22551. Farmers & Merchants State Bank (Eagle River, WI)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
July 1, 1925*
Location
Eagle River, Wisconsin (45.917, -89.244)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
40965231

Response Measures

None

Description

Cashier C. H. Wiegand disappeared and was found to have committed suicide after opening the bank and admitting state examiners. Directors asked examiners to suspend business; bank closed Wednesday noon (early July 1925). Newspapers state deposits will be paid in full after examiners finish — indicates a temporary suspension and intention to resume operations.

Events (2)

1. July 1, 1925* Other
Newspaper Excerpt
On Tuesday morning of last week Mr. Wiegand, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River, after opening the bank and admitting two of the state examiners, excused himself, entered his car and drove north ... had shot himself through the heart with a 38-calibre revolver.
Source
newspapers
2. July 8, 1925 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier C. H. Wiegand disappeared and was later found to have committed suicide after admitting state examiners; directors asked examiners to suspend business pending investigation of disappearance and circumstances of his death.
Newspaper Excerpt
The bank closed its doors Wednesday noon, and since that time the examiners have been checking over the business.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Vilas County News, July 15, 1925

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Article Text

# DEATH SADDENED CITY Burial of Charles H. Wiegand, Cashier of F. & M. Bank, Largest Ever Held Here. The funeral of Charles H. Wiegand, held last Saturday afternoon in Eagle River, was the largest ever witnessed here, over a hundred autos bearing sorrowing friends in their tribute of a citizen who had made Eagle River his home since boyhood. The services in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Finn Lawler, in the Congregational church and at the graveside lasted for a period of over two hours. Friends and acquaintances from every walk in business and social life followed the body to its resting place. After leaving the church the body was given over to the Masonic order, who in turn rendered the final burial tributes to their dead. On Tuesday morning of last week Mr. Wiegand, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River, after opening the bank and admitting two of the state examiners, excused himself, entered his car and drove north on highway 26 for about seven miles, turned off toward the railroad track on an old road running west. Evidence showed that he had stopped the car near a swamp, left the ear running and within fifty feet of the auto had shot himself through the heart with a 38-calibre revolver. From all appearance when the body was discovered, death had been instantaneous. This happened somewhere about ten o'clock Tuesday forenoon. Wednesday evening a farmer living near where the car was parked, notified the officers that the body of a man was lying at the edge of a swamp and a car stood nearby. Investigation by Sheriff Bowker and the coroner told the tale of how Wiegand had taken his life and inquiry of the people in that section showed that they had seen the car the day previous and saw that the engine was running, but gave no further thought, that being nothing unusual. The engine had run until all the gas was exhausted. Lying beside the body was the revolver and the coroner's jury on Thursday gave a verdict of suicide. Mr. Wiegand had underwent an operation a number of months ago for appendicitis, and at that time he barely came through with his life. Since then he has been more or less nervous, and adding that and the average business worries connected with the bank and other affairs, his nervous system was shattered, which without a doubt caused the taking of his life. No other cause can be attributed for, while the bank was closed pending his disappearance and afterwards, nothing has been discovered outside the ordinary run of banking affairs. There is no shortage shown or any other delinquency; this is the statement made by the officials. Charles H. Wiegand was born in Appleton on April 26, 1886, being at the time of his death slightly over thirty-nine years of age. When he was in his infancy he became a resident of Eagle River; attended the different branches of our schools and finally graduated with the 1902 class. He then entered the North Wisconsin Academy at Ashland and in 1910 the Minnesota State University, being graduated from the law department of the latter institution in 1913. The same year he was admitted to the state bar of Wisconsin and opened a general law office in Eagle River in connection with the abstract offices of his brother-in-law Finn Lawler. The spring of 1918 he was e'ected cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River, carrying that position until the time of his death. During 1915-16 he served as district attorney of Vilas county. While this country was involved in the World War he proved his true Americanism by patriotic home work; was a member of the Legal Advisory Board, one of the executive committee of the Council of Defense, secretary of the Vilas County Chapter American Red Cross and fuel administrator. Mr. Wiegand was married to Opal Ferguson in St. Louis on June 29, 1916. Two children, Marjorie


Article from Vilas County News, July 15, 1925

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Article Text

WILL PAY DEPOSITORS I Farmers & Merchants State Bank Officials State That There Will Be No Loss. Regardless of the comment caused by the closing of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eagle River last week Wednesday noon, directors of the bank have informed the Vilas County News that all deposits will be paid in full as soon as the examiners have finished checking up the bank's business. When the cashier, C. H. Wiegand disappeared last week Tuesday morning and failed to return that day, the directors asked the examiners the following forenoon to suspend business until the cashier's return, or until it was determined just what occasioned his sudden disappearance and the taking of his life. The bank closed its doors Wednesday noon, and since that time the examiners have been checking over the business. Many stories have been going the rounds as to why the bank closed, and the above is as near the facts as can be obtained at present, or until the examiners have made their complete report to the directors and stockholders.