of the Coates House in answer to letters that had been sent out. The idea of the club was taken up with enthusiasm, officers were elected, a committee on constitution appointed and the first dinner announced for December 15, 1898, at which time a constitution and by-laws were adopted. These dinners have been held monthly except during the summer, and a speaker of some note is generally the guest of the club.

The Knife and Fork club aims to be more of a good fellowship club, as its unique name indicates. It is, however, not at all without its instructive side, for aside from the value of the papers and the addresses themselves, the interchange of ideas by men of different points of view, is an opportunity hardly offered elsewhere.

A club quite as unique in organization as the Knife and Fork club in name, is the Women's Dining club, composed entirely of women who are in the business world. The club's history is brief as it has only been organized since February, 1908.

The "Women's Athletic club" was organized in May, 1908. The athletic and dining features predominate here and everything is in accordance that helps to make a pleasant recreation place for women. Mrs. Viola Dale McMurray is director of the club.

The Progress club is a Jewish organization. The first meeting called in 1881 was for the purpose of promoting sociability and culture among the Jews. About 40 responded and became charter members. The following officers were elected: B. A. Flineman, president; Sam'l Latz, vice president; Harry Benjamin, secretary and Harry Ezekiel, treasurer. The first meetings and gatherings were held on the third floor of the John Taylor Dry Goods company. Three years later the club moved to a hall on Twelfth and Main streets. Here they remained for seven or eight years until sufficient funds were raised to erect the present club house, which is on Washington near Tenth street. This club represents the cultured strata of Jewish society and has always aimed at the highest and best in social functions. The present membership is about 150 with the following men holding office: Al Rothenberg, president; Theodore Griff, vice president; E. Allbright, secretary; Dan Lyons, treasurer.

The City club was organized Washington's birthday, February 22, 1908. On that day about 50 business and professional men met at the Sexton hotel and the club was organized with this purpose: "To aid through its own efforts and co-operation with other agencies and with those in authority in getting the things efficiently done which tend to promote the public welfare of Kansas City." Alexander New was made president; C. W. Moore, vice president; and D. L. James, treasurer. The organization has nothing whatever to do with politics and reform; the idea is merely to help the civic authorities

in perfecting plans which have been passed upon by the council. Municipal affairs are the chief topics of discussion at these lunchcons. The ordinance for the registration of dairies was one of the first matters to be pushed through. The club has had such people to address them as: Minnie Maddern Fiske, B. Fay Mills and John Spargo. The present officers of the club are: President, Henry F. Hoit; vice president, Charles Sumner; secretary, Henry D. Faxon; treasurer, Thornton Cooke.

The Midday club, generally speaking, is a noon day edition of the Commercial club, with a membership limited to 400 business or professional men in good standing. The club was organized in March 8, 1908 and has its rooms on the entire fourteenth floor of the Commerce building. The idea of the club is to have a place where these different men may meet to plan and discuss business over the luncheon table. The man of to-day realizes that every minute counts and he feels that even during this one hour he must not leave his business. In this way the club rooms are the start and finish of many a business enterprise. The officers are: Hugh C. Ward, president; Charles W. Armour, first vice president; Ford Harvey, second vice president; H. L. Harmon, third vice president; W. R. Clarke, secretary; and O. C. Snider, treasurer.

CHAPTER X.

BANKING AND FINANCE.

In the years of Kansas City's early history the nearest banks were in Lexington, and to that point prospective borrowers and holders of large checks and drafts were compelled to go. In the winter season very little business requiring exchange was transacted. Occasionally such accommodations were obtained from the government at Fort Leavenworth. Branches of banks organized under the state laws were established early in the '50s in Liberty, Missouri, and Independence, Missouri, and the banking facilities for Kansas City business men were brought much nearer home. In a few years Kansas City without banks had become more important commercially than the neighboring towns that boasted of banking facilities. Since the year 1856, when the first bank was established, Kansas City has steadily increased in importance as a banking center. The banks of Kansas City are important factors in the financial development of the West.

The first banking house in Kansas City was that of Northrup & Chick, established in 1856. In the preceding year these wholesale merchants, who had acquired a high standing in financial circles and who held large deposits

for the people of town and country, opened an office for buying and selling exchange, and this grew into the first bank in the city that has reason to be proud of its institutions of this class. Northrup & Chick sold their bank to J. Q. Watkins & Co. in 1865.

A branch of the Mechanics' Bank of St. Louis was established in Kansas city in 1857. The business of this institution during the first few years of its existence was satisfactory. The troubles attending the Civil war reduced profits and caused complications, but in spite of numerous difficulties the bank continued business until 1871, when its affairs were closed.

A branch of the Union Bank of St. Louis was organized in Kansas City in 1857. The business of this bank, like that of the branch of the Mechanics' Bank of St. Louis, was entirely satisfactory up to the time of the Civil war. In 1861 the Union Bank removed its Kansas City funds to St. Louis and closed up the affairs of the branch establishment. Thomas Johnson, a wellknown pioneer of western Missouri, took an important part in the affairs of this bank in the Civil war, at one time going to Leavenworth, Kansas, with the bank's cash and securities in order to insure their safety.

The Kansas City Savings association was organized in April, 1865, with a capital of $20,000. In 1873 Dr. James Buchanan Bell, who had been identified with the banking interests of Chillicothe, Missouri, became the president, and C. J. White cashier. W A. Powell afterward bought the interest of Dr. Bell and became president of the association. The capital was increased at different times and the organization increased in strength. Dr. W. S. Woods bought Powell's interest in 1881 and became president. The statutes regulating banks were changed by the legislature so that the stockholders found it expedient to surrender their charter as a savings bank and organize as the Bank of Commerce. The capital then was $200,000. organization was effected in 1881. The affairs of the old bank were absorbed by the new and the former officers were retained. In the summer of 1887 the bank was placed under government control and became known as the National Bank of Commerce.

An

J. Q. Watkins & Co. purchased the pioneer banking business of Northrup & Chick, the transaction being made in 1865. The firm continued business until December, 1877, when its interests were sold to the National Bank of Kansas City. W. H. Seeger, afterward the second vice president of the Union National Bank, was connected with the Watkins bank.

The old First National bank was organized in 1865 and two years later Howard M. Holden bought a controlling interest in the institution and became the cashier This bank was prosperous and in 1872 its capital was increased to $500,000, its capital up to this time having been only one quarter million dollars. In 1872, when the increase was made, Mr. Holden became the

president; M. W. St. Clair was made cashier, and W. H. Winants was chosen assistant cashier. The First National temporarily suspended payment, September 25, 1873, as a result of the financial panic of that year. A short time later it was reopened and became the chief promoter of the grain and cattle business. The bank was compelled to close its doors again January 29, 1878, and passed into the hands of a receiver appointed by the comptroller of the currency. The bank had become the correspondent of a large number of western banks at this time, and its suspension naturally brought about much embarrassment, but the unmarketed products found purchasers in the East, and the currency necessary to move the salable grain and cattle soon was at hand. James T. Howenstein was first appointed receiver for this bank and Walter J. Johnson succeeded him, closing up the bank's affairs in 1881. The depositors were paid in full.

The Mastin bank was organized in February, 1866. This state organization, with deposits aggregating $1,300,000, closed its doors August 3, 1878. It was a private banking house originally under the name of John J. Mastin & Co. It was organized in 1871 under the state laws, with Seth Ward as president.

The German Savings association was organized in February, 1868, with a capital of $100,000, twenty per cent of which was paid in. Anthony Sauer was president of this association and Henry J. Huhn was cashier. The Union German Savings bank also was organized in 1868, with a capital of $100,000. Peter W. Ditsch was president and John S. Harris cashier. These two banks were consolidated in 1871, with Henry Tobener as president and under the name of the Union German Savings bank continued business until 1873, when final failure came.

The Kansas City National bank opened for business November 27, 1871, and continued until November 13, 1875, when it went into voluntary liquidation. This institution had no connection with the National bank of Kansas City. John B. Wornall was the first president of the Kansas City National bank and D. L. Shouse was the first cashier. In the cessation of business its affairs were transferred to the Bank of Kansas City, in 1875, which in 1878 became the National Bank of Kansas City. The Commercial National bank began business June 3, 1872. Operations were continued until February 11, 1878, when the affairs of the bank were placed in the hands of a receiver.

The Bank of Kansas City was organized in 1875 with J. S. Chick as president. It became a national bank in 1878 under the name of the National Bank of Kansas City. From 1884 to 1887 it was the largest bank in the city, and when the panic of 1893 came its deposits were about four million dollars. These deposits were rapidly witdrawn, causing the bank to close its doors in July of that year. The following October the bank was re-opened with J. S.

Chick as president and J. Q. Watkins, Jr., as cashier. Business was continued until March, 1896, when the doors were finally closed and the affairs of the bank placed under the direction of John Perry, government receiver. All of the depositors were paid in full, 6 and 55-100 per cent interest being paid on the face of all claims.

The Armour Brother Banking company was organized in 1878. A. W. Armour was president; S. B. Armour, vice president; and C. H. Prescott cashier. The business of the Armour Brothers Banking company was bought January 1, 1889, by the Midland National bank and the two banks were united under the name of the Midland National bank. Its officers were Witten McDonald, president; A. W. Armour, vice president; W. H Winants, cashier. The business of this bank was absorbed by the National Bank of Commerce in July, 1897.

The Citizens' National bank was organized in 1882, with J. A. Cooper as president and J. J. Squier, vice president. The latter afterward became president and manager of the bank. A. A. Whipple and S. J. Fitzhugh also were connected with the bank. In 1898 its business was sold to the Union National bank.

H. P. Churchill and others, in 1883, organized the Kansas City Safe Deposit and Savings bank. It failed in 1893, with liabilities amounting to about $2,000,000 having at that time about seven thousand depositors. In September, 1893, Howard M. Holden was appointed assignee for the bank.

The Traders' bank was established in 1883, James T. Thornton and others being associated in its organization The particular accommodation of cattle dealers and the handling of paper based on business of this character were the main purposes of the organizers. This bank was purchased by the Union National bank in 1887.

The leading banks of Kansas City had immense interests at the stockyards from the time of the establishment of the great packing industries here. Before the organization of a bank at the stockyards this class of business was transacted by clerks especially appointed for that purpose. This system was not satisfactory, however, and, in order to supply a real need, the Kansas City Stockyards bank was organized in 1884, with a capital of $200,000. C. F. Morse, president of the Kansas City Stockyards company, was president of the bank, and M. W. St. Clair was cashier. In 1890 it was found that the capital was insufficient, and the bank was reorganized under the name of the Inter-State National bank.

The New England Safe Deposit and Trust company was organized and began business January 1, 1889, with a paid up capital of $100,000. A. W. Armour was president. J. F. Downing as vice president and A. W. Childs as treasurer were in active management of the business. The banking trust