Farmers Bank (Fessenden, ND)

Episode Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Start Date
January 1, 1925*
Location
Fessenden, North Dakota (47.649, -99.629)
Bank Type
state
Routing Number
77-0144

Metadata

Episode ID
Bank ID
City ID
381028952
Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest

Notes

Article states the bank closed in 1925 and is in liquidation under a receiver.

Events (2)
1. January 1, 1925* 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.
Source
newspapers
2. March 28, 1934 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
over 600 farmers repossessed the Weiss home and moved the furniture back into the house.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. June 7, 1935 The Producers News Plentywood, MT
Article from The Producers News, June 7, 1935

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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

2. June 14, 1935 The Producers News Plentywood, MT

Article Text

By a Farmer Correspondent

Over 300 farmers of Wells, Eddy and adjoining counties packed the Wells county courthouse at Fessenden, N. D., Tuesday evening, June 4. The meeting was called for the purpose of preparing the defense of the 45 farmers of Wells and Eddy counties, who are being sued by L. R. Baird, receiver of closed banks, for having participated in the Weiss eviction case on March 28, 1934, where over 600 farmers repossessed the Weiss home and moved the furniture back into the house.

The defendants met before the mass meeting to take up some of the legal details with a local attorney, W. E. Matthaei, such as filing the answer and other technicalities.

Meeting Called to Order

The mass meeting was called to order by Oliver Rosenberg, chairman of the Eddy County Holiday, also one of the defendants. Rosenberg briefly outlined some of the things already done in the case, such as answering the summons as a group by Burdick and Lemke. Also Rosenberg stressed the necessity of sticking together in this fight.

He then called on Attorney Matthaei to explain the legal aspects of the case. First Matthaei explained that the office of receiver of closed banks was created during the 1925 legislative session for an indefinite time at an annual salary of $4,000. And in spite of the fact that the present receiver of closed banks, L. R. Baird, was a member of the state senate during the time the office was created, he was appointed to that office right afterwards by Governor R. A. Nestos, although the North Dakota constitution has a provision which makes it unlawful for any member of legislature to be appointed to an office which he helps create. Matthaei also told that the Farmers Bank of Fessenden closed the same year (1925) and that the liquidation of the bank is still going