Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-10-25
Hon " ii II Pusey

themselves at Council Bluffs about the
year 1856 as private bankers under the
firm name of Officer s. Pussy. They
gained public confidence and for years
did thriving business. Their bank
was considered as safe as the bank of
of England. The people had unlimited
confidence in the 'integrlty of the bust.
ness capacity of both men. For more
than y generation the banking firm of
Officer Il Pussy was pointed to in
Western Iowa as an example of every
thing sound and safe. Trust funds
were placed in their hands without the
slightest misgiving. They lived mod
estly in inexpensive homes and their
families grew up with economical
ideas. For more than generation
these men lived in their homes, and
morning, noon and night tramped back
and forth in the same path, giving
their neiRhbors kindly greeting The
we're noted for strict attention TO thel
own business and also for the absence
Of any spirit of speculation. Their old
two-story brick banking house has
stood on a prominent corner in Coun-
Gil Blnffs for about forty years With
out having been given coat of pain
People regarded that fact a. All Otfic,
& Pusey trait and an evidence of re-
liability. Recently Thomas Office,
Tied, and the bank being mere pert
nership Was placed in the hands Of
conservator. and soon thereafter II.
real condition became known. 10th.
great surprise Of every one the banE
was found to be in an nnsatisfactor.
condition. Among the assets O.
Thomas Officer were found erea
blocks OF mining stock worth little OF
aothtng It was also whispered tina,
Mr. Pusey's son had been permitted I.
'verdrsw his account 6 the extent o,
$4,000 or 100000 The death Of MIR
officer ard the consequent disclosures
g to the bank unsettled the reason o,
Nr. Pussy, and he is now an inm.te o.
he asylum at Clarinda When Mr.
Pussy was taken to the asylum tn.
scene was pathetic. Three deput,
sheritf's drove to the rasr Of the house
With a closed carriage. They brought
Mr.. Pussy out of tie barn with gres'
difficulty. as he resisted with q maniac.
strength. In his prime he was pow.
srful man physically. The deputie.
finally got him inside the carriage ant
drove away. His family we're watch
ing the proceedings from neiehbor
ing window, keeping out of sight o,
The deranged husband and father, be-
cause the sight Of his family alwsys
put him into wild rawlings Mr. Puse.
was proud man and doubtless lii.
Humiliation of his financial conditio,
was the main thing IN producing in
sanity. Before the Civil Wsr, lie was
member of the state senate, repre-
santing considerable number OF
western Iowa counties. lie was {.
"wsr democrat" supporting all wis.
and patriotic measures for the prose-
cution of war. When his term q.
senator expired he did not again seek
office. but number of years ago OF
account of republican discord he was
elected to congress from the ninth
district. defeating Major A. r.. Andel.
son, who is now dead. He failed OF
re- election, being defeated by Major
Joseph Lyman, also now dead. Since
retiring from congress, Mr.. Pussy hat
given his entire attention to his bank
ing business. He stood high in the
state aud there will be much gym
pathy with him in his present condi-
tion. While there is much concern
about the condition of the bank
the city of Council Bluffs will no,
be affected one way or the other
as the bank did not do the lead
ing business in Council Bluffs. There
is another former member of congress
Major Holmes, of Boone, In the same
asylum. Affections IN this world com.
to no particular class, as these in
stances demonstrate. Mr.. Pussy wa.
q personal friend and admirer of Abrs-
ham Lincoln. For many years h,
acted IS Mr.. Lincoln's agent in paying
taxes on tract Of land owned by Mr.
Lincoln in Crawford county, Iowa, snt
Mr.. Pussy often referred to his rela.
tions with the martyr president
Des Motnes Daily Capital.
The Winterset News says: "Fo
the last four hundred times we posi-
lively will not publish cards Of thank
Tor resolutions Of respect except at Il
cents per line for any man, woman o
Echild or for any association, lodge
society or organization whatsoever.
fltt 10 g: good move If you can only d,
. fsa. Why people inslst or expect news
papers to publish spch ARTICLES fire.
!, Of charge when they do not ipteres
. any body but the immediate family, W
do not understand. Anything per
tanning to be matter of news is al
: ways welcomed at this office, bu
] cards of thanks aud resolutions of re
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