The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-09
SAVED THE BANK.
j. G. Brown Stands by an Ar
gentine Institution.
Passes His Check for $4,000
Over the Counter.
AN ALASKAN MINER
Purchased the Bank From the
Closed Commerce.
His Career in the Northern
Camps Was Profitable.

Argentine, Kan, Dec. ct wish to
make little deposit here" said Joseph
| c. Brown of Alaska-"Joe' Brown they
call him in his home town of Argentine
as he went into the First State Bank
of Argentine Saturday afternoon.
j. H. Bocke, assistant cashier, pick
ed up the check Mr.. Brown had thrust
| through the window.
Fifty thousand dollars!' he ex-
claimed. <r
Yes, and I'll double it if necessary
| replied the man from the Klondike. "I
am standing by this bank and the boys
in Argentine"
was reorganized and 1t was Mr.. Brown
with his money from the northern gold
fields who stood ready to advance ev-
cry dollar if necessary. But he was
not the only Argentine citizen who
stood by the bank and when it reor-
ganized his name did not appear among
the board of directors, although John
Brown, a brother, and H. j. Smith, his
attorney, and several of his friends are
in the list.
A party of Argentine men headed by
Mr.. Brown made a cash offer Friday
for the stock of the bank to James T.
Bradley, receiver for the National Bank
of Commerce. Mr.. Bradley accepted the
offer.
The National Bank of Commerce
owned almost all the $4,000 capital
stock of the First State Bank of Ar
gentine. It also held the $12, 900 earned
surplus and about $4,000 worth of Sc
curitieS, amounting in all to $36, 900.
When the National Bank of Commerce
closed it's doors the Argentine bank
also closed, hut it was able to open tho
following day.
A meeting was held at the bank an5
ln five minutes all he stock for n-r'y
held by the National Bank Of Com
merce was subscribed for and many
away. Joseph Brown did not wish to
be a director or he would have been
chosen.
This bank will continue in business
on the same basis as all the other
banks belonging to the Kansas City
Clearing House association" said Mr..
Bocke last night. "It will have as it's
correspondent the First National Bank
of Kansas City"
Joseph c. Brown is the son of George
Brown. farmer living south of Argen-
tine He spent all the early years of
his life in or near Argentine and at
though he has made a fortune digging
gold in Alaska and spends great deal
of his time in the Ear north, he s;jll
calls Argentine his nome.
There was a time in Joe Browns
history when he couldn't have come to
the rescue of any bank" said n friend
of Mr. Browns yesterday. That was
back in the early '90s when the old Ar
gentine State bank, then the only bank
ing institution in this city, failed. Joe
was in the contracting business at the
time and nearly all Of his money WIS
tied up in that bank. He was out of a
lob and out of money but he didn't lose
heart He borrowed few hundred dol |
lars from his friends here, some OF
whom are now depositors in the First |
State bank. The gold fever in Alaska
was at it's height. He went to Alaska |
saving before he went, that he would |
come back rich if it took him all his
life. And I guess he kept his word"
Mr. Brown spent several years pros |
Meeting first in one place, then in an
other Dawson at that time was in the |
height of it's glory Mr.. Brown did not |
stay there long, however, as he did not |
ike the way the city was controlled by |
he British government. He spent some |
lime in Eagle City. At one time he |
was mayor Of that town. He returned
% Argentine. stayed through one win