USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 28
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of state banks, secured by state bonds, which furnished a good cur- rency. Then came the war with the greenback.
THE COLUMBUS STATE BANK
The first attempt at the banking business in Columbus was made by Leander Gerrard and Julius A. Reed, who in July, 1871, opened a private bank on the north side of the town. Early in 1873, Abner Turner and George W. Hulst entered into partnership for the con- duct of a private bank and began business on the south side. On the 31st day of July, 1875, the two banks consolidated and organ- ized the Columbus State Bank, the original stockholders of which were Leander Gerrard, Edward A. Gerrard, Julius Reed, Abner Turner, and George W. Hulst. It had been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, July 28, 1875, with a capital stock of $50,000, divided into shares of $500 each.
The first board of directors consisted of the five original stock- holders, who elected as officers of the bank: Leander Gerrard, presi- dent; George W. Hulst, vice president; Abner Turner, cashier. Au- gust 20, 1883, Turner transferred his stock in the bank to James E. Tasker, who became cashier at the time and retained the office until his death, which occurred in December, 1889. From that time until August 1, 1894, John Stauffer was the cashier, and then came Mel- choir Brugger, who performed the duties of cashier from 1894 until August, 1903, when the present cashier, Howard A. Clarke, took office.
Leander Gerrard retired from the presidency in August, 1903, but retained his membership on the board. Since that time to the present M. Brugger has been the chief executive of this financial institution, and William Bucher, vice president.
The consolidated banks, under the title of the Columbus State Bank, commenced operations in the Gerrard Bank Building and remained there until a two-story brick was completed for the institu- tion, on the corner of Twelfth and Platte streets. This was the home of the Columbus State until October, 1905, when it removed to its present modern new home, a two-story brick, which stands on the southwest corner of Thirteenth and Olive streets.
The Columbus State Bank takes some little pride in the claim that it is now the oldest state bank in business in Nebraska, and its assistant cashier, V. H. Weaver, who has been connected with the
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concern since 1887, and filling the duties of his position since 1904, also feels that some little credit is due him for his sticktoitiveness at least.
From time to time the capital stock of the bank has been increased, until now it is $75,000; surplus, $18,000; undivided profits, $3,000; deposits, $550,000.
COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK
The Commercial National is an outgrowth of the Commercial Bank, and that institution in turn had its predecessor in a private bank, established by Andrew Anderson and others. It was known as the Columbus Savings Bank, Loan and Trust Company, a private concern, having for its officers: Andrew Anderson, president; C. H. Sheldon, vice president; Robert Uhlig, secretary; and O. T. Roen, treasurer. This company developed into the Commercial Bank in 1888, with a capital stock of $10,000. Its officers were: C. H. Shel- don, president; W. A. McAllister, vice president; and Robert Uhlig, cashier. It began business in its new home, on the corner of North and Thirteenth streets, a brick building, with terra cotta trimmings, two stories in height and a basement, in 1888, the year of its incor- poration.
The Commercial National Bank was formed of the Commercial Bank and was organized April 5, 1899, with a capital stock of $50,- 000. The officials were: C. H. Sheldon, president; Herman P. A. Oehlrich, vice president; and Daniel Schram, cashier. The present officials are: John J. Galley, president; A. F. H. Oehlrich, vice president ; C. H. Becher, cashier; and A. D. Becker, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $50,000; surplus, $30,000; undivided profits, $6,000; deposits, $410,000.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
The First National started as a private bank in 1881, under the direction of Andrew Anderson and Ole T. Roen. The bank began doing business on the corner of Eleventh and North streets, and remained there until the fall of 1883, when it removed into a two- story brick building, erected for the purpose, on the corner of Twelfth and Olive streets. Previous to this, on October 27, 1882, the First National was organized and incorporated by Gilbert and Andrew Anderson, Peter Anderson, Samuel C. Smith, John W. Early, Her- man P. H. Oehlrich, Robert Uhlig, William A. McAllister and Ole T. Roen. It was capitalized at $50,000. The first officials were
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Andrew Anderson, president; Samuel C. Smith, vice president; Ole T. Roen, cashier. In 1888, James H. Galley succeeded Samuel C. Smith in the vice presidency. Since 1908 the officials of the bank have been as follows: Edward Johnson, president; J. H. Galley, vice president; A. R. Miller, cashier. In 1910 the old brick building was removed and the present home of the bank was constructed on its site and occupied in the month of September of that year.
The capital stock of the First National is $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $35,000; deposits, $550,000.
THE GERMAN NATIONAL BANK
The German National is the youngest among the quartette of strong financial institutions doing a banking business in Columbus. It opened for business in its handsome new home, September 4, 1906. The first board of directors was George W. Phillips, Hanson S. Elliott, Theodore Friedhof, J. F. Siens and P. E. McKillip. This board elected as officers of the bank: G. W. Phillips, president; Theodore Friedhof, vice president; and B. H. Schroeder, cashier.
On the 24th day of November, 1909, the capital stock of the Ger- man National was increased from $50,000 to $100,000, and at the same time the board of directors was increased from five members to seven. On February, 1909, Mr. Schroeder resigned as cashier, and was succeeded by A. F. Plagemann. About the same time a second vice presidency was created, to which position C. H. Sheldon was elected, so that at the present time the official list is made up as follows: President, G. W. Phillips; first vice president, Theodore Friedhof ; second vice president, C. H. Sheldon; cashier, A. F. Plage- mann. Capital paid in, $100,000; surplus and undivided profits, $30,000; deposits, $323,000.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The history of the Young Men's Christian Association of Colum- bus begins with an organization perfected January 23, 1888, for the purpose of providing a place "for the social, spiritual, intellectual and physical development of young men." The organization was per- fected by the election of Rev. R. L. Knox, president; J. E. Tasker, vice president; C. J. Garlow, recording secretary; V. H. Weaver, financial secretary; Henry Hockenberger, treasurer. During the next five or six years this association, which drew to its fold many
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recruits, accomplished a great deal of effective work. Rooms were occupied in the North block, at the corner of Thirteenth and Olive streets, where reading rooms, a small gymnasium and baths were attractions arranged for the youth and young men of Columbus.
The first secretary was Frank Knapp, a young man devoid of experience in the duties of that office. His successors were Harry L. Markel and S. D. Adkins, both of whom later became prominent in association work. Then came Arthur Weir, a secretary of large experience, who installed George H. Whaley as physical trainer, who served without remuneration, as the society had great difficulty in obtaining necessary funds, owing to the general business stress of that period.
Among others who took a prominent and ardently interested part in keeping alive the Y. M. C. A. sentiment in Columbus during its infant days were G. C. Hickok, H. F. Hockenberger, C. C. Sheldon, Emil Von Bergen and others whose names cannot now be recalled. Mr. Von Bergen was especially helpful and served as corresponding secretary at Columbus for the state association.
Largely through the influence of the men whose names have been mentioned, a meeting was called to be held at the Congregational Church, May 27, 1906, for the purpose of considering the advisabil- ity of starting a movement for the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association, and the erection of a Y. M. C. A. building in Columbus. At this meeting a committee was appointed to obtain the assistance of State Secretary Bailey, in presenting the project to the people. The committee was made up of H. Hockenberger, chairman; M. Brugger, secretary; H. Ragatz, Jr., D. Thomas, Wil- liam Zinnecker, Otto Hagel, S. Mahood, H. Wilkins, J. D. Stires, G. W. Phillips, W. S. Evans, J. T. Boyd, E. B. Sherman and Clar- ence Sheldon.
A public meeting was called to be held at North Opera House in November, 1906, to further consider details relating to the project relegated to the above committee. The principal speaker was W. J. Hill, chairman of the state committee, who offered valuable sug- gestions; and two weeks later the state association was formally ex- tended an invitation to hold the next annual convention in Columbus. This courtesy was accepted and the state convention was held in Columbus in the early days of February, 1907. Among some of the prominent people present were Judge Harry S. Dungan, of Has- tings; Dr. Robert F. Coyle, D. D., of Denver; Dean Fordyce, of Wes- leyan University, Lincoln; Fred S. Goodman, working secretary for
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the State of New York; State Secretary Bailey, of Omaha; Presi- dent E. E. Bennett, of Lincoln; Dr. W. O. Henry, of Omaha.
It was fully understood that without a suitable home, a Young Men's Christian Association in Columbus would not enjoy complete recognition by the state association, nor be influential in the com- munity. Therefore, the men who attended that meeting were there with minds made up as to what they wanted to do, and it was on that day, February 10, 1907, that the movement was inaugurated for the building of a home here for the association. Upon invitation to sub- scribe to a building fund, C. HI. Sheldon started the list with the sum of $5,000, to be paid on condition that the citizens of Columbus donate an additional $25,000. R. S. Dickinson freely subscribed $1,000, and during the first week of solicitation the sums promised amounted in the aggregate to $20,000, on February 20th, when the next meeting was held. And before the subscription papers were turned in by the various teams selected for the purpose, $30,000 was assured for the building.
On the 1st day of May, 1907, sealed bids for a building site were opened by the executive committee, and the bid of Augusta C. Millet, for lots 5 and 6, block 51, was accepted, the price being $5,000.
On the 7th day of September, 1907, H. F. Hockenberger laid the first brick in the new building. On Friday, November 22, 1907, the cornerstone was laid, under Masonic rites, and the day was declared a holiday by Mayor G. W. Phillips.
The association building stands facing the northwest corner of the city park, and its contour follows architectural lines of accepted merit. The material is a dark brick, with stone trimmings, and the structure has three stories, a high basement being considered as one of them. Wide stone steps reach from the ground to the top of the basement story, from which one enters a lobby, or main lounging room of the institution. Then appears, from inspection, apartments set apart for the various amusements of members. In the third story are sleeping and toilet rooms. The basement is given over to a large swimming pool, near which is a room containing individual steel lock- ers for clothes. On this floor are other conveniences of the institution, together with the heating apparatus and receptacles for fuel. It should also be mentioned that on the second, or main floor, is a cheerful dining room, where meals are served at the regular hours three times a day.
The dedication of this noble building, or rather the formal open- ing, occurred Monday evening, December 2, 1908, with State Secre-
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tary J. P. Bailey as master of the informal ceremony. Music was furnished by the Maennerchor Orchestra, and the main address of the evening by Robert Weidensall, secretary of the international com- mittee of the Y. M. C. A. On behalf of the trustees, G. A. Scott, in an appropriate manner, accepted the building, and was followed by the president of the local association, G. C. Sheldon. The gymnasium was filled with guests. Over five hundred people attended the Tues- day evening reception given by the board of directors and their wives, Mayor G. W. Phillips presiding. The exercises continued through- out the week, ending with a banquet on Friday night. From that time on the building has been open continuously and furnishes to a large membership many of the good things in life in the way of religious services and instructions, lectures by men and women of note and ability, literature of a high order, a well equipped gymnasium and a plunge bath that is very enticing. Coupled with all these advan- tages and blessings, are nicely served meals, well appointed sleeping apartments, and above all, a Christian atmosphere, which acts as a protecting cloak for every one who accepts of the standing invitation to come and enjoy these beneficences.
AMOUNT SUBSCRIBED BY MARCH 20, 1907
C. H. Sheldon, $5,000.
$1,000 Donations-R. S. Dickinson, H. F. J. Hockenberger, Theodore Friedhof, Fred Stenger, Henry Ragatz & Sons, H. S. Elliott. M. Brugger, H. A. Clarke, Gray Mercantile Company.
$500-Dr. W. S. Evans, C. H. Dack, David Thomas.
$300-J. E. Paul, J. E. Erskine, C. A. Whaley, L. G. Zinnecker, G. W. Phillips, A. Anderson, Dr. C. A. Allenberger.
$250-I. Gluck, George A. Scott, James H. Galley, anonymous, O. T. Rouen, E. H. Chambers, Gus G. Becher, Hugh Hughes, A. Dussell & Son.
$200-A. Abts & Co., Lewis Lightner, F. T. Walker, August Diedrich, L. C. Voss, D. T. Martyn, Jr., Thomas Branigan.
$100-Frank Rorer, C. H. Buschman, L. W. Weaver, M. C. Cassin, B. H. Weaver, M. Matzen, E. H. Naumann, F. K. Strother, F. N. Stevenson, Keating & Schram, A. G. Luschen E. M. Spar- hawk, J. E. North, C. E. Pollock, P. J. Hart, W. A. McAllister, IIenry Wilkins, J. T. Boyd, L. W. Snow, J. C. Echols, O. L. Baker, Paul Hagel, C. L. Lund, HI. Lubker, H. Gass, G. A. Schroeder, Carl Kramer, H. C. Carrig, anonymous, H. B. Robinson, J. G. Reeder, J. J. Sullivan, high school boys, Karr & Nichols.
,
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$50-Jacob Glur, Richard Ramey, C. C. Hardy, A. E. Vallier, I. H. Britell, Seth Braun, Gus G. Becher, Jr., C. L. McElfresh, A. L. Koon, C. G. Hickok, R. C. Boyd, C. J. Scott, H. G. Fricke, J. B. Stires, Findley Howard, M. Whitmoyer, G. E. Willard, Roth- leitner & Co., E. B. Sherman, Rosina Spoerry, L. F. Phillips, C. J. Garlow, F. W. Herrick, Arnold Oehlrich, F. W. Farrand, W. I. Speice, L. A. Jenkins.
$25-Fred G. Plath, T. A. Rodman, W. M. Cornelius, W. H. King, Mark Rathburn, Dr. W. H. Slater, John Janning, C. H. Platz, A. Lodenhoft, L. F. Rector, Homer Tiffany, J. E. Tiffany, E. H. Tiffany, A. L. Rollin, R. H. Wurdeman, Dan J. Echols, Phil Echols, D. D. Boyd, R. S. Palmer, B. H. Schroeder, Frank Schram, E. von Bergen, C. S. Raney, G. W. Viergutz, Ernst & Brock, Bert J. Galley, S. Bordy, H. E. Newman, Mary Howard, John Eatter- man, P. D. Derrington, M. Savage, Louis Held, F. S. Davis, E. J. Niewohner, Eilert Mohlman, P. F. Miller, C. E. Devlin, Jacob Griesen, G. J. Carrig, William MeEver, R. W. Saley, anonymous, T. J. Cottingham, M. S. Mace, R. Jenkinson.
$20-Fred Schofield, C. E. Early.
$15-L. A. Carnahan.
$10-S. E. Baker, Ethel Elliott, William O'Brien, O. W. Hol- liday, E. C. Worden, J. A. Douglass, O. D. Butler, W. L. Rowley, P. G. Cunningham, Myron Wilson, J. J. Burke, Albert Reider, Lloyd Swain, John Schmocker, anonymous, J. F. Carrig, Ed Branigan, Robert Neumeister, L. A. Raney, Mrs. J. C. Freidig, Charles L. Dickey.
$5-Elmer Winey, Charles Koenig, Lee Swartsley, Horatio Adams, J. L. Brunken, Grace Woods, Henry Reider, C. Boettcher, Mrs. Henry D. O'Bryan, Robert Drawbaugh, Otto Staab, Will Fyfe, Albert Kurth, George H. Grubb, anonymous, W. Murray, Fred Geiser, Charles Johnson.
The Y. M. C. A. Building is practically paid for, and cost in round numbers $32,000. It stands upon a site, the purchase price of which was $5.000. This is a very comfortable sum of money to be donated and spent upon an institution of this kind, worthy as it is. But the money was given freely, generously and quickly, and the people of Columbus are proud of its Y. M. C. A. and feel able and willing to maintain it in a proper manner. The present membership totals 254, made up of 76 sustaining members, 92 full members, 27 intermediate members, and 59 elementary members. The officials are: H. F. J. Hochenberger, president; A. E. Vallier, vice presi-
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dent; G. C. Sheldon, treasurer; C. J. Fennell, secretary of the board of directors; I. R. Devine, secretary of the institution.
BUSINESS MEN'S CLUB
On the 14th day of December, 1908, a Business Men's Club was organized, with a membership of thirty-two, all of whom were con- nected with the Y. M. C. A., as one of the tenets of the organization provides that no one shall be eligible unless a member of the Y. M. C. A. There are now sixty names on the Business Men's Club rolls, and since it came into existence it has been the aim and object of the club to put forth strenuous efforts toward inducing manufacturers to locate in Columbus and to create a spirit of progress and improve- ment among the citizens. The club is composed of many of the lead- ing business men of this city and has several regular meetings at the Y. M. C. A. each year.
THE HISTORY OF THE COLUMBUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
The first effort to establish a public library in Columbus was made in 1878. In an old file of the Columbus Journal of February 13th of that year we find the following record: "Under an act of the Legisla- ture of the State of Nebraska entitled, 'An act to authorize incorpo- rated towns and cities to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading rooms,' approved on the 17th of February, 1877, there shall be established in the City of Columbus a free public library and reading room for the use of the inhabitants of the City of Columbus and shall be levied annually the sum of not more than one mill on the dollar valuation upon the assessment roll of the city for its support." It was not, however, until December 3d that a public meeting was held "pursuant to call at the Presbyterian Church to organize a library association." We again quote from the Columbus Journal: "Wm. Burgess was called to the chair and Stephen II. Lang was chosen secretary. After the object of the meeting had been stated, a form of constitution and by-laws, previously prepared by Wm. Burgess, E. L. Sherman, D. D. Wadsworth, Celeste Fifield, John Hammond and George Clother, was submitted and adopted."
In the Journal's issue of December 25, 1878, we read: "The Columbus Library Association has been perfected. A committee has been appointed to solicit donations of money, books, periodicals and other useful articles. Over $200 has been subscribed, and as soon as Vol. 1-19
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a sufficient amount is paid a suitable room will be obtained and opened to the public." Where the suitable room for the distribution was located and who was custodian I have been unable to trace, nor yet any record that any levy was ever made. But I do know that at one time the books were kept in the First Ward schoolhouse, and that Mr. L. J. Cramer, superintendent of schools in the early '80s, made an effort to bring them again into circulation.
About ten years later the Y. M. C. A., which had its home above the present location of La Book's store, made the second attempt. The bookstore of Lamb & Stires had closed its business some time previous and generously donated all the books and Bibles that they had on hand. This, with the books collected from private parties interested in the movement, formed a nucleus. But the . M. C. A. was of short duration, and, when its doors were closed, the library was no longer available to the public.
There were some people, however, who still talked public library "in season and out of season." One of these was Mrs. J. G. Reeder. Consequently, when the president of the Woman's Club, Mrs. Sarah Brindley, returned from the meeting of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs in the late '90s, inoculated with the thought of estab- lishing a public library in her home town, the idea found favor with the members of the club.
They had all sorts of experiences in canvassing the town for assistance. One prominent professional man told them that he had assisted two or three times in the past for a like endeavor, and he did not propose to help again until he was satisfied that it would be a permanent institution. The ladies knew that they had undertaken a serious and difficult proposition, but they absolutely refused to be discouraged. When they had secured sufficient pledges and collected enough books to warrant it, they went before the city council to ask permission to place them in the council room. Mr. Henry Ragatz was presiding as mayor when they, having come through a pouring rain, filed in dripping wet. He suspended all other business, saying, "Ladies, ask what you will; I think your enthusiasm warrants its being granted you." And so their petition for a room for a few cases of books and the assistance of the city clerk as librarian was readily granted. The council also voted to pay the clerk $4 per month for this added duty. The library was then open to the public one afternoon in the week. Here the library was cradled and mothered by the club for more than a year until the ladies felt that it was on a
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sufficiently firm foundation to warrant its being turned over to the city.
In September, 1900, the city council passed an ordinance to estab- lish a public library, and at its next meeting in October the board was appointed. Prof. W. J. Williams, Mrs. Sarah Brindley, I. H. Britell, Mrs. A. J. Baker, Mrs. M. Brugger, Mrs. F. H. Geer, Mrs. G. B. Geitzen, Mrs. W. A. McAllister and S. C. Gray constituted this first board. Mrs. Baker moved away that fall and Professor Kern was appointed to fill her place.
But our troubles were by no means ended. To find a suitable home and the right person for librarian was our next problem. The first we found in the rooms that we have occupied until the present time. At first we had only one room, but soon rented the adjoining one; then, later, the third one for a children's room. Miss Fannie Geer, now Mrs. R. Stuart, was chosen librarian and it is to her efforts that much of the success of the library is due. She filled the position until four years ago, when she resigned, and we found a very com- petent and efficient successor in Miss Clara Howard, who has been untiring in her efforts in the upbuilding of the library.
The library was opened on November 13th. In the beginning it was open two afternoons and evenings in the week, and the librarian's salary $8 per month. In June, 1902, we found it necessary to again address the city council not to reduce our levy, as it was rumored that they intended to do. In those first years we were so short of funds at one time that Mr. J. G. Reeder went out among the business men to solicit money and collected $200 to tide us over until our next levy would be available.
And so we struggled along, adding more books as our finances allowed, opening the library three afternoons and evenings a week, and then every day excepting Sunday. Periodically the question of a permanent home would come up, and we would ask ourselves where we could find a person public spirited enough to give us a start by deeding us a lot. We were almost in despair for, although when we first moved into our old quarters, Mr. Roen asked us to sign a six- month lease, that time had long since expired. The building had changed hands, and we felt that the time must come when we should be asked to move. Besides, the long stairs and hall made it hard for many. Miss Howard had refused several flattering offers from other libraries because she wanted to see a building here, and this was the task she had set for herself.
At last we thought of asking permission to build in the park, and
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we began to visualize our library there, but our hopes were shattered. A vote of the people defeated this proposition. Then a woman came to our rescue, and Mrs. Leander Gerrard began to look around for a suitable lot for our new home. We followed her in her search from the corner north of the opera house to the vacant lot between the postoffice and the Congregational Church, then north of Doctor Al- lenberger's residence, but always, like the dove sent out of the ark, only to hover and again return. After many months of weary wait- ing and searching, she finally decided upon this location and gener- ously gave us a deed to this beautiful spot as a memorial to her hus- band, Mr. Leander Gerrard, one of the pioneers and founders of Columbus. Our dream has come true after so many years of patient and persistent endeavor. We have a permanent home. The Wom- an's Club first gave the institution vitality enough to withstand all criticism; a woman made it possible for us to claim Mr. Carnegie's offer. This library is here to stay, and can claim the support of all the taxpayers and citizens of the town. This is your institution; we are only acting as your servants. By your patronage you can make it grow into what it should be in the years to come.
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