The times., 1897-04-11
A WOMAN BANK PRESIDENT.
Mrs. w. Nj. Marsh Wins a Place In
the Front Rank of Financiers'


Groton, n. Y, April 10. Mrs W. NJ
Marsh. of this place, is the only "oiiiaH
whose signature appears on pahh US
This happens because she is the plesiuen'
of the First National Rank OF "ro0on'
an institution which does very iaise
business with corporations ana piiN "
dividuals whose operations are eAUehSiNs
In addition to performing the duties Vi 800 IN
nresident, Mrs. Marsh is the iieau U 'iie
1s,,,,,r T,vnevritinc Machine Company and
treasurer and director Oh ole oio va
,iaTre Company. She finds time TO do all
this and have that leisure which is neces-
sarv 10 a woman who enjoys the advan-
tages of society.
The husband of Mrs Marsh was capi-
,aIist and one of the business pillars of
Groton. When he died, year and half
ago. people wondered how the large in
terests of his estate would be handed.
Mrs. Marsh quickly solved the problem by
assuming the discharge OF the duues whlch
had devolved upon her late husband Inc
business men Of Groton, While they deep
ly respected Mrs. Marsh, were iltue IN
clined to doubt her ability TO successfully
carry on the role she had uhdeftakeil
The lady said nothing one way OF 'he
other, but in very short ulIne ueinoh-
strated To the entire satisfaction ol olie
business community that she was Iuiiy
capable of handling the business oI .he
bank, the typewrihng company anu 'he
carriage manufactory.
In a town like Grouon the presiuehe oi
the leading bank must be person oi ca
ceedingly good Judgment. ieis 'his oii
rial's task to pass upon every ioah 'he pahN
is asked to make before themoi'eS IL iiaiioeu
over. In case of a very nara prooieih oi
this sort il is the custom TO supilht Cie
matter to the board of directors. ordinarl-
ly, tits not the part of wisdom to bother
the directors with matters OF thls sort,
because the president of the bank is there
for the purpose OF making those decisions
the directors having other things to atteEa
to Mrs Marsh is to be found at her Office
In the bank every day in the secular week,
and keeps as sharp an eye upon the business
of the institution as the keenest man VINO
could be placed in that position
She meets the Gus toners OF the bank ana
talks over the financial situation wlththeih-
The applicant for loan is directed to her,
and finds that he not only has a knoiS
listener, but one who never loses siGh0
of the interests OF the bank for moment
on several occasions, men whose IMAM
cial conditions are unlike Caesar wlIe,
have sought to induce Mrs Marsh 10
permit a loan of the bank 5 funds to theiil'
Every attempt OF this sort has falied, ana
beside that the woman bank president mas
permitted the applicant OF this nature TO
understand that she clearly perceived his
scheme and his reasons therefore
Inst as often as occasion demands, crisp
ne,r hills are secured from the treasurer
bearing the banks name When these
bills come by express from the treasury
Departmcnt al Washington, they lack the
signature OF the president and cashier OF
the tank for which they are Intended
Until these signatures are placed on the
new notes, they are OF no use, that Is the
notes One signature Will not DO. lhdl
10 why Mrs. Marsh's signature makes
money she signs the bllls IN oleai'
strong hand, and the chances are that lew
persons who see the notes or the Hfoloh
Bank. with wv. NJ. Marsh, President,
inscribed thereon, imagine that the name
ts that of a woman.
when the board of directors holds
meeting, as it must at least four times
wear. Mrs Marsh preSideS over the delib-
eraticns of the body in as thoroughly 9nSl-
pess-like and parliamentary manner as
could be desired. If it is an informal ualk
sh, enters into the discussion OF the imam
cial problems as thoroughly as the best man
among them. If it is a formal meeting
she treats the members of the board Win
as rigid an etiquette as that observed Dy
the greatest bank official in the greatest
financial center. She very popular among
the bank employees, from messenger TO
cashier and there is not one OF them who
does not thoroughly respect her, both for
her uniform kindness and her sterling abll-
fly.
The duties devolving on Mrs. MARSH in
addition to the banking business, through
her other interests, require close atteu-
tion. 1t is necessary that the affairs of
the typewriting machine company be
watched with as good financial Judgment
AN those of the bank. OF course, the de-
tails of the transa ction are attended TO toy
other persons, but it is Mrs. Marsh'S brain
that governs the organization's finances
Not an action of any moment Is taken
without her advice and approval. She is
familiar with the extent TO which credit
should be granted to customers of the com
pany, and knows at all times how collec-
those firms or individuals who are slow in
making a settlement.
TIE best of judgment is necessary to
avoid loss from the giving of credit. one
OF the notable tributes to Mrs. Marsh S
judgment is that the percentage of losses
from uncuIIected bills or financial disasters
with which the company is afflicted is SO
small percentage uhatit amounts to little
~ Era 70 hp
of a subordinate in the matter of the state
of the organizations accounts, but, being
thoroughly familiar with the most com
plicated methods Of bookkeeping. scans
the books herself, and in this way forms
her Judgment as to the trend Of affairs.
The third of the principal interests Of
which she keeps watch and ward Is the
carriage company. The ramiiications CT
this business are widely divergent from
those of the first two, but Mrs. MarSh's
versatile genius grasps them without diff
Guilty. AS treasurer, it is her duty 10
sign the checks, know where the different
sums are going and what they are eX-
pended for. She knows exactly the price
OF materials which the business OF the
company renders it necessary to use, and
sees to it that they are purchased at the
very lowest rates. and from producers,
who can give the best for the least money.
Mrs. Marsh also keeps an eye on the
general finances of the concern, and watches
the credits rs carefully as she does those
of the typewriter company. All in all,
there are few men in business in town
of the size of Groton. who manage so many
utterly differenrinyerests and in manner
SO satisfactory from the standpoints of
both the employer and the employe. With