The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-13
BANKS BIC RECORD
Merchants National of Topeka
Is Thirty Years Old.
Incorporated in 1888, 1t Is Now
One of Largest in State.
MANY WELL KNOWN TOPEKANS
Officers and IncOrpOratOrs Men
Who Were State Builders.
Tomorrow, Thirtieth Anniver-
Sary To Be Celebrated.

Tomorrow is the thirtieth birthday
of the Merchants National bank, ac-
cording to an announcement this
morning by z. w. Freeman, president
1888 the bank has stea Oily grown in
size and power until today it is one
of the largest financial institutions in
the state.
President Freeman's own story of
the birth and history of the bank
follows:
On April 2. 1883, C. X. Holiday,
T. J. Kellam, w. A. I. Thompson, H
c. Speer, Frye w. Giles, Chas. Blood
Smith and F. G. Willard, met in the
office of Rossington, Smith & Dallas
for the purpose of organizing a Ma
tional Banking association
A committee to secure applications
Tor stock was appointed and on June
a charter was asked for the Mer-
chants National bank with a capital
OF 100000. issued to the following
Thomas j. Kellam, Frank G. Willard,
w A. L Thompson, Frye W. Giles.
Geo NJ. Noble, J. D. McCune, Chas
Blood Smith. James Brewer, N F.
randy, w w. fanspeaker, Frank E.
wear and H C Speer, who composed
the first board of directors, and James
Z; Kyle, NJ. F. Rigby T. r. Beman,
Gas G. Carney, Harry G. Wilson and
Geo. r. Peck.
Among those who have since. from
time to time, served directors ap-
pear the names of w. W. Mills, Geo
X Peel. Geo. F. Sharitt, w. S.
Charles, R. NJ. Gage, A C. Davis, I B.
snow. J. b. Hayden, B. NJ. Payne. e.
r: Ware, c. B. Merriam, c. H. Gutbor.
H. h Nickerson and Geo. Neil; and
prominent among the shareholders
were VIM B. Strong, the president of
the A. L s F. railway, B. P. Cheney.
A. w. Nickerson and Isaac T. Burr of
Boston, DR.. w. S. Woods of Kansas
City. Jenkin W. Morris of Leaven-
worth, B. Rockwell of Junction City.
and Mary D. Holiday. Lille H. KEEL
lam, Alberta T. Alexander, Jane C.
Stormont, Rose E. Charles, Eliza w.
BOWMAN. Marguerite b Merriam,
Bishop z. S. Thomas, H. H Mills. H.
Z. Bowman, DR., Reid Alexander. N. P
Garretson. c. c. Baker, c. J. DevIin. C.
H. Pattison, j. s. Parks John F. Dill
Ion, End. H. A. Auerbach, H A. Scan
drett of Topeka.
List of Shareholders.
Death has claimed many, others
have disposed of their holdings, I'M
til now the following is the short list
OF shareholders: Alberta T. Alexander,
Henrietta Alexander, Jane Boal Alex
ander, Mary A. Alexander, r. w.
Blair, F. NJ. Bonebrake, E. L. Cope
Iand, Charles Curtis. H. P. Dillon, F.
I
ace L. Hall, j. E. Jones, Frank P. Mac
Lehman, Robert Pierce. Charles Blood
Smith, Mrs. Charles Blood Smith. w.
A. l. Thompson of Topeka and
Charles H. Weller of San Francisco.
only two of the incorporators re-
main.
The following have served as off
GERS since organization.
president, Cyrus X. Holiday to
1900. w. A. L. Thompson to 1911, F.
w. Freeman to date.
vice president, 7. ]. Kellam to 1895,
w. A L. Thompson to 1900, WV. Mills
to 1904, F. w, Freeman to 1911, F.
M. Bonebrake to date.
Cashier. F. G. Willard to 1900, F.
W. Freeman to 1904, F. NJ. Bonebrake
to date.
Assistant cashier, VIM. Macferran to
1898, F. W. Freeman to 1900, L. C.
Bronson to 1904, E. A. Thrill to 1918,
]. F. Jones to date
Chairman of board, W. A. L.
Thompson, 1911 to date.
While the effects of the boom of
the eighties" made progress slow, at
the end of ten years. July IA, 1898, the
bank showed deposits of $3.50, s65.S5
and under better conditions increased
during the ten years ending July IA
1908, to s1,562, 981.26.
Today, in keeping with the progress
and prosperity of our CITY, deposits are
$2,432,592.30 and the number of de-
positors 800. Last semi-annual diVi-
dend OF 8 per cent was declared and
paid July /, 1918. Dividends have
been paid to shareholders averaging
40 per cent per annum since or
ganization, and in addition surplus
and undivided profits have been earn
ed in amount of $109,51S.94
The present officers and directors
are: w A L. Thompson, chairman
of board; +. W. Freeman president:
F. M Bonebrake, vice president and
cashier; j. E. Jones, assistant cashier
E. L. Copeland, H. P. Dillon, Horace
L. Hall and Robert Pierce