St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-06
THE SECOND NATIONAL.
A Group of Prominent Citizens
In Its Directorate.

directorate.
When mention is made of the solid in
situations of st. Paul-especially when
financial concerns are undar discussion
the Second National bank Invariably
gets place high up on the list. There
is perhaps no corporation in the city
financially stronger, in proportion to the
capital invested. than is this bank. In
tabulated bank statements its profits
and undivided surplus reach high fig
ures. while its stock, when any eau be
found on the market, is literally out Of
sight. The bank got fine start in
years long past and has been so con-
trolled and conducted as never to have
lost the impetus then acquired. Its
board of directors includes many men
whose names are never absent from re-
ports of official and public dOings. and
especially from those of popular enter
prises.
d. A. Monfort, as an exampIe-the
cashier of the bank-has declined more
public appointments than most men
hold. In a sense, he has grown up with
the bank, as the bank has grown up
with the city. In every public move
ment on which the future of the city
has depended, or in which its prosper
ity and progress were involved, he has
taken an active part, though always in
an impersOnal and transformations way.
During the carnival seasons his name
was conspicuous among those of the
men whose brains mapped out and
whose energy executed the plans
which gave to st. Paul so wide repu-
tation. Besides his banking business,
he is directly connected with several
other fiouriShIng concerns in st. Paul.
Personally he is polished gentleman,
of engaging manners, easily approached
and generally popular.
The founder of the Second National
bank and the oldest banker in st. Paul
is Erastus Smith Edgerton, whose
name has been identified with banking
interests since the city has been in ex-
istence. Mr.. EdgertOn is the son OF a
Revolutionary soldier, and was born in
Delaware county, New York, in 1916.
He received an academic education. and
removed to Delhi. where he was ap-
pointed deputy sheriff. In resisting at
one time the attack of mob he had
a most thrilling encounter and there
displayed the nerve that marked him in
after life. He was married to Miss
Cannon in 1914 and in 1858 removed to
st. Paul, where he began the banking
business with the late Charles n. Mack
ubin, in room i'll the Winslow house
at Seven corners. When the latter re-
tired, Mr.. Edgerton succeeded to the
business. In 1865 he organized the Second
National, which Immediately took front
rank, and advanced Mr.. Edgerton to
the position of leading banker in the
state. Through the panIcky times
which followed he alone stood firm, and
his course during the famous railroad
bond troubles called forth the plaudits
of all who knew him and were interest
ed in the states welfare. Mr.. Edger-
ton is a remarkable inancier and man
of the frmest nerve. He is cool and
cautious, and yet daring and aggresSive.
In his life he is credited with many
generous acts, performed so cleverly.
kindly and unostentatiously that the
recipients will never forget his kind
ness.
A. S. Cowley, the vice president of
the bank, was born at Jefferson,
Schoharie county, New York, in
1874, and has been in st. Paul
since 1860. His father was Quaker
farmer and he was himself raised on
farm. His father, st. Ledger Cow
lev, was distinguished for his bravery
at the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1850
the subject of this sketch accompanied
Mr.. Edgerton to Oshkosh. where they
did loaning business together, but
Mr.. Cowley returned to New York and
engaged in the livery business. He be-
lieyed in St. Paul, and sent money here
for investment, besides buying and sell
ing wheat through this city. In COM
pany with b. c. Burbank he bought
and sold horses to the government dur
ing the war, and for ten years after its
conclusion was in the fur business, often
loading as many as 100 oX-carts for trad
ing purposes. Soon after the banks
organization he became director, and
was elected vice president in 1878.
There is no more genial, whole-souied
gentlemen in the city of st. Paul and
none with a circle of warmer friends
about him.
Hon. William B. Dean, next to CASHIER
Monfolt, is the most active of the Sec
ond Nationals business spirits. He is
prominent as one of st. PauPs leading
jobbers and public spirited men. No
man is more generally sought for his
advice ON public matters, and none
whose advice is more sound and
conservative Mr.. Dean was mem
Der of the last state senate,
and distinguished himself by his
brilliant and able opposition to the dam
aging interest bills there introduced.
Personally be is an unusually intelli-
gent. genial gentleman. rather literary
in his tastes. and valuable member or
society.
Dr. David Day is veteran of st. Paul,
and easild takes rank among its dis
tingaiShed citizens. He has been here
since-well, the city has grown W
about him, placing his pretty Dayton
avenue home i'll the center of residence