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A Look Back
Oct. 22, 1914
HARTINGTON — Soon after coming to Hartington, the editor of this paper became acquainted with officers of the First National Bank. One day one of them, in a reminiscent mood, recounted something of the hardships and trials of the pioneer days of Cedar County.
The Great Panic of the early 1890s came to mind, among other subjects, and he recalled the strain of those days when banks were going to the wall throughout the community.
“Many a time,” he said, “did I sit up late into the night or early morning figuring ways to weather the storm, and more than once I walked half the night out alone wondering how much longer we could last. But when worst came to worst, we had one reliance. That was John Lammers, and he never failed to respond. His farmer neighbors did not know as much about banks or banking then as they do now, but they knew John Lammers and they knew his land was good as gold and that his word was absolutely good.
He had only $4,000 worth of stock in the bank, but he realized what the failure of the bank would mean to the community. So when his neighbors were influenced by fellows who owed the bank to demand the money on their certificates and a run was threatened, John Lammers endorsed the certificates, and even gave his personal note as security for the bank’s certificates.
It saved us when the success of the bank meant almost life or death to lots of people in the community.
When the other two members of the County Board were into a deal to bond the county for a fake railroad, he commenced at his own expense the injunction suit that saved the County from bankruptcy. At that time, too, he was a comparatively poor man.
That is the kind of man John Lammers was. His sons are a lot like him. They are workers, always attending strictly to business and making a success of their business. But also, they have at heart, the welfare of their fellow man and of the community. You will not find them trying to over-reach anybody or taking anything that does not absolutely belong to them, and always ready to contribute of their time, effort or money to any project that is for the advancement of the community.
A.J. Lammers is a son, and a worthy one of old John Lammers. He has served faithfully as deputy under E.B Hirschman, and has been highly efficient in the discharge of his duties, and always prompt, courteous and obliging.
He may not be able to get out and call on you to solicit your vote, but you can depend upon it that at any time you can call at the office where his duties are, and you will find him on hand and ready to give you the information you seek instantly and correctly. He fully deserves the promotion, and you will make no mistake if you vote for him.
Oct. 22, 1914
HARTINGTON — ‘Alma, Where Do You Live,” at the Opera House last Friday night was a good play and drew a fair-sized house. The play was a melodrama and was above the average. The character of local plays has improved very much recently and the management of the Opera House promises that this standard will be kept up. If so, the plays will be well patronized.
