Ligonier High School - Lance Yearbook (Ligonier, IN)

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iI,'jZ'3'- A ' - 11 B -qfi Messy NNN 1 . Q LIGONIER S BANKS We are fortunate in having three banks that give such excellent service to the people of the community. MIER STATE BANK. The Mier State Bank began with the business transac- tions of Solomon Mier about the year 1856, when the people, having gained confi- dence in the young man, began to leavetheir surplus money with him at his store ln Ligonier and receive ln return certificates of deposit. In the latter part of the 60's, Sol Mier entered more extensively into banking and his place of business became known as the Banking House of Sol Mier. On January 1, 1900, the men who are now the ofllcers of the present institution, as- sociated themselves with the late Solomon Mier, and the Banking House of Sol Mier became known as the Banking House of Sol Mier Company. On June 15, 1905, The Banking House of Sol Mier Company qualified under the State law and became Mier State Bank, thereby being the oldest and largest bank in Ligonier and the .flrst state bank in the city. On June 9, 1925, the twenty year charter of Mier State Bank ex- pired and on that date a new charter was issued. ' CITIZENS BANK. The Citizens Bank at Ligonier was founded in 1868. Its founders, Jacob Straus and his brothers, Frederick and Mathias had been ln the general merchandising business in Ligonier since 1860, and their success and high standing in the community had made possible the opening of the bank. When this bank was organized lt opened accounts with two correspondents, one in Chicago, The Merchants National Bank, and the other in New York, the Chem- ical National Bank. The latter is one of the largest banks in the city of New York, and is a correspondent today as 'lt has been for flfty-nine years. In 1910 the Citi- zens Bank was incorporated as a State Bank. Since it was created fifty-nine years ago the Citizens Bank as always paid every U V liability upon demand and has never found it necessary to take advantage of time even under the most trying situations. . The growth of the Citizens Bank has been an integral part of the growth of . Ligonier. Its fifty-nine years of success have been a part of the successful growth . U of its home. The prosperity which has made this new home possible is made pos- I : sible by the prosperity of Ligonier. S U The insurance department is prepared to write fire, tornado, burglary, auto- U S mobile, and accident insurance, contract and fidelity bonds, and every other class : U of risk. 5 S The b'ond department offers a flne selection of First Mortgage, Gravel Road, S and Municipal Bonds as well as other types of securities of stability and merit. I I U FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK. The Farmers and Merchants Trust U S f Company was organized in May, 1908, with paid-in capital stock of fifty thousand B E dollars. The stockholders were comprised of prominent, well-to-do farmers and S S business mefl. lauringi the twenty-one years it has seen its surplus grow until it E -v N s now equa to t e cap tal. - E The bank has specialized on thrift and savings accounts. It has the largest line E : of saving deposits of any bank in Ligonier. This department has enabled many : nu people to place trust funds in the hands of the bank at a great saving of time and un : expense to themselves. The splendid success of the organization demonstrates what : : can be done by men who enjoy the confidence of the community and who have al- 1 : ways strlven to render the public a just account of their stewardship. : 2 ! : X . , s-. h 5 , g p A J LA Page 21

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NKXX Its growth was so rapid that it was felt the business should be .A divided and accordingly, in 1925 I T the fabricating plant was moved to ' Jacksonville, Florida, in order to be nearer the market of its prod- fZ'f,11 s' as if - Lf rg.:- V ucts. The Ligonier plant contin- ued the manufacture of corrugated pipe and road tools until January, 1927, when it was felt that on ac- count of therapid growth of the Florida plant all energies should be devoted towards its development. The Ligonier plant, therefore, dis- tinued its manufacturing and is at present serving as sales branch and feeder for the Southern plant. It is possible however, that the Ligo- nier branch may in the near future engage in the manufacture of a kindred line. Ligonier Iron Products Company During its period of maximum running, while both departments were located in Ligonier, there were employed nearly sixty persons and last year the Ligonier plant employed twenty-iive and the Florida plant fifty. The growth of the Highway Iron Products Company has been very rapid due to careful management and perseverance and is engaged in a line for which the future is practically unlimited. OTHER BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS The people of Ligonier are well served by the numerous business houses of the town, all of which it would be impossible to mention here. There is a sufficient number of grocery stores, meat markets, bakeries, dry goods stores, drug stores, shoe shops, and millinery shops, as well as of those selling men and women's ready-to-Wear clothing. There' is number of garages and oil stations which give efficient service. Many makes of auto- mobiles are sold by the various dealers. One of the oldest and most reputable business organizations is Stans- bury's Store which was founded by J. R. Stansbury in 1869. At the time the business opened the stock consisted of what was known as dry goods and Yankee notions. In the eleven years following, the business grew to such an extent that more room was needed. At this time a full line of g1'0C61'16S, dishes, and queensware was added to the stock. The present owner, Mrs. C. R. Stansbury. entered the business at the age of seventeen, in the year of 1880 and has given his entire time and energies to the service of the community and has a wide circle of patrons from farming communities. Another is the present E. Jacobs and Company, dealing in dry goods, ladies ready-to-wear clothing, and rugs. This business was organized in 1876 under the name of Jacobs and Goldsmith. Since 1880 it has con- tinued as E. Jacobs and Company. - ..---Z? I I Q -2 r I LL Page 20

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3,...Mi,-.1! P ' QD i A 1,'I 'N saw: K ,ul Y XXX The Methodist, United Brethren, and Christian Churches of thirty-fi've years ago . CHURCHES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The first attempt to organize a Pres- byterian church in this vicinity took place upon the Haw Patch and at the house of Seymore Moses on July 3, 1836, and was known by the name of the Presbyterian Church of Salem. The Church progressed well until 1842 at which time the name of the Church was changed to Haw Patch and was taken into Logansport Presbytery. A couple of years later it connected itself with the St. Joseph Presbytery which was of the New School. This Church was in operation for a number of years, but finally a U great many of the members moved away, some into Ligonier. For a couple of years there was no pastor but Union Sunday School e meetings were held in the Opera House. This Congregation decided to 5 organize a Presbyterian Church and a Committee appointed by the Fort I Wayne Presbytery arrived July 1, 1889 to effect the organization. The : first pastor was Rev. E. Barr who remained with the Church for seven S years. The present building was erected on the site of the old Waverly - Hotel and was dedicated on December 21, 1890. .It was repaired and re- ' : modeled fourteen years ago and again about one year ago. Among the A 2 charter members were David Cunningham, A. W. Lyon, Jessie A. Rice, l S J. C. Zimmerman, E. W. Knepper, David Schwab, J. S. Hayes, R. D. Kerr, Q E F. E. Hepler, as Well as the Galbreath, McConnell, Dewey, Gerber, and E Treash families. Throughout its years it has had as members many of 2 the outstanding people of Ligonier. : E E j S. f' +-T-'X J an Page 22