BANKS

1938 1939 1941

Fillm ore C oun ty's most disastrous sleet storm since 1926 struck, doing thousands of dollars' worth of damage. M an y telephone and power line poles were down and trees were badly damaged. T h e E w alt Am usem ent Co. commenced the erection of a two-story brick buildin g back of the E w a lt residence to re place the form er shop there an d to house the show equip ment. A p ril-- T h e city m ade application to the W o rk s Projects Adm inistration for aid to improve streets, water and sewer lines, an d sidewalks.

W m wm

Courtesy Nebraska Signal F airm on t A rm y A i r F ield C h ap el (l e f t ) an d m ain gate (r ig h t ), 1944.

1945

1946 1947

1950 1952 1954 1955

Fillm ore County went over the top in the Sixth W a r L oan drive, the county subscribing $657,835. Septem ber-- M arkets: Y e llo w corn, $1.01; wheat, $1.50; eggs, $.30; hogs, $11.46 to $14.10. October-- T h e Second A ir Force announced that the F a ir m ont A rm y A i r F ield w ould close tem porarily as fa r as m ilitary personnel were concerned. T h e N ebraska barber board established minimum prices for the state, haircuts being 65 cents and shaves 35 cents. A nation-wide strike of telephone operators affected the G eneva office, where only one operator w as on duty to handle emergency calls. T h e Fairm ont A rm y A i r F ield w as returned to civilian status by the W a r Assets Administration, and was turned over to the state departm ent of aeronautics. N o v em b er-- T h e city took over the housing project from the government. June. A new fire truck was recently delivered to the Geneva R u ra l F ire Protection District. T h e truck is painted white, the color used b y ru ral fire-protection districts. June-- T h e new motel, called the Goldenrod M otel, opened. A 1,000-watt beacon light w as put into operation at Fairm ont State A ir Field. T h e light, mounted on the water tower at the form er A r m y A i r Base, is the same one used during the war, as it was left intact when much equipment at the base was dismantled. June-- A jun gle gym purchased b y the Junior W o m a n 's Club was set up at the city park.

BANKS

1942 1943

1944

It w as announced that a ll car owners w ou ld be required to display $5 F ed e ral U se Stam ps on their automobiles. January-- T h e new Victory tax, 5% on all income in excess of $12 p er week o r $624 p er year, w ent into effect. January-- Government officials announced that strict ration ing of fruits, vegetables, and juices w ould go into effect in February. M arch-- M an y carpenters arrived in Geneva for construc tion work on the Bruning, H arvard, and Fairm ont air base. Sum m er-- A contract between the U . S. A . and the city of G eneva to build a F ed e ral Pu blic H o u sin g U tility w as made. M a y -- U h lig 's B a k e ry in G eneva closed indefinitely due to shortage of sugar. June-- H ow ard Nichols of Geneva, chairman of the local W a r Price and Rationing Board, announced that there were 10,000 unfilled applications fo r tires in the O m aha district. July-- T h e Geneva F ire Departm ent and the Am erican Legion announced they would sponsor a Fourth of July celebration, which would include dedication of the new county service board in the courthouse park. D ecem ber-- -The m ayor and city clerk w ere em powered to execute a release covering space in the City H a ll which was leased to the Governm ent on Septem ber 1, 1942, and used by U . S. Engineers.

Citizens Bank

The Citizens Bank was established in 1885 by J. Jensen, J. M. Fillebrown, and D. Griffith, with a capital stock of $10,000. Later, the capital stock was increased, and H. L. Smith and E. K. Cobb were added to the list of stockholders and officers. In 1900, stock of the institution passed into the hands of J. O. Walker, C. W. Shickley, E. K. Cobb, V. C. Shickley, J. W. Walker, E. M. Berkley, and H. L. Smith. These persons were the owners and officers of the bank in 1907,

Photo from Mrs. Pete Kelch O ld Citizens B ank building as it stood at original location ( N E corner of 9th and G ). N otice Post Office location.

Photo from Mrs. Ernest Heinrichs

Pleasant D a y School for retarded children in Geneva, taught by M rs. E rnest Heinrichs. M rs. H einrichs (show n in schoolroom) started the school in her home in 1958 with five pupils. L ater she moved the school to a Sun day School room in the Congregational Church. In 1962 it w as moved to one of the housing units in Geneva. C hildren age 5 to 25 are eligible. R eading, phonics, language, arithmetic, spelling, science, geography, and health are taught. C hildren are taught crafts, m any of which are sold. T h e y also learn tap dancing and baton.

As a result of some of the economic troubles of the 1920's, this bank was closed on July 12, 1927, by the State Banking Commission.

In 1890, the bank erected a new brick building at a cost of about $30,000. T h is building burned down in 1910.

W h e n the n ew brick building w as constructed in 1890, the old wooden structure was moved two blocks east to the N W corner of 11th and G Sts. and converted into an apartm ent house. It w as known to Genevans in later years as the " Beehive." It was moved north near the alley when the brick building was erected on the corner. It has since been dismantled, and its site is now occupied by a parking lot for the Jack & Jill Food M a r k e t

Geneva State Bank The Geneva State Bank started operations at its pres

ent location 69 years ago on March 27, 1899. Little informa tion relating to banks before this date is available, though it is known that the Citizens Bank, which operated from 1885

235

Photo from Nebraska Signal Geneva Ban k Buildings. Left: Geneva State Bank; right: Citizens State Bank. (P h o tos taken a fte r 1911).

to 1927, was one of the earlier institutions. In 1910, a Bank of Commerce was organized and managed by Floyd Seybolt, known more or less as a professional bank organizer. This bank operated only a short time before it was merged with the Citizens Bank.

According to the old stock book, the Geneva N ation al Ban k was organized J a n u a ry 14, 1891, an d began business in the location later occupied by the Coast-to-Coast Store. John A . D em pster was presi dent an d A . O. T a y lo r, cashier an d m anaging officer. In June, 1892, A . G . M c G re w succeeded M r . D em p ster as president, with A . O. T a y lo r continuing as cashier. In J an u a ry, 1895, M r. T a y lo r becam e president and M . R. Chittick was elected cashier. M r. T a y lo r died October 25, 1895. F ollow in g his death, W . L . W e e d served as presi dent until J an uary, 1896, w hen E . Sandrock, w h o h ad completed his term as county treasurer and w as the adm inistrator of the estate of A . O. T a y lo r, joined the bank as president. In June, 1897, M r . C hit tick resigned to enter the banking business at E w in g , N ebrask a, an d was succeeded by C. S. Trotter of Iowa.

O n M a rc h 27, 1899, the n ew ly organized G en eva State B a n k purchased the assets of the Geneva N ation al B an k and also the assets of the First National Bank, including the banking quarters and offices on the second floor of the red-brick three-story building on the corner w h ere the G en eva State B a n k is n ow located. G eo rge W . Sm ith, president o f the F irst N a tio n a l B a n k , desired to retire from the banking business to devote his time to private investments.

T h e o ld build in g burned from the top dow n in 1904. T h e present structure w as erected in 1906. T h a t portion of the buildin g an d the second-floor offices above the E lle r Store were owned by Charles H eagn ey and the third floor b y the I.O.O.F. Lodge. Subsequently the whole of the three-story building w as purchased b y the bank.

T h e first officers of the Geneva State B an k were E. Sandrock, president, a n d C. S. Tro tter, cashier. O n J u ly 15, 1902, C. S. T rotter, having sold his shares in the bank, resigned his position as cashier and director. O n the same date George E. A ldrich was elected presi dent. H e also served as a director for m any years. Fran k W . Sloan was elected vice-president and E . Sandrock, cashier.

In 1906, E . J. D em pster, who h ad com pleted his term as county treasurer, was elected cashier. Frank W . Sloan became president, and E . Sandrock, vice-president, which position he held until his retirem ent due to ill health in 1921. Job Smith, son o f G eorge W . Smith, form er president of the First N ation al Bank, who had for some time served as bookkeeper, w as on J an u a ry 8 , 1907, elected assistant cashier. O n J an u a ry 6 , 1908, E a r l H . W ilk in s w as elected bookkeeper. In February, M r. W ilkins was transferred by M r. Sloan to the F arm ers State B a n k at F airm on t to fill a vacancy there, w here he rem ained as assistant cashier until 1911, w h en he w as recalled to take the place of Job Smith, who had resigned to locate in the banky ing business in C alifornia. In J an uary, 1912, M r. W ilk in s w as elected assistant cashier. O n J an u a ry 4, 1916, A lb e rt A . H e ld , who later b e came executive vice-president of the N ational Bank of Commerce in Lincoln, w as elected teller an d in 1917 elected an assistant cashier. T h is office he held until in 1917 he w as advanced to the position of cashier and m anager of a bank in an adjoining county. C arl E. Schneider started w ith the bank in 1918 an d M elv in L . R alston in 1920. Since then both have been identified with the bank in various positions and are now executive officers. Following the death of Frank W . Sloan in F ebru ary , 1927, M r. D em p ster w as elected president

(w hich position he held until his death in 1931) an d Charles H . Sloan, vice-president, E a rl H . W ilkins and C arl E . Schneider having pre viously been advanced as cashier and assistant cashier respectively.

Following the death of M r. Dem pster, Charles H . Sloan became president; E a rl H . W ilkins, executive vice-president; C arl E. Schnei der, cashier; and M elvin L. Ralston, having previously been elected assistant cashier. E a r ly in 1933, M r. Sloan was elected chairm an of the board, E a rl H . W ilkins, president, G rad y Corbitt, vice-president, with C arl E . Schneider and M elvin L. Ralston continuing in their previously elected positions. Since both M r . Sloan and M r. Corbitt were actively and fu lly engaged in their legal profession, the active m anagement of the bank has rem ained with the other officers. F ollow in g his release from the A rm y and graduation from the H arvard Graduate School of Business Administration, H ugh F. W ilk in s joined the force in 1948 and w as elected assistant vicepresident in Jan uary, 1950, and later vice-president.

I f time and space of this rather lengthy resume of the officials

Photo from Geneva State Bank

In terior of G eneva State B an k in 1911. Left, E . Sandrock; E . J. D em p ster; E a rl Wilkins.

w ho have served an d are serving the bank permitted, a long and favor able story w ould include the services of the m any young men and women employed at various times throughout the years, and Charles H . Sloan, John M . W ard , and Frank O. Edgecombe, who served sev eral years as directors until removed by death. Moreover, the effi cient and faithful record of service at this time of W a r re n Rischling, John O 'B rien , and N e ll M oo re as tellers; L orrain e H edden, R ose m arie O 'B rien , N a n c y Len tfer, R osalie N ovak, K a y Ham pton, and E laine N aim on as bookkeepers and secretaries; and Tom Hamilton as custodian is to be com m ended and gives assurance of their con tinuing best efforts to serve the bank's patrons to the best of their ability. Over the years, many young men and women have been em p loyed and trained to take advanced positions in banking, the p ro fessions, and the business world. M ost of these have been graduates of Geneva H igh School; some have come from Fairmont, and only a very few from other points. T h is continuity of home talent trained to serve the needs of patrons has been unusual an d perhaps reflects to quite an extent the successful operation of the bank over the past 69 years. L a st and most im portant is the confidence and support of the bank's patrons and shareholders.

A policy w as established long ago an d carried on, particularly in the later years, of the investment of additional funds to build a grow in g capital structure an d to m aintain reserves consistent with the needs and m odern trends in the business.

A condensed sum m ary of the bank's growth is appended:

Capital and Surplus M arch 27, 1899 J an uary 3, 1905.................... J an u a ry 18, 1910 J an u a ry 30, 1919 D ecem ber 17, 1945 ............ D ecem ber 31, 1958

(C ap ital, Surplus, and U nd ivided P ro fits )......... D ecem ber 31, 1966 (C ap ital, Surplus, an d U nd ivided

Pro fits) ........................................................................

.$ 25,000.00 70,000.00 120,000.00

. 200,000.00 . 300,000.00

. 400,000.00

830,286.44

D ecem ber 2, 1899... J an uary 1, 1910 .... J an u a ry 1, 1920 ... J an u a ry 1, 1930 .... J an uary 1, 1940 J an u a ry 1, 1950 .... J an u a ry 1, 1959 ... D ecem ber 31, 1966

Deposits ...........................S 69.808.18 ............................................. 363,0

.......................................................... 772,6

. .. 963,399.05 798,712.78

4,002,143.04 . 4,687,766.32 ........................................................... 8,713

Fillmore County Bank In March, 1965, application for a bank charter for the

Fillmore County Bank was made by John R. Bixby to the Nebraska Banking Department. After investigations and hearings, the charter for the bank was granted by banking director Henry Ley on December 23, 1965. Plans were im mediately started to build a new bank building, but tem porary quarters were set up at the insurance office known as the Bixby InsuranceAgency at143 No. 9thSt., Geneva. January 3,1966,was the first day of businessfor the FillmoreCounty Bank, which started withcapital $100,000, surplus $75,000, and undivided profits $75,000. The officers were John R. Bixby, president; Roger D. Sack, vice-presi dent; Joseph Bixby, cashier; and Kenneth Morris, assistant cashier. One year later, on February 25, 1967, the bank opened its new banking quarters at 1022 G St., Geneva. The

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Photo from John Bixby F illm o re C oun ty Bank, built in 1966.

building is constructed of white brick bordered with black trim with a vault of red Colorado flagstone, all situated on Main St. in the county seat town of Geneva, Nebraska. W ith six employees and four officers, this bank is enjoying a healthy increase as Geneva's newest bank.

B U S IN E S S E S A. Koehler Company

Th e A. Koehler Company was started by Anthony Koehler in 1885. The first office was on the north side of G St., about the present site of the small roofing house. When the C. & N.W . Railroad was laid through Geneva in 1887, Anthony Koehler moved his yard to the south side of G St. This office stood where the hatchery building is now located. Mr. Koehler also built a small grain elevator on the C. & N.W . right of way.

Photo from Ben Koehler Office of A . K oehler Co. (1915). L eft to right: Barthold (B a t ) K oeh ler, Charles Summers, Edith Summers Brown.

In 1894, B a rth old K oeh ler became associated with his brother A n th on y in the business. A n th on y's health failed while he w as still a young m an, an d he died in F ebru ary , 1900, at the age of 40 years. After his death Barthold and a brother, Christian, of Hastings, N e braska, bought the business from M rs. Anthony Koehler. These two brothers owned the business, with Barthold as active m anager, until the death of C hristian K o e h le r in 1921. D u rin g those years Barthold (B a t ) K oehler was ably assisted b y C. E. (C h arley) Summers, who w as an esteemed and faithful em ployee fo r m an y years. B a rth old 's health began to fail in 1924, an d his son, John, returned home from Chicago to assist in the business. Both B a t K oehler and Charley Sum m ers died in 1926, thus ending a long an d close association.

A fter the passing of M r. Koehler, his wife, C lara H . Koehler, was made president of the company, which position she held until a few years before her death on D ecem ber 6 , 1956. B e n K oehler, a son, returned to G eneva an d became associated with the business in 1927, and in 1945, still another son, G eorge Koehler, join ed the organization.

In 83 years o f continuous operation, the A . K oeh ler Co. has expanded considerably from its rath er sm all beginning. M a n y older citizens w ill rem em ber the brick yard south o f town, just south of the crossing of the C. & N . W . an d the C .B . & Q. railroads, which the com pany built in 1904. A t one time this w as an im portant source of building m aterial, an d an im portant industry in the town. A b o u t 25 men were em ployed from early spring until late fall. W ith the devel opm ent o f clay building tile this ceased to be an asset o f importance, a n d in 1927 it w as dismantled, as were scores o f brick yards over the state.

Courtesy Nebraska Signal H a u lin g w heat to elevator (abou t 1915).

T h e brick office, w hich is still in use, w as built in 1911. A feed

departm ent w as added to the business in 1932, along with a complete

grin ding an d m ixing service. In 1937, the com pany em barked on a

new project, the hatchery business, with Charles Picard in charge.

T h e first turkeys w ere hatched in 1938, an d aroun d 1,000 w ere raised.

In 1940, the turkey operations w ere enlarged, b u t an Arm istice D a y

blizzard harvested most of that y e a r's turkeys. T h e State H ealth

D epartm ent advised that the frozen turkeys were definitely edible,

and a number of Geneva families had Thanksgiving dinners m any

times that year. M r. P ic a rd resigned in 1941, an d S. J. W e is, w ho h ad

been em ployed b y the organization since 1928, took charge, and has

continued to m anaged the hatchery. M r . W e is is the oldest employee

in terms of years of service given the A . K oehler Company. Through

his capable and efficient management, this department has made

much progress. It now (1959) employs 8 men. A large lay er house has

been ad d e d which houses 4,500 layin g hens for breeder stock and

instead of 1,000 turkeys (1938), 12,500 turkeys are raised each year.

T h e elevator business was increased through the purchase of ele

vators from the Sh eridan G rain Co. an d the M c N e a l E levator Co.

d urin g the years 1933 to 1940. F ro m 1950 to 1954 eight steel tanks

were added, and the north elevator was completely remodeled. T w o

steel quonsets w ere built in 1955 to facilitate the storage of grain. In

1954, a fertilizer departm ent w as added.

Chester D u d le y , w ho joined the organization in 1944, brought with

him a genial an d friend ly personality an d has been a great asset to

the company.

T h ere have also been changes in the building-m aterial department,

w hich is the oldest p art o f the business. In the e arly years lumber,

sash, w indow s an d doors, w ere the chief items carried. D u rin g the

thirties the paint and builders' hardw are were added. T h e Bolton

L u m b e r Co. w as purchased in 1943. T h e growing business found itself

short of space in the south office, an d in 1947 a m odern new office

for the lum ber departm ent w as built on the old Bolton location.

T h e A . K oeh ler Co. is in its 83rd year o f operation in the Geneva

community. T h e com pany attributes its success to its m any loyal

friends and customers, who have given the company the opportunity

to serve them through the years. T h e com pany feels particularly

grateful an d indebted to the m any faithful employees w ho have re

m ained with them for so m any years, and who have contributed

large ly in m aking the A . K oeh ler C om pany successful in serving the

community.

Data from A. Koehler Company

Bell Brothers Circus

The Ewalt Amusement Co. was originated by Tom

Ewalt in the summer of 1934. He built two small drive-it-

yourself cars which were taken to near-by picnics and cele

brations and used as kiddie rides.

T h e next winter a kiddie ferris wheel, kiddie merry-go-round, and

a large m erry-go-round w ere added, along with extra trucks. In the

years that follow ed more and larger rides w ere added, and in 1938

a n ew an d larger w inter quarters building w as erected, replacing the old one just north of the post office. In 1940, a portable stage w as

added to the equipment, showing liberty ponies, dogs, trick ponies, and monkeys. T h e company played fairs and celebrations in N ebras

ka and Iowa. In the spring of 1944, the show was nam ed B e ll Bros. Circus.

B y now it had large tents, menageries, caged animals, llamas, a

string of liberty horses, and E n a the elephant. T h e circus w as trans

ported in 14 trucks and traveled from T e x as to the C anadian border,

taking in the central states.

i

E n a was housed in the new w inter quarters buildings along with

the other animals, being cared for there b y a caretaker. Cam el Dutch.

In 1946, the B e ll Bros. Circus w as sold and M r. E w a lt bought

the Sunbeam T h ea te r in Geneva, changing its name to Rialto.

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