Name/Title
Boder Banking Business History News Clipping, undatedEntry/Object ID
AM2017.25.14Scope and Content
Boder Banking Business History News Clipping, undated. (undated but news story places time in 1940) with news photo of Bartlett Boder (A). Also news clipping (B) about fireplace in Missouri Valley Bank; also noted in (A) article.
"Important Banking Firm was Founded 70 Years Ago Today. Henry Boder, Jr. and Louis Boder Started Business in Troy, Kan."
"Of the two brothers and their four sons, all of whom have been bankers, one remains. He is Bartlett Boder, president of Missouri Valley Trust Company.
Henry Boder, grandfather of Bartlett Boder, came to St. Joseph from St. Louis in 1844. He had moved to St. Louis from New Orleans 100 years ago, in 1840. The Boder family is of French descent, and when he came to St. Joseph with his family nearly a century ago, the elder Boder was on his way to Pierre, S.D. on the upper stretches of the Missouri, where he heard there was a French settlement.
Upon arriving in St. Joseph, which he intended as only a stop in his journey, he found that many pioneers here were of French blood. The longer he remained, the better liked it, and he never continued his journey to the north, remaining in St. Joseph until his death. He built two of the first houses in St. Joseph, one a frame and one a log house. For years the Boder homestead was at the northwest corner of Main and Isadore streets, where the water company now has a storage plant.
The elder Boder prospered in St. Joseph, where for years he was engaged in the real estate business. Of his two sons, Henry, Jr. for a time was a clerk in the post office, then went to Troy in 1857 and opened a general store. The younger son, Louis, went to school to Edward B. Neely, then operating a private school, later to become superintendent of public schools, in which office he served about half a century. He also attended the Bryant Business College and Knox College in Illinois.
When Louis was twenty-one years old, he and Henry Jr. decided to open a bank in Troy, which had become a prosperous trading station. They conferred with their father and he loaned them funds to buy fixtures and an iron safe.
When the brothers started in business, Feb. 4, 1870, they operated a private bank as Boder Brothers, which later became the Bank of Troy, and that developed into the First National Bank of Troy, which is still operating.
Henry became president of the Troy bank and of the First National, which followed it, and remained at the head of the institution until his death. His son, Henry L., Jr., was also associated in the management of the bank and died as its vice-president in 1899.
Henry and Louis Boder extended their banking interests to Fall City, Neb., and to southern Kansas. Then Louis came to St. Joseph and was associated with others in the old Merchants Bank.
Thomas E. Tootle, president of the Merchant's Bank until his death in 1890, was among the well known financiers of St. Joseph in the early days. Upon his death, the presidency went to Louis Boder and he remained at the head of the bank until his death in 1907. In the meantime, his oldest son, Louis F. Boder, was also connected with the management as vice-president, which position he held at the time of his death in 1912.
Frank Boder, second son of Louis, was also connected with the Merchants Bank and when that bank was consolidated with the First National Bank in 1912, he became identified with that institution. Just after the World War Frank Boder went with the Missouri Valley Trust Company, of which he became president and her was head of the bank until his death in 1931. Since that time Bartlett Boder has headed the bank.
The present home of the Missouri Valley Trust Company, southeast corner of Fourth and Felix street, has been used longer than any other structure in St. Joseph as a banking house. It is believed to be the only business place in St. Joseph where an old-fashioned fireplace is still maintained. During the past month, the wood fire has thrown a pleasant glow into the lobby, especially appreciated by customers in the sub-zero weather."Lexicon
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BanksSearch Terms
Boder Family, Merchants Bank, Missouri Valley Trust Company, Bank of Troy, Troy, Kansas History, First National Bank of TroyRelationships
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Person or Organization
Henry Boder, Jr.Person or Organization
Louis BoderPerson or Organization
Bartlett BoderPerson or Organization
Thomas E. TootlePerson or Organization
Louis F. BoderPerson or Organization
Frank Boder
