RAVILLA H. WELLS

During a portion of the years 1857-59, one Ravilla H. Wells, carried on a banking business in the city. His career was short and he went away suddenly, leaving many creditors with aching hearts and empty pockets. He is now said to be residing somewhere on the Pacific coast.

MARTIN L. SWEET

In December, 1861, M. L. Sweet reopened the old office of Daniel Ball, and until the organization of the First National bank, March 10, 1864, continued to transact a general banking business when it became a part of that institution.

LEDYARD & ALDRICH

opened a private bank in 1860, and in the fall of the same year Henry Fralick purchased the interest of M. V. Aldrich. The firm of Ledyard & Fralick continued in business until 1865, when the business was transferred to the City National bank.

HOLDEN & BATES

On January 1, 1869, Holden & Bates, then operating an insurance office, opened in connection therewith a savings department, which formed the nucleus of the present Grand Rapids Savings bank.

E. P. & S. L. FULLER

In the spring of 1868 E. P. & S. L. Fuller came to this city from New York State, and after building a block at No. 54 Canal street, opened a private bank. Business continued to increase with the firm until the summer of 1876, when, owing to illness of the senior member, the firm decided to retire from active commercial life.

GRAFF & DENNIS

The business of E. P. & S. L. Fuller was turned over to their former cashier, H. H. Dennis, who at once associated with himself Peter Graff, Jr., of Pennsylvania. Under the firm name of Graff & Dennis they continued the business until 1879 when they became a part of the Farmers & Mechanics' bank.

MOSES V. ALDRICH

On February 18, 1871, Moses V. Aldrich resumed the business of banking, in the room now occupied by the union ticket office. March 24, 1875, he removed to the Aldrich block, on the southeast corner of the same street, and continued in business until the time of his death, after which the bank was reorganized and became the Grand Rapids National.

RANDALL & DARRAGH

In the fall of 1873, L. H. Randall associated himself with J. C. Darragh, and under the firm name of Randall & Darragh transacted a private banking business until 1879, when they became a part of the Farmers and Mechanics' bank.

DAVID L. LATOURETTE

About May 1, 1870, one David L. Latourette opened a private banking institution in the McReynolds block, and by means of promises of heavy rates of interest succeeded in securing some $75,000 from depositors. In a short time he turned up missing. Where he went to no one was ever able to say, but from all the Globe can learn, he languishes beneath some orange tree in a tropical atmosphere, while his creditors are obliged to pass their lives in a bleak Michigan climate.

FARMERS AND MECHANICS

The Farmers and Mechanics' bank was organized February 1, 1879, its nucleus being the private banking institutions of Randall & Darragh and Graff & Dennis. The capital stock of the concern was $100,000, and was officered as follows:

L. H. Randall, president; H. H. Dennis, vice-president; J. C. Darragh, cashier.

The concern went out of business January 18, 1882, but during its existence the bank paid good dividends to its stockholders.

OUR PRESENT BANKS

OLD NATIONAL

The First, as it was originally called, dates its organization to March 10, 1864, when, with a capital of $50,000 paid in (considered a heavy sum at that time), its doors were first opened to the public. M. L. Sweet was chosen president and Harvey J. Hollister cashier. In 1867, the capital stock was increased to $200,000, and again in 1871 to $400,000.

The charter of the bank having run out, it was reörganized and rechartered February 24, 1883, with a capital stock of $400,000, and dubbed with its present title, the Old National bank. At a meeting held July 1, 1883, the capital stock was increased to $600,000, and again on September 1 to $800,000. The deposits of the bank at the present time are over $1,600,000.

S. L. Withey is its president, J. M. Barnett, vice-president, and H. J. Hollister, cashier. The following gentlemen constitute its board of directors: S. L. Withey, W. R. Shelby, M. L. Sweet, John Clancy, Willard Barnhart, Joseph Heald, J. M. Barnett, S. W. Osterhout, D. H. Waters, H. C. Akeley, F. Loettgert, J. H. Martin, and Harvey J. Hollister.

The following are the employés of the institution: Hoyt G. Post, first or paying teller, with a record of twenty-two years' standing in the bank or its predecessor; Charles F. Pike, receiving teller; Alonzo B. Porter, first accountant; Joseph Hornor, second accountant; Charles F. Grinnell, collection and correspondence clerk; C. H. Johnson, J. B. Wilson, Edward Best, and Joseph Penny, clerical assistants. The vice-president, J. M. Barnett, gives his entire attention to the details of the bank.

FOURTH NATIONAL

This bank was organized and commenced business January 19, 1882, with a capital of $300,000, with the following officers: President, A. B. Watson; Vice President, A. J. Bowne; Cashier, I. M. Weston; Directors, A. B. Wat

son, A. J. Bowne, I. M. Weston, James M. Nelson, William Sears, George C. Pierce, James Blair, D. A. Blodgett, and George W. Gay.

On July 18, 1882, H. P. Baker was made assistant cashier. January 23, 1883, T. Stewart White was elected director in place of James M. Nelson, deceased, since which time no other changes have been made.

The working force of the bank is as follows: I. M. Weston, cashier; H. P. Baker, assistant cashier; Homer W. Nash, paying teller; Fred K. Baker, receiving teller; Tom M. Pierce, chief book-keeper; Lincoln Bowen, assistant book-keeper; John A. Seymour, assistant; J. Brooks Garnsey, collecting clerk.

This is the youngest bank in the city, and is the depository for the county, city, and Board of Education.

Next season a new building for its use will be erected on the northwest corner of Canal and Lyon streets. I. M. Weston, the cashier, is also president and principal owner of the First National bank at Whitehall, Mich. Hon. A. J. Bowne, vice-president, is also president of the Hastings National bank at Hastings, Mich., the First National bank at Eaton Rapids, Mich., the First National bank of Larimore, Dakota, and senior partner in the banking firm of Bowne & Combs, Middleville, Mich. D. A. Blodgett, of the board of directors, is senior partner in the banking house of D. A. Blodgett & Co., of Cadillac.

The Fourth National has paid four or five percent semi-annual dividends, and accumulated $40,000 of surplus and earnings since its organization a year ago last January.

CITY NATIONAL

The City National bank began business March 1, 1865, with a paid up capital stock of $50,000, which on January 1, was increased to $100,000. The first board of directors was made up as follows:

W. B. Ledyard, Henry Fralick, Ransom E. Wood, James M. Nelson, R. C. Luce, John W. Pierce, James Miller, George Kendall, and Thomas D. Gilbert, many of whom yet retain their positions, it appearing to be the policy of the stockholders to keep tried and true men. Mr. T. D. Gilbert, was chosen as the first president of the bank, J. Frederick Baars as cashier, and Edward H. Hunt as paying teller. These officers have continued to hold their respective offices up to the present time, and largely to their efforts may the fact that the bank holds the position it now does, be attributed. Upon several occasions the capital stock has been increased, until now it aggregates $300,000, and the records of the bank show deposits amounting to nearly $1,000,000. In addition to this the bank has accumulated a surplus of $300,000 and paid regular dividends to its stockholders. The following gentlemen constitute the present board of directors.

Thomas D. Gilbert, George Kendall, Frank B. Gilbert, Ransom C. Luce, Henry Fralick, J. C. FitzGerald, Julius Houseman, L. D. Putnam, and Noyes L. Avery. Following is the clerical force of the institution: Edward H. Hunt, assistant cashier and paying teller; Otis H. Babcock, with a record of thirteen years in the bank's employ, receiving teller; John R. Stewart, general book-keeper; Charles H. Harrington, individual book-keeper; George H. Raymond, correspondence clerk; Frederick Ball, collection clerk; George Schrader, note clerk; Charles W. Shepard, exchange clerk, and S. M. McKee, draft and mail clerk. The bank occupies commodious quarters in its own.

building on the corner of Pearl and Monroe streets, and is ranked as among the solid institutions of the city.

GRAND RAPIDS NATIONAL

Soon after the death of Mr. M. V. Aldrich, the private banking institution formerly managed by him, was reorganized under the banking law, and with a capital stock of $200,000. On March 9, 1880, the Grand Rapids National bank began its existence, with the following officers:

C. H. Bennett, president; Freeman Godfrey, vice president; T. C. Sherwood, cashier; Edwin Hoyt, Jr., assistant cashier. The following gentlemen comprised the original board of directors: C. H. Bennett, Edwin F. Uhl, Paul Steketee, Freeman Godfrey, William G. Herpolsheimer, George H. Long, W. B. Ledyard, I. M. Clark, and Enos Putman.

On April 1, 1882, the capital stock was increased to $300,000, and again August 1, 1883, to $500,000, and the bank numbers among its customers some of the best firms in the city. Edwin F. Uhl is the present president of the bank, Freeman Godfrey, vice president, and William Widdicomb, cashier. Since its organization but two changes have been made in the board of directors, and those by reason of death and withdrawal, which as now constituted consists of Messrs. Edwin F. Uhl, Joseph Houseman, George T. Kimball, Freeman Godfrey, M. J. Clark, Enos Putman, George H. Long, M. Englemann, D. H. Waters, W. G. .Herpolsheimer, Charles S. Hazeltine, Thomas D. Stimson, William Widdicomb. The following are the employés of the bank: E. Hoyt, Jr., assistant cashier; Nathan M. Brisbin, chief bookkeeper; F. M. Davis, paying teller; William Foote, receiving teller; Charles B. Hooker, correspondence and collection clerk; William Fowle, assistant bookkeeper; Zachariah Aldrich, L. D. Osborn, and A. S. Hicks, clerks. Messrs. Hoyt and Brisbin have been connected with the bank since its first organization by Mr. Aldrich, and are looked upon as monuments to the integrity of the institution.

GRAND RAPIDS SAVINGS

On April 1, 1870, with the private banking institution of Holden & Bates as a nucleus, a number of capitalists met and formed the Grand Rapids Savings bank, with A. X. Cary as president, and M. W. Bates, as treasurer, the paid up capital stock being $50,000. In 1872, the bank was re-organized under a new act of the legislature, its officers remaining the same, save that the title of Bates, as treasurer, was changed to the modern one of cashier. In 1873 the capital stock was increased to $100,000, and on January 1, 1897, reduced to $50,000, its present basis. In 1874 George W. Allen succeeded M. W. Bates as cashier, holding the position until 1879, when he was succeeded by D. B. Shedd. On June 1, 1879, Isaac l'helps was elected to succeed Cary as president, and M. S. Crosby was elected vice president at the same meeting.

The bank is now managed by the following board of directors: Isaac Phelps, J. M. Stanley, E. S. Pierce, C. G. Swensberg, J. D. Robinson, M. S. Crosby, S. S. Bailey, W. D. Tolford, and George M. Edison. The first office of the bank was located in the basement under the City National bank, and in 1873 it was removed to the Lovett block, corner Pearl and Canal streets. Some two years ago another move was made to the rear of the City National bank, and with ample vault room and accommodation at their command, they intend retaining their present location for many years to come.

GROWTH OF GRAND RAPIDS-SOME OF THE THINGS TO BE FOUND IN THE VALLEY CITY-A FEW FIGURES

1883

For many years Owashtenong, or the rapids of the Grand river, was the center of savage intercourse in northwestern Michigan. A village of Ottawas was located on the west side of the river, at a point near where now stands the Worden furniture factory, which in 1760 had reached its greatest strength and influence. From 1764 to 1820 the history of the Indian settlements in this vicinity is necessarily disconnected. In 1824, Rev. L. Slater came to Grand Rapids, accompanied by several workmen, and established the Baptist Mission. Mr. Slater's labors having shed a ray of light into the wilderness, commerce, her necessary handmaid, was not long in following. Louis Campau was the first white person who came to Grand Rapids to build himself a home, and up to 1833 his only white companions were traders like himself. From this time on, the growth of the present city of Grand Rapids has been almost phenomenal, and within half a century from the real opening of civilization by the settlers, is found a city of over 45,000 inhabitants, standing second in size in the beautiful peninsula State. Though her growth has been rapid it has nevertheless been substantial, and to-day her towering church spires and massive blocks stand as monuments to the persevering, indomitable pluck of prosperous citizens.

GOVERNMENT

The city is governed by a mayor, a board of 16 aldermen (two from each ward), a board of education, board of police, and fire commissioners, a board of public works, consisting of five members, a board of review of three members, board of health, and the usual minor officials, comptroller, marshal, clerk, physician, surveyor, director of the poor, highway commissioners, etc.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS

The public school system, though decidedly expensive, is so arranged as to fit the youth for direct admission to the State university. There is one central, or high school located upon the east side of the river, while the west side is equally well ornamented with a fine union school-building, located in the heart of this most flourishing portion of the city. Sixteen ward or primary schools also form a part of the system, the assessed valuation of school property being placed at $579,600. The number of pupils enrolled is 5,496, requiring the services of 140 teachers, eight of whom are males. Seventyone thousand dollars are annually expended for salaries, making the average pay of each teacher a trifle over $500. In addition to the regular branches, French, German, Latin, Greek, and music are among the studies furnished to the public. In addition to the public schools there is a business college, a theological seminary of the Holland church, a convent, two catholic parochial schools, two Kindergarten, and eleven private schools.

RELIGIOUS EDIFICES

There are 51 church societies in the city, most of them having substantial places of worship, and it is estimated that their membership will exceed