Robber and hero: the story of the raid on the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, by the James-Younger band of robbers, in 1876.

CHAPTER X. THE HEYWOOD MEMORIAL FUND.

Chapter 102,923 wordsPublic domain

The following circular and statement concerning the fund contributed by the banks of the United States and Canada, as a testimonial to the heroism of Mr. Heywood, explain themselves:

TO BANKS AND BANKERS:

On the 7th day of September, 1876, Mr. J. L. Heywood, Acting Cashier of the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, was instantly killed by a pistol shot, while refusing to open his safe in obedience to the commands of a gang of ruffians who entered the bank in broad daylight with the avowed intention of robbery. Eight desperadoes, heavily armed (now supposed to be the James and Younger Brothers, of Missouri, and others), rode into town about noon and commenced shooting at all who made their appearance on the streets, while three of their number entered the bank. The citizens quickly comprehended the position, and with such firearms as they could command, opened fire on the horsemen, killing two of their number, and causing the others to take flight. Mr. Heywood could have saved his life by surrendering his trust, but, with a knife actually grazing his throat, replied that they could kill him, but that he would not open the safe.

Does not such a noble devotion to duty, in such marked contrast as it is to the frequent reports of defaulting clerks, demand of the Banking interest of the country some recognition. This young man leave a widow and one child in dependent circumstances. A voluntary offering on the part of each of the Banks and Bankers of the country, as a recognition of the rare fidelity to duty of Mr. Heywood, would place his family above want, and serve while the memory of this sad affair shall last, to show that faithfulness in places of trust is and will be appreciated.

In view of the above facts, a meeting of the Banks and Bankers of St. Paul, Minnesota, was held on September 19th, at which Five Hundred Dollars was subscribed, and Messrs. H. P. Upham, Jno. S. Prince, and Walter Mann, were appointed a committee to receive contributions for this object, and instructed to issue this circular appeal to the Banks and Bankers of the country.

Your attention is called to the following extract from the Boston Advertiser, which has suggested this action:

THE HERO OF NORTHFIELD.

“The bank cashier, Mr. J. L. Heywood, of Northfield, Minn., who, with a bowie-knife at his throat and a pistol at his temple, returned a decisive ‘No’ to the demand of the gang of robbers that he should open the bank vault to be plundered, is rightly enrolled among the heroes of our times. In him fidelity and courage of the noblest quality were illustrated again. He is dead, but the trust committed to him was not betrayed, and his name will live in honor. He fell at the post of duty as gallantly as any knight of any age. He has done the world a service. We know nothing of his history but this one act for which he died, but it is enough. He belonged to the high order of manhood which yields to no threat, and calmly confronts all the odds of fate. Whether he has left father or mother, wife or child, we do not know; but if he has they have reason to be proud of their relation to such a man. The whole banking interest of the country owes him a debt. If he has left any who were dependent on him, they should be placed above the possibility of want. The bank he saved can afford to do this alone, but we hope it will be done handsomely and promptly by a combined movement on the part of all the banking institutions of the country. The encouragement of such conduct is the wisest measure of protection they can resort to. There ought to be such a testimonial of appreciation of his unquailing fidelity as will distinguish the example forever.”

H. THOMPSON, Prest. First National Bank, St. Paul. D.A. MONTFORT, Prest. Second National Bank, St. Paul. M. AUERBACH, Prest. Merchants National Bank. St. Paul. F. WILLIUS, Prest. German American Bank, St. Paul. JNO. S. PRICE. Prest. Savings Bank. St. Paul. O. B. TURRELL, Prest. Marine Bank, St. Paul. JNO. FARRINGTON, Prest. Farmers & Mechanics Bank, St. Paul. DAWSON & Co., Bankers, St. Paul. Please direct your replies to any of the above Banks, and they will be promptly acknowledged and faithfully applied. ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, Sept. 20, 1876.

THE RESPONSE.

ST. PAUL, MINN., February 1st, 1877.

TO THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE “HEYWOOD FUND.”—The undersigned, a committee appointed at a meeting of the Banks and Bankers of St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 19th, 1876, to issue a circular appeal to all Banks and Bankers in the United States and Canada, requesting voluntary contributions in aid of the family of JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD, late Acting Cashier of the First National Bank, of Northfield, Minn., respectfully report that on Sept. 20th, 1876, we prepared a circular, and mailed about seven thousand copies, to all Banks, Bankers, and Savings Banks in the United States, Territories, and Canada.

In response to which we $12,701.57 have received in cash Less amount paid for 99.51 printing and postage $12,602.06

The First National Bank 5,000.00 of Northfield donated to Mrs. Heywood and the child, direct Sum total contributed $17,602.06

We have paid to Mrs. $6,301.03 Joseph Lee Heywood, now residing at 627 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Ind.

We have paid to J. C. $6301.03 Nutting, President of the First National Bank of Northfield, Guardian of Lizzie May Heywood, only child of Joseph Lee Heywood $12,602.06

It is estimated that upward of ten thousand dollars has been expended by the First National Bank of Northfield, the State and County authorities, and private citizens, in capturing the robbers. Of the eight robbers, two were killed on the spot, one was killed and three captured about two weeks after the attempted robbery, and two succeeded in making their escape. Under our defective law concerning capital punishment, the three captured scoundrels saved their necks by pleading guilty to the charge of murder, and are now in the penitentiary for life.

HENRY P. UPHAM, WALTER MANN, JOHN S. PRINCE, Committee.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE HEYWOOD FUND

MINNESOTA.

First National Bank Northfield. First National Bank St. Paul. Second National Bank 〃 Merchants National Bank 〃 German American Bank 〃 Dawson & Co. 〃 Marine Bank 〃 Farmer’s & Mechanics Bank 〃 Savings Bank 〃 “A Friend” 〃 Northwestern National Minneapolis. Bank Merchants National Bank 〃 First National Bank 〃 National Exchange Bank 〃 State National Bank 〃 Hennepin Co. Sav. Bank 〃 Citizens National Bank Faribault. C. H. Whipple 〃 First National Bank Kasson. First National Bank Shakopee. First National Bank Lake City. A Printer Waseca. First National Bank for Le Roy. Customer Citizens National Bank Mankato. Farmers National Bank Owatonna. Bank of Worthington Worthington. First National Bank Stillwater. Chadbourn Bros. & Co. Blue Earth City. Farmers & Traders Bank Hastings. O. Roos Taylors Falls. First National Bank Faribault. Lumbermens National Bank Stillwater. H. D. Brown & Co. Albert Lea. First National Bank Red Wing. Pierce, Simmons & Co. Red Wing. First National Bank Austin. Bank of Farmington Farmington. H. H. Bell Duluth. City Bank Minneapolis. Eddy & Erskine Plainview. First National Bank St. Peter. First National Bank Hastings.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Monson National Bank Monson. Merchants National Bank Salem. Geo. L. Ames Salem. Franklin Co. Natl. Bank Greenfield. Adams National Bank North Adams. First National Bank Northampton. Lechmere National Bank East Cambridge. Framingham National Bank Framingham. Asiatic National Bank Salem. Geo. E. Bullard Boston. Salem Savings Bank Salem. Safety Fund National Bank Fitchburg. Naumkeag National Bank Salem. National City Bank Boston. C. C. Barry Boston. Northboro National Bank Northboro. Mercantile National Bank Salem. Charles River National Cambridge. Bank Bay State National Bank Lawrence. Crocker National Bank Turners Falls. South Danvers National Peabody. Bank Worcester National Bank Worcester. City National Bank 〃 Central National Bank 〃 Merchants National Bank 〃 Security National Bank 〃 Quinsigamond National 〃 Bank Citizens National Bank 〃 First National Bank 〃 Worcester Co. Inst. for Worcester. Savings Worcester Mechanics 〃 Savings Bank Peoples Savings Bank 〃 Worcester Five Cent 〃 Savings Bank Worcester Safe Dep. & 〃 Trust Co. Salem National Bank Salem. National Granite Bank Quincy. Central National Bank Lynn. Townsend National Bank Townsend. Housatonic National Bank Stockbridge. Leicester National Bank Leicester. Conway National Bank Conway.

RECEIVED THROUGH THE ASSOCIATED BANKS OF BOSTON

Taunton National Bank Taunton. Old Boston National Bank Boston. Second 〃 〃 〃 Merchants 〃 〃 〃 Howard 〃 〃 Suffolk 〃 〃 Faneuil Hall 〃 〃 Blackstone 〃 〃 〃 Tremont 〃 〃 〃 Exchange 〃 〃 〃 Maverick 〃 〃 〃 Revere 〃 〃 〃 North 〃 〃 〃 Shoe & Leather 〃 〃 〃 Shawmut 〃 〃 〃 Everett 〃 〃 〃 Third 〃 〃 〃 Eagle 〃 〃 〃 Traders 〃 〃 〃 First 〃 〃 〃 Market 〃 〃 〃 Redemption 〃 〃 〃 Webster National Bank Boston Hamilton 〃 〃 〃 Freemans 〃 〃 〃 Massachusetts 〃 〃 〃 Boylston 〃 〃 〃 New England 〃 Hide & Leather 〃 〃 Mass. Hosp. Life 〃 Insurance Co Union Sale Dep. Vaults 〃 Appleton National Bank Lowell. Railroad 〃 〃 〃 Chapin Banking Company Springfield. Bank of Brighton Brighton. Warren National Bank Peabody. Millers Rivers National Athol. Bank First National Bank Greenfield. Cambridge City National Cambridge. Bank Pacific National Bank Nantucket. Merchants National Bank Newburyport. Newburyport Savings Bank 〃 First National Bank 〃 Ocean National Bank 〃 Mechanics National Bank 〃 Five Cent Savings Bank 〃 Cambridgeport National Cambridgeport. Bank National City Bank Lynn. American National Bank Hartford, Conn. Mercantile National Bank 〃 Birmingham National Bank Birmingham, Conn. Central National Bank Middletown, 〃 Waterbury National Bank Waterbury, 〃 Middlesex County National Middletown, 〃 Bank Employes of above bank 〃 New Haven County National New Haven, 〃 Bank First National Bank Augusta, Maine. Granite 〃 〃 〃 〃 First 〃 〃 Concord, 〃 Calais 〃 〃 Calais, 〃 Freemans 〃 〃 Augusta, 〃 Kennebec Savings Bank 〃 Cabasse National Bank Gardiner 〃 Gardiner National Bank 〃 Bath National Bank Bath 〃 Falls Village Savings 〃 Bank Third National 〃 Providence, R; I. Bank of North America 〃 〃 Slater National Bank Pawtucket, 〃 Rhode Island National Weybasset, 〃 Bank Rockingham National Bank Portsmouth, N. H. Strafford National Bank Dover, N. H.. National State Capital Concord, N. H. Bank Bank of Derby Line Derby, Vt Montpielier National Bank Montpelier, Vt. Niantic National Bank Westerley, 〃

NEW YORK.

National Bank West Troy. Bank of America 〃 New York. Tanners National Bank Catskill. J. G. Munro Buffalo. Marine Bank 〃 H. F. Spaulding, Pres. New York. Central Trust Co. Brown Bros. & Co 〃 Importers & Traders Natl. 〃 Bank Farmers & Mechanics Natl. Buffalo. Bank F. R. Delano & Co. Niagara Falls. Ten Banks in Syracuse. Lyons National Bank Lyons. Manufacturers National Troy. Bank First National Bank New York. Fisk & Hatch 〃 E. P. Cook Havana. National Central Bank Cherry Valley. National Bank of Salem Salem. Merchants National Bank New York. Munroe County Savings Rochester. Bank Mechanics National Bank New York. G. H. Smith Haverstraw. City Bank Oswego. Manufacturers National Williamsburg. Bank Bank of North America New York. Manhattan Co. 〃 Metropolitan National 〃 Bank W. W. Astor 〃 Gallatin National Bank 〃 Executive Commercial 〃 Mercantile Trust Co. First National Bank Red Hook. First National Bank Jamestown. Farmers National Bank Amsterdam. Chemical National Bank New York. New York Savings Bank 〃 American Ex. National 〃 Bank J. T. Foote 〃 First National Bank Champlain. Witmer Bros. Suspension Bridge. City National Bank Jamestown. Manufacturers Bank Cohoes. C. P. Williams Albany. First National Bank Rondout. Third National Bank New York.

MISSOURI.

Bank of Holden Holden. People’s Savings Bank Chillicothe. Third National Bank St. Louis. Montgomery County Bank Montgomery City. Boone County National Columbia. Bank First National Bank St. Joseph. Bank of Joplin Joplin. First National Bank Kansas City. Scotland County Bank Memphis. Farmer and Drovers Bank Carthage. Bank of Commerce St. Louis. First National Bank Paris. Lawrence County Bank Pierce City. Franklin Abe. Germ. Sav. St. Louis. Institution Waverly Bank Waverly. Aull Savings Bank Lexington.

TENNESSEE.

First National Bank Chattanooga. Commercial National Bank Knoxville.

OHIO.

Jos. F. Larkin & Co Cincinnati. Ramsey & Teeple Delta. Farmers Bank Wapakoneta. Second National Bank Toledo. First National Bank Massillon. First National Bank Portsmouth. Harrison National Bank Cadiz. Commercial National Bank Cleveland. Barber & Merrill Wauseon. First National Bank Troy. Merchants National Bank Dayton. Youngstown Savings and Youngstown. Loan Association Wicks Bros. & Co 〃 Second National Bank 〃 First National Bank 〃 First National Bank Springfield. First National Bank East Liverpool. First National Bank Ashland.

MICHIGAN.

Second National Bank Detroit. Second National Bank Hillsdale. First National Bank Plymouth. First National Bank St. Joseph. First National Bank Port Huron. Randall & Darrah Grand Rapids. National Bank of Michigan Marshall. Boies, Rude & Co. Hudson. First National Bank Houghton. First National Batik Dowagiac. Ann Arbor Savings Bank Ann Arbor. Perkins, Thompson & Co Hudson. First National Bank Hancock. Merchants & Miners Bank Calumet.

INDIANA.

Richmond National Bank Richmond. Fort Wayne National Bank Fort Wayne. Citizens National Bank Jeffersonville First National Bank New Albany. Brazil Bank Brazil. Walkers Bank Kokomo. Citizens National Bank Greensburg. National Branch Bank Madison. First National Bank Richmond. Citizens National Bank Peru. First National Bank Tell City.

ILLINOIS.

First National Bank Marseilles. Commercial National Bank Chicago Chicago Clearings House 〃 Association Union National Bank Aurora. J. A. Beach Bunker Hill. “A Friend” Girard. Bank of Forreston Forreston. Geo. Wright Paxton. First National Bank Peoria. First National Bank Princeton. City National Bank Cairo. Peoples Bank Bloomington. Scott & Wrigley Wyoming. C. G. Cloud McLeansboro. Union National Bank Streator. Knowlton Bros Freeport. Alton National Bank Alton. W. F. Thornton & Son Shelbyville. Farmers National Bank Keithsburg. First National Bank Freeport. First National Bank Kankakee. First National Bank Ottawa. Citizens National Bank 〃 First National Bank Quincy. First National Bank Arcola. Edgar Co. National Bank Paris. Griggsville National Bank Griggsville. Cass Co. Bank Beardstown. First National Bank Knoxville. T. W. Raymond & Co Kinmundy. Ridgely National Bank Springfield. First National Bank Warsaw. First National Bank Shawneetown. First National Bank Rushville. Stetson, Littlewood & Farmington. Richards First National Bank Canton. First National Bank Centralia.

MAINE.

First National Bank Brunswick. West Waterville National West Waterville. Bank First National Bank Damariscotta. People’s National Bank Waterville. Banks in Portland.

VERMONT.

First National Bank Fairhaven. First National Bank Orwell.

ARKANSAS.

National Bank Western Fort Smith. Arkansas

CALIFORNIA.

Bank of Woodland Woodland. Caisse d’Epargnes San Francisco. francaise Kern Valley Bank Bakersfield. First National Gold Bank Oakland. Nevada Bank San Francisco. Santa Barbara County Bank Santa Barbara.

COLORADO.

First National Bank Denver. First National Bank Trinidad. Emerson & West Greeley. Colorado National Bank Denver.

DAKOTA TERRITORY.

Mark M. Parmer Yankton.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Claremont National Bank Claremont. Castleton National Bank Castleton. National Bank of Lebanon Lebanon. Littleton National Bank Littleton.

TEXAS.

Ragnet & Fry Marshall. J. R. Couts & Co Weatherford. Merchants and Planters Sherman. Bank First National Bank Parsons.

RHODE ISLAND.

Roger Williams National Providence. Bank Manufacturers National 〃 Bank Washington National Bank Westerly. National Phoenix Bank 〃 National Exchange Bank Providence. Centerville National Bank Centreville. Warwick Institute for 〃 Savings Merchants National Bank Providence.

CONNECTICUT.

First National Bank Middletown. First National Bank Stamford. Phoenix National Bank Hartford. Geo. A. Butler New Haven. Banks of Bridgeport. Bridgeport. Hartford National Bank Hartford. Deep River National Bank Deep River. Stamford National Bank Stamford. Farmers & Mechanics Middletown. Savings Bank Norwich Savings Bank Norwich. Thames National Bank 〃

PENNSYLVANIA.

First National Bank Columbia. First National Bink Sharon. Pittsburgh Clearing House Pittsburgh Association. National Bank Pottstown . First National Bank Oil City. National Bank, Chester Coatesvillle. Valley First National Bank Pittston. Watsontown Bank Watsontown. Cassatt & Co Philadelphia. First National Bank Shippensburg. First National Bank Hanover. Hanover First National Bank Strasburg. St. Petersburg Savings St. Petersburg. Bank Marine National Bank Erie. National Bank, Fayette Co Uniontown. National Bank, Chester Co Chester. Marine National Bank Pittsburg. Columbia National Bank Columbia. Citizens National Bank Ashland. Doylstown National Bank Doylestown. Spring Garden Bank Philadelphia. National Bank, Oxford Oxford. First National Bank Altoona. Commercial National Bank Philadelphia of Pennsylvania. National Bank Republic 〃 Union National Bank 〃 National Bank of Phoenixville. Farmers & Mechanics 〃 National Bank Bank of North America Philadelphia. W. L. DuBois 〃

IOWA.

First National Bank Belle Plaine. Levitt, Johnson & Lursch Waterloo. First National Bank Boone. First National Bank Wyoming. First National Bank Decorah. National State Bank Burlington. Conger, Pierce & Co Dexter. E. Manning Keosaugua. First National Bank Chariton. Citizen’s National Bank Winterset. H. F. Greef & Bro Beautonsport. Council Bluff Savings Council Bluffs. Bank Greene County Bank Jefferson. Muscatine National Bank Muscatine. State National Bank Keokuk. First National Bank Red Oak. Davenport National Bank Davenport. Bank of Carroll Carroll City. Cerro Gordo County Bank Mason City. Clinton National Bank Clinton. Silverman, Cook & Co Muscatine. First National Bank Grinnell.

KANSAS.

Topeka National Bank Topeka. Abilene Bank Abilene. Humboldt Bank Humboldt. D. W. Powers & Co Ellsworth. Emporia National Bank Emporia. Turner & Otis Independence.

MARYLAND.

First National Bank Baltimore. National Union Bank 〃 First National Bank Westminster. National Bank of Baltimore. Baltimore

CANADA.

Merchants Bank, Canada Hamilton. Bank of Toronto Toronto. Thos. Fyshe Halifax.

KENTUCKY.

Theo. Schwartz & Co Louisville. National Bank of Cynthiana. Cynthiana German National Bank Covington.

ALABAMA.

City National Bank Selma.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

South Carolina Loan & Charleston. Trust Co. National Bank Anderson.

MISSISSIPPI.

Vicksburgh Bank Vicksburg.

NEW JERSEY.

First National Bank Morristown.

WISCONSIN.

First National Bank Milwaukee. National Exchange Bank 〃 Manufacturers National Racine. Bank First National Bank Whitewater. Wisconsin Marine & Fire Milwaukee. Ins. Co. Bank First National Bink Hudson. Bank of Evansville Evansville. Batavian Bank La Crosse. National Bank Delavan. First National Bank Munroe. Bowman & Humbird Black River Falls. Milwaukee National Bank Milwaukee. Second Ward Savings Bank 〃 German Bank Sheboygan. J. F. Cleghorn Clinton. Savings Bank Fond du Lac. Kellogg National Bank Green Bay. First National Bank Madison. Waukesha National Bank Waukesha. Marshall & Ilsley Milwaukee. Shullsburg Bank Shullsburg. First National Bank Fond du Lac. Humphry & Clark Bloomington. Second Ward Saving Bank Milwaukee.

DELAWARE.

Delaware City National Delaware. Bank First National Bank Wilmington. Union National Bank 〃 National Bank of Delaware 〃 National Bank of 〃 Wilmington & B. W. Newport National Bank Newport.

WEST VIRGINIA.

Merchants National Bank Morganstown. of W. Virginia Commercial Bank Wheeling. Exchange Bank 〃

VIRGINIA.

Planters & Mechanics Bank Petersburg. German Banking Company Alexandria.

LOUISIANA.

Citizens Bank of New Orleans. Louisiana

GEORGIA.

Bank of Americus Americus.

UTAH

Deseret National Bank Salt Lake City.

OREGON.

First National Bank Portland. Ladd & Tilton 〃 “Unknown”