10875. Farmers Bank (Fessenden, ND)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
February 1, 1932*
Location
Fessenden, North Dakota (47.649, -99.629)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
62b949f6b72d7609

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles (June 1935) refer to the Farmers Bank of Fessenden being 'closed' and in the hands of a receiver (L. R. Baird). They describe a foreclosure (Feb 1932) and an eviction carried out March 28, 1934, and explicitly call Baird 'receiver of the closed Farmers' Bank of Fessenden.' No article describes a depositor run; the bank is closed and in receivership, so classify as suspension leading to closure. I infer 'state' bank from the name 'Farmers Bank' (no 'National' or 'Trust' present) but the charter type is not explicitly stated.

Events (2)

1. February 1, 1932* Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Weiss' home was foreclosed in February, 1932, ... mortgage foreclosure.
Source
newspapers
2. March 28, 1934 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The complaint against the forty-five was made by L. R. Baird, receiver of the closed Farmers' Bank of Fessenden, N. D. ... The eviction was carried through despite the moratorium proclaimed in the state by Governor Langer. ... It was not until March 28, 1934, that the Wells county sheriff proceeded to evict Weiss and his two sisters from the home they had lived in for more than forty years.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Producers News, June 7, 1935

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# Fessenden Banker Wants $3,260.00 Fr- he Holiday BELDEN, N. D.-Forty-five farmers of Wells and Eddy counties have been served with summonses in a suit for damages for having participated in a fight against the eviction of Christ Weiss, a bachelor, who lost his home through a mortgage foreclosure. The complaint against the forty-five was made by L. R. Baird, receiver of the closed Farmers' Bank of Fessenden, N. D. Weiss' home was foreclosed in February, 1932, but it was not until March 28, 1934, that the Wells county sheriff proceeded to evict Weiss and his two sisters from the home they had lived in for more than forty years. The eviction was carried through despite the moratorium proclaimed in the state by Governor Langer. Six hundred farmers, members of the Farmers' Holiday Association, gathered at the home to enforce the moratorium. After the eviction had taken place, the farmers made the banker's representatives and the sheriff sweep and scrub the house, put the stove up again and build a fire. The summonses, which were drawn up on Dec. 8, 1934, were served just now on the 45 farmers. Baird in his complaint claims that the defendants forcibly entered the premises, after he had rightfully and peacefully taken possession thereof, and in a forceful manner and without authority seized and ejected him therefrom, to his damage in the sum of $640. According to Section 717 of the session laws of the state of North Dakota for the year 1913, for this action the defendants are liable to pay treble the amount or $1,920 and to surrender the possession of the premises to the plaintiff. Besides this, the receiver claims an additional amount of $1,340 or


Article from The Producers News, June 14, 1935

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

# RESOLUTION We, the farmers and workers gathered at the Farmers Holiday mass meeting at Fessenden, N. D., on June 4, 1935, adopted the following resolution: The lawsuit for damages against the 45 farmers of Wells and Eddy counties by L. R. Baird, receiver of closed banks, is a blow directed against every organizer farmer and worker in the state. In March, 1934, over 600 farmers repossessed the home of Christ Weiss, who had been evicted because of inability to pay his mortgage to the Farmers Bank of Fessenden, already then in the hands of the receivers. These farmers, the neighbors and friends of the Weiss family, showed their determination to protect themselves through organized and united mass action, by protecting these people in their right to a home. The receiver of banks allowed the matter to drop, realizing the strength of the organization of the farmers at that time, and waited for a more opportune time to strike. Thousands of similar cases have occurred throughout this state as well as in most others, therefore this attack is against all of us. The serving of he summons six months after the complaint had been sworn to, and bringing it into Pierce county rather than the county where the action occurred, shows that the state receiver of closed banks is attempting to smash the resistance of the farmers, to the robbing of their homes. Pierce county farmers have been less actively engaged in these struggles in the past and have been less organized. This fact is being taken advantage of by Baird and the banking interests in general. The smashing of the Holiday has become the most important task of the loan sharks, insurance companies and Wall Street bankers' agents. # WHAT MUST BE DONE Every farmer and worker realizing the strength there is in organization must be gotten active in the furthering of this fight. Everywhere we must raise the demand for the dropping of the case against all the defendants. Protests from mass meetings and all interested workers and farmers, business and professional people must be poured in to Acting Governor Welford, Bismarck, N. D., -and to L. R. Baird, receiver of closed banks, Bismarck, N. D. In the face of the attack against the Holiday Association, every farmer must work more actively to build the solidarity of the workers and farmers in all struggles. We must get together in a broad united front struggle drawing in all organizations such as the National Holiday, the Farmers Union, other farm organizations, unemployed councils and trade unions. Realizing the need for broad unity, the Farmers National Committee for Action, a broad united front committee elected at the First Farmers Emergency Relief Conference held in Washington, D. C., in December, 1932, has pledged to support the fight and is bringing it to the farmers in every state through its affiliated organizations and its official paper, the Farmers National Weekly. This fight is the fight of every farmer and worker. Orly the united action of the workers and farmers will smash the attack against our organization. Collection lisst to raise funds to meet this need should be circulated, making the support state-wide and also of a mass character. All funds should be sent to John G. Walz, Fessenden, N. D., secretary of the Wells and Eddy County Farmers Defense Committee.