Center for Archival Collections

A - Z Index | Businesses | Recreation | WWW Links

Banks | Insurance | Real Estate

Banks, insurance agencies, and real estate agents all felt the changes that came with the downturn in the gas and oil industry in the late 1890s. Chief among the local boosters, these financial institutions projected an image of solid growth and stability to attract more businesses to the area. However, the economic slump was nationwide, a depression not matched until the 1930s. Bowling Green boosters began to look for other industries to attract to the area.

 Banks

 Commercial Banking Co.

The banking facilities of Bowling Green are in keeping with the marked enterprise so characteristic of its people, the evidence of which is so manifest in all the departments of the commercial and industrial establishments located hereabouts. Prominent among the monetary institutions of the state and one responding faithfully to the requirements of the public, is the Commercial Banking Co. which has a capital of $75,000 and surplus and in divided profits of over $12,000. It is equipped with all the requisites and facilities known to a first-class institution and a general banking business is done. Deposits are received from all legitimate sources, bills of exchange are issued on all the leading money centers, money is loaned on acceptable security, approved paper is discounted, collections are made a specialty, and the ban efficiently transacts all the business of a modern monetary institution.

This bank has ever been responsive to the demands made upon it, and this, with the character and reputation of its officers and directors, men who have long been identified with the mercantile affairs of this section and whose dealings with the people have always borne the marks of integrity, have won for the Commercial Banking Co., the confidence of the community, and the appreciation of its fidelity is shown in the continued and increasing patronage. Mr. A. E. Royce is president; J. O. Troup, vice president; Frank M. Young, cashier, and the same, with Robert Dunn, J. J. Coon, Toledo, J. C. Donnell, Findlay, and H. C. Uhlman of Weston, Ohio, are directors. Mr. Young, the efficient and popular cashier, is known as a man of great executive and financial ability, and much of the prosperity of the bank is directly due to his efforts.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 First National Bank

The history of the First National Bank of Bowling Green has been one of steady progress along the lines of wise conservatism and mature judgment, and during the years of its business career it has been responsive at all times to the financial wants of the community and has been faithful.

All the departments of a general banking business are effectively covered; deposits are received, time and demand loans, exchanges bought and sold and special attention given to collections. The bank has correspondents in all the leading monetary centers, and with a capital of $50,000, surplus and undivided profits of $19,500 and deposits of $334,000, it is no less noted for its able management than for its financial strength.

The officers and directors have guided its course and shaped a policy which has resulted in its reputation for popular confidence and unquestionable reliability. They are J. R. Hankey, president; J. W. Underwood, cashier; H. B. Sayler, assistant cashier, and the first three with H. H. Clough, I. L. Hankey, W. H. Millikin, Guy C. Nearing, L. Black, R. S. Parker, A. Froney and L. C. Cole are the directors. They are all men of established integrity and possess in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of the entire community.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 Insurance

 E. A. Barton, Insurance of All Kinds

In these modern times, men of broad business conception do not go on day after day, and year after year, without protecting their properties. They know that an insurance policy that has the right company back of it is the very best investment that they can make, and the people of Wood county and vicinity have found that Mr. E. A. Barton represents only the most reliable and prompt companies.

He established in business here ten years ago, and with offices in the Opera House block, and representing twelve of the leading fire insurance companies as well as the best plate glass, tornado, and accident companies, he has so faithfully subserved the interests of the patrons in seeing that all losses were promptly adjusted and satisfactorily paid as to have secured an extensive clientage.

Mr. Barton is a capable and energetic business man, has done much to promote the welfare and prosperity of Wood county, and he is honored and esteemed by all our citizens.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 W. A. Benschoter, General Insurance Agency

Insurance, no matter of what class has become a necessary part of the expenses to be yearly met by men in all walks of life, and he who neglects to properly protect his interests, has no adequate conception of judicious business principles. This

universal necessity leads us to call special attention to the general insurance agency conducted by Messrs. W. A. Benschoter & Co. which has been established for the past 82 years. The firm composed of Messrs. Wm. And Curtis E. Benschoter, has large and handsomely furnished offices in the Gaghan block, and here they employ a force of courteous clerks, stenographers, and agents. Mr. R. M. Baker has charge of the fire insurance department while Mr. W. M. Kelchner, Mr. Chas. E. Benschoter, Mr. F. H. Crawford, Mr. H. J. Martin, Thos. Lake, Jas. E. Lake and D. E. Simonton look after the field interests of the life department. These gentlemen are all reliable, courteous and progressive, and during the year of 1899 they wrote over a half a million of business while indications at present point to double that amount in 1900. Losses are promptly adjusted and paid, and policies are issues in the largest and most reliable, fire, life, accident and plate glass companies of the world. Messrs. W. A. Benschoter & Co. act as managers for the Provident Savings, Life Assurance Society, of New York. W. A. Benschoter's name has been too well known to the public for 30 years past to need comment. Mr. C. E. Benschoter has such a high standing with the Provident, that they have very wisely elected him as assistant superintendent of agencies for northern Ohio. This position he fills creditably and successfully. He is universally popular with the company's agents, to whom he renders invaluable aid in securing business. He is honest, frank and generous and at once aggressive and conservative. Representing only first-class companies and following up-to-date methods, the firm of W. A. Benschoter & Co. has built up a business which makes them the largest writers of insurance in Wood county and one of the largest in the state.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 Wood County Insurance Agency 

It is of course a matter of supreme importance in making purchases of real estate to be assured that the title is clear and undisputed. Otherwise there is no limit to the trouble and annoyance that may arise. The only safe plan is to consult experts whose work can be relied upon implicitly. Their services of these professional men are especially needed in such section as this, which is now so old that of necessity almost every piece of real estate has been in the hands of several owners.

This want has been most ably supplied by the Wood County Abstract and Loan Co., which carries on a general business of furnishing abstracts of title, making mortgage loans, furnishing conveyances, and buying, selling and exchanging real estate, and represents the reliable Ohio Mutual Savings & Loan Co., of Cleveland. The company is composed of such well known and reliable gentlemen, as Messrs. C. W. Lenhart, manager; J. N. Easley, abstracter; C. C. Griffeth, insurance, and Edward M. Fries, attorney. And under the style of the Wood County Insurance Agency, these gentlemen also carry on an extensive business, writing policies in old and reliable life, accident, fire and cyclone companies.

These companies with offices in the Hankey block, No. 32 and 34 South Main street, possess unusual facilities for transacting business, and can save time and money to those consulting them. They can furnish a perfect and complete abstract of every piece of land in the county, can successfully handle any real estate placed in their charge, can make farm loans in sums of over $1,000 at a total cost of 6 per cent per annum to borrower, with pre-payment privilege, and can furnish any kind and the most desirable insurance. Their dealings are always reliable and satisfactory, and no more worthy or highly esteemed men reside in this section.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 Real Estate

 James McPherson, Real Estate & Loan

The financial footing on which all commercial enterprises are based and necessarily stand or fall is that of real estate, and no other branch of commercial activity contributes so directly to the material advancement and prosperity of a community as that comprehended in the handling of its realty.

In connection with these remarks we would call attention to the well known Real Estate and Loan Agency of Mr. Jas. McPherson, in the Opera House block. Mr. McPherson conducts an extensive business in negotiating mortgages, buying and selling farm and city properties, and in loaning money in any sum desired on real estate security at reasonable rates of interest. He is prepared to promptly fill all orders, and having successfully carried through many important transactions, he has gained the confidence of the people. He is also the Bowling Green agent and collector of the Indemnity Savings and Loan Co., of Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. McPherson has been in this business here for the past 13 years, is an honorable business man, prompt and economical in executing all orders intrusted to his care, and is well worthy of the great public esteem in which he is held.

--Wood County Democrat, February 16, 1900

 Wood County Abstract & Loan Co.

See Wood County Insurance Agency