The Ironton Bank Gives Down – ‘calls Ironton a mob city’ Buffalo Daily Republic, Buffalo, NY Nov. 28, 1857, p2.
The Ironton Bank, through an organized mob called to its aid, repulsed Gen. E. B. Tyler of Ravenna, who presented a few thousand of its notes for payment a few weeks ago. It has been well punished for its lawlessness. Gen. Tyler was not a broker, but an agent of the American Fur Company, annually disbursing large sums of money in purchasing furs in Ohio and western Virginia.
He was not to be bluffed by one failure and again presented himself at the counter last Friday with about ten thousand dollars in its notes. He was accompanied by a half dozen friends, who proposed to cure weak eyes with a sight of the yellow boys or see a free fight. A faint attempt was made to get up the mob, the bells rang, and several hundred men gathered around the General and his staff.
Still, the bank officers were afraid of losing their charter, caved in and counted out the ten thousand dollars in gold – The bank is an Independent State Stock Bank.
The Kentucky papers, in districts where the bank’s money circulates, are very severe upon the bank and the citizens of the mob city of Ironton. It was indeed a singular spectacle to see at diverse points in Ohio, bodies of hardworking people ready at the bidding of such mountebanks as Tom Ford to protect by violence the most corrupt and mismanaged institutions in the defiance of law and in the violation of the promises which alone affected the financial affairs of the people.
The people have given away special privileges of manufacturing a sham currency to displace the constitutional one of gold and silver – having relieved them of paying taxes as farmers, merchants, and mechanics are obliged to do – and lent the public confidence and credit to the banks, enabling them to spread their currency all over the country, inflating prices, stimulating speculation, and making men drunk with excess of rag money – having done this, and seeing the natural result in a financial revulsion which throws thousands of laborers, operators, and mechanics out of work; paralyzing the enterprise and industry of the country in a manner unprecedented in its history – it is passing strange that the banks should receive a particle of sympathy from the people.
It is but a particle, however, and it may be easily predicted that the lesson which has been so severely felt will teach us that hereafter, the less the people grant licenses to moneyed corporations, the better it will be for the steady prosperity and the honest industry of the citizens. – Cleveland Plaindealer.
The iron vault is placed upon a sold stone foundation and surrounded by heavy brick walls to get through, which would undoubtedly try the patience of the sharpest villain. The workmen were W. E. R. Kemp, Architect, Stephen White, Brick Mason, James Allison, Stone Mason, Wm. Cochran, Painter, and J. Jamison, Plasterer.
I.R. Jan. 3, 1861 – The Bank Building. On New Year’s Day, the Iron Bank was rem____ it’s a new building on Second Street. It is a matter of pride to the town that a structure such as this should adorn the principal thoroughfare, for in appearance, construction, and materials, not many places of the same size can boast its superiority. The foundation, which rises about four feet above the ground, is a splendid specimen of masonry and, just after it was finished, looked considerably like a young fort, so strong and well constructed were the walls.
The brickwork would compare with the best in the cities; it shows that the workmen were masters of the trowel, for everything is in a straight line and square corner. Though heavy, the cornice is very tasty; there are nearly a hundred molded brackets upon it, which enriches its appearance. There are three rooms in the building, the bank room, the proper, and two side rooms, each of which is well-finished and perfectly adapted to the purpose of the building.
NOTE: I believe this is now Chase Bank. Please correct me in the comments below if I am wrong.
0 Comments