The Press., 1905-09-20

converse, ana r. A. HarWOO0 was
elected vice president at the same
time. At the annual meeting in Ju-
ly, 1870, Ephraim Dimmick was
elected president; F. A. Harwood,
William Smith and B. W. Patten,
vice. presidents Henry Thrall, G.. H.
Baker, W. H. Cooley, W. W. Ellis
and E. K. Taft, directors. The I'M
dercurrent of persecution and disturb
ance was kept up during this and the
succeeding year. The legislature in
1871 had to validate the adjourned
meeting of the corporators, and at
the meeting established by the legis-
lature SO many corporators attended
that the meeting had to be held in the
Foster hall on the third floor of the
building now occupied by Anders ia
cobsen and J. M. Leach. William
Smith was chairman of that meeting,
and with the cool and consummate
skill characteristic of the man guided
it over a very troubled sea to the sue
cess he and his friends desired, and
to the utter discontinue of the oppos-
ing element. F. A. Harwood was
elected presidents; William Smith, B.
W. Patten and D. F. Fairman, vice
presidents, and Ephraim Dimmiok,
Robbins Patten, Henry Thrall, W. H.
Cooley, VIM. W. Ellis, M. P. J. Wal
ker and Ezra T. Converse directors
Simeon Newton was re- elected secre-
tary and treasurer. Nine new corpo-
rators were added. The war upon
the bank then went forward with
more than usual vigor. and determi-
nation to ruin the institution was
openly avowed. Subtle messages and
secret messengers were sent into the
surrounding country to poison the
minds of the people and to influence
Withdrawals of deposits, and no meas
ure or means was left unused that
could be brought to bear upon the
bank for it's injury and destruction.
Every measure of persecution failing
to accomplish the desired end, resort
was finally had to the procuring of a
charter for another savings bank.
This move met with much opposition,
both at home and before the legisla-
ture, but compromise was eventual
ly made. and Mr.. Ives, by a written
instrument, agreed to resign from all
official relations with the Savings
cease directly and indirectly all con-
troversies with or disturbance of the
savings bank. The banking situation
did not radically improve nor peace
like dove hover over the troubled
waters. Rumblings of the old quarrel
were continually sounding in the ears
of those nearest the center of the
former seat of trouble. The situation
was again aggravated by the move on
the part of Mr.. Newton and few of
his friends to organize new National
bank in opposition to the Stafford
National. The Savings Bank of Stat
100 shares in the new bank, and sub
scriptions we're being received rapidly
by Mr.. Newton up to the time of the
annual meeting in July. 1875. In
July, 1874, B. W. Patten was elected
president; William Smith, Robbins
Patten and Charles Warren, vice. presi-
dents. At the annual meeting in
July, 1875, Mr.. Newton declined
elected secretary and treasurer in his
place. Mr.. Howard Immediately
took steps to return the subscriptions
for stock in a new National bank and
to close up the matter, believing that
the business of the place did not call
for or justify additional banking capt.
tai or facilities. The persecution of the
past had wrought much harm to the
savings bank, but its friends believed
it was for the best interests of the
town that it be continued, for a season
at least, and a determined effort was
made to overcome the conditions in
during period of over fifteen years
of relentless, heartless, vicious, de-
structive pursuit and attack. After
the departure of Mr.. Newton the bank
war ceased and peace prevailed. By
degrees the old fractional feelings dis
appeared and social relations were ad-
justed upon plane more in accord
ance with the interests of progress and
development of the community. The
old bank began to feel the influence
of public confidence, and with the
cessation of persecution a period of
marked development was in evidence
all over the town.
In March, 1877, the Staffordville
reservoir gave way and swept all be-
fore it for nearly nine miles. To
remedy losses then incurred and to
meet some inherited conditions the
Savings Bank of Stafford Springs
omitted its July dividend, and changed
the date of its semi-annual dividend
time from July and January to April
and October. In June, 1880, B. W.
Patten, president of the bank, died.
At the following annual meeting Col.
Chas. Warren was elected president.
In September, 1882, the Warren
block, in which the bank was located,
was destroyed by fire. The bank was
moved to the Eaton block, now the
Chamberlin block. The removal was
an injury to the institution and caused
some new experiences. Col. Warren
soon replaced the burned building
with larger and more modern build.
ing, and provision was made for the
bank in much better quarters than it
had ever before occupied, at the east
end of the new brick block. The
bank moved into it's new rooms in
June, 1888, the day James G. Blaine
was nominated for the presidency of
the United States. The loss and in.
l. L