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BIOGRAPHY OF REV. Z.T. SWEENEY
Reverend Zachary Taylor Sweeney was born at Liberty, Kentucky, February 10, l849. He was the son of Guyrn E. and Talitha Campbell Sweeney, the youngest in a family of nine children. His father and grandfather, Job Sweeney, were both ministers of the Disciples of Christ, as well as three brothers and two nephews.
He graduated at Scottsville, Illinois Seminary and later attended Eureka College, Illinois, for one year and DePauw University for three years. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi at the latter institution. He later received an LLD from Butler University.
After finishing his education in 1866, he became a school teacher for three years and then entered the ministry of the Disciples of Christ in 1869 at Paris, Illinois, where he also, served two years. In 1871, he was called tothe First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana, where he served, with a two-year leave of absence, until 1896. He was made pastor emeritus at the conclusion of his ministry.
During his pastorate at Columbus, he lived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph I. Irwin and he married their daughter, Linnie Irwin, March 10, 1875. After their marriage, they resided about two years in Augusta, Georgia, wherehe was the pastor of the First Christian Church. They had three children, Nettie I. Sweeney, who was later, Mrs. Hugh Thomas Miller, who died February 6, 1960, Joseph I., who died at the age of 19, August 13, 1900, and Elsie I., who is still living. He had a second leave of absence of four years between 1889 and 1893, when he was United States Consul-General at Constantinople. During his stay in Constantinople, he wrote a book regarding his sojourn there and his extensive travels in Palestine and the Near East, entitled "Under Ten Flags". At his return in 1893, he was the Imperial Ottoman Commissioner for the Chicago Exposition. He was exclusively engaged, for many years, as a lyceum lecturer by the Redpath Bureau at the conclusion of his pastorate in 1897. He was eloquent as a preacher and lecturer. Professor Blackie of Great Britain once said "The greatest orator I know is Lord Roseberry; next to him, if not his equal, stands Z.T.
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-2-
Sweeney, an American torrent of eloquence."
He organized the Fish and Game Commission in Indiana in 1899. He headed this Commission from 1899 to 1907.
He was a director of the Indianapolis-Columbus-Southern Railroad and, also, a chancellor of Butler University and a member of the Advisory Committee of the World Congress of Religions in 1893. He received a decoration called the Order of the Osmanieh from the Sultan of Turkey, Abd-ul-Hamid, at the conclusion of his diplomatic services.
He was President of the American Christian Missionary Society and Chairman of their Commission on Foreign Relations.
In addition to the book, "Under Ten Flags", which he wrote in 1888, he, also, was author of Pulpit Diagrams in 1899, two volumes of Bible Readings, "Querish Drawer", "The Spirit and the Word" and, also, biennial reports as Fish and Game Commissioner in the years 1899, 1901, 1903, 1905 and 1907. In addition, he was a contributor to popular and scientific magazines.
He was particularly interested in the cause of Christian Unity and never missed an opportunity to attend meetings to discuss this question.
He was beloved by all who knew him, as he was an extrovert, who was intensely interested in his fellowman. He died in Indianapolis, February 4, 1926.
5-page typewritten document
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Bartholomew County History, Vol. II
Columbus Chapter
A Columbus-based business, the Union Starch and Refining company, which had its offices here from 1922 until 1967 following its sale, was the nearby town of Edinburgh's leading industry in the early 1900's. When the Irwin family was building its interurban line through Edinburgh 1902-03, the idle Blue River Starch Works there was bought from the starch trust interests, ostensibly only for its electric power plant to provide part of the current. But the buyers also had other things in mind and in 1904 the manufacture of starch was started in the old plant under a partnership composed of Joseph I. Irwin, William G. Irwin, Joseph E. Irwin of the Irwin bank and Harold P. Hughes, former Columbus grocer. Then in 1908 came Pennant syrup, which was sold nationally as the country's most popular corn syrup. Hugh Th. Miller, father of J. Irwin Miller, was credited with selecting the Pennant name. At a meeting of the officers during the World Series baseball games, a name for the new syrup was discussed, along with speculation over the World Series winner, and Miller came up with Pennant.
In 1912 the business was incorporated under the name Union Starch and Refining company. The five incorporators were William G. Irwin, president; his sister, Mrs. Linnie I. Sweeney; Hugh Th. Miller; Joseph E. Irwin, and Harold Hughes. In the 1913-1920 period the plant employed up to 400 persons
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Bartholomew County History. Vol. II -2-
Columbus Chapter
and in 1922 the general offices were moved from Edinburg to Columbus, occupying the second floor of the Irwin Bank building at northeast corner of Third and Washington streets. That same year the company purchased a plant at Granite City, Ill., and in 1923 started operations there, closing the Edinburgh facility, which included 13 buildings. Union Starch was believed to be the first to produce an imitation maple—flavored syrup and it manufactured a wide variety of produces. Among these were syrups, both liquid and dried starch, sugars. artificial sweetners and mixes, corn oil, gluten meal and feed, concentrated lime and lemon juice powders, antibiotics and caramel color. The company also eventually had manufacturing interests in Mexico, Columbia, Peru and the Philippines.
The offices in Columbus were expanded to include the first floor of the former Irwin Bank building and later included part of the building at the southeast corner of Third and Washington. Total sales in 1965 approximated $26,000,000. After re-opening part of the Edinburgh plant in l947, with Carl Allison as manager, to manufacture White Seal Marshmal-O-Creme, a marshmallow creme mix, a new building was erected at Edinburgh in 1963-64 to produce cyclamate, a non-nutritive sweetner. The same year Union Starch sold its packaged goods business, including Pennant syrup, marshmallow cream products and powdered flavorings, to firms in Louisville, Ky., and Iowa. Miles Laboratories, Inc., of Elkhart, Ind., purchased
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Bartholomew County History. Vol. II -3-
Columbus Chapter
Union Starch in 1966 for $11,250,000 and the general offices in Columbus were closed in December, 1967. At that time there were 70 office employees. Cyclamate production at Edinburgh was halted in 1969 after the federal government banned cyclamates as a possible cancer cause. There were 21 employees at Edinburgh and W.L. Kaser of Columbus was plant supervisor. In 172 Miles Laboratories ceased operations at the Granite City plant, ending the Union Starch entity. Most of the Edinburgh property was sold to Bo-Witt Products, Inc., of Edinburgh, headed by William C. Bobbs of Columbus.
William G. Irwin was president of Union Starch until his death in 1943. He was succeeded by Mrs. Sweeney, who died in 1944. Hugh Th. Miller then served until his death in 1947 and was succeeded by his son, J. Irwin Miller. In 1953 Earl B. Pulse, who had been with the company 17 years, was elected president and Miller became chairman of the board. Following death of Pulse on June 8, 1959, Miller again held the office until 1961 when Theodore R. Reed was named president. Reed resigned in 1967 when the offices here were closed and became a partner in the S.D. Leidesdorf public accounting firm in New York city. He had joined Union Starch in 1952, coming from New York. He died Dec. 3, 1972. Earl Pulse, who was born in Columbus March 25. 1908, was active in civic and governmental affairs at both the local and state levels and was a trustee of Indiana University, from which he graduated in 1950 [struck out by hand and corrected to 1930]. He also was an associate faculty member with the university's School of Business. Pulse was a past president
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Bartholomew County History, Vol. II -4-
Columbus Chapter
of Columbus Chamber of Commerce and served a term on the city council. He joined Union Starch in 1937.
Harold P. Hughes, one of the original founders of Union Starch, retired in 1930 and was then vice-president of Union Sales corporation, the marketing division. Before joining in Union Starch, Hughes, a native of Jennings county, was in the grocery business in Columbus with a brother, John V. Hughes. He died Sept. 12, 1934. Joseph E. Irwin, a distant relative of Joseph I. Irwin, retired from Union Starch in 1942. He died October 31, 1962, in Los Angeles, Calif. Another of the early executives was W. W. Adams, sone of a Columbus druggist. He died Aug. 26, 1943, age 75, and at that time was vice~president and general manager. He joined Union Starch when the company offices were still in Edinburgh. Paul H. Stambaugh, a sales executive and formerly of Youngstown, Ohio, joined Union Starch in 1928. He retired in 1950 and was then a view-president. Stambaugh died Oct. 6, 1959, age 74.
In 1955 the company honored employees of 25 years or more service. Honored from Columbus were Elmer Dean, 32 years; Erwin C. Fisher, 29 years; Mrs. Fern (Ira) Crane, 27 years; John Stewart, custodian, 30 years; Gerald Haislup, 26 years; and Deryl Foster, 25 years. Several of these continued many more years. Elmer Dean retired in the mid-1950's. He died December 31, 1962. Deryl Foster remained with the company until 1964. He died June 15, 1980. Erwin C. Fisher retired in
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Bartholomew County History, Vol. II -5-
Columbus Chapter
Among later executives in Columbus were Giles W. Anderson, C. Harris Weerts, Herschel E. O'Shaughnessey and James P. Casey, who joined the firm in 1959 and resided in Columbus before transer to Granite City. In 1967 Weerts, who had been with Union Starch since 1949, became an officer of Cosco, Inc., here and in 1971 an official with American Fletcher National bank in Indianapolis, retaining his residence in the Columbus area. O'Shaughnessey, with Union Starch since 1958, became an officer with Cummins Engine company. George W. Newlin, present president of Irwin Management company, was with Union Starch 1946-58 as an officer in an investing capacity after being with Cummins Engine company, starting in 1940, and then serving in the Navy. Others who had been with the company prominently in Columbus included Thomas Freese, Wlater L. Sneed, R. L. Baker, William Griffith and Charles Dry.
Several employees moved to Granite City after the Columbus office was closed. They included George F. Cook, Carl Allison, Wallace Goeller, Mrs. Betty Reed, Wayne Jackson, Theodore Allen, William Bissell and Thayer Small. When Miles Laboratories ended its Granite City operations in 1972 some assets were sold to Corn Sweetners, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it continued to make carmel color at Granite City.
Four-page typewritten document on onion skin paper
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HISTORY OF IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
COLUMBUS, INDIANA
Mr. Joseph I. Irwin, the founder of IRWIN’S BANK, came to Columbus in June, 1846 from his farm home in Johnson County, Indiana. He was twenty-two years old and had thirty cents in his pocket which his mother had given him. He went to work for $3.00 per week in Snyder and Alden's dry goods store and remained in their employ for three and one-half years. During this time he had saved enough money to open his own store and on January 1, 1850, began operating his own business.
Mr. Irwin's mercantile business continued to prosper and, since he had the only money safe in town, he used it as a depository for funds of the townspeople and farmers. He told Clessie Cummins, the inventor of the Cummins Diesel, that the first time he realized he was in the banking business was when a farmer presented him with anotew from another farmer written on sycamore bark saying, "Mr. Irwin, please pay Jim Brown $5.00 from my poke in your safe". He was well known through his many business enterprises and during the Civil War acted as a government representative to purchase hogs and grain for the Union Army.
About 1862 he moved to a larger building and expanded his store, continuing to use his safe as a depository for his customers. In 1871 the McEwen Bank in Columbus failed and in that same year Mr. Irwin received a charter for his private bank, IRWIN'S BANK. He purchased the McEwen Bank safe which was much larger than the onehe had been using and continued to expand his banking business. However, even after the bank was chartered, Mr. Irwin did not consider himself primarily as a banker, as he is listed in the 187 State Atlas as a merchant. Bartholomew County Museum has a copy of THE DAILY EVENING REPUBLICAN dated Saturday, November 17, 1877, which carried the following advertisement BANKING HOUSE * JOSEPH I. IRWIN
Is now doing a regular Banking business at his store, 94 Washington Street. Exchange on the principal cities bought and sold at reasonable rates. Business solicited.
One of the oldest residents of Columbus today, remembers going with her mother into Mr. Irwin's store, as a small child. She remembers how fascinated she was with the "big,
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black safe and desk" which constituted Irwin's Bank in 1874 and 1875. She remembers the safe and desk as being set off from the store by a railing, or an enclosure of some type.
In 1881 Mr. Irwin built a large store building on the corner of Third and Washington Streets and the bank occupied a smallroom in the corner of the store, with a separate entrance on the main street. In 1891, Mr. Joseph I. Irwin sold his store to two employees and gave all his attention to banking and the many other enterprises in which he was interested.
Stories of Mr. Joseph I. Irwin's "banking ideas" are legion. Mr. Wm. E. Marsh, a veteran newspaper reporter, says in his book about Columbus, that Mr. Irwin had a sign posted by the door of his bank which was typical -- "This is a private Bank and I own it. Joseph I. Irwin". He would withhold a small portion of pay checks and deposit it in a savings account for the customer - even against the customer's will, and later the customer always thanked him for teaching a lesson of thrift. Another time a man came into his office to ask for a loan and he was smoking a cigar. Mr. Irwin told him that since he had money to burn, he had no money to loan him. The incidents are truly characteristic, but more important is the fact that Joseph I. Irwin contributed more to the early building of Columbus than any other person. he loaned money to the men in whom he had confidence, and in so doing, he made it possible for men with ideas about business and manufacturing to put their ideas to work. Many incidents are on record where these people felt they were failing and offered to turn their assets over to the bank, but Mr. Irwin had confidence in them and loaned them more money. Some of these businesses, or their successors are in existence today. Up and down ma n street his bank's money went to work and all about town factories sprang up to give people an opportunity to earn a living. In making money for himself, he always contributed to the well-being of his neighbors. At the same time, his private funds were being used to build roads and electric lines to add to the existing railroads. It is said that heassisted in constructing more than forty miles of turnpike roads in Bartholomew County.
The bank continued to grow and in 1889 William Glanton Irwin, son of Joseph I. Irwin, had finished his education and became cashier of Irwin's Bank. Early in 1900 the building was remodeled and fixtures were purchased from the Indiana National Bank which was then
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remodeling its building in Indianapolis.
On August 13, 1910, Mr. Joseph I. Irwin died and William Glanton Irwin succeeded him as president of Irwin's Bank. He carried on the traditions and ideas in banking and building businesses in Columbus that his father had before him. However, his business ventures were known far and wide and he becamenationally known as a financier, industrialist, and philanthropist. He was,as his father before him, "Mr.Banker" to the people of Columbus. At his death, December 14, 1943, he was, among many other things, president of the Indiana National Bank of Indianapolis and his many abilities were widely acclaimed in the nation's newspapers.
William G. Irwin, wanting to be relieved of some of his heavy responsibilities, and realizing the seriousness of the economic situation in the country early in 1927 and 1928, suggested a merger between his private bank and the Union Trust Company, a strong bank brough about by several mergers. This move gave great strength to Bartholomew County in the depression of the thirties... A good example of the keen insight and ability to look into the future which seemed to be special gift which this banker father and son used to benefit themselves and others of their community.
The following is a chronological accounting of the mergers which have resulted in the present Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company of Columbus, Indiana:
1871 -- Irwin's Bank, chartered
1903 – People’s Savings and Trust Company was organized with M. O. Reeves of Reeves Pulley Company, as president, and L. K. Ong, Cashier.
1916 -- Farmer's Trust Company was organized with John M. Thompson, a prominent farmer as President, and CharlesM. Setser, Cashier.
1922 -- Peoples Savings and Trust Company and Farmer's Trust Company merged to form UNION TRUST COMPANY, using the building of the Farmer's Trust Company. Mr. M. O. Reeves was the first President and Charles M. Setser, Cashier. On February 2, 1924, they moved into their new building on the Southwest corner of 5th and Washington Streets.
1928 -- On April 1st, Irwin's Bank and Union Trust Company merged to form Irwin- union Trust Company, using the new building of the Union Trust Company.
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William G. Irwin was President, and the Vice-Presidents were chosen from both banks. They included Hugh Th. Miller, husband of Joseph I. Irwin's grand-daughter, Nettie Sweeney Miller; John W. Suverkrup former cashier of Irwin's Bank; William E. Parker, Frank P. Brockman, and Charles M. Setser was cashier, The Secretary, William H. Scott, was originally with the Peoples Savings and Trust Company, so officers represented members of all the banks in the various mergers.
1953 – On December 4, 1953, the Irwin Union Trust Company name was changed to Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company and the bank was granted a perpetual charter on that date.
1954 – March 1, 1954, the bank moved into its new and very modern building on the northwest corner of Fifth and Washington Streets. Eero Saarinen, a world-famous architect designed the building .
1956 – The Hope State Bank, Hope, Indiana, was purchased by the Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company on June 50, 1956, and on July 17, 1959, moved into a new building on the public square in Hope.
1960 – A branch was opened in the Eastbrook Shopping Center in Columbus on October 1st, and their new building was opened for business on September 7, 1961.
1961 -- A third branch opened on December 5,1961, in a new building at State and Mapleton in East Columbus.
Since the last merger, the bank has had but four presidents; William G. Irwin, who died December 14, 1943; his nephew, Hugh Th. Miller, who died May 26, 1947; Joseph Irwin Miller, great grandson of Joseph I. Irwin, who became Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1953; and S. Edgar Lauther, who was made president at that time.
Present Officers ????
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Four-page typewritten document
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1850 Joseph I. Irwin opened a mercantile store in downtown Columbus. Residents trusted him and asked to leave their money in his safe, which became known as the safest safe in town. At the time, Irwin had the only safe in town, but never realized he was in the banking business until he was presented with a note that read, "Mr. Irwin, please pay Jim Brown $5.00 from my poke in your safe."
1871 Irwin's Bank was chartered as a private bank.
1877 The November 17 Evening Republican carried the following advertisement:
Banking House
Joseph I. Irwin is now doing a regular banking business at his store, 94 Washington Street. Exchange of the principal cities bought and sold at reasonable rates. Business solicited.
1910 William G. Irwin became president upon the death of his father, Joseph I. Irwin.
1928 William G. Irwin realized the seriousness of the coming economic situation and arranged a merger of his private bank, Irwin's Bank with the Union Trust, a bank formed by the merger of the Peoples Savings and Trust Company and the Farmers Trust Company. The newly formed bank was named The Irwin-Union Trust Company.
1937 Total loans outstanding amounted to $1,809,000, while deposits totaled $4,173,000. Net earnings were $40,000.
1943 Hugh T. Miller became president upon the death of his brother-in-law, William G. Irwin.
1947 Irwin Miller became president upon the death of his father, Hugh T. Miller. Loans amounted to $3,053,000. Net earnings were $105,000.
1953 Irwin Miller was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. Replacing Irwin Miller as president was S. Ed Lauther, who had been with the bank since 1946. Total assets were $30,965,481.
1954 The bank's name was changed to Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company in order to reflect the increased importance of commercial banking.
1955 The new office, designed by Eero Saarinen, was completed in March. More than 5,000 people toured the new facility during a two day open house.
VII
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1956 Hope State Bank, with assets totaling $1,743,794.91, was purchased. Total deposits increased to $36,667,508.
1959 Personal Credit Line, Farm Management and College Career Plan services were introduced. The Hope office building was completed in July. Total assets amounted to $45.5 million.
1960 The Eastbrook office opened in October. The Travel Department completed its first year of operation. Earnings increased to $27,044.
1961 The State Street office opened for business in December.
1962 Total assets amounted to $54.7 million while net earnings of $487,420 were recorded.
1964 Paul N. Dinkins became the sixth President of the bank, replacing S. Ed Lauther. Assets were $63.4 million.
1965 Record net earnings of $715,041 were up 20% from the previous year. Construction of the Taylorsville office began.
1966 Conversion of bank accounting to the data processing system continued by adding installment loans, savings certificates, Christmas Clubs and payroll accounting.
1968 A new savings service, the Golden Passbook account, was introduced.
1969 A sixth office was opened and located at Columbus Center. Irwin Union ranked seventeenth in size among Indiana's 408 banks and recorded a 17.0% average annual compounded earnings growth rate over the previous five years. Architects Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates were hired to design an addition to the downtown office, nearly doubling the floor space. The bank's credit card, introduced in 1953 and one of the first in the nation, became acceptable nationwide and in most European countries through the issuance of the new Master Charge credit card.
1970 The Columbus Center office moved from a temporary location to its new building in July. Ground was broken in December for the Downtown office expansion.
1971 Land was purchased near the State and Mapleton office for expansion of facilities. The Bank received a Certificate of Merit for Environment Improvement from Mrs. Richard M. Nixon for landscaping at the Downtown office.
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1972 The community's first cash dispensing machine, "Cash 24" was installed at the Columbus Center office. Plans were approved to build a new office at State and Mapleton. Irwin Union Corporation was formed.
1973 The new downtown office addition was received to open a seventh banking office at Courthouse Center. The Federal Reserve Board approved the formation of Irwin Union Credit Insurance Corporation as a subsidiary of Irwin Union Corporation.
1974 The office in Courthouse Center opened during the first quarter and a second cash machine was installed there.
1975 Three new services introduced: Statement Savings, Individual Retirement Account, Social Security, Direct Deposit. The State Street office opened to provide increased banking convenience.
1976 First Bank Machine in Bartholomew County introduced, deposit customers issued bank cards, assets totaled $164,053,428. John A. Nash became President of Irwin Union Bank with Paul N. Dinkins serving as Chairman of the Board.
1977 Paul N. Dinkins retired, assets exceed $20MM, April $100MM plus loans.
1978 Smart Saver checking introduced, Loan Production Office opened in Bloomington.
1979 Assets $254MM, RECORD YEAR, conversion to data processing systems completed. New Automated Teller Machines, John H. Cragoe was elected President, John A. Nash became Chairman of the Board.
1980 The travel agency was sold to IVI Travel, Inc. of Chicago.
1981 Total corporate assets amounted to $280MM, Certificate of Deposit Program established (recycling portion of money market funds to commercial banks.) Inland Mortgage Corp. acquired by Corporation with offices in Indianapolis, Columbus, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Tampa. Third Automated Teller Machine joined MoneyMover network, application to U.S. Small Business Administration to operate White River Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of the Corporation. Michael F. Ryan was elected President of Irwin Union Bank.
1982 West Hill office opened in July. $270MM total assets, White River Capital Corporation licensed in March.
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1984 Irwin Union Capital Corporation formed.
1985 Highest earnings in the Corporation’s history, $2.19MM, up 32% over 1984. Announcement made to acquire Midwest National Bank, Indianapolis.
1986 The Corporation's consolidated earnings again reached a record level. Total Corporate assets amounted to $388MM. Geographical operations expanded into six states with twenty-five subsidiary offices. Corporate staff totaled 507.
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Four-page typewritten document
Typewritten text (sheet 1):
IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Irwin's Bank began business in 1871 as a department of the dry goods store of Joseph I. Irwin in Columbus. Joseph I. Irwin, besides his activity as a merchant, was renowned for real estate development, tin plate manufacturing (at Anderson, Indiana, and Monessen, Pennsylvania), construction and operation of the Indianapolis, Columbus, and Southern Traction Company, and for development of the Union Starch and Refining Company. From 1883, Joseph I. Irwin had active association with his son, William G. Irwin, who assumed the presidency of Irwin's Bank at the time of his father's death in 1910.
During his 33 years as bank president, William G. Irwin became known throughout Indiana and many other states of the nation as a corporation executive and director. He successfully backed C. L. Cummins' development of the diesel engine, the production of which is now the city's largest employer. He, along with his sister, Mrs. Linnie Irwin Sweeney, substantially contributed toward financing the famous Sarrinen-designed First Christian Church. He served several years as a director of the United States Chamber of Commerce. He was a member high in the councils of his political party and was Republican national committee-man from Indiana for some years.
In 1922, People's Savings and Trust Company, whose president was M. O. Reeves, and the Farmers Trust Company, whose president was John M. Thompson, merged to form the Union Trust Company. Mr. Reeves, president of the new bank, was succeeded in 1925 by W. E. Parker.
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In 1928, Irwin's Bank and Union Trust Company decided to merge their resources to form Irwin-Union Trust Company. The personnel of both banks was retained in the merger that named William G. Irwin president. W. E. Parker was made a director, as were: A. W. Cox, W. H. Scott, H. J. McGinnis, H. L. Rost, C. M. Setser, J. V. Hilger, H. B. Blessing, F. P. Brockman, F. C. Tellman, C. H. Weigand, William Armuth, A. M. Kirkpatrick, J. H. Schaefer, F. H. Suhre, G. L. Reeves, Ernest D. Snider, W. G. Irwin, Meredith Lienberger, Hugh Th. Miller, and J. W. Suverkrup.
Thus ended the 57 year history of Irwin's Bank as a private bank in Columbus. William G. Irwin continued as president until his death in 1943. At that time he was also president of the Indiana National Bank of Indianapolis.
Hugh Th. Miller had joined the bank in 1899 and succeeded his uncle, William G. Irwin as president in 1943. He served as president in until his death in 1947. Upon the passing of Hugh Th. Miller, the board of directors named his son, J. Irwin Miller as the new president.
In December, 1953, Irwin Miller assumed the newly created office of chairman of the board and S. Edgar Lauther, who had joined the bank as a vice president in 1946, became president. This delegation of authority allowed Mr. Miller to focus greater attention on the corporate management of Cummins Engine Company of which he is chairman, and to state and national commitments. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of American Telephone and Telegraph and The Chemical Bank of New York. He is also a Trustee of Yale University, Butler University, The Ford Foundation, and the Museum of Modern Art of New York. He has served as president of the National Council of Churches. He has
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also served on five Presidential commissions. Mr. Miller's commitment to economic progress and the resolution of urban problems is recognized nationally.
His appreciation for outstanding architecture has long been apparent. In the early 1950s, Mr. Miller, realizing the need for larger facilities for the bank, approached Eero Saarinen, an internationally-known architect and long-time friend. Mr. Saarinen designed the building at the corner of Fifth and Washington Streets which has served as the bank's main office since 1955. To meet the needs of the increasing economic growth of Bartholomew County, Irwin Union acquired the Hope State Bank in 1956 as its first branch office. Three other branches have since been built with a sixth permanent office at Columbus Center scheduled to open in the summer of 1970. Plans are also being drawn for an addition to the downtown office. In November of 1964, S. Edgar Lauther left the bank and has subsequently been named chairman of the board of American Fletcher National Bank of Indianapolis. Upon his resignation, Paul N. Dinkins succeeded to the presidency, and On April 15, 1969, witnessed Irwin Union's achievement of attaining $100 million in total assets. The present directors include: J. Irwin Miller, Chairman, Eugene I. Anderson, Paul N. Dinkins, George Doup, Edward E. Edwards, Lowell E. Engelking, Frank C. Forster, Clarence O. Hamilton, Alvin L. Kuehn, William R. Laws, Jr., Paul H. Pardieck, Carl M. Reeves, Fred H. Suhre, E. Don Tull, and Ed L. Voelz.
The present officers include: Chairman of the Board, J. Irwin Miller; President, Paul N. Dinkins; Senior Vice President, Richard M. Bishop; Senior Vice President and Cashier, John A. Nash; Senior Vice President and Secretary, Alvin L. Kuehn; Vice President and Auditor,
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Robert E. Kirk; Vice President and Trust Officer, Richard C. Burrows; and Vice Presidents Philip B. Pitkin, A. R. Engle, Earl L. Sprague, and David M. Giles.