The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-31
Another Bank, with Half Mil
lion Capital added to the City's
Financial Institutions.
The Officers and Directors Among
the Leading and Successful
Business Men of the State.
John I. Murphy, President; shirley G.
Ashby, Vice-President; and Frank
Baird, Cashier-The Directory.

4
dlateiy take front rank among the fnan
cial institutions of the northwest, backed
as it is by large capital. while the officers
and directors are among the most success
full and best known business men of Mon.
tana. The capital has been fixed at $500,
600, equal to that of any other Helena bank,
and the institution will do general bank
ing business. As correspondents. banks of
high standing in New York, Chicago, Kan
sas City. St. Louis and St. Paul have been
selected. The bank will be located in the
south side of the first floor of the Power
block--larRe and commodious quarters,
with two entrances, one on Main street and
the other on Sixth avenue. The present
fixtures are only temporary, and when the
permanent arrangements are completed, no
bank in the city will surpags it for convent
ence Or beauty.
No bank in the state has stronger list Of
officers and directors. 1t ia composed
mainly of Montana business men, whose
names are known all over the state for
probity and those qualifications which go
10 make a successful life, while the MEM
bers who are not 30 we'll known in Montana
are experienced bankers and men of affairs
in the east.
John I. Murphy, the president is, per-
haps, the most generally known merchant
head of the firm of Murphy, Neel d Co., of
Helena and Deer Lodge, with branch
houses in southern Montana and other Sec
tions. A few years ago the firm changed to
John I. Murphy q Co., of Helena, and
Murphy. Maolay d Co., Of Great Falls.
ional bank Mr.. Murphy disposed of his
mercantile interests here, and will devote
his time to the duties of his new position.
No man in Montana has a larger circle of
acquaintances, as in addition to his n,ercaIi-
tile interests he has beer prominently ide1,-
tilted with both the stock and mining in
dustries.
Shirley G. Ashby, the vice president, is
another successful and well-known Mon
tana business man. No firm in the state
ia better known than that of 8. G. Ashby g.
Co., of which the Helena's vioe-president is
the head, who has been its leading spirit
and who has brought it to its present high
rank as a business enterprise. In addition
to being the principal of the leading aRri-
cultural house of the state, for many years
Mr.. Ashby was the Montana representative
of the best known insurance companies in
the United States, the business of both the
implement house and the insurance agency
being limited only by the territorial boun-
daries. When the matter of organizing the
Helena National was preached, he was the
first to favor it. Mr.. Ashby will be no
fgurehead. but an active officer, sharing
with Mr.. Murphy the responsibilities and
honors of the bank. Many of the banks
new customers will come from among those
who know by personal and business expert
ence Shirley G. Ashby.
Frank Baird, the cashier, is not so we'll
known in Montana, but he comes to Helena
with the highest testimonials az a man and
a banker. Mr.. Baird's father has been in
the banking business for thirty-fve years
in Missouri, and the son was brought up in
the same business. He has had sixteen
years. experience in banking, and will ma
terially aid in keeping the Helena National
in the front rank. He is very affable, quick
to come to decision, and those
who 90 to the bank because they know the
pleasant gentleman to do business with.
These three gentlemen and the follow
ing compose the board of directors:
Charles X. Wells, of Helena, merchant;
W. E. Cullen, of the Helena law firm of
Cullen, Sanders & Shelton; Hon. r. 8.
grower; w. J. Hallack. vice-president of the
American National bank of Kansas City,
whose capital is 1850, 600; J. p. Woolman,
Of Helena, head of the firm of J. p. Wool
man Co., merchants; John S. Menden-
hall, of Bozeman, formerly the company in
Co.. and now the principal Of the house of
John S. Mendenhall & Co., of
that city; A. A. Mcdonald, Of
Philipsburg, capitalist; Edgar G.
Maolay, of Great Falls, of the firm of Muir
ply, Maolay 4 Co., of that city. one of the
best known merchants in northern Mon
tana; Abner b. Clements, of Helena, for
fifteen years All officer in the United States
navy, and who has made financial questions
Il study for number of years; Jas. P. Por-
ter, of Helena, real estate.
With such list of officers and directors
there is no question but the Helena Nation
al will Immediately become favorite bank
ing institution, and with the financial int1u-
the growth of the capital as we'll as of the
entire state.