News: Neillsville’s Oldest Bank (1905)

Transcriber: Steve Roberts steve@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Grow, Hemphill, Morley, Stange, Dickenson, North

Source: Clark & Jackson Co. Trade Paper Sept 1905

Neillsville Bank
Capital and Surplus $50,000.
Neillsville, Wis.

This is the oldest bank in Neillsville, having been established twenty-six years ago under the present name, when it was regularly incorporated with a capital stock of $2,500, the officers being Chas f. Grow, president: W. L. Hemphill, vice-president: Joseph Morley, cashier; Carl Stange, assistant cashier, of whom Messrs. Chas f. Grow, J. Morley and W.L. Hemphill together with Thos. Rowe, D. Dickenson and H. A. North comprise the board of directors.

The cashier, Mr. Joseph Morley, has had long practical experience, having been connected with the business for more than twenty-six years.

In addition to the capital stock the bank has now a surplus of $25,000, and $15,000 in undivided profits: also $250,000 in loans, over $300,000 in deposits and total assets amounting to $370,000.

The bank have a large loan business, making a specialty of loans on farmers notes and mortgages all through this district within a radius of fifteen miles, while their depositors are located all over the city and surrounding country, interest on certificates of deposit being allowed at 3 per cent annum. A good business is done in collections, which are made promptly for any part of the country, while domestic and foreign exchange is issued for all leading points in the United States and foreign countries, their leading correspondents being the first National bank of Chicago, Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee and national Park Bank of New York City, foreign drafts being all issued through the Chicago correspondents.

This bank also issues steamship tickets for all the leading lines of ocean steamships, including the Cunard, north German Lloyd, White Star and others.

The bank offices are in their own building at the corner of Hewett and Sixth streets, and are well lighted and fitted up with all conveniences, including three bank safes. The bank vault is one of the best in the county, equipped with all improvements such as electric steel lining, burglar alarms, etc., and is fully insured against burglary. The office staff comprises three to four persons, and the business in all lines this season is as large as ever.