A Banking Hand-Off in North Yakima
After surviving a life-threatening illness, Judge J. R. Lewis returns to reclaim his bank presidency from Edward Whitson.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A year ago, Judge J. R. Lewis, of Seattle, was president of the First National bank of North Yakima, an institution in which he took a great deal of pride and interest. At that time he was taken dangerously ill and, not knowing the duration of his sickness, he resigned the presidency in favor of Hon. Edward Whitson, then vice-president, with the understanding that upon his recovery Mr. Whitson should retire in his favor. The Judge had a hard struggle for life, but an extended visit to southern California restored his old-time health and vigor. His presence in North Yakima is for the purpose of resuming his former connections with the bank. Mr. Whitson’s extensive legal practice and his large interest in the Yakima electric lights and waterworks demand his entire attention, and he finds great satisfaction in resigning the administration of the bank in favor of Judge Lewis.
“The Judge had a hard struggle for life, but an extended visit to southern California restored his old-time health and vigor.”
This reflects the tight-knit, interconnected nature of North Yakima's early financial and civic leadership, where a few prominent men held overlapping interests in banks, utilities, and law firms—a pattern of consolidation that continues to influence Yakima's development today.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.