8 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NAIURAL SCIENCES. 



nient. He prepared and drafted the Savings Bank Law of the State of 

 Iowa, which was adopted by the Legislature with a single change per- 

 mitting such banks to do a commercial business, a change which has 

 been regarded by financiers as constituting a grave defect. This law 

 guards the interests of depositors by the most stringent prov.sions, has 

 been pronounced a model by the highest authorities, and is extensively 

 noticed by Emerson W. Keyes, in his "History of Savings Banks." 

 It has remained unaltered since its passage, and under its influence the 

 savings banks of the State have been successful beyond hope or 

 precedent, and have largely developed the thrift, prosperity, and high 

 average of intelligence and education, for which Iowa has become so 

 well known. In Davenport alone, with a population of about thirty 

 thousand people, there are now (1897) nearly ten million dollars of 

 deposits, making it pro rata one of the wealthiest cities in the Union. 

 Mr. Putnam contributed articles to various financial journals and books 

 upon the subject of savings banks, besides extended reports and ad- 

 dresses to the directors and depositors of the bank over which he pre- 

 sided, all displaying wide research, and evincing the deepest interest 

 in the subject. 



In 1876 Mr. Putnam was elected President of the First National 

 Bank of Davenport. The affairs of the bank had become seriously 

 involv'.'d, and required the skilful treatment of a firm and experienced 

 hand. This he conscientiously gave through a portion of one year, at 

 great personal sacrifice. After carrying the bank successfully through 

 its troubles he felt compelled to retire, owing to the numerous other 

 demands upon his time. 



Such is a brief outline of Mr. Putnam's professional and business 

 career. This, however, presents but ore phase of his life. His early 

 love for literature, philosophy, art, and science remained with him 

 through life, and always occupied the supreme position in his thoughts. 

 He continued to be a constant reader of books, in every department 

 of literature, science, and philosophy, and gathered at his home one of 

 the largest private libraries in the State, most of the volumes of which 

 he read and mastered. He kept fully abreast of the thought and pro- 

 gress of the world in almost every line of activity, subscribing to, and 

 examining carefully as they appeared, nearly sixty different periodicals, 

 including almost all of the prominent scientific and literary journals. 

 He was a thorough student of all that he read, and his mind was a great 

 storehouse of well-arranged knowledge. He had for many years prior 

 to his death been preparing a large amount of material for several 



