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MARION N. DRONE.
In naming those who have been identified with the business and financial interests of Gallatin county, mention should be made of Marion N. Drone, cashier of the First National Bank of Ridgway, and a native of that place, who has devoted his active business career to banking and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen. Mr. Drone was born in Ridgway, December 9, 1885, and is a son of Alexander and Mary E. (Vilter) Drone, and a grandson of Joseph Drone. The latter came to Illinois from Ohio and settled two miles south of Ridgway, where he spent his life in agricultural pursuits.
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Alexander Drone was born in Ohio, and as a young man started out on his own account by purchasing cheap land in this county. At first he met with a number of minor disappointments, and soon it seemed that he would fail disastrously, as within the space of a year his wife died and he lost his house and barn by fire. However, he made a fresh start, remaining single for seven years, and during that time had recovered his losses and started himself on the highroad to success. For many years he was engaged in farming and stockraising at the edge of the village of Ridgway, where he owned 1,200 acres of land, and his fine roadsters and jacks were exhibited at a number of fairs, where they took numerous prizes. In 1909 he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, which was capitalized at $25,000, a new building erected for it and it now has $50,000 deposits and a surplus of $2.100. For the past eight years Mr. Drone has resided in Evansville, and now holds an official position with the Henneberger Ice and Cold Storage Company of Princeton, Indiana, and Mt. Carmel, Illinois. A self-made man in all that the word implies, Mr. Drone rose to his high position through his own ability, and his success in life should serve as an example to the aspiring youth of today and to show that a man may attain a comfortable competency and secure the esteem of his fellows through his own industry and integrity, and not through inherited advantages. He was very fond of out-of-door sports, and was never so happy as when off on an outing with his rod or gun. In political matters Mr. Drone was a Democrat, but he was never an office seeker, while in his religious views he was a life long member of St. Joseph's Catholie church. Of his children, six still survive, namely: Marion N., Lucretia, Vincent P., Leonard, Madeline and Philip Alexander.
Marion N. Drone received his education in the public schools and Jasper College, Jasper, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1904, at that time becoming bookkeeper of the Commercial Bank of Evansville. Subsequently he held a like position with the Mercantile National Bank, and rose to the position of receiving teller, but at the time of the organization of the First National Bank of Ridgway, in 1909, he came here as cashier of this institution, a position which he has held to the present time. Mr. Drone inherits his father's ability as a financier and business man, and his pleasant personality has made him many friends among the bank's depositors, as it also has among his business associates. Also, like his father, he has been fond of out-of-door exercises, and is an expert at the game of tennis.
On July 14 ,1908, Mr. Drone was united in marriage with Miss Etta Mary Zipp, of Evansville. They are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, and Mr. Drone is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is financial secretary of the local lodge.