarters at Detroit. The present capital stock is $12,000 with a personal responsibility of more than $100,000. The bank building is con- structed of veneered brick at a cost of $4,000, and the fixtures, which are of quartered oak and marble, are valued at $2,000. The business of the bank has grown steadily and rapidly since the new owners have stood at the helm. The officers now serving this bank are: Grant H. Slocum, presi- dent ; John M. Faly, vice-president; John R. Hudson, cashier, and Burt C. Crawford. assistant cashier.
BANK OF BUTTERNUT.
The Bank of Butternut was organized in 1907 by J. J. Phelps, now of Stanton, Michigan, who sold it to Slocum, Ealy & Hudson on September I, 1909. The new firm built a modern building in the summer of 1913, and equipped it with modern furniture, fine screw-door, burglar-proof safe, and an electrical burglar-proof vault made by the American Bank Protection Company. The building is brick, substantially built, well finished and affording conveniences for the public. It is managed as a private bank and has a very flourishing business. They have a capital stock of $15,000, with
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
a personal responsibility of more than $100.000, and deposits of almost $100,000. Grant II. Slocum is the president of this bank. John M. Ealy, and John R. Hudson are the vice-presidents. Claire C. Reynolds the cashier, and I. M. Merrifield is the assistant cashier.
STATE BANK OF CRYSTAL.
The State Bank of Crystal was organized on August 6, 1915. and cpened for business November 3, with a capital stock of $20,000. The fol- lowing named persons comprised the list of shareholders : Edward C. Cum- mings. Ira Cummings. James D. Smith, Joseph M. Lascelle. James H. Steere. Edward A. Durkee. Cornelius De Young. William B. Frisbie, Milo Strait. Renelds B. Noll. Herbert Bowen. Thomas J. McCracken, Laura 11. Cum- mings, Minnie J. Cummings, Zacharias D. Rule. Charles L. Kimball. Will- iam S. George, Job Reynolds, Rayburn B. Smith. Lucy Kimball, Fred Kim- ball. Fred T. Kimball. and Marchand J. McConkie. R. B. Smith was elected president; F. T. Kimball. vice-president : E. C. Cummings and Ira Cummings, directors, and C. M. Granger, cashier. This bank is the suc- cessor to the Bank of Crystal and its correspondent banks are the Chase National Bank, of New York City, and the State Bank, of Carson City. Michigan.
COMMERCIAL SAVINGS BANK.
The Commercial Savings Bank of Lakeview was organized on July 1. 1905, with C. M. Northrop and F. M. Northrop. The original capital stock of this bank was $15.000, with responsibilities of $40,000. C. M. Northrop was the first president and has served the bank in that capacity ever since the organization. F. M. Northrop has hekl the office of cashier for an equal length of time. The deposits of this bank according to the last state- ment were $65,000. with a surplus of $15.000. The present building was erected at a cost of $4,000.
EDMORE STATE BANK.
The Edmore State Bank was organized on .April 5. 1897, with a capital stock of $15.000. John W. Pfeiffer. Frederick Neff, Sherman Neff. Henry J. Burch and E. A. Rundell were the organizers of this bank and the first stockholders. The first officers were John W. Pfeiffer, president : Frederick Neff. vice-president : Sherman Neff. vice-president ; E. A. Rundell, cashier.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The original capital stock of $15,000 has never been changed. The present officers are John W. Pfeiffer, president : Sherman Neff, Henry J. Burch and E. K. Horton, vice-presidents: Sorenus D. Ketchum, cashier. The last statement of this bank shows deposits amounting to $155,000, with a surplus of $10,000. Mr. Pfeiffer has served as the president of this bank for eigh- teen years and it is one of the strong financial institutions of this part of the county at the present time. The present location is in a one-story brick building in the village of Edmore.
TRUFANT EXCHANGE BANK.
The Trufant Exchange Bank was organized and established in 1907 as a private bank with Carl F. Hansen as proprietor. The deposits of this bank amount to about $100.000 at the present time. This bank is still under the proprietorship of Mr. Hansen and is on a strong financial basis.
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS STATE BANK.
The Farmers and Merchants State Bank was incorporated in the village of Lakeview, October 24. 1904. for $25,000. The shareholders of this bank were: Lars P. Sorenson, John S. Weidman. John J. Bale, John W. Kirt- land. Robert Edgar. George E. Humiston, James Fontaine, Chester Stebbins. Solomon Gittleman, Melvin Hull, John D. Morton, John H. Jenson. August Keppe. Charles F. French, John Wandell. Wallace Edgar, Jonathan Tribe. Frank E. Moore and Salem F. Kennedy.
STATE BANK OF VESTABURG.
The Bank of Vestaburg was started as a private bank on January 4. 1909 by the Wallace & Orr Company. of Bay Port, Michigan, as the organ- izers. The stockholders at that time were William J. Orr, of Bay Port, Michigan: William II. Wallace. of Saginaw, Michigan; George Billbrough. of Remus, Michigan. Ed. C. Cramer at that time was the cashier, and remained as such until February 1. 1914. The State Bank of Vestaburg took over the holdings of the Bank of Vestaburg and their charter was granted, May 2, TOIt. The capital stock was $20,000. The first officers for the present organization were William J. Orr, president; William H. Wallace, vice-president; Edward C. Cramer, cashier. The directors were George Bilbrough, Edward Cramer, Andrew W. Orr and E. J. Orr. The
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present capital stock is $20,000, with a surplus of $3,300. The present officers are as follow: William J. Orr, president; George Bilbrough, vice- president ; Thomas D. Meddick, cashier, and the directors are Andrew W. Orr. E. J. Orr, W. J. Orr. George Bilbrough and Thomas D. Meddick.
STATE BANK OF CARSON CITY.
The Carson City State Bank was organized on March 15. 1887. E. C. Cummings, J. W. Hallett. F. A. Rockafellow, S. IT. Caswell. Joshua Tennant. Irvin McCall, Charles Cross, B. Frank Sweet, C. R. Dickinson. William H. Brace. S. S. Walker. E. E. White, Edwin R. Banton were the organizers and first stockholders of this bank which was organized with a capital stock of $50,000. The first president and cashier was E. C. Cum- mings, and he has served as president ever since. Samuel S. Walker was vice-president, and the first directors were J. W. Hallett, E. C. Cummings. F A. Rockafellow, S. S. Walker, C. R. Dickinson, Joshua Tennant, E. P. Waldron, S. H. Caswell and E. R. Banton. John W. Hallett is the present vice-president : Tra Cummings, cashier : and J. W. Hallett, J. P. Taylor, H. G. Sessions. E. D. Lyons, W. A. Crabb, Isaac Krolm, G. H. Patterson, E. C. Cummings and Ira Cummings the present directors. In April, 1898. the capital stock was reduced to $25,000, but at a meeting of the shareholders in August. 1912. it was decided to increase it to $50,000 again and that is the present capital stock. The last statement of this bank shows deposits amounting to $396,500, with a surplus of $10,000. The present location of this bank is in a two-story brick building at the corner of Main and Divi- sion streets, valued at $4.000 and the fixtures at $1.441.
NEFF'S BANK OF MCBRIDE.
Neff's Bank of MeBride. Michigan, was established on October 5, 1904, by Frederick Neff. Lonis Neff and Sherman Neff, co-partners, Sher- man Neff was appointed cashier and Jacob M. Neff, assistant cashier, which relations have continued to the present time.
Resources.
Loans and discounts $ 44,754.92
Real estate mortgages and securities 72.167.08
Due from banks, reserve cities 21.768.97
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Cash on hand and certificates with other banks - 13,887.24
Furniture 419.00
$152,997.21
Liabilities.
Commercial deposits
$ 46.090.90
Time certificates of deposit
83.662.24
Savings deposits (book accounts)
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1 8.787.20
Capital and surplus
10,859.49
Undivided profits
3,597.38
$152,997.21
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS STATE BANK.
The Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Carson City, Michigan. was organized in the fall of 1914, by E. B. Stebbins. Mr. Stebbins was formerly a furniture manufacturer located in Lakeview, where he had been a resident prior to the organization of the bank. The articles of association of the bank were accepted by the State Banking Department on December 18, 1914. The first meeting of the stockholders was held in Carson City. January 2. 1015, at which time the following board of directors was chosen : William E. Adams, Charles H. Adams, George Walt, Michael Kipp, C. F. Straight. Charles Burkholder and E. B. Stebbins. The officers of the bank are William E. Adams, president; George Walt, vice-president; E. B. Steb- bins, cashier: C. 1. Straight, assistant cashier. This bank began business in temporary quarters in the Caswell block. February 19, 1915. Plans for a new bank building were accepted and same was completed and occupied in September following. The building is modern in its arrangements, with rest room for women and assembly room for men. both with lavatories and toilets. Safe deposit vault with private booths and telephone. Building made of cut stone and shale brick, located on the corner of Main and Mer- cantile streets. Bank has a paid-in capital of $25,000 and deposits at this time well over $100,000.
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CHAPTER XXXI.
NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLISHERS.
In 1879 William B. Wells founded the first daily newspaper in Mont- calm county. It was called the Daily Vores, and the first issue, which was ouly nine by twelve inches in size, was struck off on a small press, June 19. 1879. In 1881 the name was changed to the Daily Call, under which name it is now circulated to the 1. 1oo subscribers. The present size is four pages. six columns, and the equipment of the plant is complete. Mr. Wells has published the paper continuously since 1879, and besides building an excel- lent city circulation in Greenville he has added a substantial list of sub- seribers upon the rural free deliveries immediately surrounding the city.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER.
The Montcalm Reflector. the first newspaper published in Montcalm county, was established at Greenville by Milo Blair. It was a six-column folio. neutral politically, and the first number was issued on September 19, 1854. . As a semi-occasional visitant it appeared irregularly for about two years, when it was purchased by J. M. Fuller, who changed it from a neutral to a Republican journal, and from the Montcalm Reflector to the Green- ville Independent, which name it has since borne.
Mr. Fuller after a short time sold the paper to George T. Woodworth. who published it for a brief period, until his death. His widow then con- ducted the paper ably for some time, but was finally succeeded by James W. Belknap, who gave i added character. In February. 1866, E. F. Grabill, purchased and assumed control of it. Under his management the paper has since kept pace with the rapid development of the county and com- munity in which it is published.
From a seven-column folio it has successfully developed into an eight- column folio and ending in its present form, a six-column quarto. From an office in 1866 where the proprietor was everything from devil up, it has become a steam printing house, its paper printed on a cylinder press, and its jobber also run by steam power. It has a reputation at home and abroad
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of which its publisher is proud, and it ranks high among the country news- papers of the state.
A POLITICAL ORGAN.
The first number of the Greenville Democrat, D. B. Sherwood, pub- lisher. appeared on June 16, 1871. It was Democratic for a time, but as Montcalm county was strongly Republican, it did not flourish exceedingly well, hence it was changed to an independent sheet. At the commencement of the Greeley presidential campaign the Democrats of Montcalm again felt the need of an organ, and assisted by them, J. Wesley Griffith purchased the paper and forthwith began the publication of a Democratic sheet of the most pronounced type.
On the 1st of January, 1878, the Democrat passed into the hands of the Democrat Printing Company, and enjoyed a liberal and steadily increas- ing patronage. Its reputation as an able political ( Democratic) and live local journal was well established. It was printed by steam, in connection with the Daily Bee, and had a large and complete job office. In size it was a six-column quarto.
The Daily Bee, an independent five-column folio, was first issued on April 18. 1880. It was devoted mainly to local news, and enjoyed a circu- lation of nearly six hundred copies.
THE GREENVILLE INDEPENDENT. By B. E. Avery.
Milo Blair came to the then village of Greenville in 1854 and that fall started the Montcalm Reflector and the first issue made its appearance on September 19 of that year. Beside pursuing his duties as editor and pub- lisher Blair found time to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1856. Upon his admission to the bar he sold the Reflector to Joseph M. Fuller. who changed the name to the Greenville Independent and injected a strong sentiment of Republicanism into its columns. Mr. Fuller felt that he was not born to be an editor and sold the paper to George T. Woodworth on April 20, 1858, who published it but a short time before his death which occurred on December 27, 1860. His widow, who afterward became Mrs. N. Slaght, conducted the paper with signal ability but finally on May 30, 1862, soll the paper to James W. Belknap who gave it considerable local prominence and later sold it to the late E. F. Grabill on February 20, 1866, who for more than forty-six years was the proprietor, editor and publisher
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of the Independent. His eventful life came suddenly to an end on April 4, 1912.
The history of the Independent would be only half complete without a word regarding the life and wonderful work of this long-time editor. He was born on June 16, 1837, in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. His life was the life of many a poor boy, but in that boy's breast was a courageous and never-waning determination to gain an education. His choice of college was Oberlin and it was in that school he began his education. The second year in school found him harkening to the call of his country and in 1861 he volunteered in that memorable struggle. When his duties to his country were ended he came to Greenville and purchased the Independent where he continued without interruption of residence until the end. His life was a clean open book, he served his community well and left a record as a man and an editor that may well be emulated by all who come afterward.
Carl E. Grabill, ably assisted by his talented wife, Josephine D. Grabill, took up the work and continued it until the plant was purchased by a stock company that took possession on September 14, 1914. The stockholders and incorporators were Mrs. J. D. Grabill, T. B. Winter. N. O. Griswold, E. A. Kemp. C. I .. Rarden, D. D. Dilley, 'R. J. Tower, C. O. Jenison, Charles II. Gibson, C. J. Drummond, E. S. Clark and Bryant F. Avery. At the election of officers. Bryant E. Avery was elected president and gen- eral manager and assumed the position of editor. Charles H. Gibson was elected vice-president. and Mrs. J. D. Grabill, secretary and associate editor. The same organization continues at the present time except that Mrs. Grabill retired on September 14. 1915, and was succeeded by Carl E. Grabill as secretary.
NEWSPAPERS AT STANTON.
Stanton's first newspaper. the Montcalm Herald. was established by Edwin O. Shaw, and the first number appeared on September 11, 1867. Mr. Shaw continued in control of the paper until November 15. 1868, when Edwin R. Powell purchased it, assuming personal control on Christmas day of that year. The Herald was started as a six-column folio. bnt before it passed from the control of Mr. Shaw he had enlarged it to seven columns. This size was continued until the fall of 1874, when Mr. Powell changed it to a six-column quarto. He again enlarged it to a seven-column quarto in 1878. On the morning of October 12. 1880, by a conflagration which
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
devastated a large part of the business portion of Stanton village, the Herald office, with nearly all of its material, was burned, including the files of the Herald, also of the lonia Gasette, Mr. Powell's loss being about three thou- sand dollars.
The Stanton Daily Meteor. E. R. Powell & Son, publishers, was first issued on June 18. 1880. It was a three-column folio, but its publication was discontinued after a period of about three months.
The Montcalm Journal, a Republican six-column quarto, was started at Stanton by J. K. Fairchild in September, 1875. Its publication was con- tinued for a period of only about eighteen months.
The Stanton Weekly Clipper, an independent Journal, was established by William White in 1879, the first number appearing on September 19, of that year. It began as a four-column folio, but at the expiration of six months P. S. Dodge bought an interest in the paper and it was enlarged to a seven-column folio. Two or three years later Mr. White disposed of his interest to Mr. Dodge, who continued to publish the Clipper until 1894, when he sold the paper to N. W. Newhouse and I. D. Tisdale. This co-partnership existed for two years, when Mr. Newhouse became sole owner and the political complexion of the paper became Republican. In 1905 the Clipper was enlarged to a six-column quarto.
On March 15. 1913, Mr. Newhouse purchased the good will and sub- scription list of the Montcalm Herald (that paper having lost its plant by fire on February 16. 1913) and the two papers were merged under the name of the Stanton Clipper-Herald. Shortly afterward Mr. Newhouse formed a co-partnership with R. A. Carothers, and they are the present publishers.
NEWSPAPERS OF CORAL.
The first newspaper published in Coral made its initial appearance in 1875. It was christened the Coral Enterprise and was edited and owned by John I. Taylor. Only a few issues were gotten out and only one copy is known to exist at the present time and that hangs in a frame in the office of the Coral Nezes.
The best history of the Coral Newes is found in the paper of that name and was published on January 28, 1915. The occasion for this story was the birthday anniversary of the paper and was written by the editor, Fred U. ()'Brien. The article follows :
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