Davis, Steele & Company (Belleville, KS)

Episode Information

Episode UID
5264338591134
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
526433859 hash
Start Date
June 4, 1894
Location
Belleville, Kansas (39.824, -97.633)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
1d0740f68312ff51

Response Measures

None

Description

Article states the bank closed on notice of the St. Joseph failure; later outcome (permanent vs. temporary) not reported here.

Events (1)

1. June 4, 1894 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Failure of D. M. Steele (of Steele & Walker) whose collapse directly involved Davis, Steele & Co., prompting the bank to close.
Newspaper Excerpt
The failure of D. M. Steele of St. Joseph caused the bank of Davis, Steele & Co. of this place to close its doors today.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Herald, June 5, 1894

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Article Text

THE CASH was THERE, A Failure at St. Joe Causes a Run on the Banks. Sr. JOSEPH, Mo., June 4.-Steel & Walker, the largest wholesale grocery house on the Missouri river, has gone into the hands of trustees. The failure grew out of the recent failure of A. N. Schuster & Co. The liabilities relarge. A run began on the First National and Central Savings bank, in which Steele & Walker were large stockholders. At the savings banks the depositors were allowed to draw out $50, the 30-day rule being enforced. At noon, when it became evident the banks had plenty of money, the depositors in line dwindled to a few dozen. W. W. Wheeler and Beatty Weakly are named as trustees for Steele. The liabilities are placed at $725,000. It is claimed the assets exceed this amount. In making the assignment nothing was reserved except the homestead of Mr. Steele, both Walkers conveying their residence property to secure liabilities. The firm was composed of D. N. Steele, S. A. Walker and J. W. Walker. Late this afternoon D. M. Steele turned over all of his Kansas lands for the benefit of the firm's creditors. The land is placed at $75,000, which brings the total amount of assets 80 far up to $700,000, with additional assete to be turned in, which will bring the total up to $1,100,000. The list of creditors has now reached a little over $700,000. The firm is indebted to Mrs. Kate Tootle of this city to the amount of $64,000, and Steadman, Steele & Wheeler of Boston represent $110,000. The total amount due local creditors is $270,009. The run on the First National bank of Buchanan county and the Central Savings bank was stopped at noon. The Buchanan had over $1,000,000 in cash when the people started, and while it was at its height a wagon drove up and $400,000 more in currency was unioaded and piled on the counters with an invitation to the people to come and get their money. The bank refused aid offered by the clearing house, which is ready to furnish all that is needed. Over $4,000,000 is in the bank's vaults here, which will be available if needed. At the Central Savings bank the officials took advantage of the 30 and 60 days' notice and paid no more than $50 to a depositor. The run stopped at 2 o'clock, and when the bank closed, after being kept open until night, no one was asking for money. The run was principally caused by small depositors, and the bank had more money when it closed at night than when it opened. S. A. Walker, as soon as the failure of Steele & Walker was announced, tendered his resignation as president of the First National bank of Buchanan county, and R. S. McAimster was place. Tonight all danger of another run on the banks seems to be passed. THE BRANCH HOUSE CLOSES. WICHITA, Kas., June 4.-The failure of the main house of Steele and Walker, at St. Joseph, involved the branch house in this city in the collapse, and its doors were shut this morning. The house was doing a splendid business and it is said made $40,000 profits last year. The stock here is quite large as this has been the distributing point of the main house for the southwest. The "failure has no effect whatever in business circles, in fact the bouse never has been considered in this city as a Wichita institution. A BANK GOES UNDER. BELLEVILLE, Kan., June 4.-The failure of D. M. Steele of St. Joseph caused the bank of Davis, Steele & Co. of this place to close its doors today. It has been considered one of the strongest institutions of Kansas. It is hoped it will resume. The failure will, however, cause considerable difficulty for thetime being. Liabilities, $40,000; assete unknown. ANOTHER GROCER "BUSTED." FORT SCOTT, Kan., June 4.-The W. U. Bell wholesale and retail grocery company of this city executed chattel mortgages tonight to home creditors to the extent of $7500, and the latter will take charge of the business. The liabilities and assets are unknown.


Article from Phillipsburg Herald, June 7, 1894

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Article Text

win, and cases begun against them in the district court have been dismissed. The boys claim that the collision was an accidental one, and promised to use more care in driving hereafter. -A large force are at work extending the city's water supply. While we may not all like the location, we must remember that the council has given this matter considerable time and attention, and most if not all of them are of the opinion that the supply will be ample. Every effort will be made to rush the work which will be completed in about five weeks. -At the Colby convention yesterday the Phillipsburg quartette consisting of Charles and Gail Arnold, Charles and Ross McCormick, received many words of flattering praise. The boys brought down the house with their campaign songs. and received many invitations to visit other places. They will be heard many times during the coming campaign. -Marvin will celebrate the Fourth of July in the best manner possible. Good shade and plenty of water and refreshments served on the ground. Good speakers, and a fine program will be rendered by the children of different Sabbath schools. Come one, come all; show your loyalty and enjoy yourselves. By ORDER OF COMMITTEE, -George Brown. a member of the McCafferty show, had a row with one Stewart while the company was showing at Logan Saturday. Stewart got inside the ring, and was put out by Brown, and in the scuffle Stewart came out second best, and had Brown arrested. The justice fined Brown $10 and costs, and committed him to jail. Monday McCafferty telegraph ed the money and he was released The sympathy of the Logan people seems to be with Brown. -E. F. Korns, who for many years past has occupied a very prominent place in business and political circles, leaves Monday for a new location in Oklahoma. Mr. Korns has many friends in this section who part with him with great reluctance, but who wish for him all possible prosperity. The HERALD most certainly hopes that all his plans for the future may meet with successful fulfillment. He will go into the newspaper business for which his experience on the HERALD has fully fitted him. -Col. J. M. McNay started for Cherokee county to look at a newspaper plant with the intention of purchasing if it suits. In this case he will remove to Columbus. Mr. McNay will probably conduct a republican paper, of the most partizan stripe, and will deal powerful blows in the cause of his chosen party. Many of his political opponents are still nursing unhealed wounds dealt them while he was connected with the Dispatch. All these and his many personal friends bid him and his Godspeed. -Steele & Walker of St. Joseph, a large grocery firm failed this week. Among the losers is Fred Winship, of this place, who IS in list of creditors with $3,500 due him. Mr. Winship was in St. Joseph Tuesday and finds that a large share if not all of his money is secure. He takes his trouble easily, and says that he is more interested in 8 good rain, than in the St. Joseph failure. Davis, Steele & Co., bankers of Belleville closed their doors upon notice of the Steele & Walker failure, Mr. Steele being interested in both concerns.