State Savings Bank of Lamoni at Lamoni Iowa

Souvenir 1907
 
ORGANIZATION, CAPITAL STOCK, DESCRIPTION, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, and STOCKHOLDERS
(click on the following images for larger views)
 
ORGANIZATION

THE State Savings Bank of Lamoni, located at Lamoni, Iowa, was organized and incorporated July 1, 1898, under the laws of the State of Iowa governing savings banks, extracts of which laws appear in this souvenir on pages 18 to 30 inclusive.

CAPITAL STOCK

The present capital stock of this bank actually paid up in cash is $30,000.00 and under the banking laws of Iowa the stockholders are personally liable for an additional amount equal to the bank stock held by them, making a total liability on the part of the bank and its stockholders of $60,000.00 as a guarantee fund to depositors.

BANK BUILDING

The bank building is modernly constructed, an exterior and interior view being shown on other pages of this souvenir. The building and lot of which it stands are owned by the bank. Heat for the building during cold weather is supplied by a furnace located in the basement.

BANK SAFE

In the rear of the main banking room, just outside the vault, sets a modern fire and burglar-proof bank safe, which was manufactured by the National Safe & Lock Company of Cleveland, Ohio, being one of their chilled steel, cannon breech, screw door, burglar proof bank safes fitted with Yale's triple time-locks, all encased in a fire-proof jacket and
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State Savings Bank of Lamoni, Iowa, Corner Main & Linden Streets ... Photo by Brackenbury
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the whole weighing over four tons. This style and make of bank safe has never, to our knowledge, been opened or broken into by burglars or robbers.

INSURANCE AGAINST BURGLARY AND ROBBERY

In addition to the protection of funds afforded by the bank safe just described, the bank also carries sufficient insurance against loss by burglary and robbery, including daylight robbery, or "hold-up", and damage to property, to cover such funds and property as are necessary for the bank to keep on hand.

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD

And as a further safeguard in addition to the protection offered by the bank safe and burglary insurance, this bank is a member of the Iowa Bankers' Association, which association keeps a standing offer of $1,000.00 reward for the arrest, trial, and conviction of any person or persons who shall rob or burglarize a member bank. Each of the insurance companies carrying burglary insurance have constantly at their command a large force of detectives, hence the temptation for burglars and robbers to do business with this bank is not an inviting one.

THE BANK VAULT

The construction of the bank vault is fire-proof, and has recently been fitted throughout by the Art Medal Construction Company of Jamestown, New York, with a set of their latest designed all-steel vault fixtures, especially made to order, comprising roller-shelves for holding the books of the bank, document files for the convenient and safe keeping of customers' papers and bank papers, check files, vertical letter files, and various other compartments in which are kept bank records in proper order for ready reference, and a large part of the bank stationery supplies. Also a set of private lock-boxes for rental to customers.

BANK FURNITURE AND FIXTURES

The main banking room has recently been refitted throughout with a new modern set of bank furniture and fixtures, the
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Interior View State Savings Bank of Lamoni ... Photo by Brackenbury
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whole being especially designed and arranged with a view to supplying a comfortable and convenient place for both patrons and officers, where the business of the bank can by conducted promptly and safely.
OFFICERS

William ANDERSON, President
          Anna A. DANCER, Vice President
               W. A. HOPKINS, Cashier
                    Oscar ANDERSON, Cashier
DIRECTORS

William Anderson, for 24 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
Anna A. Dancer, for 34 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
Oscar Anderson, for 34 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
Geo. W. Blair, for 29 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
A. K. Anderson, for 34 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
Alice P. Dancer, for 17 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
W. A. Hopkins, for 34 years a resident of Lamoni and vicinity.
STOCKHOLDERS

The names and postoffice addresses of each of the stockholders of the STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI is as follows: William Anderson, Lamoni, Iowa; Mrs. Anna A. Dancer, Lamoni, Iowa; A. K. Anderson, Lamoni, Iowa; Mrs. Lucy Lyons Resseguie, Lamoni, Iowa; Oscar Anderson, Lamoni, Iowa; Miss Alice P. Dancer, Lamoni, Iowa; W. A. Hopkins, Lamoni, Iowa; Geo. H. Hilliard, Independence, Missouri; Mrs. Ella D. Whitehead, Independence, Missouri; Frank Criley, Independence, Missouri; Geo. W. Blair, Kellerton, Iowa.
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WILLIAM ANDERSON
President State Savings Bank of Lamoni.
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BANKING by mail has become one of the popular recognized institutions of our times, and it will continue to grow, because it is a real convenience and meets an actual want.

The State Savings Bank of Lamoni gives prompt and careful attention to all business sent to us through the mail. This bank has for the last several years successfully conducted a large business of this character, and at the present time is handling deposits of money sent to us through the mail by various individuals who reside in the following names states and territories, to wit:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indian Territory, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

We invite and solicit deposits and correspondence on this subject of Banking by Mail from men, women, young folk, or children located in any part of the United States. Deposits will be received from any man, woman, or child, and credited to and made payable in their own names. All letters written to the bank by ladies should be signed in such a way to indicate their sex, also whether a Miss or Mrs. in order that we may address them correctly when answering. We especially invite parents to allow their children to write to the Bank and send
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MRS. ANNA A. DANCER
Vice President State Savings Bank of Lamoni.
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their savings for deposit to draw interest in their own names. It will teach children to save money and teach them to write business letters and to do business for themselves. Children when writing their first letter to the bank are requested to be sure to state their age, sex, names, and postoffice addresses.

INVESTMENT OF BANK FUNDS

On account of our location and conservative banking methods, we have facilities for safely loaning a large deposit fund, keeping as do a large sum invested in First Mortgages on Farm Lands worth not less than double the amount loaned thereon. The Mortgages are negotiable and marketable and can be converted into cash on short notice, making this class of securities extra choice. And on account of the extensive live stock industry of this section of the country, we find a good demand for a large sum of money secured by chattel mortgages on the live stock. We also finance the farmer during the season of planting and growing, thus loaning a large sum at certain seasons of the year to good substantial farmers whose credit and ability to pay are gilt edge.

Hence we make the claim, that on account of our location, long residence in this locality, and wide acquaintance, living as we do in the heart of a great productive agricultural country where a total failure of crops has never been known, and where fictitious prices and speculative booms are things long past, we have a better opportunity to safely and conservatively manage and invest a large fund of deposits with less risk of loss on assets secured by actually existing values in products and commodities which are negotiable and easily convertible into ready cash on short notice, than do the banks of many localities or cities where frenzied finance holds wide sway, claiming, as they do, assets of millions which is some cases up investigation have been found to consist of worthless securities, watered stocks, other invisible commodities, and in the end disappointed depositors.

Our borrowers are not subject to loss and inability to pay through such a conflagration as was recently demonstrated in the destruction of the city of San Francisco.
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W. A. HOPKINS
Cashier State Savings Bank of Lamoni
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HOW TO SEND MONEY FOR DEPOSIT IN THE STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI

You can send any amount of $1.00 or over by either of the six following plans which we consider safe:

Plan 1. Bank Money-order of Draft.
Plan 2. Currency or Coin by registered mail.
Plan 3. Currency or Coin by Express.
Plan 4. Express Money-order.
Plan 5. Postoffice Money-order.
Plan 6. Your own or other individual private check drawn on any Bank in the United States or Canada.

You can select whichever of these six plans will be cheapest and most convenient at the time of sending, and the money will be received by the bank at par in either case. However, if the money is sent by private check as described in plan six, the bank reserves the right to collect the check before giving credit for the deposit. This requires from five to ten days, depending on the distance. As soon as the check can be collected the deposit will then be credited on the books of the bank for the full amount of the check sent.

THREE PLANS FOR RECEIVING DEPOSITS

As soon as your remittance is received the bank will promptly acknowledge receipt of same, and treat the deposit in either of the three following plans as you may direct:

PLAN I. TIME DEPOSIT -- YOUR MONEY WILL EARN INTEREST

If the money is to be deposited for a specified time of six or twelve months we will send you a certificate of deposit, which will specify the amount deposited, the date, and when due, also the rate of interest and to whose order it will be payable. These certificates bear interest only for the time specified, and cease to draw interest at maturity. For this reason it is important for the holder to return them to the bank when due, either for payment or renewal., with instructions for the bank to pay in full or renew for another six or twelve months, and if the certificate is to be renewed.
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OSCAR ANDERSON
Assistant Cashier State Savings Bank of Lamoni.
GEORGE W. BLAIR
Director State Savings Bank of Lamoni
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whether you want the interest paid and sent to you or compounded by adding to the principal of the original deposit. These certificates of deposit will be issued by the bank on this plan for any amount of $5.00 or over; the rate of interest paid will be made known on application. Write to the bank regarding this matter.

PLAN II. CALL DEPOSIT

Your money can be deposited for safe keeping, subject to be called for by you at any time. This plan meets the demand for a place of safe keeping for temporary deposits, generally used for such money as may be needed within a few days or weeks or sooner than six months or may be held for any length of time. Upon receipt of money sent for deposit on this plan, the bank will send you a Cashier's Check of Deposit, which will specify the amount, date, and to whose order payable. This class of deposit checks does not bear interest and is not subject to be drawn against by private check, but they are negotiable and the full amount of any check can be transferred by endorsement to other parties, or the check can be returned to the bank for payment when the money is needed. In sending money for deposit on this plan ask for Cashier's Check of Deposit.

PLAN III. OPEN DEPOSIT CHECKING ACCOUNT

Upon receipt of money sent for deposit on this plan, we open an account on our individual Bank Ledger in your name, and place the amount sent to your credit. We then send you a check-book, signature-card, and receipt for the money. Upon receipt of these from the bank you will place a copy of your signature on the card and immediately return the card to the bank so we can keep it on file for the purpose of identifying your signature on the checks you draw on the bank against your deposit, in order to enable us to avoid the payment of forged or fraudulent checks. You are then ready to send additional deposits from time to time for credit on your account, and draw checks on our bank and pay all your current bills and expenses in this way. On the first of each month we mail you a statement showing the condition of your account, which gives the dates and amount deposited during the preceding month on one side, and the amount of the checks paid by the bank for the same period on the other side of the statement, also showing the balance
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RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM ANDERSON, PRESIDENT OF STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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RESIDENCE OF MRS. ANNA A. DANCER, VICE PRESIDENT STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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RESIDENCE OF W. A. HOPKINS, CASHIER STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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RESIDENCE OF OSCAR ANDERSON, ASSISTANT CASHIER STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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RESIDENCE OF A. K. ANDERSON, DIRECTOR STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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RESIDENCE OF MISS ALICE P. DANCER, DIRECTOR STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI ... Photo by Brackenbury
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BURNING OF THE HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE AND BOOK-BINDERY ... Photo by Brackenbury
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LAMONI AND VICINITY

LAMONI is a prosperous and progressive city of 1600 inhabitants, located in a gently rolling prairie country, the southwestern part of Decatur county on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, in the famous blue-grass region of Southern Iowa.

Lamoni is a city of "homes", - not luxurious or extravagant, but comfortable and commodious. Real estate can be bought at very reasonable prices, placing a home within the reach of those of moderate means, and as a result the majority of the citizens of Lamoni own their own homes, and are a happy and contended people.

Several reasons may be given for the desirability of of a home in Lamoni. It has a good system of graded schools, including a four-year High School. Upon leaving the graded school four years more can be spent at Graceland College, if desired. This institution is maintained by the Latter Day Saints, but is non-sectarian in its instruction. It offers thorough instruction in Normal, Commercial (including Shorthand and Typewriting), Music, Elocution and Scientific Courses. The work is in the hands of a very capable force of instructors, guaranteeing satisfactory results in every department. Terms are very reasonable. For full information address "Graceland College" for a catalogue.

The College tract comprises sixty-six acres of land, and is as desirable a site for such an institution as can be found anywhere. A dormitory for the girls has just be erected, affording good accommodations, and a dining-room is conducted in the basement of the College building. The total enrollment last year was 145, from 16 State and Territories, and the enrollment for 1906-7 will likely reach 200.

The local branch of Latter Day Saints numbers over 1,400, offering almost unlimited Church, Sunday-school, and Religious privileges to members of that faith.

The Methodist Church owns a commodious and comfortable church-building in Lamoni, where church and Sunday-school services are regularly held.
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Lamoni has no saloons, and no drug store in the city holds a permit for the sale of intoxicating liquors. For the most part her citizens are honest, industrious, temperate, and of good moral character.

The foregoing educational, religious, and social advantages make Lamoni a very desirable place for a home, especially for those having children to raise and educate. Many families will make their homes here for a few years, while their children enjoy the exceptional advantages offered by the High School and College.

Business houses are now well represented in all lines and enjoy and good patronage. There is room, however, and a good opening for factories and enterprises that would give employment to a number of people.

The town in surrounded by fertile farming land, well settled and improved by good substantial farmers. The chief products of the farms are Corn, Small Grains, and Grasses, and a large variety of Fruit and Vegetables grow well, and bear abundantly when properly cared for. The Live Stock industry is extensively and profitably carried on by the farmers and stockmen. Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, and Poultry are raised in large numbers. There is no better grass-producing country in the United States, and for this reason, Live Stock is easily raised and cared for at a good profit, all of which finds a ready market. Many of the farmers own cream separators, keep a number of cows for dairy purpose, and find a ready market for all the cream at good prices.

The cream is separated from the milk immediately after milking, and the sweet milk is then used for growing calves and hogs. Water for both man and stock is easily obtained at an average depth of from 30 to 40 feet, and is of a most excellent quality. The farmers of this vicinity come to Lamoni to trade, and transact business for a distance in some directions of from 12 to 20 miles.

The headquarters of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints being located at Lamoni, the church owns at this place a large amount of property, chief among which are the following:

Graceland College, which has already been mentioned.

The Herald Publishing House and Bindery, where nearly all of the publications of the church are printed and bound, and are sent broadcast throughout the world.

The Saints' Home for aged people, a very worthy charitable institution comprising 175 acres of the rich farming land.

Liberty Home, about one-half mile from the Saints Home, affords additional accommodation for a large number of the aged church-members.

Saints' church, a large brick building which will accommodate about eight hundred in the main auditorium.
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HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE & BOOKBINDERY DESTROYED
Citizens of Lamoni and Vicinity take Vigorous Action to Assist in Rebuilding Plant
(Extracts in part from "Saints Herald" and "Lamoni Chronicle".)

THE Herald Publishing House and Bookbinding plant, belonging to the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, located at Lamoni, Iowa, the church headquarters, was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, January 5, 1907. The entire building, including general church offices, was totally destroyed. Valuable printing presses and bookbinding machinery, stereotyping place, etc., including large stocks of books, paper, and general equipment incidental to a large publishing plant, were totally destroyed, with the exception of a few offices supplies and books from the Manager's office, and a few books from the Church Library, with some general records and documents in vaults. Books and papers in the Bishop's office were saved. The office of the First Presidency, the Church Secretary, Church Historian, Church Recorder, Editorial rooms, and the Church Library, with their valuable contents were entirely consumed. (General record books containing names kept by the Church Recorder in the vaults, were saved.)

The loss of the Library, together withe valuable documents and records, is beyond financial computation.

Events move rapidly at such times. The destruction was about completed at nine o'clock; by ten o'clock headquarters was established down town in the France Block F. B. Bair, John Garver, Berta Johnson, W. R. Dexter from the Managers office assisted by a mixed force of compositors, binders, proof-readers, and pressmen, were arranging and classifying the rescued stock of books and office equipment. And the Editors were going through the morning mail in search of "copy" and at one o'clock the composition began in the "Lamoni Chronicle" office upon the regular issue of the "Saints Herald" which was completed and mailed out on time, though greatly diminished in size and form - a paper without a home, but with great expectations.

At eleven o'clock a citizens meeting was held, and the following named were appointed a general committee of Lamoni citizens and authorized to act in the premises: W. A. Hopkins, Daniel Anderson, J. W. Smith, D. F. Nicholson, B. D. Fleet, F. W. Newcomb, R. J. Lambert, W. A. Grenawalt, F. W. Rauch and M. P. Tilton.
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The committee decided to take immediate steps to raise funds to assist the church to rebuild the Herald Publishing House and Bookbinding plant at Lamoni, Iowa. With this object in view, subscription lists were prepared and a mass-meeting of all citizens of Lamoni and vicinity was called, at the Brick Church in Lamoni, Sunday, January 6, at eleven o'clock A.M.

At the hour appointed a large audience assembled. Elder John Smith, President of the local church organization, took charge of the service, assisted by the church choir and J. R. Lambert. After song and prayer and an introductory address by the chairman, addresses were made by Herman C. Smith, D. F. Lambert, J. W. Smith, F. B. Blair, and W. A. Hopkins.

At the close of the addresses, W. A. Hopkins, cashier of the State Savings Bank of Lamoni, took charge of the subscription work, assisted by members of the general soliciting committee and others located among the audience, who acted as tellers.

An excellent spirit of friendliness and generosity prevailed among the people. The subscriptions ranged in amount from fifty cents to one thousand dollars. They came from middle aged people, young people, young children, little children and very aged people. Rich men and poor widows contributed. And as a result of the effort, the total amount subscribed at the meeting between the hours of eleven o'clock A.M. and three o'clock P.M. was thirteen thousand forty-five dollars and fifty cents. The people responded as citizens, without respect to creed or other designation in the interest of the general community. The total amount subscribed by citizens of Lamoni and vicinity amount to over fifteen thousand dollars.

These subscriptions are made payable on condition that the Herald Publishing House and Book-bindery plant be rebuilded (sic) at Lamoni; and they are payable in cash or in promissory notes to be paid in three periodical payments, three, six and nine months from the date of acceptance by the church.

The Herald Publishing House and Book-bindery plant will be rebuilt, and it will be a better building than the one which was burned. In time it will be better equipped than the old one was.

The STATE SAVINGS BANK OF LAMONI had fully expected to have this Souvenir booklet published and ready for distribution by January 10, 1907.

The composition and stock was in the hands of the Herald Publishing House at Lamoni; the souvenir booklet was nearing completion when the fire occurred, and the entire composition together with all the half tone plates (excepting the ones showing the burning building) the paper stock and envelopes for an issue of ten thousand copies was consumed in the fire, entailing a loss of several hundred dollars, necessitating the repurchase of all supplies and rearranging for its publication.
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COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF DEPOSITS
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HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE & BOOK-BINDERY, LAMONI, IOWA. ... Photo by Brackenbury
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LATTER DAY SAINTS CHURCH, LAMONI, IOWA. ... Photo by Brackenbury
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Transcribed and formatted by Conni McDaniel Hall, September 2019. Souvenir contributed by unknown.
 
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