Eliot Callender. This name is familiarly known to the citizens of Peoria as having been from the start connected with the Dime Savings Bank, which was organized in January, 1887, by O. J. Bailey, H. P. Ayers, Frank Myers and Mr. Callender. The latter and Mr. Ayers took an active part in its establishment. Mr. Callender was elected the first President, and still holds the office.

This bank occupied during the year of 1887 the old A. P. Bartlett residence, adjoining its present quarters to which it was removed in January, 1888. The building is 30x70 feet in dimensions, four stories in height and was erected at a cost of $30,000. The plans were furnished by Burnham & Root, the celebrated architects of Chicago, who had been concerned in the erection of sixty different bank buildings, and who gave to this their best efforts. The material employed is compressed brown stone and brick, with tile floors and Italian marble stairs, the wainscoting of Tennessee marble and the woodwork of polished oak. It forms a beautiful structure, as substantial as it is shapely.

The bank building is both burglar and fire proof, the safety deposit vaults being equal to any in the State in point of security and strength. In the construction of the vaults over fifty thousand pounds of drill-proof steel were employed. The door, weighing five thousand seven hundred pounds, has a double time-lock, this alone costing $400. By aid of an electric alarm attachment it cannot be even touched without ringing out its signal to the police station. The vault contains numerous safety deposit boxes besides the private safes of the bank, and is in all points as secure as mechanical skill and money can make it.

The first floor of the bank building, which is ten feet above the sidewalk, is occupied by the bank, and its architectural design is such that light is admitted both at the back and front of the counters. There are four coupon rooms for the accommodation of the patrons of the safety deposit vault, these being also equipped with every convenience for rapid and correct transaction of business. In point of architecture the building is an ornament to the city, and is excelled by few in the State. The bank accepts deposits of from ten cents to $5,000, the latter being the limit. It now has over seven thousand accounts open, all accomplished within the space of three years.

This bank, as its name implies, was instituted in order to accommodate the class of citizens for whom no banking advantages had hitherto been furnished. Anyone may borrow money upon real-estate security, and as soon as his deposits amount to $100 it can be applied on the loan, and the interest cease. Interest of four per cent, is allowed on savings, the regular rate being seven per cent. Thus, to an honest and industrious individual a mortgage may be robbed of its terrors. The bank accepts no mercantile paper, whatever.

The present Cashier is Rudolph Pfeiffer, the Treasurer, H. P. Ayers, the Vice-President, O. J. Bailey, and the Manager of the Safety Deposit Vaults, Joseph E. Callender. The bank operates upon a capital of $100,000, but the entire assets of each partner are liable for the liabilities of the bank, which makes its assets over half a million of dollars.

Eliot Callender was born March 22, 1842, in St. Louis, Mo., and is a son of George H. and Elizabeth P. (Melcher) Callender, who were natives of Maine and Massachusetts. The family left St. Louis when the son, Eliot, was about seven years old, going to Boston, where he attended school, remaining there until a lad of fifteen years. The parents then came to Peoria, and the boy returned to St. Louis, becoming a student of Washington University. Upon completing his studies he learned the trade of a tanner and currier of John Howe, the first Republican Mayor of St. Louis, and was there at the outbreak of the Civil War. About this time occurred the Camp Jackson affair, when, the property of Mr. Howe becoming jeopardized, it was placed on a steamer at night, and under charge of Mr. Callender brought to Peoria, where he finished up the stock in the building now occupied by the wholesale drug house of Colburn, Berks & Co.

This accomplished, Mr. Callender in November following enlisted in the Unites States Navy on the gunboat “Benton,” at St. Louis, as an ordinary seaman under the command of Commodore Foote and Admirals Porter and Farragut, and engaged in all the battles of the Mississippi. In the meantime he distinguished himself for his courage and fidelity, and was rapidly promoted from an ordinary seaman to Paymaster, Steward, Master’s Mate and Ensign. At the close of the war he was in command of the United States steamer “Marmora,” plying the waters of the Mississippi and its southern tributaries.

In the meantime, in 1864, Mr. Callender returned to Peoria, and was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary E. Frye, on the 5th day of May. Mrs. Callender was born November 11, 1845, and is a daughter of Dr. J. C. Frye, one of the most prominent physicians of Central Illinois. After leaving the navy Mr. Callender embarked in the insurance business with William H. Robinson, under the firm name of Robinson & Callender. They conducted this successfully a few years, then began loaning money for Eastern capitalists upon real-estate security. Upon the death of Mr. Robinson, in 1880, Mr. Callender associated himself with Mr. Ayers, who was then Cashier of the Mechanics’ National Bank. In 1883 the banking firm of Callender, Ayers & Co. was organized, Mr. Ayers retiring from the insurance business, which has since been continued at No. 124 South Washington Street under the firm name of Callender & Co.

In this new banking enterprise the firm consisted of Eliot Callender, Henry P. Ayers, C. r. Cummings (of Chicago), G. T. Barker and Walter Barker. It has been a marked success financially, but was deprived of the services of Mr. Ayers in 1885 on account of his failing health.

January 1, 1885, Mr. Callender organized the Commercial National Bank of Peoria, with a capital of $200,000, this succeeding to the business of Callender, Ayers & Co. Mr. Callender was President of the former for two years and until 1887, when the Dime Savings Bank was organized, and to this he has since given his entire time and attention. In the meantime, however, he acted as Vice-President of the Commercial one year, having resigned the Presidency, and was a Director until January 1, 1890, when he was re-elected but declined serving. He is also Treasurer and one of the Executive Committee of the Central Railway Company, and also a Director and Treasurer of the building committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association. He was also one of the incorporators and directors in building the National Hotel and the Grand Opera-House.

Although a Republican in a Democratic city, Mr. Callender has been elected to the offices of Township Supervisor and City Collector, which is sufficiently indicative of his popularity among the people. He belongs to the military order of the Loyal Legion, Illinois Commandery, of which Judge Walter Q. Gresham is Commander. He is member and Treasurer of the Second Presbyterian Church, and was one of the building committee during the erection of the church edifice, which is a fine and beautiful piece of architecture.

To Mr. and Mrs. Callender there have been born three children, all of whom are living: Joseph E., already spoken of; Anna J. and Eliot, Jr. The family residence, one of the most attractive in the city, is pleasantly located on the corner of Monroe and Jackson, while our subject and his estimable wife occupy a position in the front rank among the social circles of Peoria.

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