"SHSI Certificate of Recognition"
"Best on the Web"


Encyclopedia Dubuque

www.encyclopediadubuque.org

"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN

Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




GUERNSEY, George T.

From Encyclopedia Dubuque
Jump to navigationJump to search

GUERNSEY, George T. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 11, 1859--Independence, KS, 1953) A son of Rev. Jesse and Elizabeth (Eaton) Guernsey, George attended the public schools. In 1874, when only fifteen years of age, he came to Kansas and accepted a position in the private bank of W. E. Otis, at Independence and finally became a partner of Mr. Otis in the business.

In December 1883 Mr. Guernsey, Lyman U. Humphrey, P. V. Hockett, and others organized the Commercial Bank of Independence, then a state bank, and on the first day of January, 1884, the bank opened its doors for business, with Mr. Guernsey as cashier, and Lyman U. Humphrey as president. The Commercial Bank prospered from the beginning and grew in importance until, in the wisdom of its officers, it was considered best to nationalize the bank. Under a reorganization, it became the Commercial National Bank of Independence on January 1, 1891. Mr. Guernsey remained cashier of the bank until 1904, when he was elected its president.

In addition to banking, Guernsey extended his business interests to most of the manufacturing establishments at Independence and the oil industry. He also acquired extensive real estate holdings in Independence.

---

Source:

Blackmar, Frank W. Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons. Chicago: Standard Pub. Co. Chicago, 1912. Online: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/g3/guernsey_george_t.html

"Montgomery County Biographies," Online: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksmonthp/history/guernseygeorget.html