Middleport Bank (Middleport, OH)

Episode Information

Episode UID
9717919891281
Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
971791989 hash
Start Date
September 28, 1906
Location
Middleport, Ohio (39.002, -82.049)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
187799d37d5f080a

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles report president absconded and an assignee (receiver) was named.

Events (2)
1. September 28, 1906 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
filed a deed of assignment, W. F. Reed, president of the Farmers' Bank and Trust company at Pomeroy being the assignee.
Source
newspapers
2. September 28, 1906 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
All or most deposits (~$115,000) missing; president E.C. Fox absconded; vaults held only about $3,000 and insufficient paper; bank closed and deed of assignment filed.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Middleport bank, a private institution at Middleport, O., failed to open its doors.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)
1. September 29, 1906 The Richmond Palladium Richmond, IN
Article from The Richmond Palladium, September 29, 1906

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Article Text

A PRIVATE BANK CLOSES ITS DOORS Middleport Bank at Pomeroy, 0., Failed to Open for Business Yesterday. MANY POOR DEPOSITORS MONEY IS SAID TO BE MISSING AND THE PRESIDENT IS AWAY AND NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT CAN BE HAD. Pomerey, O., Sept. 28.-The Middle port bank, a private institution at Middleport, O., failed to open its doors. It is stated that all the deposits, amounting to $115,000, are missing and great excitement prevails. Most of the depositors are poor people and their deposits represented nearly all their savings. The president of the bank is E. C. Fox, who is away and in his absence no official statement of the condition of the bank has yet been made. President Fox went away last Tuesday, leaving Vice President T. S. Armentrout in charge. An examination of the vaults after Fox had gone, revealed $3000 in cash and paper worth less than $50,000 on its face to account for the $115,000 deposited. Armentrout was formerly a Presbyterian minister at Gallipolis and on the solicitation of Fox, resigned the ministry the first of June, converted his property into $6,000 and entered the bank as an equal partner with Fox, perfectly unaware of its financial condition. He has lost his $6,000 and is now almost a physical wreck over worrying about the outcome of his new enterprise. Before leaving, Fox drew out all his personal deposit and that of his wife, whom he recently married at Toronto, O. It is also found that the bank building is mortgaged to its full value and the Fox house, one of the finest residences in Middleport, was transferred to Mrs. Fox, as also was his other property. Fox came to Middle port a few years ago from Kansas. He started a national bank in Middleport but recently the affairs of that bank were wound up and he opened a private bank in the same building. Middleport is a presperous village of 4000 people and loyal to its institutions. The people rallied to Fox's bank and deposited liberally. The largest deposit is $3000, the remainder being in smaller amounts running down to a few dollars. There was no suspicion on the part of the public that the institution was in a shaky condition, until Armentrout closed the doors and filed a deed of assignment, W. F. Reed, president of the Farmers' bank and Trust company at Pomeroy being the assignee. It is not believed that Fox took more than $2000 in cash away with him. He was an active citizen and soon got into the village council, the school board and became generally popular. He leaves his young wife and babe behind. As yet no effort has been made to apprehend Fox. No one, so far as can be ascertained, has the least idea where he has gone. A hasty examination of the assets of the bank show that the depositors may realize 15 cents on the dollar.

2. September 29, 1906 Evening Star Washington, DC
Article from Evening Star, September 29, 1906

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Article Text

ANOTHER BANK WRECKED. Less Than $3,000 Out of $115,000 Deposits in Vault. The Middleport Bank, a private institution at Middleport, Ohio, failed to open its doors yesterday, as briefly reported in The Star. The greater part of the deposits, amounting to $115,000, are missing, and great excitement prevails. Most of the depositors are poor people, and their deposits represented nearly all of their savings. President E. C. Fox went away last Tuesday, leaving Vice President T. S. Armentrout in charge. An examination of the vaults after Fox had gone revealed $3,000 in cash and paper worth less than $50,000 on its face to account for the $115,000 deposited. Armentrout was arrested and taken to Pomeroy, where he gave bond for his appearance today. President Fox has been found at Toronto, Ohio, where his wife's parents live. His arrest has been ordered. William Horden, an old merchant, became so angered over the loss of a deposit that he took a revolver and sought Armentrout at his home, with the avowed purpose of shooting the banker. He was intercepted just in time to prevent the crime. Armentrout was formerly a Presbyterian minister at Gallipolis, and on the solicitation of Fox resigned the ministry June 1, converted his property into $6,000, and entered the bank as an equal partner with Fox, perfectly unaware of its financial condition. He has lost his $6,000, and is now almost a physical wreck from worrying about the outcome of his new enterprise. Before leaving Fox drew out all his personal deposit and that of his wife, whom he recently married at Toronto, Ohio. It also is found that the bank building is mortgaged to its full value, and the Fox house, one of the finest residences in Middleport, was transferred to Mrs. Fox, as was also his other property. Fox came to Middleport a few years ago from Kansas. He started a national bank in Middleport, but recently the affairs of that bank were wound up, and he opened a private bank in the same building. Middleport is a prosperous village of 4,000. The largest single deposit in the bank is $3,000, the remainder being in smaller accounts, running down to a few dollars. There was no suspicion on the part of the public that the institution was in such a condition until Armentrout closed the doors yesterday and filed a deed of assignment to W. F. Reed, president of the Farmers' Bank and Trust Company at Pomeroy. It is not believed that Fox took more than $2,000 in cash away with him. Fox was active in town affairs and soon got into the village council, the school board, and became generally popular. He leaves his young wife and a baby behind him. A hasty examination of the assets of the bank shows that the depositors may realize 15 cents on the dollar.

3. October 5, 1906 Rocky Ford Enterprise Rocky Ford, CO
Article from Rocky Ford Enterprise, October 5, 1906

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Article Text

NEWS OF THE WEEK Most Important Happenings of the Past Seven Days. Interesting Items Gathered from All parts of the World Condouned Into small Space far the Deneat of Our Readers. Personal. Col. Isaac R. Hill, of Ohio, better known as Col. "Ike" Hill. an employe house of representaor the 35 years, in of tives the Washington. national past is dead E. Magoon. the retiring minister to left isthmus for American Charles the Washington. Panama. has David R. Francis, former governor of Missouri, has arrived in New York after a visit to Europe where he delivered the World's fair medals to the various monarchs. Reuben Perry has been appointed supervisor of Indian schools. Governor Higgins of New York has declined to become a candidate for reelection. James J. Jeffries, who retired with the title of champion heavyweight of the world. has announced his determination to re-enter the ring. The will of the late c. J. Devlin, of Topeka, was recently filed for probate in that city After the payment of debts and the the estate was residue of obligations left to the widow. business manthe Baltimore ager Edward of Crummer. Sun. for that 25 years, is dead at his home in city. J. c. McBurney. of Bolse, commander of the Knights Templar of Idaho, and colonel of the national guard of the state, is reported missing more have ordered to Cuba Fifteen been hundred marines by the department. These with those there and the the make a force already navy war vessels bluejackets of 7,000 of men. During the year ending June 30. 1905, according to a statement of the Commerce commission 26 were killed and 238 Interstate people injured United n day on the railroads of the States. Following an attack by negroes of Ga.. on officers. the militia a negro and arrested 257 raided the Atlanta. city Brownville, suburb heavily killed of armed blacks. One negroe was and several wounded in attempts to escape. Among those captured was the postmaster of the town. President Roosevelt has appointed H. Morgan Shuster as a member of the Philippine commission. Gen. Funston is now in Cuba ready to take command of the AmerIcan forces in case of intervention. Frederick G. Ensign. for 36 years superIntendent of the Northwestern district of the American Sunday School union, is dead at his home in Chicago. F. M. Hubbell. probably the richest man in Iowa. was recently fined in the criminal court at Des Moines for leasing his property for immoral purposes. District Attorney Jerome, of New York, democrat. declares his intention to stump the state for the republican nominee for governor against William R. Hearst. Speaker Cannon is to take the in New York for the republican stump Hughes, nominee Charles for E. governor. Paul O. Stensland, the Chicago bank wrecker, has been assigned to work sorting broom corn in the Jollet penitentiary. Mincellaneous. bank, a private of Middleport, O., stitution The Middleport has failed in- to the deposits, are $115,000 and all missing amounting which were The cattle rate cases called before the railroad recently board of commissioners the Kansas were atdismissed on application of torneys for the cattlemen. Jesse Stresser was shot and killed Kan., by Lewis been too near Stresser Leou, had attentive Bloomfield. to Mrs. Bloomfield. of plans for a completed The department justice campaign company has against the Standard Oil which is to begin at once. An effort will be made to break up the monopoly with the Sherman anti-turst law. The St. Louis grand jury has indicted R. M. Snyder, of Kansas City, the for bribery in connection with Central Traction bill and Fred K. Uthoff for perjury in connection with the same matter. After a sleepless night in a cell in New York, Paul O. Stensland, the fugitive banker, expressed his willingness to return to Illinois saying that he wished to straighten out the banks affairs and wanted to show the peo- he ple he was not the black sheep had been painted. The collision of a passenger train and switch engine at New Prague, CARS Minn., caused the death of four per-

4. October 5, 1906 The Dolores Star Dolores, CO
Article from The Dolores Star, October 5, 1906

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Article Text

NEWS OF THE WEEK Most Important Happenings of Past Seven Days. Interesting Items Gathered from All parts of the World Condensed Into small Space for the Benefit of Our Readers. Personal. Col. Isaac R. Hill, of Ohio. better known as Co!. "Ike" Hill, an employe of the national house of representa- dead tives for the past 35 years, is in Washington. Charles E. Magoon, the retiring has American minister to Panama, left the isthmus for Washington David R. Francis, former governor of Missouri, has arrived in New York deafter a visit to Europe where he the livered the World's fair medals to various monarchs. Reuben Perry has been appointed supervisor of Indian schools. Governor Higgins of New York has declined to become a candidate for reelection. James J. Jeffries, who retired with the title of champion heavyweight deterof the world, has announced his mination to re-enter the ring. The will of the late C. J. Devlin, Topeka, was recently filed for in that city After paydebts and of ment probate of obligations the the the residue of the estate was left to widow. Edward Crummer, business manager of the Baltimore Sun, for 25 years, is dead at his home in that city. McBurney, of Boise, commander of the Knights Templar and colonel of the J. C. national of guard Idaho, of the state, is reported missing. Fifteen hundred more marines have been ordered to Cuba by the These of there and the navy already department. bluejackets with of those 7,000 the war vessels make a force men. During the year ending June 30, 1905, according to a statement of the Commerce were killed and 238 a people Interstate commission injured United 26 day on the railroads of the an attack by States. Following the negroes militia of Ga., on officers, a negro and arrested 257 raided Atlanta, the city Brownville, suburb heavily killed of armed blacks. One negroe was and several wounded in attempts to escape. Among those captured was the postmaster of the town. Roosevelt has President Morgan member appointed H. Shuster as a of the Philippine commission. Gen. Funston is now in Cuba ready to take command of the American forces in case of intervention. Frederick G. Ensign, for 36 years superintendent of the Northwestern district of the American Sunday School union, is dead at his home in Chicago. F. M. Hubbell, probably the richest man in Iowa, was recently fined in the criminal court at Des Moines for leasing his property for immoral purposes. District Attorney Jerome, of New York, democrat. declares his intention to stump the state for the republican nominee for governor against William R. Hearst. Speaker Cannon is to take the stump in New York for Charles E. Hughes, the republican nominee for governor. Paul O. Stensland, the Chicago bank wrecker, has been assigned to work sorting broom corn in the Joliet penitentiary. Miscellaneous The Middleport bank, a private institution of Middleport, O., has failed and all the deposits, amounting to $115,000 are missing The cattle rate cases which were recently called before the Kansas board of railroad commissioners were dismissed on application of the attorneys for the cattlemen. Stresser was shot and killed Kan., by Lewis near Jesse Leon, attentive Bloomfield. to Stresser had been too Mrs. Bloomfield. of plans for a completed The department justice campaign has the Standard Oil to begin at once which against is the An company monop- effort will be made to break up oly with the Sherman anti-turst law. The St. Louis grand jury has indicted R. M. Snyder, of Kansas City, for bribery in connection with the Central Traction bill and Fred K. Uthoff for perjury in connection with the same matter After a sleepless night in a cell in New York, Paul O. Stensland, the fugitive banker, expressed his willingness to return to Illinois saying that he wished to straighten out the banks affairs and wanted to show the people he was not the black sheep he had been painted. The collision of a passenger train and switch engine at New Prague, Minn., caused the death of four persons. The Mexican town of Jiminez, on Rio was armed men and by the 40 Grande, recently the officials raided locked in the city jail. Charles E Hughes and William