ROBERT R. CRAIG
Robert R. Craig, who since January, 1907, has filled
the position of cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State
Bank of Corydon, has by his activities in a large measure
contributed toward the splendid growth of this institution. The Farmers &
Merchants State Bank was organized in 1883 by William Hughes,
Samuel Fry, F. R. Fry, Lewis Miles, A. Walden, B. Harper, J.
A. Harper, M. A. Farren, V. B. Smith, S. H. Moore, Carl Moore,
E. A. Rea, U. H. Welch, F. M. Everett, W. S. Sproatt and W. M. Pray and its
officials were: William
Hughes, president; W. S. Sproatt, vice president; and J. A.
Harper, cashier. The
first capitalization was for sixty thousand dollars, of which
fifty per cent was paid in.
Later, in 1900, A. Walden became president and William
Hughes vice president. In
1901, F. R. Fry was made vice president and F. M. Smith
succeeded Mr. Harper as cashier. Mr. Fry and Mr. Hughes then alternated
as vice president for several years. In 1906 William Hughes was elected to
the presidency and served as such for one year, and in 1907 R.
C. Poston was elected president and has acted in this capacity
ever since. F.
B. Fry served as cashier of this bank from 1904 to 1907, in
which year our subject was elected to this office and has
since filled the position with ability and circumspection,
greatly to the benefit of the institution with which he is
connected. In
1907 William Hughes became vice president and has served in
that capacity ever since.
In 1893 the remaining fifty per cent of the treasury
stock was called upon and was paid in, so that the bank then
had a fully paid in capital of sixty thousand dollars. The earnings have
in the course of years been added to the surplus and today the
bank’s resources, consisting of capital and surplus, exceed
one hundred and five thousand dollars. A statement from
August 30, 1911, gives the deposits at about three hundred
thousand dollars and the undivided profits at about seven
thousand dollars. The
total assets of the institution exceed four hundred thousand
dollars. In 1913
the board of directors of the Farmers & Merchants State
Bank consisted of John Krouse, R. C. Poston, William Hughes,
Belle B. Sproatt, G. F. Miller, A. Heilmann and F. I. Pray. In 1883 the bank
erected its own building but the same was destroyed in 1897 by
fire and since it has rebuilt and is housed in a substantial
two-story residence, of which the lower floor serves for
banking purposes, while the second floor is used for offices.
Robert R. Craig was born at Freedom, Beaver county,
Pennsylvania, in 1865, and is a son of William and Angeline
(Rodgers) Craig. The
family is of Scotch descent.
The father during his life was an engineer and passed
away in Pennsylvania in 1892.
The mother moved subsequently with her family to
California, where she died eighteen years later, or in 1910. Robert R. Craig
secured his early education in the county schools and in the
Pearsoll Academy, West Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, and while
attending the academy also taught school during the winter
months. He then
started in the drug business, with his brother, in Freedom,
Pennsylvania, but in 1886 came to Corydon and entered upon a
position in the drug store of W. S. Sproatt. He gave up this
employment subsequently and became connected with the
clothing, boot and shoe business and later was engaged in the
hardware and implement business in Wellman, Washington county,
Iowa. Upon his
return to Corydon in 1907 the cashiership of the Farmers &
Merchants State Bank was offered him and he accepted the
proposal and began upon his duties on the 7th of
January of that year, and has since given his attention to the
business of the bank, which has greatly prospered under his
efficient guidance. His
activities have been constructive in the development of new
business and the resources and stability of the bank have
through his labor largely increased. He also has extensive agricultural
interests, as he is the owner of six hundred and twenty acres,
situated in Jasper, Keokuk and Wayne counties, Iowa. This land he rents
out and he receives therefrom gratifying returns. Furthermore he is
the sixth largest stockholder in the Farmers & Merchants
State Bank and is numbered among the men of affairs of his
community.
In December, 1890, Mr. Craig married Miss Hattie Beal,
of Corydon, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Farrell) Beal, the
former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. They were early
pioneers of Wayne county at the time of their arrival here and
resided upon the land which they first entered for about
thirty years. Mr.
and Mrs. Craig have three daughters: Marie, at Pomona College, Claremont,
California; Amoret; and Roberta Guinevere. The parents are
members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Craig is a republican in his political views but
has never sought public office.
His fraternal relations are confined to membership in
the Masonic lodge. Mr.
Craig occupies a creditable and enviable position in the
financial circles of Corydon and the success which he has won
for himself is largely due to the careful and systematic
methods which he has followed.
He has always led a busy and useful life and his
industry, energy and geniality are largely responsible for the
success which he has attained.
He is a man of strong character and has come to be
recognized as a forceful element in the community, his
sterling traits having won him the high regard and confidence
of all with whom he has come in contact.