Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-09
Trouble Among the Wild Cats.

talns minute expose of the Wild Cat
Banking institutions in Marathon coun-
ty, of which there now appears to be
no less than six, and this too in enc of
the most thinly settled counties in the
State, large portion oft being dense
wilderness. We. copy portions of the
article for the benefit of the public:
TRADEsMANs BANK.--The certificate
Of Incorporation of this bank sets forth.
that the town of Eagle Lake, in the
county of Marathon and State of Wis
consin, is the place where the business
OF discount and deposit of said bank is
to be carried on.
VIM. H. Marston of New York City
is owner and President, and the stock
has been increased recently from $50
900 to s250,0oo. The Central Wis
consin says: .....
Iii the first place there is no such
town or village in Marathon County as
Eagle Lake. On the trail from Wau-
sau to Ontonagon, near the Michigan
line is small lake, known to pedestri-
ans as Eagle Lake, and on its banks
they have been in the habit for few
years of spreading their blankets, and
camping for the night. It's distant
from Wausau about 90 miles. direct
course by land, and about 100 miles by
the river. 1t is situated few miles
east Of the Wisconsin, and the outlet,
which is one of the Wisconsin's head
tributaries, is known as Eagle river:
but from the best information we can
gather as to the location we should say
that the lake is situated east of Mara
thon county line, consequently in the
county OF Oconto. Up to within the
past eight months there has lived but
four or five white settlers within 20
miles Of the lake. Mr.. Marston has
had no bank there Of any kind, and has
done no business there in the name of
his corporation.
MARATHON COUNTY BANk.-By the
certificate Of Incorporation it appears
that this bank commenced business the
twelfth day Of December 1857, to ter
inmate January lst, 1890, and it's loca-
ton and place Of doing business is the
village of Eagle RIVER, Marathon Coun-
ty, Wisconsin. The capital stock was
in the first place s25, 1000. The 18th
day of February, 1853, it was increased
s25, 900; and the I'd day of April, 1858,
it was increased $4,000, making to-
tai amount of stock $4,000. 1t is own
ed by Otis I. Richmond, of Centralia
Co., ILL.,, who appears to be its Presi-
dent. There is no such town or village
as Eagle River, and the bank has no
place of doing business, nor agent nor
office for the redemption of its bills in
Marathon county.
STATE SECURITY BANK.-C. H.
Helms of Stevens Point, is Cashier, and
Henry NJ. Heart, of Portage City, is
President
During the past winter Messrs Helms
q Co., OF Stevens Point, have carried
on 4 heavy ''logging business" near the
north line Of the State, in the vicinity
of the small lake known as Eagle Lake,
and have given the name "Gemekon,"
to the place where they erected their
shanties. Much Of the time for the
past six months they have had over so
men III their employ, and u few farm
ers are now settled in the vicinity
This bank has show for doing some
business where they claim it is located:
but the best information we can Get
gives us to understand that the best
"bullion'' the bank officers have to re-
deem their bills with at Gemekon is
good pine saw-logs; they are lawful
tender, however, in the pinery, and the
bill-holders Of the other wildcat banks
OF n orthern Wisconsin, will, 40 doubt,
be glad some day to get even as good
currency as pine logs for the rags"
April 10th, 1853, the stock of this
bank was increased $4,000, making
the total amount of capital, at this time,
100000. ',.....l II
The OSBORNE BANK OF GEMEKoS.
This bank is claimed by the owners
to be located and carrying on business
at the village of Gemekon, Marathon
County, Wisconsin,; and, as appears
from the certificate Of incorporation,
commenced business May lst, 1858;
and the time at which said association
is to terminate, is December lst, 1899.
Hudson Bidwell, of Beaver Dam, Wis
consin, appears to be the owner. The
amount of capital stock is $4,000
This bank exists only by name. 1t has
no banking office or place of business
at Gemekon, logging shanties," or at
any other place in Marathon county.
MARATHON Cry BANk.-The GER
tificates of incorporation shows this
bank, with capital Of $4,000, COM
menced business at Marathon CITY,
town of Marathon and county of Mara
thon, Wisconsin, ON the goth day of
May, 1858, and the period at which this
association is to terminate is May goth,
1899. 1t is owned by Francis 6. lib
bits, ofMadison. This pretended bank
has no office Or place of business in Mar
athon County. I'll. -..-... ....s.|
Besides the banks we have enumera-
ted, many Of our exchanges say we
have the new "Bank of the INTERIOR
located at Wausau, with capital of
$50 900, owned by several gentlemen
of Watertown. This is only wild sup
position, for we have no such bank here.