USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 20
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The County Treasurer received all fees and pay- ments due to Columbia County and deposited all sums in the county's name. At the spring elcetion of 1903 a full complement of justices of the peace and constables was elected and they filed their official bonds with the Columbia officers ; bills from justices' courts were duly allowed by the Columbia authorities. All former Polk County notaries residing within Col- umbia were re-appointed in the new county.
The Judge of Probate committed a number of per-
sons to the insane asylum and the bills for their trans- portation were audited and paid. Ile also probated a number of estates. Ilis office, too, was open every day
In the Clerk of Court's office Joseph Ekstadt, Mrs. Samuel Ilanson, and Guro Anderson, aliens, made their proper declarations to become U. S. citizens. The following named couples were licensed to marry : Lars Engester and Ingeborg R. Oppegaard. both of MeIntosh; Carl A. Johnson and Anna Sophia John- son, both of Gully ; Olaf Axel Engdahl, of Park Rapids, and Abigail M. Olsen, of MeIntosh ; Ingval E. Solberg, of Winsor, and Florence Coon, of Mcintosh ; John N. Sanden and Anna W. Ahman, both of MeIntosh; Thomas Oystad, of Winnipeg, Man., and Inga Ander- son, of Fosston ; Ole Kamplien, of Gossen, and Emma Josephine Faylestda, of Fosston; Ole Mykleby and Krestene Lokken,
Thus the county of Columbia, while it existed, was a de facto county and as such was recognized by the State and sister county authorities. A subsequent Legislature passed a special aet legalizing all the acts of the de facto officials of the county, thus preventing much confusion and embarrassment.
DEFEAT AND DISASTER AFTER ALL.
But all the while officials and common citizens were apprehensive and uneasy. The result of the Attorney General's action to have the proceedings, the elec- tion, etc., leading to the county's organization de- clared illegal was uncertain. There were devout wishes that the Supreme Court would decide in favor of Columbia, and there were fond hopes in certain quarters-yet there were many doubts and misgiv- ings.
At last, on April 16 (1903) the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the Attorney General against Larsen and Others case, and that decision was that the pretended organization was invalid and of no effect and its pretended officials were ousted from the offices which they claimed to hold. In brief, the Court's decision was (and it is still the law) that
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
under Chapter 143 of the Laws of 1893, but one propo- sition for creating a new county involving the same territory can be submitted at the same election. In Columbia County's case there had been four proposi- tions at the same clection. It was also decided that the first petition presented to the State officials for the organization of a new county must be given pri- ority by them in deciding which petition should be acted upon in calling an election. The late Judge Loren W. Collins, who wrote the opinion of the Court, declared :
"It is impossible to believe that the Legislature intended by the act to permit and authorize an un- limited number of petitions to be filed for one county -that is to say, several petitions describing the same territory. * * * With three petitions, each de- scribing the same territory, there could be but one main proposition to be submitted, namely, the crea- tion of one new county, and but one. The petition first filed complied in form with the statute and de- manded that the creation of certain described terri- tory into a new county be submitted to the electors of Polk County. The subsequently filed petitions were mere repetitions as to this essential question, and invalid." (Italics Compiler's.) For the full de- cision, see Vol. 89 of the Minnesota Reports, pp. 123- 131. The Revised Laws of 1905 changed the wording of the law to conform to the decision.
THE "NEW COUNTY" FIGIIT OF 1896.
In the contest before the Supreme Court in 1905 Columbia County's attorneys relied upon a former decision of the Court in 1896, in what is known as the Red Lake County case. The main facts in that case were these :
May 8, 1896, four petitions for the organization and location of four new counties, to be formed out of a portion of Polk County, were filed with the Secretary of State. These proposed counties were to be called respectively "Nelson," for Hon. Knute Nelson; "Hill," for James J. Hill; "Garfield," for the former President; "Red Lake," for the lake itself. The propositions for the creation of these counties were not inconsistent or competing, because no territory included in any one of the proposed counties was in- eluded in any one or more of the other. In the Co-
lumbia County case of 1903 the territory was the same in each of the proposed counties.
July 14, 1896, two other petitions were filed for the creation of two more new counties out of Polk County, to be called "Mills County," for Ilon. Ira B. Mills, and "Columbia County," for the "Gem of the Ocean." Each of these two propositions were com- peting ones with the previous Red Lake and Nelson. Columbia competed with Garfield, each having part of the other's territory. More than half of the pro- posed Red Lake and part of Nelson were included in Mills. A part of Red Lake was also included in Col- umbia, and Columbia included part of Garfield. At the general election of 1896 the propositions were voted upon and the vote resulted :
Nelson County : For creation, 765; against, 1,050. Garfield County : For creation, 603; against, 608. Ilill County : For creation, 553; against, 1,574. Red Lake County : For creation, 992 ; against, 449. Mills County : For creation, 334; against, 56.
Columbia County : For creation, 575, against, 107.
The Governor proclaimed that, as a result of the election, the proposition for the creation of Red Lake County had been adopted. In a case brought by At- torney General Childs against the Commissioners and other officials of Red Lake County the Supreme Court sustained the Governor's proclamation and the crea- tion. It decided that, "an elector may sign two or more non-competing petitions for the creation of new counties, but that only one of the competing propositions can be adopted at the same election, and to secure this result it must receive a majority of all the votes cast thereon, and also a plurality of the votes cast on the propositions with which it is com- peting." (State ex rel. Childs vs. Comrs., 67 Minn., pp. 352-360.) A comparison of the two decisions is both instructive and interesting.
THE LEADERS OF COLUMBIA'S FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE.
The prominent men of McIntosh who fought for and led the movement to organize Columbia County were John P. Johnson, who is considered to have been
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
the leader, and his principal lieutenants were C. T. Lanman, of the MeIntosh Times; Dr. Archibald Me- Eachren, Charles L. Conger, S. H. Drew, O. E. Sto- vern, Anton Jensen, W. G. Hunt, and C. F. Page. These men started and led the movement originally.
In the contest of 1902 the leading fighters were Johnson, Lanman, Conger, Drew, Jensen, and Hunt, and they were re-enforced by Thomas Lawrence, Wells S. Short, Paul W. Carpenter, E. A. Webster, Andrew Trovaaten, T. N. J. Reese, John L. Ilagen, Thomas R. Brownlee, and Leslie Shadduck.
A prominent former Columbia County partisan, who has furnished much information for this article, writes the compiler on the subject and says: "The separation of the Thirteen Towns from Polk County and the creation of Columbia could yet be made at any general election were it possible for the villages of Fosston, McIntosh, and Erskine to agree upon a county scat. But as cach village will vote against any proposition that will locate the county seat iu
any other village, all hope of dividing the county has been abandoned.
The only loser of a claim for money against Colum- bia is Barnard & Co., the St. Louis printers, who furnished the blank books and other stationery, amounting to over $2,500. When Columbia County vanished they brought suit against Polk County as "the successor" of Columbia. But Polk County de- nied that it was anybody's "successor." It deelared it had no sort of responsibility for Barnard & Co.'s claim, and eventually the Supreme Court (98 Minn., p. 289) sustained this county's contention. The Court's decision declared that when the attempt to create a new county out of the territory of an ex- isting county results in a de facto county, which is subsequently dissolved the original county is not liable for debts contracted by the de facto county. The old county is not the successor of the de facto county.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
K. K. HOFFORD Vice President FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MCINTOSH
C. M. BERG, President
GEORGE A. BEITO
Cashier
CHAPTER XVI. THE BANKING INTERESTS OF THE COUNTY.
SKETCHIES OF SOME OF THE IMPORTANT AND TYPICAL BANKS OF POLK COUNTY-CROOKSTON STATE BANK-THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF M'INTOSH-TIIE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CROOKSTON-POLK COUNTY STATE BANK- SCANDIA AMERICAN BANK, CROOKSTON-FIRST STATE BANK OF FERTILE-FIRST STATE BANK OF EAST GRAND FORKS-STATE BANK OF ELDRED-TIIE STATE BANK OF ERSKINE-FARMERS STATE BANK OF WINGER-FIRST STATE BANK OF MENTOR-CITIZENS STATE BANK OF FERTILE-FARMERS STATE BANK OF FERTILE-FIRST NA- TIONAL BANK OF EAST GRAND FORKS-STATE BANK OF FISHER-FARMERS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY- FIRST STATE BANK OF BELTRAMI.
CROOKSTON STATE BANK.
The Crookston State Bank is one of the important financial institutions of the county and was organized May 1, 1909. It had operated for a number of years as a private bank, having been incorporated as such, May 1, 1902, with a capital of $20,000. L. E. Jones was elected president, J. A. Northrop, vice president and L. D. Foskett, cashier. E. S. Ellsworth was also interested in the enterprise. Upon its re-organization into the Crookston State Bank, the capital stoek was increased to $40,000 and J. A. Northrop ehosen presi- dent with S. C. Johnson as vice president and Mr. Foskett retained as cashier. These officers with E. A. Mills and L. Sargent are the directors of the bank. This institution is justly popular in all its business relations and all its interests have been attended with steady prosperity. It is widely known in the north- west, its activities being identified with the associate banks, the Farmers State Bank at Fosston ; the Seeur- ity State Bank of Borup, Minn., the Ulen State Bank at Ulen, Minn., and Ellsworth & Jones at Iowa Falls, Towa.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF M'INTOSH.
The First National Bank of MeIntosh was founded on January 1, 1903, and was the outgrowth of the
State Bank of McIntosh, which had suceecded the old Bank of MeIntosh, which was founded in 1889 and was owned by James and Sol. H. Drew, and who continued in the banking business until 1901.
The First National Bank has a capital stoek of $25,000, with a surplus of $5,000, undivided profits of $6,000 and deposits of $200,000.
The bank building is a beautiful pressed briek, 23x52, with offices in second story. Present officers are: C. M. Berg, president; K. K. Hofford, viee president, and Geo. A. Beito, eashier. The majority of the stock is owned by the people of MeIntosh. The bank is modern with safety boxes, vaults, etc.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CROOKSTON.
The First National Bank, of Crookston, is one of the oldest and best known financial institutions in northern Minnesota and during the many years of its sueeessful and extensive transactions, has been instrumental in promoting the development of this region. The bank was founded in 1881, with a eap- ital stock of $50,000. The directors were, Ansell Bates, William Anglin, Conrad Utzimer, Morris Brown, J. I. Case and R. II. Baker. Mr. Baker was made the first president, Morris Brown, vice president and Ansell Bates, eashier, serving in that position
131
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
for a number of years. George Q. Erskine succeeded Mr. Baker as president with K. D. Chase as vice president and in 1883 the capital stock was doubled. In 1895 Jerome W. Wheeler became cashier of the bank and has continued to be prominently identified with the administrations of its affairs and in 1905 was made president. The capital stock was reduced from $100,000 to $75,000, which is the present capital, with a surplus of $50,000 and deposits execeding one mil- lion dollars. It is an institution whose substantial prosperity has been founded upon capable manage- ment and the natural resources of the country and has advaneed steadily with the latter's growth and devel- opment. The present directors are : J. W. Wheeler, Edmund M. Walsh, John R. MeKinnon, Samuel A. Wallaec, Ole O. Christianson, Harry L. Marsh and Sam A. Eriekson. Mr. Wheeler continues as presi- dent and Edmund M. Walsh, vice president, Harry L. Marsh, vice president. C. F. Mix holds the office of cashier with Sam A. Erickson as assistant cashier.
POLK COUNTY STATE BANK.
The Polk County State Bank, of Crookston, is one of the leading banking institutions of the county and since its first business transactions on September 2, 1913, has met with unusual success and wide favor among the depositors of the county and in the finan- cial world. The bank was organized August 27, 1913, with a capital stoek of $40,000 and a surplus of $10,000. Peter M. Ringdal was elected president, L. W. Larson, vice president, G. O. Hage, cashier, and these officers with G. A. Anbal and Henry O'Neil formed the board of directors. These men continue to direct the affairs of the bank which under their capable management has rapidly won its way to a substantial and prominent position in the banking circles of northern Minnesota.
SCANDIA AMERICAN BANK, CROOKSTON.
This bank was organized in the summer and fall of 1887, and opened its doors for business on the first day of December, 1887, at the corner of Robert and
Main Streets, in what was then the new Mckinnon Block, with the following officers: Carl Hendrick- son, of Grafton, North Dakota, president ; G. M. Bar- ber, of Crookston, vice president; A. G. Gallaseb, of Crookston, cashier, and L. Ellington, of Crookston, assistant cashier. The paid in capital of the bank was $40,000.
The bank continued in busness at this location until about three years ago when it purchased the building upon the opposite corner and remodeled the same and moved into it, where it has since continued business.
The personnel of the Board of Directors and of the officers changed but slightly for several years. The only one of the original officers who now has any con- neetion with the bank is Mr. L. Ellington who has always been connected with the bank in some official capacity from its organization to the present time. Carl Hendrickson, the original president, continued with the bank until the year 1904. At this time a controlling interest in the bank was purchased by the firm of Miller & Foote, at which time Mr. J. P. Foote became president of the bank and Mr. Ellington cashier.
Under the new arrangement the bank was conducted for six years at which time Messrs. Miller & Foote sold their stock to Mr. L. Ellington who thereupon became president of the bank, with II. D. Reed, now of Comfrey, Minnesota, as cashier.
In February, 1913, Miller & Foote again purchased a controlling interest in the stock and the official board was reorganized with J. P. Foote as president, H. Steenerson, vice president; C. C. Strander, vice president; Oscar Fredericks, cashier; George F. Van Pelt and H. H. Clapp, assistant cashiers, which or- ganization continues at the present time.
The business of the bank has steadily grown from the time of its organization until the present time. The statement of its resources and liabilities as re- turned to the Superintendent of Banks on November 10, 1915, is as follows :
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHIY OF POLK COUNTY
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts.
$534,205.23
Overdrafts
905.40
Bonds and seeurities. 4,000.00
Banking house
15,000.00
Furniture and fixtures.
9,055.20
Other real estate ...
34,450.90
Cash and due from banks.
205,765.07
$803,381.80
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock.
$ 50,000.00
Surplus
10,000.00
Undivided profits
4,238.17
Deposits
739,143.63
$803,381.80
The present Board of Directors is as follows: J. P. Foote, president ; A. A. Miller, attorney; H. Holte, physician and surgeon; L. Ellington, city clerk ; Charles Loring, attorney ; C. C. Strander, president Strander Abstract & Investment Co .; J. H. Ruettell, president Ruettell Clothing Co .; II. Steenerson, mem- ber of Congress; R. C. Ruettell, manager Ruettell Clothing Co.
FIRST STATE BANK OF FERTILE.
The First State Bank of Fertile was the first bank established in that locality and has ever furnished the sound financial backing and co-operation which has so materially advanced the growth of Fertile and the surrounding territory to one of the most progressive and prosperous centers in Polk County. . It was or- ganized in 1887, the first year of Fertile's existence, as a private bank, owned by W. H. Matthews, E. L. Matthews and Frank F. S. Miller, who comprised the firm of Matthews & Company, and Norman Hanson. Re-organization as a State bank was effected in 1892 and the capitalization increased from $10,000 to $25,- 000, with W. H. Matthews, president, Otto Kankel, vice president and Mr. Hanson continued in the posi- tion of eashier, which office he had held from the initial movement of organization. After nine years' operations under this incorporation, the bank was changed to the First National and six years later, in
1907, again beeame a state bank and has sinee eon- tinned as the First State Bank of Fertile. No change in the capital was made and a surplus of $7,500 was set aside. The same officers remained in charge until 1912 when Norman Hanson, after twenty-five years' able service as cashier, became president and the for- mer president, W. H. Matthews, who is now a resi- dent of Spokane, Wash., was made vice president. Two years later Mr. Hanson bought out the interests of Matthews & Company and secured controlling interest, owning one hundred and fifty-eight of the two hun- dred and fifty shares of bank stoek. All the stock is owned by local shareholders. In June, 1915, the pros- perous conditions of that section advanced the eom- bined deposits of the three banks of Fertile to $650,- 000, an increase of $60,000 in three months and $25,000 of that amount was placed with the First State Bank. The bank operates with a cash reserve fund of $30,000 and has loans of $240,000. The officers are Norman Hanson, president; Brown Duck- stad, vice president; and Elmer B. Hanson, cashier, and these with C. F. Kankel, Nels Vasenden, Odd Eide and George Kronschnabel comprise the board of di- reetors. The bank was housed for twenty years in the two-story briek building which had replaced the original frame structure in 1894, but in 1914 was moved into its present sumptuous quarters in the splendidly equipped building ereeted for its use. This is furnished with every thought for the convenience of patrons and the facility of banking operations, be- sides appealing, in its rich appointments, to the ad- mirer of architectural considerations.
Statement of the condition of First State Bank of Fertile at the close of business December 31, 1915 :
RESOURCES.
Loans
$213,467.92
Bonds, ete
8,235.57
Banking house.
7,500.00
Furniture and fixtures.
3,500.00
Overdrafts
166.44
Cash and due from banks.
84,827.16
Total
$317,697.09
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
LIABILITIES.
Capital $ 25,000.00
Surplus, earned .. 5,000.00
Undivided profits.
5,848.57
(Now, Jan. 26, $7,500.00)
Deposits
281,848.52
Total
$317,697.09
Directors: Norman Hanson, B. Duekstad, Nels Vasenden, C. F. Kankel, Geo. Kronselmabel, Odd Eide, E. B. Ilanson.
FIRST STATE BANK OF EAST GRAND FORKS.
The First State Bank of East Grand Forks is one of the most aggressive and efficient financial institu- tions in Polk County and thoroughly identified with the development of the resources of the region and the prosperity of the community. This bank was organ- ized in 1906 by N. J. Nelson, who has since directed its affairs as cashier, with a policy which extends most liberal accommodations to local enterprise, which with well known financial responsibility has won the con- fidence of its patrons and a wide popularity. The bank is capitalized at $25,000 with a surplus and un- divided profits of $12,000 and its deposits are ap- proaching the half million mark. The men associated with its management as officers are C. J. Loggren, pres- ident ; Frank J. Zejdlik and II. A. Bronson, vice pres- idents; N. J. Nelson, cashier and Paul Johnson, as- sistant cashier. The board of directors comprise the first four named above with J. W. Wheeler, C. M. Sprague and F. W. Sprague. The bank is located in a fine building equipped with every modern facility for efficient banking and which stands as a credit to civie pride as well as to the enterprise of the bank directors.
STATE BANK OF ELDRED.
This sound and flourishing financial institution, which was the first regularly organized banking house in the town of Eldred, this county, was founded on February 29, 1908, by Messrs. Rosholt & Larson, the latter of whom is now a resident of ITalsted and the
former of Climax, Polk County. The bank was started as a private institution with a capital of $10,000 and Skver Thompson as cashier. Mr. Thompson gave way in Angust, 1908, to T. E. Johnson, who has served as cashier of the bank ever since. Other banks belong- ing to Messrs. Rosholt and Larson are located at Hal- sted, Climax and Neilsville.
The banking house used by the bank was erected in 1908. Deposits in the institution now (1916) ag- gregate $86,000. Its loans total $85,000, and its sur- plus is $2,500. These sums are steadily increasing and dividends are paid regularly and promptly by the bank, which is one of the progressive and enterprising ones of its rank in this part of the country. and is continuously strengthening its resources, augmenting its business in volume and intensifying its hold on the confidence and regard of the publie throughout the territory subject to its operations.
The bank has not, however, been without its experi- enee in trouble. On October 22, 1911, its safe was dynamited and robbed of $1,400, but the loss was fully covered by insurance. The men at the head of the bank and Mr. Johnson, the cashier, are enterprising and progressive business men of high rank and demon- strated ability, and their merit entitles them in full measure to the business success they have won for their institution. It was reorganized as a state bank under its present name.
TIIE STATE BANK OF ERSKINE.
Since 1889 this institution has been one of the financial bulwarks and sources of strength and con- venience to the village of Erskine and the several townships of Polk County lying around it. The bank was organized and started on its useful and prosperous career in that year by Halvor Steenerson, H. L. Mel- gaard, Carl Hendrickson, and Lonis Ellington, and A. F. Cronqnist was chosen cashier. It was a private institution until 1903, when it was incorporated as a state bank under its present name with a capital stock of $10,000, Louis Ellington as president, Halvor
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
Steenerson as vice president and A. F. Cronquist as cashier.
The history of the bank was the same as that of many similar institutions-a steady growth of busi- ness, an increasing hold on publie confidence and re- gard, and a firm standing in financial and banking circles-until December, 1912, when some forty-six merchants and farmers bought it. The surplus at that time amounted to $3,000 and the deposits to $140,000. Under its new ownership A. D. Stephens was chosen president, Gilbert K. Espeseth vice presi- dent and Theodore Nelson cashier. He had been the assistant cashier of the bank for ten years. The other directors are John Clementson, A. J. Hangen and O. T. Rovang, all farmers living near Erskinc. Mr. Stephens has since been sneceeded as president by G. K. Es- peseth and T. K. Berg chosen vice president, but none of the other officials have been changed since the pur- chase was made.
The surplus of the bank at the time of this writing (October, 1915) is increased to $5,000, and the de- posits have increased to $210,000. In 1903 the fine modern building in which the bank now conducts its business was erected. The bank makes loans, does insurance and carries on all other departments of banking according to the most approved present-day methods, and is one of the soundest and best managed institutions of its rank in the Northwest.
FARMERS STATE BANK OF WINGER.
This popular financial institution, which is render- ing great and appreciated service to the community, was founded September 1, 1904, as the First State Bank of Winger, with a capital stoek of $10,000, A. N. Eekman as president and Gilbert Bratland as cashier.
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