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First National Bank to Mark 100th AnniversaryOpen House Is Set lor FridayCity's Oldest Banking Institution Has Had Remarkable GrowthJanesville's first bank and one of the few firms still in business with a record of a century of service to the city and community, the First National Bank will observe its 100th anniversary Friday, Sept. 23. with an open house to which all residents of the area are invited.The bank was organized with assets of less than 5100.000 in 1855 and over the years has grown with the city and community, now listing assets of nearly S15.000.000, It has outgrown its office facilities several times during the past century but has remained at almost the same location for 100 years, most of that time at its present address, the corner of \V. Milwaukee and River streets.Refreshments for VisitorsVisitors to the open house. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, will be served refreshments. There will be flowers for the ladies, souvenirs for all adults and an attractive booklet pointing out the history of the bankand its part in the growth of Cue, E. W. Litts and the present; Janesville. cashier, R. G, Egan. jParticipating in the city mile- Exactly 100 years ago — in Au-stone will be the approximately 50 gust, 1S55 — just a few years after: officers, directors and employes of the Blackhawk Indian wars and; the bank, which less than two.two years after Janesville was in-; years ago was doubled in size in a corporated as a city, the Central| huge remodeling project. Bank of Wisconsin, now the FirstPresent officers are: Henry S. National Ban!., of Janesville, was. Lovejoy, chairman of the board;;incorporated with a total capital William McCue, president; W. E. stock of 525,000. |Hyzer, vice president and senior Its business was transacted In; trust officer; W. Scott Hake and: rooms rented above the Tallmanj John T. Lovejoy, vice presidents;:store with a small amount of equip- • R. G. Egan cashier; John Hem- mertt purchased from J. Bodwellj mens arid A. A. McGill, assistant Doe, who had conducted b private: cashiers; Stella kcKewan and Leo.banking business. • |M. Anderson, assistant trust offi-j The first equipment consisted cers. Directors are: A. L, Atwood,(only of a safe, furniture and ftx-A H Cullen, E. A. Kohler, Henry tures for a small room but two S Lovejoy William McCue, J. A. years later two lots on the north-•Craig, W. E. Hyzer, Edgar J. west corner of Milwaukee and P.iv-Leach, Robert C. Lovejoy and Dud- er streets were purchased by the lev G.' Frazer. bank, in June, 1857. Immediate.Presidents of the bank in the plans were made for the construe-i past 100 years were: O. W. Nor- tion of a bank building and a year; ton. 1855-60: E. R. Doe, 1860-65; later it was erected at a cost of, J D. Rexford, 1865-91: Levi B. 156.075. jCarte 1891-94- Stanlcv G. Smith,I That building remained in active! 1894-1906; John G. Rexford, 1906-20; service until the first unit of the H S Haggart. 1920-37; H. S. Love- present structure was built 4-; jo'v. 1937-42. and William McCue, years ago but it underwent one | 194j |0 present Imajor remodeling in 1889. In 1313Among the earlv vice presidents it was razed and a complete new were: William H. Tripp. Jonathan structure was erected and conttn-Cory F, S. Eldred and L. B. ues in use with its large addition Carle. Cashiers were: William A. which doubles the banking aiea.vrence, J. D. Rexford, J. B. Had 12 Organizers before the bank was actually or-.. J. G. Rexford. \V. O. N'ew-| A dozen men. the first bank m- T,,pv wcrc; 0. W. Norse. H. S. Haggart, William Mc-jficers. worked together many e\e- 10n_ prcsjdcm. William If. Tripp. . .____ ______————nre-tfii*ni - William A Law-nings during the summer of 1855[vice president; William A. Law rence. cashier; Warren Norton, F. S. Eldred, S. G. Williams, J. F. Willard, J, D. Rexford. Z. P. Burdick, L. J. Barrows, E. A. Foot and Jonathan Cory, directors.They were not the first to attempt to organize a bank in Janesville but they were the first to successfully complete the venture There were banks registered after the free banking law was passed by the state Legislature in April, 1852. but they cither jus; dropped out or were forced to close, some of them succumbing to the 1S57—Gazette photo.FIKST NATIONAL BANK EMPLOYES—Only slightly more than a centuiy aco Janesville hanking was done from the pockets of leadiw: merchant but today it has become one of the larce service businesses of the city. These employes furnish the services at the First National Bank, which Fridav wall celebrate its centennial with an open house from 4 to 9 p. m.From row. from left -Mrs, Norman Hruska. Mrs. Catherine Presti. Mrs. Richard T^onrano. Mar-guerite Dunn. Mrs, F. E. Calloway, Bettv Turkel-on, Mrs. Raymond Williams. Patricia Bumgarner and Mrs. Bernard Kjelstad.Second row David Cochrane, Mrs. Robert Newel!, Wilhelmina Botsfmd. Ardis WjSenhcrg. Mrs. William Bohlman. Mis. Kalluvn EH'-r. Mrs. Manlev He,si*!, Mrs. Emorv I-ittmor. Parrina Manser. Mis. Gaylord Swenson. Mrs. Michael Seieszmski. Mis Donald Mtmro and Fred McCann.Thirxi i-ow Frank P.osinski, William Johnson and Gilbert llovermale. Missing from the photo is Mrs. Lester Christiansen.★ ★ ★Page *JANESVILLE DAILY GAZETTE i TUI U-J) VV. SEPTEMBER 22Maberry Lynching Here 100 Years AgoBesides bring the With anniversary of the First National Bank, the venr 1955 is also the. .'■« of a later bank director and the Janesville Cotton Mills Co. 'president. J. F. Willard was the father ofAnother director of 1S55. F. S. Frances E Willard, noted author. Eldred. was one of the men who founder and for many years presi-orgamzed the Janesville Cotton dent of the WCTF. As the first Manufacturing Co., now known as president of the Rook County Agri-f li ' . 1'rtii 1:1 trip:s. V.M’ird was the Wisconsin State 'suite in 1851.!..* -1lt;’k of 525.000 , the hank increased 2 iisr. i-ry, 1856, and June raised it to s'etek !* r.owi- SlOo.OOO sur-i ptoiits and re-. rr.-r 5500,t.'OO de-■ V 1 SM.000,000,i.icd in the past twoea;f
Newspaper Details
Janesville Daily Gazette
Janesville, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Sep 22, 1955
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Ruth A.
NA, NA 24 Oct 2024
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