Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-12-26


The National Bank, Of Bellows Falls was
chartered aS 4 state organization ut the De
toher session Of the Legislature. in 1881
under the direction OF Mark Richards and
John Smith. Of Westminster. William Hen
~, of Chester, and Daniel Kellogg. Henry
f. Green, Samuel W. Goodrich, james l..
Cutler and Alexander ;. Campbell, of
Rockingham. None of these men are now
living, except the venerable Judge Kellogg.
of BrattlebOrO, who was the hrSt President
of the bank. In lsi7 the charter expired
BY limitation of law, but was renewed, and
has been continued in force ever since; and
now. following the compulsory invitation
of Congressional legislation, still lives to do
good and furnish currency for the people,
under national auspices.
Ii has always been conservative instItu-
ton, and has kept on the even tenor of its
way with no financial storm or rivalry
among its managers, losing heavily It l.
true now and then, but always having
enough of surplus in the locker to warrant
the semi-annual dividend.
Daniel Kellogg was President but few
years, when the Democratic cry Of" Smiley
and Bank Reform" arose, and Mr. X. being
a Democrat, it is suspected that he with
drew to bea consistent politician, and the
Il
in his place lie held the Office till his
death last season, and j. ii. Williams, the
present incumbent, was u~hered into TIA
chair 50 long occupied by the distinguished
centenarian.
We well remember when the Democratic
cry seemed to be, - Down with the Banks,
| how odd it looked to find Bellows Falls
| bank bill with the talented and popular
leader of the State Democracy'S name, " ID.
| Kellogg" neatly written ON the margin "a
President. But the people were always
glad to get such Democratic endorsement
Of genuine note. 1t paid.
No disagreement, 80 far as the public
knows. has ever arisen among the stock
holders or directors When director died
| and a vacancy thus occurred, the new di-
rector elected to ill it took ihis position at
| the bottom of the list. 81 when Hugh
| Henry, of Chester. was chosen to hll the
void oceasioncd 10y the death Of his distin
| cuished father, instead Of exactly stepping
| into his shoes. Wentworth, or FarnswOrth,
| or some other director took the parent )
seat. while the son began ut the bottom, to
bide his time and work his way up.
If we are not mistaken, in forty years
there were but two eaShiers-llOn. Wm.
Henry and James ii. Williams. Who, that
did business with the bank, years ago, does
not remember the elegant carelcssness of
Mr.. Henry, who, while cashier. ever loved
angling for the Speckled trout better than
| handling money over his counter, and fish
| ing rods and hooks and lines, and tlies and
bait, with here and there an old pair of
| boots, were to be seen tucked away in the
corners of the bank building.
In those days of financial figuring bank
robbers and safe-breakcrs were not so skill
full as at present, and hence the future mem
| Der Of Congress did not worry about the
vault. Since then, however, bank-break-
crs have several times tried that vault, but
it has always proved too strong Tor them.
even the Larneds and their associates who
50 successfully visited Battcnkill bank in
1851, and afterwards the Charleston bank,
and who then frequented this section OF
country, if indeed, they did not, as many
supposed, ihave their headquarters IN
| Windham or Windsor counties.
| c. II. c.
Gen. Mcclellan and family will spend the