In my possession are about a half dozen bank checks for the Stewartsville Bank. I felt like this deserved a thread of its own instead of being lumped into the other old checks thread.
The story of its founding and founders was recorded in
History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties Missouri published in 1888. The instiution was founded in 1875 by H. S. Buck, Franklin Finch and William D. Totten. Caoital was $25,000. Eventually, Buck bought their shares in the bank prior to 1881. [note 1]
The bank along with multiple businesses suffered devastating losses in a May 1882 fire. Buck's loss was less than others at $950 for the bank fixtures and safe.
After the fire, Buck built a massive two story brick structure. The bank occupied the first floor while the upper was an opera house. A view of the Stewartsville Bank appears on later dated bank checks. I placed a blue arrow pointing the building out below.
H. S. Buck brought in a partner, Thomas G. McCroskey and the capital was doubled to $50,000. The 1888 history stated this occurred in September 1, 1887. This cannot be as the check at the start of this thread is dated in March 1886.
Regardless of when McCrosky came into the fold, the two men ultimately suspended banking business in December 1887.
H. S. Buck died in 1915.
As to the building, the opera house remained on the second floor. When it stopped being used for that I don't know. The first floor became the location of A. F. Gantz's jewelry and later drug store. I'm sure it housed other businesses after he retired.
The bank/opera house building and the brick building next door to the south were razed years ago and today the area is a parking lot.
Note 1:
History of Clinton County Missouri published in 1881 states, "he is now sole proprietor" (pg. 222)
Note 2: picture of H. S. Buck and his signature come from the book mentioned in Note 1.
Posted 03/13/2017 3:15 pm
