The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-11-12
r. J. A. WILLARD ASSIGNS.

The failure of Mr.. John A. Willard
J to meet HIS obligations in accordance
with the wishes of some of his creditors,
and the consequent enforced assign
ment, the details of which are fully set
forth in another place in this paper,
will cause deep sense of regret to the
many friends of Mr.. Willard, not alone
at home, but throughout the country.
The past five years have been trying
ones to those interested in large estates
and extensive business engagements.
Many of the best and strongest financial
men and institutions have been forced
| to succumb to the hard times, and that
Mr.. Willard has withstoud the storm
so long is directly and wholly attribute
ble-frst, to the implicit confidence re-
posed in him by his creditors to protect
their interests by letting him alone and,
second, by the indomitable energy and
faith exhibited that he could eventually
pull out all right, pay one hundred
cents on the dollar to his creditors
and still have something left with
which to lean on in his declining years.
In assigning, Mr.. Willard has taken
the step that he has all along said he
would take before he would permit any
one to take judgment against him. He
has insisted for months that, if left to
work out his own salvation he felt con-
fident that he could so turn affairs as to
liquidate all of his Indebtedness and
serve all creditors alike, but if any one
attempted to take Judgment he would
Immediately assign and thus protect sc
far as such action could protect, those
who had been disposed to be more len
lent toward him. He has pursued the
only honorable course, and while al
will regret the circumstances which
have made it necessary for the assign
ment, all will feel that he has acted
most honorable and considerable.
Mr. W. has issued letter tt
his creditors in which he expresses
the hope that all will feel with
him, that in Mr.. Clark they have as as
signee a gentleman who will handle the
estate for the best interests of all con
cerned The following extract from
Mr.. Willard S letter, is so expressive o.
the general sentiments entertained by
his friends everywhere, that we are
pleased to give it place here,
1T is with the greatest regret thai
after business career of so many years
and involving many enterprises, many
of which [ have undertaken largely tt
r build up the community in which [ live(
or in which | was largely interested
and some of which have been heavy
drain on my resources to achieve tina
= end, [ must now resort to this cOurs'
! which is manly made necessary by OBJ
, legations for which have personally re
, ceived no value"
Mr.. Willard has resided in Mankat'
for nearly forty years. He has been ;
devoted friend to Mankato, as is attest
ed by the many industries he has found
ed here, and his misfortune, coming a
it does in the years of his life when b
should be given ca e and comfort as
lust reward for an active life full o
hard work and worriment, causes
feeling of sympathy to go out towar'
him that is genuine and heartfelt.
Assignee Clark will enter upon hi
. duties as soon as the preliminaries ca
be arranged, but it will be severs
weeks before complete schedule Q
assets and liabilities can be made up.