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The pioneer banking house in Atlantic was opened here in 1869, by Loring and Bennett, who soon built up a large and remunerative business, and became men of influence in the community, but in December, 1810, they left Atlantic quietly, and, after the manner of the absconding cashier of the present day, carried off the funds of the bank with them, to the sorrow of their depositors. It is supposed that they went to South America, to enjoy their ill-gotten gains.

In the early part of of 1871, Frank H. Whitney and Company, opened a bank, as successors to the absconding bankers, Loring and Bennet, but later in the same year this was re-organized as the First National Bank of Atlantic, with F. H. Whitney, as president; John P. Gerberich, cashier; F. H. Whitney, Isaac Dickerson-, Charles Kelly, Wilkins Warwick and S. J. Applegale, directors. This organization was continued until 1876, when the charter was relinquished, and it became once more a private bank under the name of the Bank of Atlantic, and under the proprietorship of Frank H. Whitney, and as such is continued to the present time by him, and is to-day, one of the most solid institutions in the county. The sterling integrity and business abilities of Mr. Whitney, who is well known to every citizen of the county, backed as it is by an abundance of capital, make the Bank of Atlantic one of undoubted strength, and enjoys the fullest confidence of the community and of the people of Cass county in general.

Franklin H. Whitney, decidedly the most prominent and enterprising of Cass county's citizens; who has done more than any ten men in its development; who is the father of more towns and enterprising projects for the upbuilding of his resident county than any other citizen within its borders, and who was also one of its pioneers, braving the hardships, etc., attendant upon pioneer life, was born in the town of Mexico, Oswego county, New York, February 10, 1832. He was a son of John Whitney, who was born in Washington, New York. He was a farmer during his life and died in Cass county, Iowa, where he had resided a number of years, and who was also one of its pioneers. His wife's name was Nancy Huntington, a native of New York, who died in Oswego county, that State.

F. H. Whitney spent his early life in Oswego county. New York, where he received a good academic education at Mexico, and learned the surveyor's profession. In 1856, he came to Iowa, stopping in Adair county, a short time, and, in March of that year, settled in Cass county, at Whitneyville, and in 1857, laid out a small town at that point and began farming and raising stock. He owned two hundred and forty acres of land and followed farming and surveying in the vicinity of Whitneyville until 1862, when he removed to Lewis and published a newspaper, for eight months, called the Cass County Gazette, after which he followed surveying and worked for the Emigrant company until January, 1864. In 1865, he operated a hotel at Lewis, which was consumed by fire on the 3d of January, 1866. He then moved upon a farm about a mile from town, but in the fall of that year purchased the Rand House and removed to Lewis, which he operated until the spring of 1868, when he disposed of the property and entered into partnership with Isaac Dickerson and opened a land office in Lewis, handling non-resident lands in Cass county. In September of that year they dissolved partnership, and in October, Mr. Whitney removed to the present site of Atlantic, surveying the same shortly after his removal here, he also assisting in the survey of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, which was then being constructed. He built the old house on the site of the Reynolds House, and rented it to John Bennett, who run [ran] the same about two years, when J. R. Reynolds purchased the property. Mr. Whitney soon after engaged in the real estate business, and in 1869 did a small banking business. He has been on the spot he now occupies since January, 1870, and has developed a banking business to large proportions. The original owners of the ground Atlantic now occupies, were F. H. Whitney, Isaac Dickerson and John Keyes, they purchasing the land of different individuals during the spring and summer of 1868. Mr. Whitney negotiated with John P. Cook for the location of the depot at Atlantic, after which the Atlantic Town company was organized, with P. H.Whitney, Messrs. Crawford and Merriman, B. F. Allen and John Cook as shareholders, and Mr. Whitney general manager of the business of the company, although he owned but one-sixth interest of the business. Mr. Whitney's lands lie principally in Cass county and adjoining counties, and are valued at $300,000. He was married February 10, 1861, in Mexico, Oswego county, New York, to Ella Graham, a daughter of Cornelius Graham. He was living in Whitneyville at the time, but returned to New York to be married. They have two children--James G., educated as a banker, who has acted as book-keeper in the bank since thirteen years of age, and who was born in January, 1864. The other, Thomas H. Whitney, born in July, 1878.

The Atlantic National bank is the outgrowth of a private banking institution, established by John McDaniels. In 1874, Smith and White built a suitable edifice and opened, a private bank and continued for a short time, when Mr. Smith withdrew, and H. F. White ran it until the summer of 1875, when he failed, causing some loss to the depositors. In 1877, John McDaniels instituted a bank upon the ruins of the other, with himself as owner, and his son, Clinton McDaniels, cashier. In 1882, a charter was obtained and the institution reorganized as a National bank, with the following officers: J. McDaniels, president; J. W. Winslow, vice-president; Clinton McDaniels, cashier; J. W. Winslow, Henry Rogers, J. McDaniels, H. L. Henderson and H. M. Boorman, directors. The bank has a capital of $100,000, and being run by business men, on business principles, is as strong as any financial house in the State. The building in which the bank transacts its business is owned by them, and was erected on the site of one formerly occupied by them, which was destroyed by fire on the 24th of December, 1880, and is one of the finest business edifices in Atlantic. It is a large and commodious building, built of cut stone, and architecturally complete, with fine, French-plate glass windows, and other appointments to match. Inside, the furniture is of the handsomest kind, and the bank is provided with a burglar-proof vault, guarded by a time lock of the most approved pattern, for the security of the money entrusted to them by their numerous patrons. The present officers are the same as at the time of organization, but the board of direction has been changed, and is composed of the following named, in addition to the officers who are ex-officio members of the board: W. S. Everett, C. A. Dierkson, W W.Parker, Henry Rogers and H. L. Henderson.

John McDaniels was born in Oxford county, Maine, August 8, 1817. His father was of Scotch descent, and his mother of English. He was reared upon a farm, and in 1851 removed to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the West India lumber business until 1869, when he came to Cass county, settling in Pymosa township, where he engaged in farming until 1882, when he removed to Atlantic, where he has been engaged in the banking business. He was married to Julia A. Hamblin, who was born in Maine, by whom he has had five children, three of whom are living--Vilona, living in Warren county; Ellowene; Mary, the wife of H. M. Boorman, and Clinton, cashier of the Atlantic National bank. Mr. McDaniels has been suc- cessful in business, and by his own exertions has acquired considerable property.

John W. Winslow one of the prominent as well as pioneer business men of Atlantic, is a native of Ohio, being born in Wyandott county, December 12, 1833. His early life was spent upon a farm in Ohio, and when nineteen years of age was engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, where he remained until June 4, 1855, when he came to Iowa, locating in Washington county. In April 1860, he took a trip to Missouri and Kansas to look up a new location, but finding nothing to suit, returned in the fall, located in Wapello county, remained there until 1862 and returned to Washington county, remaining there until August, 1864, he removed to DesMoines, where he remained until July 16, 1868, when he removed to Grove City, engaged in the mercantile business with W. W. Moore, after which he came to Atlantic, February, 1869, remaining in company with W. W. Moore, until April, 1870, at which time he purchased the interest of W. W. Moore and sold it to W. W. Parker. The style of the new firm being Winslow and Parker, which continued in the mercantile trade until September, 1881, at which time they sold to A. L. Bostedo and Son. Afterward engaging in the banking business. His time is mostly confined to this interest, although somewhat interested in city property and real estate. His present wife was Lottie R. Danforth, a native of southern Illinois, to whom he was married January 2, 1873, in Atlantic. There was a daughter by his former wife, who is now the wife of J. A. Hayden. Mr. Winslow is a member of the Masonic Order. His residence is on the corner of Fourth and Maple streets.

William W. Parker was one of the pioneers of Atlantic. He came to Cass county about the middle of June, 1868, and after looking around for a location, settled upon the town site of Atlantic. His house was the third one raised and the first one plastered in the town. It is still standing, on the west side of Chesnut street on the corner of Third, and is now used as an ice cream saloon. He kept boarders at first, but in January, 1870, in connection with John W. Winslow, he embarked in the dry goods business, and continued in the same till September, 1881, when he retired from active business pursuits to enjoy the fruits of a busy and well-spent life. He was born in Marshall, Highland county, Ohio, January 18, 1831, and is the son of James R. and Anna Weyer, (Parker) both natives of Ohio. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Indiana, and again in 1835,they removed to Illinois. From there his father enlisted in the army in which he was quartermaster. On returning, he died at Prairie City in October, 1863. William lived in Fulton county, Illinois, until coming out here, and was married there December 31, 1854, to Emily Walker. They had five children, three of whom are living--Anna M., now the wife of J. N. Burson, residing in Chicago; Mary O. and Frank M. Mrs. Parker died September 2, 1878. Mr. Parker's property interests, which are quite extensive, are located in Atlantic. He erected the fine brick building used by Burson as a book store, among others. When he came to Atlantic, his means were limited, but by the exercise of shrewd business qualities and good judgment, he has amassed a large property, while aiding in the building up of Atlantic. He was a director in the first school board of the town, and was a member of the council for nine years.

The Cass County Bank, the oldest in the county, was organized in 1870, by John Keyes, Frank H. Whitney, Isaac Dickerson and J. C. Yetzer, as a private bank. For several years these parties operated it as instituted, but afterwards Whitney and Dickerson sold out to their partners. On the 1st of May, 1876, it was re-organized as a bank under the State law, with J. C. Yetzer, as president, and William Waddell, as cashier. At that time the capital, which was all paid up, was $60,000, but has since been increased to $110,000. Mr. Waddell was cashier until 1879. When the bank first started it was located on the east side of the street, but in 1871 or 2, the brick building which they now occupy on the west side of Chestnut street was erected by them, for their occupancy. The present officers of this, one of the moneyed institutions of the county, are the following: Joseph C. Yetzer, president; Isaac Dickerson, vice-president; John P. Gerberich,cashier; A. W. Dickerson, assistant cashier; J. C. Yetzer, S. M. Childs, G. S. Montgomery, S. A. Keyes, J. W. Russell, William Waddell, Isaac Dickerson, N. Richards and A. W. Dickerson, directors.

Dr. M. N. Graves, is also engaged in the banking business in the city of Atlantic, and operates a private concern, although doing an extensive business.

Dr. M. N. Graves, one of Atlantic's enterprising and most successful business men, came to Cass county in 1875, where he practiced medicine about five years, when he engaged in the drug business. This business was afterward carried on under the firm name of Graves and Weber, until the fall of 1884, when he disposed of his interest in the drug store to Mr. Weber. He has since operated a bank, which is a private concern, owned exclusively by himself and does a general banking business in all its branches. He has for some time had an interest in a large drug store at Audubon, which is still carried on under the firm name of Graves and Houston. Mr. Graves was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in April, 1850, and is the son of George G. and Irene (Stevens) Graves, the former a native of New Haven, Connecticut and the latter of Stevensville, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. When four years of age he went with his parents to Carroll county, Illinois, where they lived about fourteen years, when he removed to Wyoming, Jones county, Iowa. Here he entered the office of J. M. Terry, M. D., and began the study of medicine. He afterward studied and attended lectures at the Cincinnati Medical college for three years, graduating from that institution during the winter of 1871-2. He returned to Jones county and began practice, which he continued until 1875, when he removed to Atlantic, Cass county, as above stated, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Eclectic Medical institute. Mr. Graves has large property in Cass county and surrounding States, and has been very prosperous in a business capacity, and freely contributes to all enterprises of merit. He was married December 24, 1872, to Emma I. Dubois, a native of Iowa. They have two children--George and Leon.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 867-871.