Geneseo Savings Bank (Geneseo, IL)

Episode Information

Episode UID
70049971462
Episode Type
Suspension β†’ Closure
Bank Type
savings
Bank ID
7004997 routing
Routing Number
70-0499
Start Date
October 25, 1921
Location
Geneseo, Illinois (41.448, -90.154)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
7763886e23637860

Response Measures

None

Description

Bank closed by state examiner and later placed in receivership; officers later indicted.

Events (2)

1. October 25, 1921 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
State examiner/auditor ordered closure after on-site audit and concerns about condition and bad loans.
Newspaper Excerpt
Closed by order of Andrew Russel ... investigation and adjustment, Oct. 25.
Source
newspapers
2. November 16, 1921 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
State Auditor Andrew Russel today announced the appointment of I. N. McBroom to be receiver for the Geneseo Savings bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (18)

Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, October 25, 1921

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CLOSE BANKS ATANNAWAN AND GENESEO State Examiner Closes Institutions After Auditing Books. to The Argus.) Ill., Oct. 25.- State Geneseo, (Special The the GeneSavings bank and estabsec of Annawan, two incounty lished Bank Henry financial well early stitutions, were closed at an state this morning by order of had bank hour examiners after they of worked all night on the books the two banks. The following notice, signed was by H. Whitlock, examiner, GenW. on the front door of the the eseo pasted bank when residents of city awoke this morning Closed by order of Andrew Rus- for auditor of public accounts, Oct. sel. investigation and adjustment, 25." The two banks are closely affili- AnWilliam H. Holzinger of ated, being vice president and innawan stockholder of each stitution, majority and two brothers, B. J. Holzinger of Annawan, and Harvey the Holzinger of Geneseo, are cashiers. Geneseo Savings bank has The under the surveillance and, of been officials for sometime exstate according to statement of the aminers today, there is a serious question whether or not the The bank Anagain open its door. was will nawan bank, it is explained, to its more as a protection than because It was feared that, the deposities dition. closed between of because its con the close connection deof run might be started by clostwo. a upon hearing of the bank. positors, ing of the Geneseo Savings H. Calhoun of Kewanee, bank examiner, W. and associated with Mr. Whitlock in examining the institu- it stated this morning that to impossible at the tions, was make any statement this time of exact decondition of the bank. but had that the institution clared under the supervision of and the been auditor for some time, state had been warned to get its affairs this, better shape. Failing in necesthe in department deemed it bank. sary to step in and close the Denied by Russel. a statement issued by Andrew he Russel In at Springfield, however, denied that the Geneseo bank is is bad condition "Nothing said, in with the bank, from temporary wrong "except trouble he has 'frozen credits. The bank too in and finds trouble The money to do sake much raising paper, business. investigation is only for the of straightening matters out.' "Bad loans and careless banking led the bank into this condi- Mr. have Mr. Calhoun stated. being a in both banks, has tion," holder Holzinger, majority been under- stock borrower, and it is on stood heavy that he has been investing a large scale in oil leases. The Geneseo Savings bank was last Wednesday and that that examined is understood audit examinaprecipitated the which tion started yesterday afternoon. will on the books The was work examiners Thursday, conclude their they declared. and in all probability the Annawan bank will then be reThere is serious doubt, however, opened. what action will be taken in regard to the local institution, they stated. Organized in 1906. The Geneseo Savings bank was in 1906 with the late John as H. organized O'Bryan president The Charles presare: President, vice president, ent S. Young; officers Harvey William HolH. Holzinger; cashier, who with John C. Theodore Zimmerman, zinger. Pitus, the Beckstein board F. and Henry Wenke form of directors. Officers of the bank attribute their present condition to to inability to make collections the current demands. of the State Anmeet Officers Bank of are: Samuel Pont, presiWilliam H. vice and B. J. nawan dent; president, Holzinger, Holzinger, cashier. The Annawan bank was institution until the first of the when it was a private year, chartered as a state bank. will The Bank exact Call condition not Statement. be of the available Gen the examiners have until eseo bank statement complet of ed their audit. The the the bank, however, made to Sept. at the last bank call, total shows that at that time which were $331,165.26 disauditor 6. resources and of its $293,126.29 were loans $12, counts, $2,223.10 overdrafts, 700.45 United States government in from vestments, and $9,667.82 due other banks. in $50.000 Its liabilities were surstock paid in, $10,000 dividends. bills payable, liabili$64,500 plus capital fund, $44 unpaid $206,158.72 in deposits and $462.54 other ties.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, November 16, 1921

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NAME GENESEO BANK RECEIVER I. N. McBroom Is Picked by State Auditor Russel; Loss May Be $100,000 to $150,000. Springfield, Ill., Nov. 16.-(United Press.)-State Auditor Andrew Russel today announced the appointment of I. N. McBroom to be receiver for the Geneseo Savings bank, recently closed by order of the state auditor. The loss to the depositors will depend upon the assessment of stock and the liability of the directors of the institution. However, it may reach $100,000 to $150,000. There will be no loss in connection with the closing of the State bank of Annawan, the auditor believes.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, November 18, 1921

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RECEIVER TAKES CHARGE AT BANK (Special Correspondence.) Geneseo, III., Nov. 18.-The following dispatch from Springfield which was issued last Wednesday, has been of great interest to many people in Geneseo and vicinity: "State Auditor Andrew Russel today announced the appointment of I. N. McBroom to be receiver for the Geneseo Savings bank, recently closed by order of the state auditor." The loss to the depositors will depend upon the assessment of stock and the liability of the directors of the institution. However, it may reach $100,000 to $150,000. There will be no loss in connection with the closing of the State bank at Annawan, the auditor believes. The receiver who has been appointed is Newton McBroom of Geneseo who is now established in charge of the affairs of the bank He will be at the bank each day for the transaction of business from 8:00 to 12:00 in the morning, and from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, December 28, 1921

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# W.H.HOLZINGER # KEDRON VALLEY # CO. TO BE SOLD Stock and Good Will of Mercantile Company is Offered by Trustees of Estate, (Special Correspondence.) Geneseo, Dec. 28. - The trustees of the William H. Holzinger estate, which is being operated for the benefit of the depositors of the defunct Geneseo Savings bank and the personal creditors of Mr. Holzinger, are offering for sale the good will and stock of the Kedron Mercantile company. This business is situated in the fertile Kedron valley, about eight miles northeast of Annawan, a district famous for the growing of onions and cabbage. Two years ago about 2,000 acres were under cultivation in these two crops, with onions running as high as 1,200 bushels per acre. Dancing Party Success, The dancing party at the Weimer theatre Monday evening was well attended, more than one hundred couples being present. The music was furnished by Day's jazz band of Rock Island. It was the second appearance of this organization in Geneseo this season, and it has become very popular among the young set.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, March 17, 1922

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BANK RECEIVER CALLS FOR ALL DEMAND NOTES (Special Correspondence.) Geneseo, March 17.-I. N. McBroom, receiver in charge of the Geneseo Savings bank, will close his business at the bank March 25. After that date he will transact all business affairs of the defunct institution at the First National bank. Mr. McBroom has called for payment of all demand notes due the bank. If these are not paid on or before March 25 legal action will be instituted at the cost of the borrower to collect on them. He is anxious to get the affairs of the Geneseo Savings bank in the best condition at the earliest date possible to enable him to expedite the first payment to creditors of the institution.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, March 28, 1922

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RECEIVER FOR DEFUNCT BANK STILL IN CITY (Special Correspondence.) Geneseo, Ill., March 28.-I. N. McBroom, receiver for the Geneseo Savings bank, is now located at the First National bank for the transaction of further business of the institution of which he is in charge. The lease on the building closes on April 1, but he will continue to rent the property to care for the banking fixtures and furniture until such time that they are definitely disposed of. Some of the furniture was removed to the First National bank this morning, where Mr. McBroom may be found by those desiring to see him on matters appertaining to his work as receiver.


Article from The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, November 21, 1922

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HENRY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT IS.IN SESSION Fifteen Cases Are On Decket Amnounced for This Week-One voree Listed. (Special Correspondence.) Kewanee, Nov. 21.-The Henry county circuit court docket for this week follows: Ed and Ora Merriman vs. Frank Ammerman. Lydia Miles Jones vs. Nellie White. Charles A. Humphreys VS. Jacob Roman and Franklin Grant Humphreys. Rudolph Beyer vs. William J. Welfe. Appeal from county court in the estate of Henry W. Quart, deceased. Charles A. Humphrey VS. John A. Oreey Cole vs. Mordey. Mathias Bros. vs. George A. Mathis. John Keag VS. William Bentley. Ellen Olsen vs. Willis Bengston. Samuel Pone vs. William O. McNeill. I. M. McBroom, receiver for Geneseo Savings Bank, vs. J. J. Hadley. Otis B. Timberlake vs. Ellis B. Kirk. Alice Clementz vs. Robert Clementz, divorce. Spiegel vs. Spiegel.


Article from The Rock Island Argus, January 8, 1924

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HOLZINGERS TO BE TRIED SOON AT CAMBRIDGE Brothers Indicted In Connection With Geneseo Bank Failure to Stand Trial Feb. 18. (Special Correspondence.) Kewanee, Ill., Jan. 8.β€”Interest of this part of the state will be focused on the trial in the Henry county circuit court Monday, Feb. 18, of W. H. Holzinger, president, and Harvey Holzinger, cashier of the defunct Geneseo Savings bank. About thirty indictments have been found against the Holzingers and they have appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to these indictments. The indictments to be first tried will be one of those which charges these officers of the bank with receiving deposits after the bank was insolvent. Attorney Charles E. Sturtz, of Kewanee, will defend W. H. Holzinger, and Attorney Lawrence Johnson of Galva is appointed by the court to defend Harvey Holzinger. Attorney Harry E. Brown of Geneseo, will assist State's Attorney Carl A. Melin, in the prosecution.


Article from The Rock Island Argus, March 4, 1924

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TAKE FOUR FOR JURY IN TRIAL OF HOLZINGERS Several Days Expected to Be Required to Get 12 Men for Geneseo Bankers' Case. (Special to The Argus.) Cambridge, Ill., March 4.β€”When court closed last night, four men had been secured for the jury to hear the cases now pending in circuit court here against William H. and Harvey Holzinger, brothers, and former officials of the defunct Geneseo Savings bank. This morning three more men had been tentatively accepted by the state, but had not been passed on by the defense attorneys. W. H. Holzinger is represented in court by the firm of Stutz & Ewing of Kewanee, and Harvey Holzinger's attorneys are Lawrence Johnson of Galva and Carliss Minor of Kewanee. Carl Melin, state's attorney, is being assisted in the prosecution by Attorney Harry Brown of Geneseo. The jurors who have been definitely accepted are: Albert Johnson, a farmer of Weller township. Edwin T. Heaps, a carpenter of Kewanee. Raymond Cook, a farmer of Clover township. George McNaught, a boilermaker of Kewanee. In the process of securing the four jurors, the first venire has been exhausted, and a special venire summoned to report at 1 o'clock this afternoon. The line of questioning being carried on in examination of the prospective jurors, deals chiefly with their past experiences as jurors, particularly as members of a grand jury within recent years; also as to whether they are stockholders or officers of any bank, and their views and opinions on the responsibilities of bank officials. It appeared likely today, at the rate of progress being made the selection of a jury would probably take all of today and tomorrow, with the probability of the trial actually getting under way by Thursday morning. Both of the defendants, William H. Holzinger and his younger brother, Harvey, have been in court since the opening of their case yesterday, and both appeared to be taking an active interest in the questioning of the prospective jurors. Although there were a few spectators present yesterday and today, it is expected that the number will be greatly increased when the jury is completed, and the trial is started, as the case has been one of county-wide interest since the failure of the Geneseo bank in the fall of 1921. The Best Remedy. The eccentric and parsimonious Mrs. Schultz, meeting Dr. Senden on the street, called out to him: "Doctor, I sneeze incessantly every morning. What would you take for it?" "A handkerchief!" called the doctor, and disappeared.β€”Lustige Blatter (Berlin).


Article from The Dispatch, March 11, 1924

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H. Bolte First Witness. First witness to offer testimony in the case was Henry Bolte, retired hardware dealer of Geneseo, upon whose deposit of $210.30, alleged to have been accepted after the bank was insolvent, the defendants are being prosecuted. Under questioning by State's Attorney Melin, Mr. Bolte gave a brief summary of his dealings with the bank. He testified he carried a checking and deposit account at the Geneseo Savings bank from the time it was opened in 1906 until October, 1921. He stated that his last deposit was made on Oct. 24, 1921, the day before the bank was closed. He had never been a stockholder or officer of the bank, and owed no money to that institution at the time it was closed, he declared. The last deposit he made with the bank was on the day before it was closed, he testified. This was for $210.30. Harvey Holzinger entered the amount in his bank book, he said.


Article from The Dispatch, March 11, 1924

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Physician Testifies. Dr. Young testified that he was president of the Geneseo Savings bank for ten months before it was closed, and that before that time, since the bank was opened, he had served as vice president. During the questioning it transpired that I. N. McBroom, the bank's receiver, was ill, and that


Article from The Dispatch, March 19, 1924

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WITNESSES STILL TESTIFY AGAINST TWO HOLZINGERS Testimony Given Concerning Alleged Irregular Banking Procedure. ODD PROPOSITION STATED Geneseoan Declares He Was Told to Collect on Note by Overdrafts. Dispatch Special Service. Cambridge, March 19.β€”Trial of William and Harvey Holzinger, officers of the Geneseo Savings bank, was still under way today, and it was apparent that this week will not see the end of the hearing, for the state's evidence has not been completed, and it is understood that many witnesses will be examined by the defense. Testimony was introduced this morning by the state's attorney in an attempt further to show the jury what the prosecution has termed irregular banking methods which, it is alleged, caused the Geneseo Savings bank to fail.


Article from The Dispatch, March 19, 1924

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Carl Lorenzon of Hooppole testified that he owed the bank $1000 on one note and $50 on another. He said he talked to William Holsinger in August, 1921, at Hooppole, and that Holzinger asked for money. He said he gave him $25 to apply on the notes at one time, and a similar amount at another time. After the bank was closed, he stated, he was called to William Holzinger's residence in Annawan, and there told by him that he should go ahead paying on the notes to William Holsinger personally. I. N. McBroom, the bank's receiver, testified that the Lorenzon note for $50 was paid in full in 1923. William Holzinger's personal account with the Geneseo Savings bank, on a ledger sheet, was offered as evidence in connection with statements made by Mr. Lorenzon, but after strenuous objections by the defense, the court reserved a ruling until later. It had not been admitted at noon today.


Article from The Daily Times, March 26, 1924

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SAYS GENESEO BANK HELD $109,000 IN NOTES OF NO VALUE CAMBRIDGE, Ill., March 26.β€”(Special)β€”J. A. Bradley, cashier of the Farmers National bank of Geneseo, on the stand today in the case of W. H. and Harvey Holzinger, who are charged with fraudulent banking, said that shortly before the Geneseo Savings bank closed its doors it held $109,000 in notes of no market value. Mr Bradley said the bank had submitted a list of all its notes to other bankers of the town and that he went over the list in detail. On cross-examination, he explained why he considered the notes of no value. This took up the entire forenoon. Court was delayed in opening until 10 o'clock owing to the difficulty of witnesses reaching Cambridge through the mud. Relative on Stand Testimony given by Martin Rose, 79 years of age, a former depositor at the now defunct banking institution, and a resident of Geneseo, featured the trial session yesterday afternoon. Mr Rose has been acquainted with the Holzinger brothers, the defendants, since they were small boys or "little shavers," as he termed them, and is a distant relative of theirs. Mr Rose was presented as a witness shortly before the close of the morning session. At that time, the defense objected to the witness on the grounds that they were not notified in advance that he was to be called upon to testify. Attorney Sturtz objected also because he said that there would be no time for the preparation of cross-examination. Judge Larson sustained the objections and further stated that he did not like the state's method of bringing witnesses up in this manner. "This is the third time that this has occurred," he concluded. However, at the opening of the afternoon session, Attorney Sturtz for the defense announced that the witness would be allowed to testify without further objection from the defense. He said this was decided at a conference between the defense and state representatives regarding the nature of the testimony which Mr Rose would be called upon to give. In answering to the questioning of the state, Mr Rose told of conferring with Harvey Holzinger, four days from the time of the closing of the bank. At that time the witness stated that Holzinger said he had expected the bank to be closed, but not as soon as it was. When asked as to whether he talked with Holzinger regarding his own account at the Geneseo Savings bank, Mr Rose replied that he told the banker that he shouldn't have taken his money if he knew that the bank was going to fail. In cross-examination, Mr Rose denied that he heard Harvey Holzinger say that he believed the bank would be opened again after it was closed. The witness also denied that he heard Holzinger say that the assets of the bank would probably cover all of the depositors' money. Before completing the cross-examination, the defense asked Mr Rose if he was hard of hearing, and the latter admitted that he was. Admit Exhibit Following testimony given by W. R. Reherd, Geneseo real estate dealer, the admittance of a paper named by the state as Exhibit No. 92, and containing notations of the transaction between R. B. Lyons of near Geneseo, and W. H. Holzinger, which involved $28,000 in trust deeds, was finally gained. When questioned as to the disappearance of the original of the Lyons transaction and account, Mr Reherd stated that it might have been thrown into the waste basket but he was not sure of this. He stated that he and Mr Lyons prepared the copy in the Reherd real estate. He testified that he did not see the original after making another, and was unable to find it after a thorough search later. It was at this point that the exhibit was presented by the state for admittance. After a lengthy discussion, Judge Larson ruled in the exhibit and Attorney Sturtz of the defense immediately objected. Mr Sturtz said, "There is no testimony that the original is not in the bank now, or in the possession of a bank receiver." Lyons on Again R. B. Lyons was again on the stand for a short period yesterday afternoon. The entire transaction involving the $28,000 trust deeds was again reviewed, and although Mr Lyons was taken under both state and defense examination, no new angle of the case was developed. From present indications, the matter will not be settled until the defense witnesses take the stand. It is not expected that they will do so until next week. During the latter part of the afternoon session, I. N. McBroom, receiver of the Geneseo bank, occupied the witness chair. He was asked by the state to identify a number of certificates of deposit, and seven of these were admitted by the court as state exhibits. Among these was a certificate of deposit out to Adam Wolfe for the amount of $435, another certificate of deposit for $870 made out by Harvey Holzinger to himself, and five others, ranging in amounts from $800 to $4,000, made out to D. M. Wiedenhoeft of Geneseo. Mr McBroom stated that he found the deposit certificate made out to Harvey Holzinger in a pigeon hole in the vault of the bank. He testified that he talked to Harvey about it, and that the latter said that the certificate represented part of the liberty bonds sent up to the Drover's bank of Chicago. Mr McBroom said that he held the conversation with Holzinger shortly after the time the bank was closed. When asked the exact time, he said that it was from one day to one or two months afterward. The ledger account of Miss A. J. Kiner was also admitted, and it is expected that action will be taken on this later in the week. Trial Hard Fought Without a doubt, the trial which is now on will go down into the history of Henry county as one of the hardest fought in the county's history. The state has been able to bring out evidence only after long periods of argument, and objections are frequently raised to examination from both sides. Interest in the trial is manifest each day in the number of spectators who make their way into the court room. Even with roads in their present impassable condition, many from Geneseo, Galva and Kewanee find their way to the courthouse, and it is believed that with fair weather and better road conditions the court room would be filled to overflowing at both morning and afternoon sessions each day. It is believed that the trial will last another 10 days.


Article from The Dispatch, June 15, 1925

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Holzinger to Be Brought to Henry County as Witness Dispatch Special Service. Cambridge, June William Holzinger, former president of the defunct Geneseo Savings bank, will brought from the state penitentiary at Joliet evening testify the civil suit of McBroom, the bank against George Mathis to recover $2500 note. Hearing begin Holzinger is term in the state prison as result of his viction on charge deposits afer he knew the Geneseo Savings bank was insolvent.


Article from The Dispatch, June 26, 1925

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NEW TRIAL DENIED IN BANK RECEIVER ACTION Cambridge, June 26.β€”New trial of a suit in which a verdict was rendered for the defendant in the case of I. N. McBroom, receiver for the Geneseo Savings bank, versus George Mathis was denied in the Henry county circuit court yesterday. The plaintiff prayed an appeal to the appellate court.


Article from The Rock Island Argus, March 23, 1929

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GENFSEO LAND FINISHED AT Evidence Completed in Suit by Bank Receiver to Recover on Sale Contract. (Special to The Argus.) Cambridge, III., March case of McBroom of Geneseo against Henry L. Goembel. also of Geneseo. completed yesterday before Judge Leonard E. Telleen as far as presentation of evidence concerned. Judge Telleen will decision The case graw out of of contract to purchase land presented. McBroom as receiver Geneseo Savings bank. now defunct Mr McBroom claimed that Mr. Goembel purchased farm by the bank and failed to keep his contract Goembel stated that he appraised the value of the farm and did know that he signing contract purchase the property He claimed that the contract which appears pears misrepresented to him.


Article from The Rock Island Argus, October 25, 1929

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BANK RECEIVER AT GENESEO IS WINNER IN SUIT Master Hands Down Decision in Action Over Sum Held by Harry W. Weimer. (Special Correspondence.) III., Oct. John Cummings, special masterof Henry county, has handed down decision N. McBroom, receiver of the Geneseo Savings bank, his case against Harry and Albert W. Weimer. Geneseo. The decision means that Harry W. Weimer holds the title to the property in question for benefit of creditors of Albert W. Weimer. sum between $1,600 and $1,700 involved in the case, which an outgrowth of the failure of the Geneseo Savings bank. Twenty pages of findings were