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Business Was Dull When C. Cranston Came to Pendleton Business was rather dull in Pendleton on February 18, 1896, when C. K. Cranston came to this city to become chief accountant of the First National Bank. The tragic bank panic of 1893 had left finances in a rather sickly condition. The Pendleton Savings bank, with W. J. Furnish as its president and Thomas J. Morris, its cashier, was yet in the hands of a receiver, but a short time later got onto its feet again. There was a string of rickety frame buildings along Main street, and the wooden bridge across the Umatilla river at Main street was the only crossing in town. Across from the hotel Pendleton was a livery stable and a blacksmith shop. Mr. Cranston, who today is celebrating his thirty-fourth anniversary in Pendleton, says that he came to the First National bank after the death of W. P. Sturgis. Levi Ankeny was president of the bank and George Hartman was junior clerk, with duties as assistant book keeper, exchange clerk and messenger. Vice-president Hartman is the only person now actively connected with the bank, who was on the force of employees at the time Mr. Cranston came to the city. Mr. Cranston says that the desk which he is now using is in about the same location as the first desk he ever had in Pendleton. "Maybe it's a few feet to the east of the location thirty-four years ago, but it's near enough so I can say that I've worked in the same spot for thirty-four years."