USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 2
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The national banks are: The First National Bank of Ren- ville. The Peoples First National Bank of Olivia, and The First National Bank of Fairfax.
The State Banks are: State Bank of Buffalo Lake; Farmers State Bank of Buffalo Lake; State Bank of Bird Island; Ren- ville County State Bank of Bird Island; Danube State Bank ; State Bank of Fairfax; Citizens State Bank of Fairfax; State Bank of Franklin; Citizens State Bank of Franklin ; State Bank of Ilector; Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Hector; State Bank of Morton: New State Bank of Morton; Olivia State Bank: Farmers State Bank of Olivia: Renville State Bank ; O 'Connor Brothers State Bank of Renville; State Bank of Sacred Ileart : Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
The first bank in Renville county was a private bank, started at Beaver Falls, by Hans Gronnerud, and continued for many years. Donahue & Paine started a bank in Beaver Falls in 1878. They moved it to Bird Island, and in 1880 it was organized as the Renville County State Bank. This is still in existence and is the oldest bank in the county. The next banks in the county were the O'Connor Brothers, Bankers, of Renville (now known as the Renville State Bank), and the State Bank of Hector. both started in 1887. Edward O'Connor started a private bank at Sacred Heart in 1888. It is now the Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart. In 1889, Peter W. Ileins started the People's Bank at Olivia. This is now the Peoples First National Bank of Olivia. In 1889, a bank was started at Fairfax, with Dr. . I. A. Beard, of Redwood Falls, as president, and F. A. Gray, as cashier. It failed in 1892.
There have been but two bank failures in Renville county. the failure of Hans Gronnerud's private bank at Beaver Falls. and the failure of the bank of Beard & Gray at Fairfax.
BANKS.
The Renville County State Bank of Bird Island is the oldest in the county. It was organized in 1878 at Braver Falls as the private banking house of Donohue & Paine. In 1880 it was moved to Bird Island. In 1890 it was incorporated as the Renville County State Bank, by Mathew Donohue, Axel Richardson ; C. L. Lorrain, Fred Hodgdon, F. Borchert, Frank Posely and I. W. Donohue, the capital stock being $25,000.00. The first officers were: Mathew Donohne, president ; J. W. Donohue, cashier. March 20, 1895, A. T. Dell became eashier and J. W. Donohue, president. May 26, 1904, Ilenry L. Simons became president : A. J. Richardson, vice-president : Amund Dahl, cashier; and I. W. Mielke, assistant cashier. January, 1906. Amund Dahl be- came president. Henry L. Simons and A. J. Richardson, vice- presidents and II. W. Mielke, cashier. In 1913 llenry L. Simons became president : A. J. Richardson. vice-president ; 11. W. Mielke. cashier, and W. H. Fewer and J. C. Desmond, assistant cashiers. The bank has a surplus of $15.000, giving resources of over quar- ter of a million. The present bank was built in 1902. The bank condnets a liberal conservative banking business and well merits the high confidence with which it is regarded throughout the county. As the oldest financial institution in the county it well upholds its traditions of honor and stability.
Herman W. Mielke, prominent banker and citizen of Bird Island, was born in Glencoe, this state, Oet. 17, 1873, son of John and Caroline (Ettrich) Mielke, the pioneers. He attended the schools of his native place and at the age of fifteen started his career by securing employment on a farm. At the age of twenty-
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one he entered mercantile life as clerk for a clothing store in Glencoe. It was in 1904 that he came to Bird Island as assistant cashier of the Renville County State Bank, a position he held until Jan 1, 1906, when he was made cashier. Mr. Mielke is one of the leading men of Bird Island, and an enthusiastic friend of every progressive movement. He has taken his part in many phases of publie life and is regarded as a substantial, useful citi. zen in every way. IJis administration of the affairs of the oldest bank in Renville county has won him wide praise. Mr. Mielke is an officer of the Bird Island Commercial (Inb, and for five years was chairman of the park board. He is likewise an offi- cial of the local lodges of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen fraternities. His religious allegiance is paid to the German Luth- eran Church. Mr. Mielke was married JJuly 3, 1900, to Clara Knutson, born April 7, 1877, daughter of Amund and Carrie (Ekle) Knutson. John Mielke, born May 29, 1818. in Germany, died April 8, 1885. He married Caroline Ettrich, born Dec. 11, 1831 ; she died Feb. 17, 1915. They came to America May 30, 1862, and homesteaded in Sumter township, Meheod county, Minn., where they remained until his death. Amund Knutson married Carrie Ekle, who died June 7, 1915, her husband having died in 1895. He was one of the pioneers of Palmyra township, where he devoted his time to farming.
The Renville State Bank of Renville was established in 1887. The bank was incorporated December 23, 1889. It opened for business as a state bank JJanuary 1, 1890. In 1907 S. M. Serkland and O. A. Stensvad acquired a controlling interest. The bank owns its building which was erected in 1892, and is a solid brick. two-story structure, the second story being used for an opera house. The present board is constituted as follows: O. A. Stens- vad, president ; L. Ahrenholz, vice-president ; S. M. Serkland, cashier; F. H. Berning, assistant cashier, and R. W. Serkland. stenographer and clerk. Directors-O. A. Stensvad, S. M. Serk- land, L. Abrenholz, L. E. Lien, J. C. Jepson, all of Renville. Min.
The Renville State Bank renewed its certificate of corpora- tion November 17, 1914, at Renville, the following shareholders voting for the resolution : S. M. Serkiand, O. A. Stensvad. J. C. Jepson. L. Ahrenholz, L. E. Lien, F. Berning. R. W. Serkland. Rudolph Stensvad, and A. S. Johnson.
Following is a statement of the condition of the bank at close of business on September 2, 1915: Resources, loans and dis- counts, $262,826.53; overdrafts, $167.06; bonds and securities, $2,000.00; furniture and fixtures, $3,050.00; banking house. $7,500.00; expenses paid, $4.068.84; interest and exchange paid, $6,571.07 ; checks and cash items, $277.32: dne from banks, $21 .- 339.34: cash on hand, $11,507.03: total cash assets, $32,846.37; total, $319,307.19. Liabilities-capital stock, $25,000; snrphis
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fund, $5,000.00; undivided profits, $3,725.42; interest and ex- change received, $9,169.42; time certificates of deposit, $214,- 627.70; cashiers' checks, $2,058.50; commercial deposits, $56,- 608.40; public deposits, $3.118.75; total immediate liabilities, $61,885.65; total, $319,307.19. Amount of reserve on hand, $32,- 846.37. Amount of reserve required by law, $18,145.60.
Ole A. Stensvad, president of the Renville State Bank, was born in Waseca county, Minnesota, January 17, 1876. Itis father, Andrew Stensvad, and his mother, Ingerbord Stensvad, were born in Norway, and emigrated to America and settled in Waseca county, Minnesota, as some of the first settlers. in the year of 1849, where they farmed extensively for over forty years. They raised a family of nine children. Ole A. Stensvad received his education in the country school and later attended school at New Richland, Minnesota. Upon leaving school, at the age of 18 years, he was employed as assistant buttermaker at Hartland, Minnesota, and the following winter completed a buttermaker's course at the Minnesota State Dairy School at St. Paul, Min- nesota, and then was employed as buttermaker at the Smith's Mills, Minnesota. In the year 1895, together with two brothers, lie purchased a line of several ereameries in Sioux county, Iowa, and was engaged very extensively in the dairy and creamery business until the year of 1902. He then disposed of his entire creamery holdings and intended to retire from further business, but not being contented, he accepted a position with the De Laval Cream Separator Company as Minnesota representative, which position he held until the fall of 1907 when, with his associates, he purchased the Renville State Bank, and located at Renville, Minnesota, where he is an active officer, in addition to his ex- tensive farming interests in Renville county. In 1900 he was married to Mabel E. Dodds, of Rock Valley, Iowa. Four children have blessed their union. He is a prominent member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church and is identified with local polities.
Siver M. Serkland, cashier of the Renville State Bank, was born in Juneau county, Wisconsin, September 5, 1866. His father, Peter P. Serkland was born near the village of Skien, Norway, and came to America with his wife Helene (Sigurdson) Serk- land, in the year 1865, after eleven weeks of storms and hard- ships on a small sailing vessel, locating in Juneau county, Wis- consin. Two years afterwards he removed to Watonwan county, Minnesota, making the entire journey with oxen, and was one of the early pioneers of that county. He died several years ago, but the mother of our subject still lives at St. James, Minnesota. S. M. Serkland was brought to Watonwan county when less than two years old, where he was raised on a homestead near the river Watonwan. He spent his early boyhood on the farm, attending
LUBBERT AHRENHOLZ AND FAMILY
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the district schools, and he also had a course at the Minneapolis publie schools.
At the age of 21 he tired of farm work and accepted a position as weighmaster for the grain firm of W. P. Rempel & Brothers, who at that time owned a line of elevators along the Omaha di- vision of the Northwestern Railroad, continuing the occupation with credit to himself and success to his employer for a period of three years, after which he accepted a position as cashier of the Old Bank of St. James, Minnesota, and conducted the bank successfully for a term of four years. In the campaign of 1894 the Republican party elected him to the office of register of deeds of Watonwan county, Minnesota, to which position he was re- elected for five successive terms. On May 18, 1891, he was united in marriage with Christine Bratrude, born and reared in Fill- more county, Minnesota, a daughter of Thor and Kjersti (Peter- son) Bratrnde, who still resides at Fountain, in Fillmore county, Minnesota. To this union have been born two sons and one daugh- ter, Reuben Willard, now bookkeeper and stenographer with the Renville State Bank; Walter Thomas, a high school student at Renville, and Alta Margurette Christine, a pupil in the Renville schools. In the winter of 1905, S. M. Serkland and wife was sight- seeing in the southern states, spending a portion of the winter in Havana, Cuba. In the fall of 1907 he moved to Renville, Min- nesota, and purchased a large interest in the Renville State Bank, and chose the position as cashier of the bank, which has thrived and prospered under his careful management. S. M. Serkland and family are all Lutherans, and members of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod Church at Renville, Minnesota.
Socially, Mr. Serkland is a member of the I. O. O. F. and M. W. A .; his politics is Republican. Besides banking, he finds time to operate several fine farms, in which he is largely interested. Hle stands well in the community and has held the office of city treasurer since the spring of 1908.
Lubbert Ahrenholz, a well known citizen of Renville, was born in Germany, December 1, 1851, son of Arnt and Elska (Simmerman) Ahrenholz. His parents were farmers, who lived and died in Germany. There were eight children in the family : Henry, Bye, George (deceased), Haren, Lubbert, George, Foke and Herman (deceased). Lubbert and Henry were the only ones to come to United States, leaving in 1868, and coming to New York. They had received their early education in Germany and left with the purpose of establishing new homes for themselves. They had intended to come to Stevenson county, Illinois, where they had an uncle, who had sent them money for the trip. They worked out on the farms of the neighbors and after five years Lubbert left for Iowa, where he located on a farm in Butler county. Hle rented this farm for about twelve years and then
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
moved to Minnesota, going to Renville county and locating in Crooks township, seetion 5, on a tract of 160 acres of wild prairie land. They built a frame house, 14 by 22 feet, and a small barn, the posts being set into the ground and boards nailed around them. Ile owned a team of horses. Here he lived until 1910, when he moved to Renville. During this time he increased his farm until he had 760 aeres and built a modern house and barn. Ile kept good stock and raised some fruit. Mr. Ahren- holz was road overseer for three or four years and also super- visor for six years. He served as treasurer of the school dis- triet twenty-three years. He helped organize the new school district known as No. 105, and helped build the schoolhouse. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Renville, holding the office of director. He is a shareholder of the Ren- ville State Bank and is its vice president. He is also a mem- ber of the Christian Reformed church and was one of its organ- izers and officers. Mr. Ahrenholz was married in 1874 to Elska Ahrenholz, born in Germany and died at the age of sixty-two years. Seven children were born to this union: George, the old- est boy, who is now farming on the old home place, married Gertrude Hoogerman and they have a daughter, Ella. Art married Anna Sejyer. They have two children: Lubbert and Fred. Fritz married Reka Schultz. They have a daughter, Anna. Elzena married Michael Groote and has two children: Freda and Ella. Enalena, now deceased, married John Korthuse. They have had five children : George, Ella, Mary, Dena and Lubbert. Ella married Edward Devries and has two children, Etta and Ella.
The State Bank of Hector was incorporated July 20, 1887, and commenced business August 1, 1887. The first officers were: G. K. Gilbert, president ; W. D. Griffith, vice-president : A. R. Gress, cashier ; G. K. Gilbert, A. R. Gress, W. D. Griffith, O. F. Peter- son, Win. Ebert, H. A. Reed and W. C. White, directors. The changes in office from 1893 up to the present time are as follows: Jannary, 1893, G. S. Eichmiller became assistant cashier and C. H. Nixon was elected a director to fill the place of W. C. White. January, 1894. G. S. Eichmiller became cashier in place of A. R. Gress and H. A. Reed became assistant cashier. G. S. Eichmil- Jer's name was added to the list of directors. January, 1906, John llokanson succeeded W. D. Griffith as vice-president and director and II. L. Torbenson succeeded D. A. Reed as assistant cashier. A. R. Gress again becomes a director of the bank and A. B. Anderson and H. S. Deming were also made directors. In January, 1915, the officers and directors are as follows: G. K. Gilbert. president : A. B. Anderson, vice-president : G. S. Eieh- miller. cashier : HI. L. Torbenson, assistant cashier : G. K. Gilbert, G. S. Eichmiller, A. B. Anderson, H. S. Deming, A. P. Anderson,
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G. S. EICHMILLER
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
H. A. Reed and Andrew Anderson, directors. G. K. Gilbert has been president since the organization of the bank.
Following is a report of the condition of the bank at close of business Dec. 31, 1887: Resources-Loans and discounts, $20,- 869.63; due from banks, $4,808.46; real estate, furniture and fix- tures, $3,678.34; current expenses, $909.75; cash on hand, $2,- 306.54: total, $32,572.72. Liabilities-Capital stock, $25,000.00; undivided profits, $1,251.15; deposits, $6,321.57; total, $32,572.72. Following is a report of the bank at close of business Sept. 8, 1915: Resources-Loans and discounts, $222,882.39 ; overdrafts, $86.55 ; banking house, furniture and fixtures, $6,000.00; due from banks, $15,609.43; checks and eash items, $23.80; eash on hand, $15,022.50; total. $259,624.67. Liabilities-Capital stock. $25,000.00; surplus fund, $15.000.00; undivided profits, $3,- 914.02: dividends unpaid, $35.00; deposits. $215,675.65; total, $259,624.67.
George S. Eichmiller, the popular cashier of the State Bank of Hector, was born in a log cabin in Carver county, Minnesota. He first saw the light of day on August 16, 1858, and is the son of Michael and Lena (Utz) Eichmiller. Ile attended the country district school, and later the Franklin public school at St. Paul, Minn., and completed his education at the St. Paul Business Col- lege. In the spring of 1879 he began his business career, his first position being that of bookkeeper in the hardware store of Mul- doon Bros .. at Ilammond, Wisconsin, where he remained until January, 1880, when he entered the employ of J. Preiss & Son, of Gleneoe, Minn. For two years he kept the books for this firm, when he severed his connection with the firm and opened a gen- eral merchandise store at Glencoe, under his own name. Four years later he sold this business and went to Lake City, Minn .. for a short time in 1886. Returning to Glencoe he worked for others umtil 1891, when he came to Hector, Minn., began work for Peterson Lunder & Co., as bookkeeper. He remained with this firm notil January 1, 1893, when he accepted the position of as- sistant cashier of the State Bank of Hector, becoming eashier a year later. Ile is a stockholder in the State Bank of Heetor, treasurer and stockhokler in the Ilector Elevator Co., treasurer and stockholder of the Hector Telephone Exchange, stockholder in the Twin City Fire Insurance Co., of Minneapolis, Min., he was president of the village council of Heetor for seven years. He votes the Republican ticket. On September 9, 1885, Mr. Eich- miller was married to Alice M. Dean, daughter of Franklin B. and Verlinda (Smith) Dean. Their first daughter, Grace Elinor, was born June 24. 1886, and died August 14, 1886. Their sec- ond daughter, Verlinda May, was born March 11, 1889. She is a graduate of the Ilector High school, of Carlton College, North- field, Minn., and of the domestic science department of the Uni-
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versity of Chicago, and is now a domestic science teacher at Leeds, North Dakota.
Michael Eichmiller was born in Germany and married Lena Utz, born in Germany. They came to America in a sailing vessel in 1851, their voyage taking sixty-two days. For a short time they lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, leaving there for Carver county, Minnesota, where Mr. Eichmiller took up a homestead in the tim- ber, cleared part of it and built a log cabin. The cabin was a small one, and was shingled with the bark from the trees, and it was here that his son George was born. Mr. Eiehmiller was killed in December, 1857, by a tree falling on him, while clear- ing his land, so George never saw his father. They had one other child in addition to George, a daughter, Margaret, born January 4, 1856, now Mrs. Kloos, who lives in Grant county, Minnesota, where her husband is a prosperous farmer.
Henry L. Torbenson, assistant cashier of the State Bank of Hector, was born October 30, 1874, in MeLeod county, Minnesota, son of Thomas and Caroline (Olson) Torbenson. He completed the work in the public school and attended the seminary at Will- mar, Minn. After that he came to Heetor and for three years taught school in the winter and farmed in the summer. Then he worked with the Johnson Hardware Company, of Hector, for two years. The next two years he was bookkeeper in the Hector State Bank after which he assumed the duties of his present position. In polities he is a Republican and for the past ten years has been the village treasurer. In 1914 he was made a member of the school board and is still serving. Ile is doing efficient work as secretary of the local telephone company. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Heetor Lodge, No. 158. A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Torbenson was united in marriage July 2, 1907, to Eva Grif- fith. born January 17. 1886. at Beaver Falls, Minn., daughter of William D. and AAlberta Griffith, and to this union one child. Lyle, was born February 18, 1912.
The Farmers' State Bank of Sacred Heart was established by Ed. O 'Connor. He opened for business Nov. 28, 1888, in Me- Gregor's lumber office on the railroad right of way. This build- ing has been moved and is now used as a cobbler's shop by former Sheriff Hans Field. The bank was later moved to lot B, block 11, before it was taken to its present location. F. G. Nellermoe was the first cashier. After him came Mary O'Connor, who served some fourteen years. The first depositor in the bank was Karenus O. Agre. The institution was incorporated as a state bank, March 13, 1905, by the following : Edward O'Connor, John L. Johnson, Randolph Arnold, Timothy O'Connor. Nelson L. Johnson, Her- man O. Skalbeck, Andrew HI. Anderson. John S. Olson, Martin J. Larson, Erie Dosseth, Edward Paulson. Carl G. Hillard. Jerome
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
HI. Titus, Haagen O. Agre, Lars Milsten, Anton O. Skrukrud, Martin E. Docken, Harold C. Omholt, Albert E. Doeken, Renholt H. Nelson, Osmund K. Osmundson. John 1. Johnson, Ole C. Spars- tad, Helge 1. Svein, Gunerius O. Bergan, Mary Asher, Mary O'Conner, Ole P. Sveiven, and Ole P. Skeggeby. The bank began with a capital of $25,000. The first board of directors were Ed- ward O'Connor, Anton O. Skrukrnd, Haagen O. Agre, Carl G: Hillard, Herman O. Skalbeck. The board at present is constituted as follows: Edward O'Connor, president ; Timothy O'Connor. vice president; Oscar Olufson, cashier; C. M. Olufson, assistant cashier. Directors-Edward O'Connor, Sacred Heart, Minn. : Win. O'Connor. T. O'Connor, Renville, Miun .; II. O. Agre, A. O. Skrukrud, Sacred Heart, Minn.
A recent publication has said: "The Farmers' State Bank was started in 1888 by Ed. O'Connor, and has been under his per- sonal supervision ever since, barring a five-year period, from 1905 to 1910, when he went to North Dakota to put through some big land colonization deals, which took his entire time. The Farmers' State Bank has withstood all the changes of time in the past twenty-seven years, has passed through the panicky times of 1893 and again in 1907, remaining in the best financial con- dition through it all. and coming out, figuratively speaking, with drums beating and colors flying. Today its stockholders aggre- gate a personal responsibility of over $2,000,000. Many of our best and most prosperous and wealthy farmers are shareholders in this bank, adding much to its popularity. It is now the largest and strongest bank in Renville county and frequently carries upwards of $500,000 in deposits. It, therefore, at all times has ample funds to accommodate all patrons and to finance all their legitimate undertakings. Not only is Ed. O'Connor himself and his brothers, Timothy and William, of Renville, who are asso- ciated with him in this institution, all thorough bankers and con- stitute, with H. O. Agre and A. O. Shrukrud, a board of directors that actually directs, but they have called in and put in charge of their bank two brothers, Oscar Olufson, cashier, and C. M. Olufson, assistant cashier, who are carefully trained, energetic, and practical bankers, with whom it is a pleasure to deal. They have had many years of experience in the banking business and are now well acquainted with local conditions, the cashier having worked in this bank since 1911. A dominant vivie spirit runs through the doings of this institution. They are leaders in com- munity work and every good enterprise and undertaking has at once and without question their moral and material support. Nor is any unfortunate or needy individual of the community ever turned away without cheerful and generous assistance."
Following is a statement of the condition of the bank at the close of business .June 23, 1915: Resources-loans and discounts.
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$333,624.78; overdrafts, $386.59; banking house, furniture and fixtures, $7,850; cash and due from banks, $134,539.68; total, $476,401.05. Liabilities-capital stock and surplus, $45,000; undivided profits, $1,990.82; deposits, $429,410.23; total, $476,- 401.05.
Edward O'Connor, banker, man-of-affairs, and leading citizen, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, September 11, 1861, son of James and Elizabeth (Erickson) O'Connor. Ile was taken to Forest City, Iowa, at the age of six years and there received his school training. It was in the fall of 1880 that he came to Sacred Ileart and soon after started his career here as a grain buyer. Since 1884 his interests have been largely identical with those of the O'Connor Brothers, bankers and land owners. Mr. O'Connor is now president of the Farmers State Bank of Sacred Heart, the MeGrath State Bank of MeGrath, Minnesota, and the Devils Lake State Bank of Devils Lake, North Dakota. In spite of his busy life, Mr. O'Connor has fonnd time for public service for fifteen Years as president of the village of Sacred Heart. Fraternally he affiliates with the Odd Fellows at Renville, the United Work- men and the Modern Woodmen at Sacred Heart, and the Knights of Columbus at Minneapolis. In polities he is a Democrat. A recent publication has said: "Ed O'Connor eame a poor boy from lowa in 1880. He started as a well driller and has worked in various businesses since, but whatsoever he has taken hold of it has prospered and he has made a success of it. Failure is unknown to him. He is energetic and a hard worker and still personally looks after his own affairs as he always has done in the past. lle has built up a remarkable record of achievement from small beginnings, until he together with his brothers now exceed in real estate holdings and in amount of taxes paid on same any other firm in Renville county. Most of his money has been made in real estate, and he has, perhaps, done more than any single person to advance the prices of our lands from $20 per acre to $100. For all his opulence, Ed O'Connor is the same unspoiled man today that he was before he made his wealth. Simple in tastes and democratic in ideal and spirit, he associates freely and on equal footing with farmer, merchant or laborer that comes to his bank. He believes in fair and square dealing only, and his boast is that he never did business with a man but that he conld do business with him again." Mr. O'Connor was married October 27, 1879, to Minnie Blowers, born at Forest City, lowa, April 28, 1865, daughter of John and Sarah (Belt) Blowers. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor have been blessed with seven children : Birdie, Mary, William, Pearl, Wallace, Delilah and Margaret. Birdie was born February 25, 1881. She married T. O. Ramsland, now of Lemmon, South Dakota, and has four children : Evert, Norman (deceased ), Otis and James. Mary was born November 21, 1882,
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