The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-10
EVOLUTION
OF THE BANKER
Judge William Logan in Speech Before
Group Eight of Illinois, Brings
Out the Striking
Contrast.
BANKERS OF DAYS AGONE
Wore Side Whiskers, Silk Hat and
DoubIe-Breas coat-Now They
Are Younger Men, Willing
to Do Everything.

Judge VIM Logan, president of the
State Central Savings bank, made the
following address before GEoup Eight.
Illinois Bankers Association, at Car
thage, H., which the Carthage Repub-
lican says was most excellent one
and unusually interesting:
When Mr.. Ferris invited me to at.
tend this meeting and as he said.
make a little talk. | questioned his
judgment in the selection of speak
er, but felt personally comphmented
at being remembered.
For ! too am at least a partial
product of this imperial state OF Iii
nois. having been brought here more
than IS years ago. a small boy. by
my father, to grow UP and help him
make farm and home for a brood OF
ten.
After sixteen years of rather re-
luctant effort in the cause, / broke
away from the farm and paternal
control, took Horace Greeleys advice
and went west, not SO far but that
after twenty-five years / co.ld get
back and settle on the west bank OF
our great river, at a point where the
first sight to greet my eyes in the
morning is the majestic hills of old
Hancock. So while not a member OF
your association, feel at home among
you
am particularly interested in and
Impressed with the splendid achieve
ments and helpful work of the young
bankers of the country When I first
came to Illinois, in 1852. there was
not bank in Hancock county, nor
railroad rail within her borders. The
transformation has been marvellous,
and the banks and bankers have done
their full share in bringing about
present conditions
never saw banker until I was
fifteen years old, and stood in the
presence of the first one | met with
fear and trembling He wore side
whiskers, silk hat, a double breasted
black frock coat buttoned to the chin.
He was tall and thin, severe and Sc
date, and to me was fearsome
object to look upon. He is gone,
has been pushed out of his place into
obscurity by the hustlfng young fell
low in short coat and derby hat
with an honest purpose in his heart.
he has made himself the most oblig
ing. the most useful and helpful mem
Der of the community in which he
lives
He is on hand at all times and all
places. is secretary of all or most of
the lodges, societies and associations
of his town: clerks at public sales.
writes letters for his customers,
figures up the farmers scale tickets
and sees that the check is for the
right amount. then SAYS, Uncle
John, will give you credit for this.
Take this check book and draw on US
at your pleasure. It's good deal
safer to carry a check book than lot
of currency around in your pocket.
He is ready to work 3s5 days and
some nights every year. If necessary.
TO keep things going and increase his
bank footings little over the wear
bSAOlC- 1iHd - Al FOFk- always
ready to oblige. has a perfect system
for the collection Of everything. every.
where, and can send his customer
money for him to any part Of the civ
ilized world at the minimum expense
From the autocrat Of early davs
the banker has evoluted to be al leas.
a fairly respectable citizen, as plenti
full and rendering his services at les:
cost, than harvest hands.
And how they grow! The errant
boy of fifteen years ago in the banl
OF which am the president is toda,
stockholder, director and cashier
The janitor of ten years ago is tn
head bookkeeper The great bank
of Chicago are manned and manage
almost entirely by the farmer boys {
the prairies. l knew little rel
headed urchin in North Missouri fort