Kingsbury County Bank

Kingsbury County Bank. . The Kingsbury County Bank, or Ruth Bank, was organized in 1880 by A. Ruth and Thomas Ruth. In December 1885 it was incorporated under the territorial laws with an authorized capital of $200,000., Born on March 5, 1844 in Carmichael, Pennsylvania, Thomas H. Ruth was one of six children. He also served in the Civil War. Ruth lived in De Smet from 1880-1908. His first wife was Lara Galbraith and they had no children. She passed away in 1883. He married Amelia Bell in 1895 and they had one son, Edwin. Thomas' health failed and he died in 1908. His son and wife returned to Pennsylvania to live., The brick building now on the northwest corner of Calumet and Third Street was built in 1886 for the bank. The Kingsbury County Bank became the De Smet, or First National Bank in 1900 and closed on May 28, 1926 after failure to sell it., Banks were built on corner lots because they received the most traffic. This building had three large office spaces. Dr. Hunter had his practice here and his family also lived here. The building housed a dentist office, a clothing store and a gift shop. Once again it is rental property., Known as Banker Ruth in The Long Winter, Thomas Ruth was one of De Smet's most prominent and influential citizens. Banker Ruth purchased the last 50-pound bag of flour in town for a dollar a pound during The Long Winter.