The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-30
LEE COUNTY
PIONEER BANK
Safe, Sound and Popular Keokuk Saw
Inss Bank, the Oldest Financial
institution Of the Kind
In keokuk.
NO BLUR ON RECORD
Wise, commendabIe, Active and Sue
cessful Work Of Its Several
Officials In Behalf Of the
Great Dam.

The Keokuk Savings Bank was or
ganized over forty-four years ago, in
January, 1863, and detailed history of
its career would be the story of the
financial and commercial progress of
Keokuk. Many OF the wonderful
changes in the conditions of the city
have taken place since the Inaugural
ton Of this bank, and many Of the i'm
portant enterprises introduced have
been brought to gratifying success by
eminent officials of the Keokuk Saw
ings Bank. Judge Edward Johnstonei
was a pioneer Of Iowa, a learned and
cultured gentleman in law and litera-
ture. He came here in territorial days
and his eminent judgment and wise
counsel did much in placing Keokuk
and Lee county in the forefront of the
early progress of this locality. He was
one OF the leading men in wisdom and
his influence extended to other states
and to the national capital. Stately
In appearance as well as gifted in all
the attributes that go to make an hon
orable and valued citizen, his name
and influence lives after him.
A. L. Connable, another of the list
OF officials OF this bank, had much to
do in shaping the destiny of Keokuk.
He was largely engaged in pushing
forward the commercial interests of
the city. Prominent in the old Des
Moines slack water enterprise, a
wholesale grocer and an extensive
pork and beef packer, he was also one
of the incorporators and directors of
the Iowa State Insumnse company,
director and president of the Keokuk
Savings Bank, director also Of the
Water Works company and the Keo-
kuk canning company. He was large
land owner in this vicinity, besides
owning about 10000 acres of land In
northwestern Iowa.
G. F. Davis succeeded Mr. Con-
nable as president, the latter retain
Ing his position on the board of direc-
tors. Mr.. Davis was man Of mark
ed financial ability, and welded a
vast influence In the financial mum
lcipal and civic interests of the city. |
His civic pride was admirable and he
loved Keokuk. Through his earnest |
and persistent efforts the remains of |
Chief Keokuk were brought here, and |
he was instrumental in placing a t
monument to mark the spot where the
remains of the great chief lie buried /
In Rand park, overlooking the broad |
sweep of the Father of Waters 1t was
his plan to have a statue Of the 4
notable chief placed upon this monu-
ment. 1t should be placed there yet,
not only as a tribute to the eminent
Indian chief from whom Keokuk took
he. name but as lasting memorial
stone to the memory of C. F. Davis
whose energy, Judgment and local
patriotism conceived the idea of bear
Ing the bones of Keokuk here for
burial and whose active mind and per-
sistent efforts caused the notable
monument to be erected. Mr.. Davis
was a Virginian by birth. He was
member of the city council and mayor
of the city, which positions he filled
tearlessly, ably and conscientiously.
At the death of Mr.. Davis, he was
succeeded in the presidency, by Alex
E. tombstone who inherited many of
the sterling qualities of his father,
Hon. Edward Johnstone, the first
president of the bank, and he con-
tinues to be the able, safe and efficient
president of the institution. No man
In Keokuk was more active in untiring
work for the water power. that colos-
sal enterprise now nearing completion.
He was an officer of the local water
power company when the strenuous
work was done at the national capital,
for congressional consent to the dam
ming of the river here. He was presi-
dent OF the company when the triumph
came and the local company turned
over the work to the present company
who are vigorously pursuing the en-
terprise to an early completion.
Charles P. Birge, vice president of
the bank for number of years was
recognized as the father of the water
power enterprise. He spent time,
money and energy in it's promotion and
died when the realization of his
dreams were about to be accomplished.
So it seems that vice president of
the Keokuk Savings Bank was the
originator of the enterprise and a
president of the bank had the dis
tinguished honor and pleasure of turn
Ing 1t over to an active, working com
pany which is now building it. Men
at the head in promoting an enter
prise of worldwide fame are surely
men of unusual strength and ability
And these men are only cited as the
kind of men who built the foundation
of the Keokuk Savings Bank and have
continued in it's management to thi.
day. There is not the slightest BLU
Continued on page ~