USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 44
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In 1914 R. Goehring was president; J. D. Whitmore, vice-president; Emil Wolbach, treasurer; A. M. Conners, secretary. The executive committee then was R. Goehring, J. D. Whitmore, Emil Wolbach, A. F. Buech- ler, Fred W. Ashton, L. M. Talmage, J. Donald, C. H. Tully, Elmer Williams, C. C. Hansen, C. E. Fuhrer, Oscar Veit, J. L. Cleary, M. L. Dolan, A. J. Denman, C. W. Brininger, E. W. Augustine.
The report of the officers at annual meeting of January 9, 1915, showed the county fair had been put on its feet. The committee which had handled that proposition for the club were A. F. Buechler, D. H. Vantine, L. C. Lawson, J. D. Whitmore and President R. Goehring and Secretary A. M. Conners. State conventions secured for Grand Island in 1914, were the Odd Fellows, G. A. R., poultry show, Pure Breed Horse Dealer's Association, State Commercial Clubs, Lincoln Highway Association, Bakers' convention, Moving Picture men, retail liquor dealers, state druggists and variety merchants meet, and sheriffs of the state.
In 1915 the officers were C. W. Brininger, president, J. L. Cleary, vice-president and chairman of executive committee, A. M. Con- ners, treasurer, Emil Wolbach.
In 1916 J. L. Cleary was president and A. M. Conners secretary. After Mr. Conners left, Wallace L. Mason served as secretary.
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
David Kaufman became president in 1917, and Attorney A. L. Joseph succeeded Mr. Mason as secretary and served for about two years. In 1919 A. E. Nagelstock wes elected pres- ident and August Meyer vice-president. Sec- retary Joseph resigned and after the new budget was subscribed the club again decided to employ a full-time, trained secretary and secured G. S. Otis, who had been secretary at Miles City, Montana, and Sheridan, Wyom- ing, and came to the club well recommended. For sometime the retail merchants' association worked with the same secretary, A. L. Joseph. John R. Geddes as president was succeeded by August Meyer. The executive committee of the Commercial Club in 1919 are E. W. Augustine, Thos. E. Bradstreet, J. L. Cleary, L. Donald, E. Williams, Ed L. Brown, August Meyer, John R. Geddes, E. W. Hurst, A. E. Nagelstock, D. Kaufman, C. W. Brininger, Emil Wolbach, R. Goehring, A. C. Menck, F. W. Ashton, W. E. Clayton. The present membership of the club is shown in the follow- ing report made to the club by the 1919 mem- bership committee:
At the meeting of the executive committee of the Commercial Club last night, the special drive committee reported the result of the work, including alphabetized list of the pres- ent members. The report was received and President Naglestock complimented the com- mittee on its success, and the very agreeable manner in which Grand Island's citizenship responded. On motion of Mr. Brininger and seconded by Mr. August Meyer, the report was adopted, and a vote of thanks tendered to the committee for its services. The report is as follows :
Grand Island, Neb. April 14, 1919.
To the President and Members of the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Commercial Club, Grand Island, Nebraska.
Gentlemen: The special "publicity com- mittee" appointed by you to devise plans and to conduct a drive for a budget of $10,000, at least fifty per cent of which, by your decree, is to be expended for some specific good roads purpose, begs leave to report as follows :
The total amount secured in a drive, for which we adopted the slogan, "Ten Thousand Dollars in Ten Days," is $10,752.50. We did not begin actual drive until the morning after the Commercial Club dinner at the Liederkranz on Thursday evening, March 27th, counting Friday as the first day. The $10,000 mark was passed on the Saturday noon of the week following, or at the ex- piration of eight and a half days. In addi- tion to the list at that time published, the sum of $400 was later added. The drive, thus, also added over one hundred new mem- bers to the roster of the club. The members are as follows :
American Beet Sugar Co.
Anderson, Dr. A. A. Allan & Son, John.
Augustine Co.
Art Furniture Co. Alexander Bros.
Alexander & Son, John.
Arthur, Rev. Louis.
Acme Shining Parlor.
Brandes Garage.
Buell, Frank. Brunswick Cigar Co.
Boeck, Julius.
Boyd's Cleanery.
Bock, R. W.
Buck & Brown.
Bowen Pharmacy. Barr, R. J., Supt. Brown Fruit Co.
Bowell, C. J., 'Architect.
Boyden, Dr. Henry B.
Brown, Dan C.
Brininger, C. W.
Baker, B. H. Bartenbach & Son.
Baumann, H. A., Druggist. Baumann, George T.
Baumann & Evans.
Boehm, Theo. Bradstreet, Thos.
Broadwell, G. W. Bixemann & Duffy.
Bordner & Son, W. S.
Becker Music Co.
Brown, L. C. M. 1
Borders, Ed. Buchheit-O'Lauglin Co.
Blain Horse & Mule Co.
Butler, Dr. Belknap, A. T.
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
Branaman, D. B. Chicago Hide & Fur Co. Carey & Nietfeld. Cowton, George. Central Power Co.
Cleary, J. L.
Clayton Pharmacy. Chollette, Dr., Dentist. Central Storage Co. Clifford, H. E.
City Delivery.
Corl Bros.
Captal Window Cleaners.
Chicago Lumber Co. Cantrell Plumbing Co. Christensen, L. P.
Cords, C. J.
Cunningham, Ben.
Cleary, James.
Cummings Motor Car Co.
Connor, Thos.
Campbell, Lafe F.
Carlson Mattress Co.
Commercial State Bank.
Dill & Huston.
Dunn, F. J., Druggist.
Doran, Claud.
Davies Cafeteria.
Duffy, Bishop.
Decatur & Beegle.
Dolan Fruit Co. Donald Fruit Co.
Dunn, A. L.
Ellsworth, Florist,
Egge, Max J.
Erdburger & Son, R. Ernst Bakery.
Empress Theater. Everhart Rubber Works. Flower & Porterfield. First National Bank. Farnsworth, A. H.
Finch, D. A. Farnsworth, Dr. E. E.
Flippin, Dr. C. Fairmont Creamery Co. Geddes & Co. Geil. D. A. Gates Half Sole Tire Service. Goettsche, Wm. G. I. Model Laundry. G. I. Tire & Rubber Co. Glade Milling Co. G. I. Manufacturing Co. Great Western Chemical Co. Gibbs Auto Co. Galion Iron Works & Mfg. Co. Gaston Music Co. G. I. Motor Co.
Glass-Evans Auto Co. G. I. Horse & Mule Co. G. I. Loan & Trust Co. G. I. National Bank. Geer Co., The G. I. Hide & Fur Co.
.
G. I. Storage & Forwarding Co. G. I. Gas Co. Gitchell-Douglas Co.
G. I. Plumbing Co. G. I. Culvert & Metal Works.
G. I. Dye Works. Greenberger Co., Max.
Good, Chas. H.
G. I. College. Highland Grain Co. .
Houser, C. W.
Hatfield, Dr. H. R.
Humphrey, J. L.
Haux Hardware Co. Hoagland Lumber Yard. Herald Pub. Co. Hald, Fred. Hanna, J. R., Judge. Hansen, H. P.
Hehnke-Lohmann Co. Harrison Co., W. H. Hoeft, Dr. J. F.
Hurst Sash & Door Co. Hanna & Son, J. E.
Higgins & Carson, Drs. Harrison, Ray L. Hord Grain Co., T. B. Heflin, Dr. W. J. Havens Transfer Co. Horth, R. R. Hainline, Walker.
Harrison, T. O. C. Hopkins, J. E.
Harry, Henry. Independent Pub. Co. Isdell, Robt. G. Joseph, A. L. Jessen Pharmacy.
Johnson Seed Co. Jolls Jewelry Store. Kaufmann's 10c Store.
Koehler Hotel. K. & W. Sales Co. Kelly & Co., Wm. Kelso, J. A., Store. Kirschke, Oscar. King, W. R. Krall & Heidkamp.
Kuhr, Dr. H. C. Krehmke Meat Shop. Kunze, Frank. Kalix, Karl, Koehler Hotel. Kruse, Aug.
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
Knickrehm & Sons, John. Krehmke, Chris W. Koch, H. Kuester & Son, R. M. Kelley, P. C. Kallas, James. Kloppenberg & Kraft. Leiser, Geo. A. & Co. Losey Sign Shop. Lyda Theater. Lorentzen, H. J. Leschinsky, J. Loucks, W. H. Loup Valley Packing Co. Locke, Henry. Miller Cafeteria. Manhattan Oil Co. Meyer & Son, Aug.
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Matthews, Thos. Monogram Bakery. McCutchan, John. Menck, A. C. McAllister Co., R. H. McAuley, John. McGrath, Dr. Mullin, Judge J. H. Moore, Dr. Dentist. Miner Livery. Morearty, City Engineer.
Maloney Grocery. Martin & Bros., P., Dry Goods. Meyers, Dr. J. H., Dentist. Monk's Store. Mandarin Cafe. Mayer, Artur C. Miner & Bradley. Mattke & Gorman. Mclaughlin, T. O. Manderille, F. R. Naglestock, A. E. Neumayer L. Neumann, Gus. Nielsen & Petersen. Nebraska State Bank. Nebraska Mercantile Co. Nelson Lumber Co. Nielsen, Niels E. Neligh, Gordon L. Oldsmobile Motor Co. Olsen, Frank. Orleff, L. Palmer, C. J. Paine-Fishburn Granite Co. Paine, Judge Bayard H. Pizer Smart Chop. Penney & Co., J. C. Parks, Dr. L. R. Prompt Printery.
Pulver, C. D. Pfluckhahn, F. Pease Drug Co. Palace Cafe. Prince & Prince. Quillin, W. H. Raymore Candy Co.
Roeser, Oscar.
Ritchey-Freeman Auto Co.
Regan, F. L. Ray, W. W.
Reese, Julius.
Reimers, Oscar.
Rourke, James F.
Row, A. O.
Raynor, Dr. John V.
Ray, R. B.
Royal Chocolate Shop.
Roll, H. C.
Ross, S. D.
Rickert, Emil.
Rief, F. L.
Ryan, C. G.
Smith, Alvin A.
Schweiger Soft Drink Parlor. Schuff & Sons Co.
Slusser, Frank.
Stough, Dale P.
Spethman, Charles.
Scott Barber Shop. State Bank of G. I.
· Sonderup, S. M. Scheffel & Sons Monument Co. Standard Oil Co. Sanitary Grocery Co. Schumacher & Son. Star Meat Market. Star Grocery. Sterne, A. W. Singer Sewing Machine Co. Sears, A. D. Sprague, Roy. Schultz, Albert J. Savoy Hotel. Suhr, Wm. Sneller, Dr. Schacht, Conrad. Sorensen, Pete. Schuster, Arthur.
Sink Cigar Co., John W.
Tully Fence Co., C. H.
Treat, Lawrence. Thompson Co., O. C.
Teeter & Homan. Third City Bottling Co. Thompson & Thompson. Tucker Bros. Tucker & Farnsworth. Uneeda Grocery.
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
Union Stock Yards Co. Upperman, Louis E. Veit. Co., Louis. Veit, Wm. Vallier, Dr. Thos. Valonis, Gus. Vondolien, L. Voss, Henry.
West End Grocery. Woelz, Chas. Willman's Clothes Shop. Woodin, Dr. J. G. Woodruff, Dr. R. C. Wolbach & Sons, S. N.
Wengert, Dr. H. C. West Feed Store, J. W. Watson, Dr. E. A. Weir, Chas., Trainmaster. Wells, Oscar.
Wabel, Geo. Woolworth Co., F. W. Woolstenholm, J. A. Wooley, J. H. Williams, Florist. Yost Lumber Co., J. H. York, Ray E. Younkin, E. F. Zieg, H. P.
Since Mr. Otis took charge a credit bureau and a rate and traffic bureau have been es- tablished and the activities of the club organ- ized and extended. The club now occupies five rooms in the Connor building as its quarters and holds frequent banquets at the Auditorium (Liederkranz Hall).
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CHAPTER XVI
BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF HALL COUNTY
STATE CENTRAL - CITIZENS STATE BANK - GRAND ISLAND BANKING COMPANY - CHARLES F. BENTLEY - GEORGE B. BELL - THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK (GRAND ISLAND) - THE BANK OF COMMERCE - THE SECURITY NATIONAL BANK - THE COMMERCIAL STATE BANK - STATE BANK OF GRAND ISLAND - NEBRASKA STATE BANK - PEOPLE'S STATE BANK - BANK OF DONIPHAN -COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE BANKOF DONIPHAN - ALDA STATE BANK - FAR- MERS STATE BANK, ALDA - CAIRO STATE BANK - FARMERS . STATE BANK (CAIRO) - BUILD- ING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS - EQUITABLE - PEOPLE'S - WOOD RIVER - OTHER FI-
NANCIAL INSTITUTIONS - TRUST COMPANIES - GRAND ISLAND - NEBRASKA
.STATE CENTRAL - CITIZENS' STATE BANK
The pioneer financial institution of Hall County was the old State Central Bank, organ- ized by Henry A. Koenig in 1871. H. A. Koenig was president and Dorr Heffleman, cashier, and the capital stock was placed at $45,000. In 1873 the State Central Bank of Nebraska advertised in the Daily Evening Times, "Capital $45,000. Authorized Capital, $200,000. Pays interest on time deposits. Special attention given to Collections. Pays taxes for non-residents. Sole agents in this region for all the principal steamer lines. Deals in foreign and domestic exchange." F. A. Wiebe was president and Dorr Heffle- man, cashier. Henry A. Koenig, the founder and first president of this bank, was then serving as state treasurer of Nebraska. In 1876 when banks through Nebraska were few and far between Dr. J. P. Patterson, in his centennial sketch of Grand Island, commented on Grand Island having a bank in this manner : "Let people say what they will, banks are a great convenience to the public, and this is no exception, and perhaps if every individual would figure as closely as bankers, they would not need their aid so often."
This bank weathered the perils of the string- ent financial times following the panic of 1873 and various visitations of the grasshoppers
through the 'seventies. In 1865 there were only seven banks doing business in Nebraska. At the time of the great panic in 1873 there were only twenty-five banks in Nebraska, eight national and seventeen private banks. The other seven national banks in the state then were: First National of Brownville; Otoe County National at Nebraska City; First National (Kountze Bros.) and· Omaha Na- tional (J. H. Millard, president) at Omaha ; First National (Tootle & Hanna), Platts- mouth; First National (Cobb & Sudduth, 1868) and State National, 1872, (Jas. Sweet & Brock, 1868) Lincoln. State and private banks were in existence at Beatrice, Blair, Columbus, Crete, Fremont, Madison, Norfolk, Pawnee City, Tecumseh, West Point, Neligh. So.it will be seen that the State Central Bank of . Nebraska at Grand Island was a pioneer among the banks of the state. Mr. Koenig continued as the head of the State Central Bank and its successor, the Citizens National Bank, during practically its entire career, except for the time he was state treasurer, when he had to relinquish that office for that period.
In 1887 the Citizens National was operat- ing on a $60,000 capital, and its officers were Henry A. Koenig, president, William Hagge, vice-president, D. H. Veiths, cashier, George Digitized by
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
A. Mohrenstecher assistant cashier. This bank was located in the Koenig building, at the corner of Third and Locust, where the State Bank of Grand Island is now located. In 1892 the cashier was Geo. A. Mohren- stecher, and the directors were John L. Means, Henry A. Koenig, O. A. Abbott, Gust Koehler, William A. Hagge, A. H. Baker and Geo. M. Mohrenstecher. The directorate remained the same through 1893 and into 1894. The statement of this bank issued October 3, 1893, a short time before the bank went under through its failure to withstand the pressure of the panic of that time, showed :
.
RESOURCES
Loans and discounts. $274,419.91
Real estate, furniture and fixtures. 11,847.19
Due from various sources, money on hand, etc. 25,691.04
Total resources $349,078.30
LIABILITIES
Capital stock $ 60,000 00
Surplus fund
34,200.00
Deposits 346,530.09
Total liabilities $349,078.30
After the failure, when Comptroller Eckles assessed the stockholders $1,000 upon each share, those held responsible under that as- sessment, and the number of shares of stock they then held were: Henry A. Koenig, 23; Wm. A. Hagge, 12; G. A. Mohrenstecher, 41/2 ; O. A. Mohrenstecher, 1; Mary Mohren- stecher, 2; A. H. Baker, 31/2 ; John L. Means, 5; Henry Mayer, 1; Gust Koehler, 1; T. Morseman, 1; B. Lombard, 3; A. W. Ocka- bock, 2. Hall County in settlement of its deposit, secured the property at First and Locust upon which the present court house is situated and which had been the Koenig home.
Thus even with its unfortunate ending, this institution served to carry the community through the early years of the troublesome 'seventies without any other bank in the county to assist or compete with it.
THE GRAND ISLAND BANKING COMPANY
The State Central Bank remained without competition until 1879, when the Grand Island Banking Company was organized, and in- corporated in 1880 with S. A. Peterson, G. A. Packer, C. P. Packer, J. P. Kernohan, J. G. Glazier and J. E. Hopper stockholders. C. P. Packer was succeeded as president of the company by S. A. Peterson, and J. P. Kerno- han, the first cashier, by George B. Bell. In 1890 there were twenty-seven stockholders and the capital was then $110,000. It began business with a capital of $40,000. In 1887 S. A. Peterson was still president, O. A. Ab- bott was vice-president, Geo. B. Bell, cashier, and W. B. Carey, assistant cashier. The directors during the early 'nineties were S. A. Peterson, Geo. B. Bell, J. W. Thompson, Chas. G. Ryan and Blake C. Howard. W. A. Heim- berger was assistant cashier in 1894. In 1897 the officers were, S. A. Peterson, president, J. W. Thompson, vice-president, G. B. Bell, cashier, and W. A. Heimberger, assistant cashier, and the directors were S. A. Peter- son, J. W. Thompson, B. C. Howard, Chas. G. Ryan, Geo. T. Berry, and G. B. Bell. Albert Etting became a director between then and 1902. In 1904, the head officers of the bank were still S. A. Peterson, president, J. W. Thompson, vice-president, and G. B. Bell, cashier. I. R. Alter had become assistant cashier prior to 1907. About ten years ago the first very radical change in the manage- ment of this bank occurred. The name was changed to The Grand Island National Bank, and C. C. Hansen, who had been a successful banker in Howard County and through Central Nebraska purchased stock in the insti- tution, and was elected president. Mr. Bell also left the bank and T. J. Hansen was made cashier. J. W. Thompson remained for a few years longer as vice-president; E. M. Brass also became a vice-president, F. J. Cleary a short time later became assistant cashier. Charles G. Ryan remained as attorney, and Fred W. Ashton, M. L. Dolan, A. M. Hargis, local men, went onto the directorate. A. J. Guendel later became an assistant cashier also.
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
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In 1916 the officers remained the same as July 14, 1898 ... they had been in 1914, C. C. Hansen, president, Dec. 2, 1899. E. M. Brass, and J. W. Thompson, vice- Nov. 25, 1902. . presidents, T. J. Hansen, cashier, A. J. July 17, 1901 .... Guendel, assistant cashier, except that L. R. Brininger had succeeded Frank J. Cleary as cashier. W. H. Luers secured stock in the bank and became assistant cashier after A. J. Guendel left this institution.
Another sweeping set of changes occured in the history of this institution, late in 1917, when through the sale of stock from the Hansen interests to Messrs. Thomas, Griess and Luers, a general shifting was made in the officers. C. C. Hansen became chairman of the board, Theo. Griess, president, George H. Thomas, vice-president, T. J. Hansen, vice- president, W. H. Luers, cashier. These gentle- men are the present officers of the bank, with Harry C. Hee, Chas. F. Bryer and J. W. Thompson, Jr., as assistant cashiers, and F. W. Ashton, Richard Goehring and Otto L. Mattke as directors. Mr. Mattke was elected at the beginning of 1919, succeeding E. M. Brass. Messrs. Thomas and Griess came to Grand Island from Harvard, Nebraska.
This bank for many years occupied the building at the southwest corner of Third and Wheeler, now the Strasser block. Five years ago it moved into the present quarters in the remodeled Glover building, 302 W. Third.
This bank was one of the two out of the five of the city that, under the Bell manage- ment, weathered the financial storm of the 'nineties. Indicative of the ebb and flow of that financial tide, a few quotations from the statements of a ten year period, from 1892 to 1902, show the career of this bank in those troublesome times :
Total
Year
Loans and discounts
Deposits
resources $229,107.48
April 28, 1894 ... 194,788.50
105,490.50
241,370.49
April 27, 1895 ... 176,203.00
106,119.09
237,675.00
March 30, 1896 .. 165,192.68
91,545.68
227,672.72 224,307.74
June 30, 1896. ..
Dec. 31, 1896 ... 141,974.54
69,6/7.35
201,766.95
May 26, 1897 146,391.65
69,269.68
200,695.84
Sept. 8, 1897
135,617.04
98,185.18
231,507.50
130,796.55
265,144.80
146,356.61
280,398.76
162,229.85
278,717.41
208,905.08 337,403.90
In vivid contrast to the conditions of the 'nineties, stand the statements of this bank for the last five years :
Deposits Total resources
September 12, 1914.
$ 740,588
$1,058,085
September 2, 1915.
935,862
1,255,944
November 17, 1916
1,000,264
1,530,550
September 11, 1917
1,420,586
1,776,405
November 1, 1918
1,247,813
1,758,554
May 12, 1919.
1,369,510
1,911,470
A very important transaction in the history of the institution took place in July, 1919, whereby the controlling interest of the Grand Island National Bank held by George T. Thomas and Theodore Griess was sold to the following gentlemen : C. J. Miles of Hastings, Nebraska, W. H. Luers, J. W. Thompson, Jr., F. W. Ashton, Otto Mattke, Richard Goehr- ing, Sr., Juergen Knuth, Gustav Sievers, Albert Quandt, T. A. Brandes, Richard Neurnberger, E. L. Brown, Rudolph Siebert, Fred Willman, C. F. Dryer, Percy N. Gorman, H. C. Hee, Wm. Scheffel, Emil Wegner, Gus E. Neuman. At that time the Independent stated :
The many interests in common which Messrs. Thomas and Griess are identified with in Harvard, Nebraska, made it practically impossible for them to devote all of their time in Grand Island, and appreciating the importance that as such officers of the bank it was incumbent upon them to have their homes in Grand Island, and finding that this could not very well be arranged, they con- cluded to accept the offer that was made to them by Mr. Miles and his associates to purchase from them the control. Under this arrangement, Mr. Miles will move to this city very shortly, and commencing on Septem- ber 1st will assume the presidency of the bank, and will from that time be actively en- gaged at the bank in that capacity.
The career of Mr. Miles is one continued series of successes. Coming from Hastings in 1895 as general sales manager of the Cambria Coal Company, he became the owner of a line of grain elevators in 1898, and still con- tinues to hold his interests in that business. He became mayor of Hastings in 1902 and held that official position until 1913, during Digitized by
Sept. 15, 1893 ... $185,501.83
$123,527.62
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
which time he was active in all that pertained to the advancement of Hastings and its inter- ests. He has been a director in the First National Bank of Hastings since 1895, was supreme councillor of the United Commercial Travelers from 1905 to 1906, and has passed through all the chairs of that order, state and national. . He is president of the Grand River Coal Company, president of the Missouri Electric, Gas & Water Company, president of the Eustis Electric Light & Power Company, and also president of the Grand Island Gas Company. He is a thorough and conservative business man and banker. Mr. Miles has been instrumental to a great extent in the progressive upbuilding of Hastings, and is a man thoroughly active and aggressive for the furtherance of each and every enterprize that he learns is coming to his locality or that is already there.
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Associated with Mr. Miles in the active management of the bank will be Mr. W. H. Luers and Mr. Jay Thompson, son of J. W. Thompson, formerly vice-president of the bank, both of whom are well and favorably known that a further introduction would be unnecessary.
CHARLES F. BENTLEY
The next entrance into the banking circles of Hall County was that made by the establish- ment of a private bank by Charles F. Bentley. In 1880 Mr. Bentley, then of Freeport, Illinois, came to Omaha, Nebraska and there Senator Joseph H. Millard, of the Omaha National Bank, recommended to him that Grand Island would be a fine opening for a bank, so he came here and opened a private bank. Before we take up the history of the First National, one of the two banks that survived the financial storms of the 'nineties and which he served for twenty-six years as cashier and director, it is fitting to pause to sketch the life career of this man. Not only in banking circles but through- out a great many other activities related in this volume his record of service is touched upon.
Charles Frederick Bentley, was born in Lon- don, England, July 4, 1843. His grandfather, Peter Bentley, was of an old Yorkshire family. During the greater part of his life he was an excise officer of the crown, and when age pre- vented further attention to the duties of his office he was retired on a pension. He died at the age of seventy-seven, having been for very
many years a worthy member and an ardent supporter of the Methodist church. One of his sons was Peter Johnson Bentley, who, when a youth, left Yorkshire for London to enter the employ of an uncle. Accompanied part of the way by his father, he left home on foot and walked to York, completing his journey from that place to London by stage coach. Some years later he became a member of the whole- sale dry-goods firm of Robert Bentley & Co. in
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C. F. BENTLEY
Cheapside, London. This firm for many years held a prominent place among the wholesale dry goods firms of that city. In 1851, owing to failing health, he emigrated to America, going first to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where two of his brothers lived. A little later in the same year he moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he purchased a home, invested the means he had brought with him, and lived quietly and free from business cares during the remainder of his life. The home that he bought in 1851 he occupied with his family un- til his death in 1898. In 1901 his children sold the old homestead to the city of Freeport to be used as a site for the public library build-
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
ing, toward which Andrew Carnegie donated $35,000. His wife, Ann Sarah Harvey, to whom he was married when she was twenty- five years of age, was the daughter of the cap- tain of an English merchantman and had been left fatherless in her youth. She became the mother of four children, and died in Freeport in 1856. Her oldest child was Charles F. Bentley.
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