The part taken by Mr. Bunker in the encounter with the robbers in the bank, as detailed in Chapter III, shows him to be a man of nerve, cool and self-collected in danger, and capable of bold action. Though not subjected to the brutal treatment inflicted upon Mr. Heywood, he was subjected to a similar temptation to secure his [pg 86] own safety by yielding to the demands of the robbers; and he kept such possession of his faculties, mental and physical, as to seize the first opportunity—an opportunity not afforded to Heywood—to break from his captors and escape under fire. The wound which he received at that time was a dangerous one, and narrowly missed being fatal, and the effects of the nervous shock are still felt at times.
In 1878, Mr. Bunker resigned his position in the First National Bank to accept one in the Citizens Bank, of the same city. In 1880 he became connected with the Western Newspaper Union, in which he held responsible positions in Kansas City and St. Paul. In 1882 he went to Helena, Montana, where he assisted in organizing the Second National Bank, of which he was for three years the cashier. His health then requiring a more active life, he engaged for a time in stockraising and mining operations. In 1888 he returned to the Newspaper Union, of which he is now one of the principal officials, with headquarters at Chicago. Mr. Bunker has found time amid his manifold occupations to perform various collateral duties. For a time while in Montana he acted as correspondent of Chicago and St. Paul papers. He has [pg 87] also been active in religious work. While he lived in Helena, he and Mrs. Bunker were largely instrumental in organizing and building up the First Congregational Church of that city.
FRANK J. WILCOX is the son of the late Rev. James F. Wilcox, a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, who held various important positions, pastoral and official, at the East and at the West. Mr. Wilcox was born in Taunton, Mass., September 8th, 1848. Changes in his father's pastorates took him when five years old to Trenton, New Jersey, and when ten years old to Northfield, Minnesota, where he has ever since resided, excepting during the temporary absence of college life.
His education was begun in the public schools. Upon the opening of the Preparatory department of Carleton College, in 1867, he entered the institution, in which he remained until the completion of his preparation for college. His college course was taken in the Chicago University, from which he was graduated in 1874, in the class with President Sutherland of Nebraska, Rev. C. H. D. Fisher, missionary to Japan, and others.
Returning to his Northfield home after his graduation, Mr. Wilcox did not immediately settle [pg 88] down to his vocation in life, but for a time pursued various temporary occupations, one of which was that of assistant in the First National Bank. It was here that he was found by the bank-robbers when they made their raid upon the bank in 1876.
Mr. Wilcox was not subjected to so severe an ordeal as were Heywood and Bunker, as his position gave the robbers less reason to make demands upon him and less excuse for molesting him; but so far as occasion required he co-operated with his colleagues in maintaining the attitude of passive resistance which made the attempted robbery a failure. Immediately after the raid he was appointed to a permanent position in the bank, where he has remained continuously ever since. He is now the Assistant Cashier. He is also prominently connected with other business enterprises in the city, and has held various official positions, educational and Municipal. He was married in 1879 to Miss Jennie M. Blake. Both of them are leaders in the social and religious life of the community especially in the Baptist Church of which they are members.
ANSELM R. MANNING was born in Canada, not far from Montreal. By trade he was a carpenter. He was also an adept at blacksmithing, a [pg 89] competent surveyor, and a successful man of business. Possessing this Yankee versatility and knack at turning his hand to almost anything, it was natural that he should seek his home in the United States. He came to Northfield in 1856. Here he pursued his various vocations, mechanical, mathematical and commercial, as occasion seemed to demand. When the railroad was to be constructed through Northfield, he helped to survey it. When the increased facilities which it afforded brought an increase of business, he went into trade, establishing the stove and hardware store so long a familiar feature on Bridge Square.
It was here that he received the visit from a member of the robber band on the morning of the raid, and here that he and his trusty rifle were found ready for the bloody encounter which shortly followed. Mr. Manning is a quiet, goodnatured, peaceable man, the last man to seek or desire conflict, but well qualified to meet it when it is forced upon him. He is alert, observant, quick to take the measure of a situation, and prompt and fearless in action.
He still resides in Northfield with his wife and children, and still goes as unobtrusively as ever about his daily business, with no apparent consciousness of being what his neighbors hold him to be, the hero who turned the tide of battle.
HENRY M. WHEELER, the son of Mason and Huldah W. Wheeler, was born in North Newport, New Hampshire, June 23d, 1854. In 1856 the family removed to Northfield, Minnesota, where they arrived on the Fourth of July. Minnesota was still a territory, and Northfield an embryo village, of whose life and development the Wheelers became a part.