total deposits for the state banks of approximately $80,000,000 and total deposits of the national banks approximately $35,000,000. Annual conventions of the state association are held, at which topics of general interest to the state are discussed and to the North Dakota Bankers Association can a very large amount of credit be rightfully given for the development of the commonwealth. BANKS OF DAKOTA TERRITORY AS SHOWN BY THE REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF CURRENCY FOR THE YEAR 1889, TOGETHER WITH CAPITAL AND RESOURCES Farmers and Merchants National Bank, Valley City. 65,000 126,170.55 ABSTRACT OF COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE STATE BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES IN NORTH DAKOTA FOR CALLS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JUNE 30, AND SEPTEMBER 12, 1916. NATIONAL BANKS OF NORTH DAKOTA AS SHOWN BY THE REPORT OF THE COMP- CAPITAL, John S. Tucker. F. C. Lovell. Langdon, Cavalier County. W. F. Winter... Lansford, First.. Larimore, National..... F. E. Kenaston.. Leeds, First... Milnor, Milnor Milnor, First Milton, First Minnewaukan. First.. Minot, Second Minot. Union.. Mohall. First Mott. First.... Munich, First. New England, First. New Rockford. First.. New Salem, First.. Northwood, First Northwood, Citizens Oakes, First Oakes, Oakes Omemee. First. Osnabrock, First.. Page, First... Park River. First. Plaza, First. Portland, First.. Reeder. First... Reynolds, First.. Rock Lake, First. Rolette. First. Rolla, First... Ryder, First.. St. Thomas, First. Sanborn, First.. Scranton, First. Sentinel Butte, First. Sharon, First... Sheldon, First. Sheyenne. First.. Stanley. First.. Turtle Lake, First.. ...O, I. Hegge. E. A. Movius.... ...M. Lynch... Frank Chesrown. .R. S. Adams.. ...A. P. Hanson. .H. R. Lyon.... F. S. Graham. Frank Schroeder E. R. Swarthout. H. A. Merrifield. H. Kauthemer R. L. Jones.. ..J. J. Reimer. G. H. Bolken... Wesley C. McDowell.. Lewis Baertsch .J. E. Phelan... H. S. Halvorson. John Trotter.. E. A. Engebretson... Valley City, First..... ..Herman Winterer. Valley City, American....James Grady. Wahpeton, Citizens Wahpeton, National Walhalla, First... Washburn, First. Williston, First... E. R. Gamble.. . Joseph Patterson.. C. W. Andrews. Geo. L. Robinson O. I. Hegge. Willow City, First.. ..F. M. Rich.. Wimbledon, Merchants ...J. E. Fox.. 158,002 25,000 70,978 171,653 6,135 145,852 255,498 99,151 5,000 6,000 275,093 30,000 118,400 172,330 25,000 60,781 CHAPTER XXXV HISTORY OF METHODISM IN NORTH DAKOTA BY WILLIAM H. WHITE The history of the first Methodist Episcopal Church of Fargo is, largely, the history of early Methodism, in that part of the great Northwest north of the forty-sixth parallel of latitude and west of the Red River of the North. Long before the Indian title to the lands in the Red River Valley was extinguished, the pioneer Methodist preacher took up his work of laying the foundation of our great church in this country. In the omniscient mind of the Master nothing is left to chance. As we witness the unfolding of His plans, we realize how for generations unborn His loving thoughtfulness provides. In the early history of Methodism in the little town of Adiz, Ohio, over seventy years ago, our sainted Bishop Simpson grew up with, and by his pure life was the means of the conversion of, a young man by the name of Gurley. While subsequently associated with him in Allegheny College, he was instrumental, through divine direction, in young Gurley's entrance into the ministry, who, later, became the father of Methodism in this portion of the Northwest. Rev. James Gurley, better known by the affectionate title of Father Gurley, took up his residence at Brainerd, Minn., as a missionary of the Methodist Church, in the fall of 1871, his mission extending from Duluth, on Lake Superior, to the entire then inhabited portions of Northern Minnesota, and what is now known as North Dakota. The beginnings of Methodism in Northern Dakota, under the direction of Father Gurley (like that movement under the direction of Wesley), had its origin in the prayer and exhortation meetings held in the shanties of the pioneers. Through the years of 1871 and 1872 no church organization was effected in all of Northern Minnesota and Dakota, except at Duluth and Brainerd. Fargo being but one of the many appointments upon a circuit of 150 miles, could claim only a portion of Father Gurley's time, and great were the sacrifices he made to reach it. He, however, laid the foundations of the church in this state, strong and deep, and upon this foundation, since 1872, Methodism has been building. No official local organization was effected in Northern Dakota during the year 1873, but Methodism assumed more permanency and a nucleus was definitely formed at Fargo, of which the legal existence of the Fargo church was the outgrowth in 1874. During 1873 Northern Dakota was joined to the Northwest Iowa conference and was known as the Northern Pacific Mission. The Rev. John Webb was |