USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
THE GUILFORD TIMES.
The Times was established April 1, 1905, and has proven itself no April fool joke, coming out regularly since then, chuck full of hope, news and ad- vertisements. It was founded by Gray & Tullock and the present publisher is G. C. Skidmore, who claims the distinction of being the youngest news- paper owner in the county, his age being twenty-two years. Mr. Skidmore was born in Guilford and, although a Democrat in politics, he runs an inde- pendent paper and prides himself on the fact that he will not run a patent medicine or whiskey advertisement in his paper. He has a wife and two children, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and, while a member of no religious denomination, leans towards the Methodist Episco- pal church South. A. D. Barret is connected with the Times as associate editor and the paper covers its territory very satisfactorily.
THE CLYDE TIMES.
The Clyde Times was established by J. B. Stanley in 1891, and since then Frank McCarty (now a banker of Clyde), Moore Brothers, Frank O'Connor, Frank Percy. O. R. Proctor (now a hardware dealer of Clyde). James C. Sager (now in the commission business in St. Joseph). James B Cummins and I. N. Long have been at the head of the paper.
I. N. Long, the present publisher, is a German and was born forty-three years ago. He is married, has one child and is a member of no church, lean- ing toward the "independent church." He gives his paper close attention and sticks to the idea that a local newspaper should be helpful to its own people and to reflect the ideas of the day in a terse and interesting manner.
Mr. Long belongs to no secret orders.
THE RAVENWOOD GAZETTE.
The Gazette was founded September 4, 1891, by P. S. Moores and he was succeeded by Dr. E. Neff. who sold the paper to the present publisher, Oliver E. Smith, Doctor Neff going to St. Joseph to associate himself with the Daily
219
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Live Stock Journal. Mr. Smith gets out a good local paper and stands high with his people. He was born in Nodaway county, is forty-one years old, married, but has no children. In politics he is a Democrat and was post- master at Ravenwood during Grover Cleveland's first administration. He is not a member of any church, though declaring that all are good. Mr. Smith is first vice-president of the Northwest Missouri Press Association and will become its president, no doubt, in 1910.
He is also prominent in the Odd Fellows and Woodman of the World lodges.
THE PARNELL SENTINEL.
The Sentinel was founded in 1887 by Frank Griffin, of Maryville, who put his daughter, Pearl Griffin, in charge, and the present publisher, Lionel G. Gooden, became its owner in 1900, enlarging the paper from a five to a seven-column folio. It is one of the best equipped offices in the county, con- taining a cylinder press, gasoline engine and other material to match. In politics, Mr. Gooden is a Democrat, but the paper is independent. He was born near Dover, Delaware, December 14, 1864, where he grew to manhood. He attended a Methodist college at Dover for three years and then took a four-years course in a job printing office of the capital city. He came to Missouri in 1889. His first newspaper experience here was at Fairfax, where he remained two years, after which he engaged in newspaper work at Mary- ville, Stanberry, Burlington Junction, Sheridan and other places. He is now mayor of Parnell, secretary of the Mutual Telephone Company, clerk of the school board, and writes insurance for pastime. He is also a lodge man, being a member of the Odd Fellows, Masons, Woodmen, Yeomen, Rebekahs, Eastern Star and Encampment lodges and has held high positions in all of them. He was representative to the grand lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for two terms and is now district deputy grand master for the one hundred and fiftieth district. Mr. Gooden is married and has one child, a son of nineteen years of age. While a member of no church, he favors the Presbyterians.
THE HOPKINS JOURNAL.
Aside from the Republican and Democrat at Maryville, the Journal is the oldest paper in the county, being founded in 1875 by James M. Pierce and A. G. Lucas. Mr. Pierce is now owner of the Iowa Homestead at DesMoines, one of the greatest agricultural papers in the West, and Mr. Lucas is at
220
PAST AND PRESENT
the head of a successful paper at Buffalo, Wyoming. The present editor and publisher of the Journal, W. L. Moorhead, took charge of the paper in 1893 and has conducted it since that time. The Journal is located on the ground floor in its own building and has an improved Campbell cylinder press and a gas engine. The editor is a native Missourian, being born at Shelbyville, May 16, 1866, and, aside from several years spent on metropolitan papers, he has been engaged in country newspaper work in Nebraska and Kansas as well as in Missouri. Besides editing the Journal, Mr. Moorhead is postmaster of Hopkins, being appointed in 1910 by President William H. Taft. He is married and has two children.
THE SKIDMORE NEW ERA.
The New Era was established in the early eighties by B. F. Campbell and has had but three other publishers, W. J. Skidmore, Ray Stickler, and D. R. Baker, who is now in charge of the paper. Mr. Baker was born in Nod- away county about forty five years ago, being reared on a farm. He secured his education at College Springs and Shenandoah, Iowa, and taught school for a number of years, being principal of the Elmo school in this county some years ago, and was also editor of the Register of that city. He was nominated for circuit clerk of Nodaway county by the Democrats some twelve years ago. but went down to defeat with the rest of the ticket. He received the highest vote on his ticket, however, and his opponent was elected by the smallest ma- jority of anyone on the Republican ticket, attesting Mr. Baker's popularity. He was cashier of the Bank of Skidmore for three years, leaving this posi- tion to accept a higher one with the Willard Wholesale Lumber Company, of Portland, Oregon, which position he held for six years, having his office and headquarters in St. Louis two years, Portland two years and San Francisco two years. Not being able to shake off the fascination of conducting a news- paper, he bought the New Era in October, 1908, and has since doubled the subscription list and greatly improved the paper. He issues a souvenir edition each holiday season and the one of 1909 was one of great merit, consisting of twenty-eight pages, printed on book paper with a handsome cover. Skidmore and surrounding territory was nicely written up and the paper contained ninety-five half-tones of prominent business men and citizens. The paper was gotten out in the New Era office, too, Mr. Baker having a cylinder press and gas engine. In politics Mr. Baker is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. He is married and has two childen, a girl ten years old and a boy four.
221
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
THE ELMO REGISTER.
The Register was founded May 1, 1890, by Charles Bloom and D. R. Baker and is a five-column quarto paper, strictly local in its character. W. A. Chamberlain, now with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, W. E. John, a prom- inent real estate man of Omaha, and S. M. Wood, deceased, have been con- nected with the paper at different times. The Elmo Echo was established by W. E. Gladman some years ago, but was short lived. The present pub- lisher of the Register, J. S. Wood, is prominent in the county, having served as county assessor, public administrator, county road and bridge commis- sioner and has been a justice of the peace almost continuously since 1897. He is a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow. He was born in Kentucky Jan- uary 8, 1845. He is a widower, with four living children, member of the Christian church and serves on the official board of that organization. Mr. Wood is a pronounced Republican, but does not let politics creep into his paper.
BARNARD BULLETIN.
The Barnard Bulletin is now on its twenty-third volume. It is a seven- column folio sheet, creditable to the town and community in which it is pub- lished. It is owned and edited by J. L. Gillett, but of late it is understood that a change in proprietorship will be made soon. As the editor has failed to furnish any data this is all that can be said concerning the paper.
CHAPTER XVI.
BANKS AND BANKING.
By Geo. L. Wilfley.
The people of Nodaway county have just reason to be proud of the record made by her banks. After forty-two years of business, there is but the failure of one small bank to record in which depositors suffered a loss- that of Barnard. The splendid showing may be attributed, partially at least, to the intelligence, industry and high moral spirit of her citizens in general from among whom her business men naturally were developed. One of the most highly respected and honored citizens of today in Maryville is George S. Baker, who was the pioneer in the county in banking business, and is yet connected with one of our most prosperous banks. While Mr. Baker is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Madison county, that state, in 1836. he has spent practically all his life here. Others of the worthy pioneers who followed Mr. Baker closely in the early days of the business and who assisted in placing it on a high plane were Joseph Jackson and Theo. L. Robinson. Mr. Jackson is still engaged in the business, while Mr. Robinson has passed on to the Great Beyond. While these men were active in establishing the business on its exceptionally solid and substantial basis in Maryville, other towns in the county rapidly fell into line. Hopkins was the first, followed a few years later by Burlington Junction, and then the other towns as the county devel- oped, by the building of its railroads and settlement by thrifty farmers, thus creating a demand for more banking houses.
BEFORE BANKING DAYS.
In the language of another it may be said: "The first bank to be es- tablished in Nodaway county was in 1868, but prior to that date other means was provided by which the limited banking transactions were successfully carried on. From the earliest settlement of Nodaway county, down to the date just mentioned, such transactions as are usually carried on through the banks of the county were cared for by the larger stores and mercantile houses
223
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in the town of Maryville. When a person had a check or draft sent him in payment of some obligation, in place of depositing it at the bank, or having it cashed there, he usually took the paper to the larger dealer-a merchant who knew him-and there either had it cashed or exchanged for such goods as he might be in need of. In turn, if it was a draft and easily negotiated, the merchant would send the same, with others, on to some one of the larger commercial centers, St. Joseph, Kansas City or St. Louis, possibly, and there he was given credit on his account, and later other goods were shipped him for the same.
"But as the country settled up and money transactions became numerous. some of the larger merchants who had been handling such business in some sections of the country started banks themselves, and thus the people soon be- came accustomed to banking usages, and it was not long before every good- sized town supported such an institution.
"Again, much of the early-day business was little more than barter. wherein one person would exchange so much of this or that commodity for so much of some other kind of produce or merchandise. However, taxes and postage were then, as now, always cash, had to be forthcoming, and it was for this emergency that everyone had to provide money, which was not always an easy task before the days of railroads and nearby markets. In those pioneer days interest reached in many sections as high a rate as forty per cent., but when one wanted to secure a valuable tract of land at a nominal sum, it was not more begrudged than the lesser rate is today, for the invest- ment was even then a chance of a lifetime to the man who had to pay such interest. But be it said to the credit of the Nodaway county bankers, that these excessive rates obtained before banking days here, and it was simply a a matter of supply and demand, and at times was a matter of an elastic conscience upon the part of the money-lender, regardless of whom it might distress."
THE FIRST BANK.
The first bank in Nodaway county was the one established at Maryville, in 1868, by George S. Baker, James B. Prather, E. S. Stephenson, Joseph E. Alexander and William C. Orear, under the style of George S. Baker & Company. In 1870 William C. Orear sold his interest to John O. Martin. In 1873 George S. Baker and John O. Martin sold their shares to Theodore L. Robinson and J. C. Waterman. At that date the name of the bank was changed to the Nodaway Valley Bank, with James B. Prather as its presi-
224
PAST AND PRESENT
dent, and Theodore L. Robinson, cashier. Later, the interests of Messrs. Waterman, Stephenson and Alexander were sold to Prather and Robinson.
The present capital of the bank is one hundred thousand dollars. Its present officers are James V. Robinson, president, and J. D. Richey, cashier. The location is the same site of the old banking house, at the corner of South Main and Third streets. Their present banking building was erected in 1901.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The First National Bank of Maryville was the outgrowth of the business started by an organization April 17, 1871, by H. C. French and H. C. Fisher, private bankers, under the name of Fisher & French. It was located in the first story of the building later occupied by the Maryville Republican office.
On September 23, 1872, H. C. French sold his interest to Joseph Jackson and John C. Terhune. The bank was then organized under the name of Fisher, Jackson & Company, with Joseph Jackson as president and H. C. Fisher, cashier. In 1874 they built the present bank building. September 17, 1877. Mr. Fisher sold his interest to Messrs. Jackson and Terhune, when Mr. Ter- hune became cashier. The name was then changed to the Farmers Bank. with a paid-up capital of fifty thousand dollars.
The capital was increased later to one hundred thousand dollars, and Joseph Jackson was elected president. The bank was organized as the First National Bank of Maryville in 1884 and in 1885 Mr. Terhune sold his interest to Mr. Jackson. The present officers are Joseph Jackson, Sr., president ; Joseph Jackson, Jr., cashier. The capital still remains one hundred thousand dollars, and they occupy the building erected in 1874, on the southeast corner of South Main and Third streets.
MARYVILLE NATIONAL BANK.
The Maryville National Bank was organized in 1889, but its history reaches back to 1874, when the banking business of Baker, Saunders & Com- pany was organized on the site of the present Maryville National Bank, at the northwest corner of North Main and Fourth streets, the owners of the first banking house being George S. Baker, John Saunders and Richard Saunders. In 1880 Richard Saunders sold his interest to George S. Baker and John Saunders. In 1887 George L. Wilfley and Elmer Fraser secured an interest in the business. John Saunders having died in 1889. the business
225
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
was reorganized as the Maryville National Bank, with George S. Baker, pres- ident ; George L. Wilfley, cashier. From 1892 to 1896 John Lieber was pres- ident of this bank, and was succeeded in 1896 by George L. Wilfley, with Elmer Fraser as cashier.
In the month of March, 1902. S. G. Gillam, C. D. Bellows and W. C. Pierce secured a large block of the stock in this bank and were elected directors and Mr. Pierce succeeded Mr. Fraser as cashier. Another change was ef- fected in January, 1905, when S. H. Kemp, who had been cashier in the First National Bank of Maryville for fifteen years, was elected cashier to succeed Mr. Pierce and he still retains the position.
The first twenty-year charter of this highly successful bank expired in February, 1910, and has been renewed for a term of twenty years more. The capital is one hundred thousand dollars, it having been increased in 1905 from fifty thousand dollars. The business has grown immensely and during the last five years has fully doubled its volume of business.
REAL ESTATE BANK.
The Real Estate Bank of Maryville was organized in 1896 by George S. Baker, George B. Baker and Mrs. Maud Tate. In 1904 it was incorporated as a state bank, with E. J. Williams president and George B. Baker cashier, and they are both holding such positions now. The capital of this bank is now thirty thousand dollars. The location of the bank is on the northeast corner of East Fourth and Market streets. It will be seen that the founder of the first banking house in Maryville. George S. Baker, is still engaged in a like business today, having been thus associated with different concerns since 1868, covering a period of forty-two years.
BANK OF HOPKINS.
The first bank in Nodaway county, outside of Maryville, was the Bank of Hopkins, organized in 1873 by Goodsill Brothers and F. Dunning, who carried on the business until 1877, when a joint-stock company was formed. with Alexander Goodsill as president and Edward Donlin cashier. In July, 1877. W. Dunning became president and the same year J. C. Powell became cashier, serving until January, 1880, when he was succeeded by C. W. Tay- lor. In 1881 this bank had a capital of fifteen thousand dollars, which has been increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. Its present officers are E. C. Wolfers. president, and C. E. Donlin, cashier.
(15)
226
PAST AND PRESENT
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Hopkins was organized and opened for business November 1, 1900, with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars. as a private bank, with Chester S. Martin, president, and J. S. Stewart, cashier, thus continuing until April 18, 1906, at which time the business was bought and organized as a state bank, with James C. Pistole, president; W. A. Alexander, vice-president : Charles R. Whitton, cashier. The capital was ten thousand dollars : loans, thirty-one thousand nine hundred and six dollars : deposits, forty-two thousand six hundred and forty-three dollars. The bank is doing an excellent business and is managed by Albert F. Mutti, president : W. W. Alexander, vice-president ; James C. Pistole, cashier. The loans now amount to one hundred and four thousand one hundred and thirty-one dol- lars ; deposits, one hundred and six thousand seven hundred dollars.
BURLINGTON JUNCTION BANKS.
The first bank founded at Burlington Junction was in 1879, known as Ware's Commercial Bank. It was established by J. H. Ware, Sr., and J. H. Ware, Jr., and occupied a frame building on East Main street. In 1880 they built the two-story brick building now occupied by the First National Bank and moved into it. It was conducted as a private bank. In 1890 the bank was sold to George C. Epsy & Son, who still conducted it as a private bank. and who in the same year sold to E. F. Berry and associates, of Rockland. Maine, who organized under the state laws with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. In 1906 this bank (still called the Commercial Bank) was merged with the Northwestern Bank of Burlington Junction.
THE NORTHWESTERN BANK OF MISSOURI.
This bank was organized April 6, 1883. by James Rankin, J. M. Martin. J. W. Gardner and others, with William H. Davis as president and I. M. Martin cashier, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. January 1. 1895, the capital was reduced from fifty thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dol- lars, which it is today. The surplus is nine thousand dollars and the officers are D. T. Garrett, president, Enos Fast, vice-president, and R. N. Barber. cashier.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BURLINGTON JUNCTION.
The early history of the First National Bank of Burlington Junction is as follows: In 1880 a private bank was established known as the Merchants Bank; it was located in a little brick building across from the old North-
227
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
western Bank building, by a Mr. Miller, who was succeeded in 1883 by the Northwestern Bank, incorporated with a capital of fifty thousand dollars with W. H. Davis president and J. W. Martin, cashier. In 1902 the capital was reduced to twenty-five thousand dollars, its present amount. Its officers are D. T. Garrett, president ; Enos Fast, vice-president : R. N. Barber, cashier. The present surplus is ten thousand dollars.
After the merger of the Commercial Bank with the Northwestern in 1896, there was but one bank in Burlington Junction, but in the spring of 1900 the Junction Bank, incorporated, was organized and commenced busi- ness in the location of the old Commercial Bank, with a capital of ten thou- sand dollars, with Joseph Maltby as president ; J. F. Robertson, vice-president, and C. I. Hann, cashier. In June, 1902, the bank was nationalized with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. Its present officers are : Charles D. Caldwell, president : C. B. Zarn, vice-president : C. I. Hann, cashier. Besides the capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, the bank has a surplus of twenty thousand dollars.
FARMERS BANK OF SKIDMORE.
The Farmers Bank of Skidmore was brought into existence in the fol- lowing manner : The first attempt at banking in Skidmore was when Hawley H. Nash, an old resident of the town. and James P. Dike. a young New Yorker, conducted a bank for a year or more, in a store building near the depot. later building a banking house of their own, which is at present oc- cupied by the Farmers Bank. Finally. W. J. Skidmore bought and conducted this bank three months and sold to R. M. Stephenson. of Tarkio, Missouri. Louis Hax, of St. Joseph. and others. These gentlemen organized under the state banking laws of Missouri, with a capital of ten thousand dollars. com- mencing to do business and continued until July. 1905. when the majority of the stock was acquired by Robert Montgomery, of Oregon, and H. W. Montgomery. of Skidmore, who has been cashier of the institution for the past seventeen years. The charter number of the bank is 842 and the capital remains the same as originally. while they have a surplus of five thousand dollars. It enjoys a steady growth and the fullest confidence among the people of the community. having never had any difficulty in times of financial flurries.
The present officers are : Robert Montgomery, president : H. W. Mont- gomery. cashier. Deposits average about one hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars, which is indeed a good showing.
228
PAST AND PRESENT
THE BANK OF SKIDMORE.
The Bank of Skidmore was organized March 28. 1904, with the follow- ing officers : D. W. Porter, president ; J. B. Ross, cashier and secretary, and E. M. Miller, vice-president. The capital stock is ten thousand dollars and the present officers are: W. R. Linville, president: Aaron Linville, vice- president, and W. S. Linville, cashier. The present capital is ten thousand dollars ; surplus and undivided profits, three thousand five hundred dollars ; deposits, eighty thousand dollars; loans, sixty-five thousand dollars. This institution is doing a good banking business and handles its finances in a conservative manner, thus insuring the public of its honesty and ability to handle their money.
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK OF ELMO.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Elmo was established as a private bank by John S. Bilby and E. H. Ralston, in 1889, with a capital of five thousand dollars. Mr. Bilby was its president and E. H. Ralston, cashier. In February. 1897, it was incorporated into a state bank with a capital of ten thousand dollars, with E. H. Ralston as cashier and director and A. C. Dredge and William M. Johnston as directors. A year or two later the capital stock was increased to twenty thousand dollars. Then E. H. Ralston was elected president and E. J. Bender, cashier. The officers at this date are: George P. Shoptaugh, president ; George W. Walton, cashier; S. G. Gillam. C. J. Colden and George P. Shoptaugh, directors.
THE FARMERS STATE BANK OF CONCEPTION JUNCTION.
This banking institution was organized in 1905 with a capital of ten thousand dollars. It was organized by the farmers of the community in which Conception Junction is situated and it is today doing an excellent business. Its officers are: E. H. Ralston, president; Edward Allen, vice- president : A. E. Burton, cashier.
CITIZENS BANK OF GRAHAM.
This, the first and only bank ever established at Graham, was established in March, 1892. with the following officers: Dr. M. M. Rhoades, president : Charles H. Talbott, cashier.
229
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
The present officers are : William G. Wilson, president; A. C. Snyder, vice-president: J. M. Wilson, cashier. This bank has a capital of twenty thousand dollars : surplus and undivided profits, ten thousand dollars ; deposits. one hundred and thirty thousand dollars.
At first the capital was but twenty thousand dollars. It has had a steady growth.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.