The large brick building at the corner of Main and Third
Streets was built in 1898 as the Bennett Bank, and a year later it changed to
the German Savings Bank. It later housed the Manning Trust and Savings Bank. To
the right of the bank is the Manning Telephone Company building.
GERMAN SAVINGS BANK
The third bank in Manning was organized by A.F. Bennett in April,
1897. It was a private institution, which had a cash capital of $20,000 and a
responsibility of over $50,000. Bennett served as president, W.F. Carpenter was
cashier, and W.F. Kempf the assistant cashier.
The bank building was erected during the summer of 1898, at a cost of $4500 and
$1500 for fixtures. It was located at the northeast corner of Third and Main
Streets, later occupied by the Manning Trust and Savings Bank.
The law offices of A.T. Bennett and the bank rooms were on the first floor, and
the basement was made into a printing office.
Bennett notified his customers in May, 1899, that he was forced to give up
either the commercial business of the bank or his practice of law. His decision
was to confine the banking business to specialties. In June, a group came to
him to propose organizing a state savings bank.
The corporation was approved, and the bank's name changed to the German Savings
Bank. The management was to be by seven directors: Frances M. Leet, Asmus
Boysen, Julius Brunnier, Gustav Jans, John Grelck, George H. Dietz
and Albert T. Bennett. The business opened July 1, 1899.
William F. Carpenter served as the first cashier, and F.L. Shumaker as his
assistant. Shumaker resigned after three months, and his place was taken by Albert Puck.
In 1918, because of the
pressures of World War I propaganda, the bank was reorganized by dropping the
name, "German Savings Bank" and incorporating under the new name of
"Iowa State Savings Bank." New officers and directors were:
Douglas Rogers, president; Herman P. Hansen, vice-president; Ryel H. Wheeler,
cashier; Julius J. Miller, Henry Buhmann, Herman P. Mundt, and Rudolph Kuhl, directors.
The Iowa State Savings Bank discontinued operations in 1923.
MANNING TRUST & SAVINGS BANK
The Manning Trust & Savings Bank began with a meeting held on
June 25, 1924, to consider the matter of incorporating and to adopt articles of
incorporation. Directors elected were F.C. Henningsen, Henry E. Meyers, Gus
Vinke, Jens J. Sinn, George P. Schelldorf, Peter Rix, and Mark F. Enenbach.
Bank officers were, F.C. Henningsen, president; Peter Rix, vice president; and
Henry E. Meyers, cashier. The
new bank took over the location of the former Iowa State Savings Bank.
Sometime after 1915 - when the Main Street bricks were laid
Here you see the 2-story structure that was missing in the first picture.
This structure was later destroyed by a major fire.
I very often talk and write about how I make high resolution scans and the importance of such.
Here are 4 more examples that show what I'm referring to.
Note the barber pole and shower & bath sign
German Savings Bank signs
Manning Telephone Company - started by the Zerwas family
Dr. Esser Office sign on left (William H. Esser)
F.D. Ross garage sign (Fred Ross)
Early 1900s view - note that now the wooden Veterinary building is gone on the far right.
Ad in a 1906 Atlas
Last year the bank had a German Savings Bank calendar.
This and many other wonderful calendars were left in the Carriage House
after Ben & Loretta Sextro no longer lived on what is now the Heritage Park farm.
Check on display at the Manning Monitor office.
Wilhelmine Schrum bank booklet
I forgot to note who brought me this passbook to scan in 2010 or write down more information.
I'm fairy sure this was Wilhelmine (Schrum) Kruse - Mrs. William Kruse
1915
Manning Trust & Savings Bank
Remember when there were trees?
It was fine until they got big and then the birds loved to "do their thing" while roosting so the trees were removed.
QA1 (quick attack 1)
