History

First State Bank History Larned Background up to July 5, 1896 ● Founders of the Bank - 1900 ● Larned Business - 1904 ● H. H. Reed - World War I ● John Wagner - 1933 ● 1933-1949 ● 1949-1959 ● 1959-1967 ● Reed Peters - 1975 ● New Building - 1989 ● 1986-1996 ● 100 years ● Begin the Next 100 Years ● 2000's   Larned Businesses leading up to 1904   TURN OF THE CENTURY At the turn of the century First State Bank was under new leadership with H.M. Halloway as President and F.D. Lowrey as Cashier. 1900 appeared to have been an important year for First State Bank. That year the majority stockholder Timothy McCarthy died, the bank moved and there were four new stockholders. Stock sales to these four plus additional sales to the original five raised the capital to $10,000. A letter from the State Bank Commissioner dated April 7, 1900 reprimanded McCarthy for not holding at least four director's meetings a year as was the law. Minutes of those early meetings that were held do not disclose much of what was taking place. On June 18, 1900, J. W. Rush reopened the old First National Bank at 5th & Broadway as the Rush State Bank, but it didn't last long. At a directors meeting of First State Bank on October 1, 1900, a communication was received from Mr. Rush inquiring about consolidating the Rush State Bank with First State Bank. In November 1900, the Rush State Bank was liquidated and sold to First State Bank. Serving on the First State Bank board of directors were E.E. Frizell, H.H. Reed, F.D. Lowrey, L.A. Choat, and H.M. Halloway. Mont Reed was made Assistant Cashier after Kittie Bright retired.       Late in the year 1900, the First State Bank moved to 502 Broadway which was formerly the location of the First National Bank. The date of the deed is December 3, 1900, from Edna S. Rush for $6,500 including furniture and fixtures. This building and consolidation made First State Bank one of the finest equipped banks in this part of the state and was expected to take rank among the leading banking institutions of the state. This building now houses the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce. Senator J.W. Rush, former President of First National Bank, then proceeded to move to Kansas City where he became the head of a big commission firm.   The Financial Statement of First State Bank on December 31, 1900 read as follows:   H.M. Halloway, President   F.D. Lowrey, Cashier   ASSETS   LIABILITIES Loans $39,397.81   Deposits $89,986.66 Real Estate 2,000.00       Fixtures 1,333.00   Capital 10,000.00 Revenue Stamps 42.62   Surplus 1,000.00 Cash & Exchange 58,474.79   Profit & Loss 261.56 TOTAL $101,248.22   TOTAL $101,248.22

Board of Directors

F.D. Lowrey	H.H. Reed	E.E. Frizell
H.M. Halloway	L.A. Choat

Changes began to take place in the agricultural community including the introduction of new varieties of seed, and more sorghum grains joined wheat and corn as important crops. "Dry farming" was improved upon as farmers and scientist tried new ways to plow, plant, and conserve moisture. Drylands were supplemented by increasing acreage of irrigated land, watered with underground water. New engines run by gasoline began to pump water although the familiar windmills remained an important asset on irrigated lands.

It was also in 1900, that William E. Stanley began his second term as governor of Kansas. Theodore Roosevelt visited Kansas twice in 1900. In September he had made thirty-one stops and thirty-one speeches in Kansas. That year Kansas could claim that they were the "original TR State" for the Kansas Republicans nominated him for Vice President.

In August of 1900, Terry Stafford of Topeka, Kansas, completed an automobile which was simply a buggy driven by a seven horsepower gasoline engine. By 1904 they were producing the Smith, Veracity Auto in quantity.

In 1901 President McKinley was inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. That same year President McKinley was assassinated while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency.

America's rule still extended beyond the borders to the volatile island of Cuba in 1901. Resentful of authority the island's countrymen staged numerous uprisings before they finally gained their independence in 1902.

It was between 1901 and 1910 that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office assigned a total of 315,193 patents to inventions ranging from aeroplanes to wax pencils dubbed "crayolas".

In 1902 Willis J. Bailey was elected governor of Kansas, and The State Normal School, now Fort Hays Kansas State College opened its doors.. The Manual Training School, now Kansas State College at Pittsburg, was begun in 1903.

A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN LARNED

Hopeful immigrants were also coming in record numbers to the land of wide open spaces in search of the "good life", and in 1903, Larned's population was at 1,533 citizens.

Some of the businesses in existence at this time included L. Fox, who was a proprietor of the Larned Machine Shops. He did all kinds of repairing on short notice including horse shoeing, plow work and engine repair specialty. This business was located at the corner of 5th and Topeka Avenue.

I.D. Row was a wholesale and retail baker dealing in baker's goods, confectionery, tobacco, etc. Fine cakes were a specialty and there was also a good restaurant serving meals throughout the day. Everything was first class with I. D. Row.

Tom Hill was a dealer in fresh and smoked meats, poultry, game and fish. Phone 77 when you call his business.

Benjamin Gore was the real estate and collecting agent in Larned. He rented lands, collected rent, inspected lands, and paid taxes for non-residents as a specialty. To buy or sell anything Mr. Gore was the man to see and prompt returns were made and satisfaction was guaranteed.

R.B. Williams was the merchant tailor in the Wilson Block. Featuring a "distinctive dress" for men, women, and boys at a savings of 25 to 40 percent. All garments were tailored to measure. You could come in, select your goods, and give measure, then leave the fit and workmanship to the tailor. You couldn't lose.

Livery and Sale Stables were run by P.A. Baughman. Paying the highest price for good horses and mules.

The Larned Foundry and Machine Shop manufactured windmills, tanks, pumps, grinders, brass and iron castings, etc., as well as repairs on all kinds of machinery. It was owned by M.O. Whitmore.

The Opera House Hotel was owned by O.E. Reese with rates at $1.00 per day. The same rates could be found at the Farmer's Hotel run by J.K. Kinney. This was also the headquarters for farmers.

Larned's big department store was the New York Store managed by G. Krouch with special attention given to mail orders. Telephone No. 88.

E. Howland was a real estate agent with offices at Larned, Kansas and Ottawa, Illinois, featuring a large list of choice lands in Pawnee, Edwards and Hodgeman counties for sale at prices that defy competition. Collection of rents and breaking contracts were carefully looked after.

Misses E. and L. Rush were proprietors of the Larned Studio, located at the Phoenix Bank Building. You could get your photographs taken by them. Satisfaction was guaranteed.

J.G. Edwards was a real estate agent and collection agent making a specialty of renting lands, collecting rents, paying taxes and inspecting lands for non-residents.

Other fine businesses in Larned in 1903 included:

Wells House - Lydia Wells, Proprietor.

Young & Company - Dry goods and shoes.

Mansfield & Bedell - Real Estate Brokers.

M. M. Hanna - General Blacksmith.

Dr. F.S. O'Flying - Physician and Surgeon.

Johnson's Barber Shop

Funk's Barber Shop - C. Otto Funk, Proprietor.

Shull's New Livery Barn

Burgess Pulley - Dealer in junk.

Haag Brothers - Larned Bottling Works.

H. Porter - Druggist.

Taylor & Company - General Merchandise.

Boyd & Getty - Hardware. (Wes Getty was the father-in-law of Mont Reed.)

Ed. Frizell - Hardware and Implements. (Ed. Frizell was also a FSB director.)

A. A. Doerr - Hardware and Furniture.

Landon & Schnack - Clothing

H.H. Reed - Grocer

John Shaw - Liveryman

M.A.W. Jordan - General Merchandise.

Nelson Adams - Attorney -At-Law.

John Davis - Job Printer.

Frank Davis - Postmaster.

L. Ainsworth - Grocer.

S.T. Garth - Grocer.

J.B. Ingalls - M.D.

I.T. Tracy - Tailor.

Jas. Shadie - Tailor.

Mrs. Funk - Milliner.

C. Smith - Photographer.

E. Eggleston - Furniture.

Geo. Finney - Attorney-At-Law. (Geo. Finney later served as a FSB director.)

Tiller and Toiler - Harvey Eckert, Editor - Newspaper (Harvey Eckert was the father of Charles Eckert who served at FSB in various positions.)

The Chronoscope - Frank Davis, Editor - Newspaper

Alex Johnson - Proprietor, Elite Cafe.

R.G. Stoner - Jeweler.

J.H. Hurley - Carpenter.

H. Brown - Dealer in Poultry.

In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first heavier than air flight and opened the world to air travel, making way for Kansas' aviation industry.

The State Capitol Building of Kansas was completed in 1903, and it was a proud addition to the state for the people of Kansas.

In 1904 - Roosevelt won 66% of the Kansas vote for President of the United States. Edward Hoch won the first of his two terms as governor. The St. Louis Exposition opened up and became a celebration for the strides technology was making.

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