Alexandria National Bank, Alexandria, VA (Charter 7093)
Alexandria National Bank, Alexandria, VA (Chartered 1904 - Closed (Merger) 1978)
Town History
Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately 7 miles south of downtown Washington, DC. Alexandria is the third-largest "principal city" of the Washington metropolitan area which is part of the larger Washington-Baltimore combined statistical area.
In 2020, the population was 159,467, making it the 6th most populous city in Virginia and the 169th most populous city in the nation. The city's estimated population has grown by 1% annually since 2010 on average.
Like the rest of Northern Virginia and Central Maryland, modern Alexandria has been influenced by its proximity to the U.S. capital. It is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service, in the U.S. military, or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government.
On October 21, 1669, a patent granted 6,000 acres to Robert Howsing for transporting 120 people to the Colony of Virginia. That tract would later become the City of Alexandria. Virginia's comprehensive Tobacco Inspection Law of 1730 mandated that all tobacco grown in the colony must be brought to locally designated public warehouses for inspection before sale. One of the sites designated for a warehouse on the upper Potomac River was at the mouth of Hunting Creek. However, the ground proved to be unsuitable, and the warehouse was built half a mile up-river, where the water was deep near the shore.
Following the 1745 settlement of the Virginia's 10-year dispute with Lord Fairfax over the western boundary of the Northern Neck Proprietary, when the Privy Council in London found in favor of Lord Fairfax's expanded claim, some of the Fairfax County gentry formed the Ohio Company of Virginia. They intended to conduct trade into the interior of America, and they required a trading center near the head of navigation on the Potomac. The best location was Hunting Creek tobacco warehouse, since the deep water could easily accommodate sailing ships. Many local tobacco planters, however, wanted a new town further up Hunting Creek, away from nonproductive fields along the river.
Around 1746, Captain Philip Alexander II (1704–1753) moved to what is south of present Duke Street in Alexandria. His estate, which consisted of 500 acres, was bounded by Hunting Creek, Hooff's Run, the Potomac River, and approximately the line which would become Cameron Street. At the opening of Virginia's 1748–49 legislative session, there was a petition submitted in the House of Burgesses on November 1, 1748, that the "inhabitants of Fairfax (Co.) praying that a town may be established at Hunting Creek Warehouse on Potowmack River," as Hugh West was the owner of the warehouse. The petition was introduced by Lawrence Washington, the representative for Fairfax County and, more importantly, the son-in-law of William Fairfax and a founding member of the Ohio Company. To support the company's push for a town on the river, Lawrence's younger brother George Washington, an aspiring surveyor, made a sketch of the shoreline touting the advantages of the tobacco warehouse site.
Since the river site was amidst his estate, Philip opposed the idea and strongly favored a site at the head of Hunting Creek (also known as Great Hunting Creek). It has been said that in order to avoid a predicament the petitioners offered to name the new town Alexandria, in honor of Philip's family. As a result, Philip and his cousin Captain John Alexander (1711–1763) gave land to assist in the development of Alexandria, and are thus listed as the founders. This John was the son of Robert Alexander II (1688–1735). On May 2, 1749, the House of Burgesses approved the river location and ordered "Mr. Washington do go up with a Message to the Council and acquaint them that this House have agreed to the Amendments titled An Act for erecting a Town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax." A "Public Vendue" (auction) was advertised for July, and the county surveyor laid out street lanes and town lots. The auction was conducted on July 13–14, 1749.
A portion of the City of Alexandria—most of the area now known as Old Town as well as the areas of the city northeast of what is now King Street—and all of today's Arlington County share the distinction of having been the portion of Virginia ceded to the U.S. Government in 1791 to help form the new District of Columbia. Over time, a movement grew to separate what was called "Alexandria County" from the District of Columbia. As competition grew with the port of Georgetown and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal fostered development on the north side of the Potomac River, Alexandria's economy stagnated; at the same time, residents had lost any representation in Congress and the right to vote, and were disappointed with the negligible economic benefit (on the Alexandria side) of being part of the national capital. Alexandria still had an important port and market in the slave trade, and as talk increased of abolishing slavery in the national capital, there was concern that Alexandria's economy would suffer greatly if this step were taken. After a referendum, voters petitioned Congress and Virginia to return the portion of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac River (Alexandria County) to Virginia. On July 9, 1846, Congress retroceded Alexandria County to Virginia. The City of Alexandria was re-chartered in 1852 and became independent of Alexandria County in 1870. The remaining portion of Alexandria County changed its name to Arlington County in 1920.
Alexandria had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized November 12, 1903
- Chartered January 11, 1904
- Opened for business March 9, 1904
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Merged with Arlington Trust Company and Clarendon Bank & Trust without government assistance, April 1, 1978
In October 1903, the comptroller of the currency approved the application of the following gentlemen to organize the Alexandria National Bank with capital of $100,000: C.E. Nicol, William B. Smoot, S. Russell Smith, S.J. Johnston, E.L. Cockrell, Henry F. Robertson, H.A. Thompson, O.R. Hill, and W.A. Smoot, Jr. There was rumor that Judge Nicol would not resign his position on the bench to become president of the new bank. There was no law that prevented his holding both positions, although it was understood that he would not continue in his position as judge and accept the presidency of the trust company that in the future was planned in connection with the national bank. A building at the corner of King and Royal Streets was purchased and would be overhauled at once. The many friends of Judge Nicol were glad to hear that he would not retire from the bench.
In November 1903, the officers in control of the bank were Judge C.E. Nicoll of Manassas, president; W.B. Smoot of Alexandrea, first vice president; S. Russell Smith of Culpeper, second vice president; H.A. Thompson of Leesburg, third vice president. The cashier was Mr. Thomas Smith of Culpeper who was connected with the Culpeper National Bank. The directors were E.B. White, S.J.J. Johnston of Leesburg; E.L. Cockrell of Washington; John A. Marshall of Alexandria; George R. Hill, W.A. Smoot, Jr., and Walter Roberts of Alexandria.
In February 1912, the officers were Judge C.E. Nicol, president; Wm. B. Smoot, vice president; John A. Marshall, vice president; T.C. Smith, vice president and cashier; and J.L. Perry, assistant cashier. The bank had capital of $100,000 and was located on the corner of King and Royal Streets.
In July 1913, the Arlington Trust Company of Rosslyn was granted a charter by the State Corporation Commission with a capital stock of from $50,000 to $100,000. The officers were E. Wiley Stearns, president, Washington; W.C. Wibirt, vice president, Arlington; C.T. Merchant, secretary and treasurer, Washington. The Arlington National Bank of Rosslyn, Virginia, was succeeded by the Arlington Trust Company in January 1914.
On Monday, May 14, 1928, Judge Howard W. Smith was elected president to succeed Judge Samuel G. Brent who died on May 6th.
In January 1978, stockholders of Alexandria National Bank of Northern Virginia, Arlington Trust Company, and Clarendon Bank & Trust approved the merger of the three banks. The merger would be completed in early spring according to E. Guy Ridgely, chairman of the board and president of the Alexandria Bank. The three Northern Virginia banks were members of Financial General Bankshares Inc. In February, the board of Financial General voted to submit to the shareholders a recommendation to change the holding company's name to First American Bankshares Inc., in order to develop a single identity for the holding company and its principal banks in the Virginia and Maryland region. In April, First American Bank of Virginia was created by the merger of Alexandria National Bank, Arlington Trust Co., and Clarendon Bank & Trust. Milton L. Drewer was president and chief executive officer.
Timeline from FDIC History website:
- 01/10/1972 Main Office moved to 330 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22313.
- 11/15/1973 Changed Institution Name to Alexandria National Bank of Northern Virginia.
- 11/15/1973 Main Office moved to 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA 22150.
- 04/01/1978 Merged and became part of Arlington Trust Company, Incorporated (FDIC #18956) in Herndon, VA.
- 04/01/1978 Changed Institution Name to First American Bank of Virginia.
- 10/27/1993 Merged and became part of First Union National Bank of Virginia (FDIC #6904) in Roanoke County, VA.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: Alexandria National Bank, Alexandria, VA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $2,618,220 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1904 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 210,894 notes (158,976 large size and 51,918 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 6000 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 9000 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 9001 - 33744 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 5490 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1460 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 7794 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 2424
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1904 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Judge Charles Edgar Nicol, 1904-1924
- Judge Samuel Gordon Brent, 1925-1927
- Hon. Howard Worth Smith, 1928-1935
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Alexandria, VA, on Wikipedia
- Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
- Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, VA, Sat., Oct. 17, 1903.
- Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, VA, Thu., Oct. 29, 1903.
- Evening Star, Washington, DC, Mon., Nov. 2, 1903.
- Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, VA, Tue., Feb. 27, 1912.
- Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, VA, Thu., July 10, 1913.
- The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, Wed., May 16, 1928.
- Potomac News, Woodbridge, VA, Fri., Jan. 27, 1978.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA, Fri., Feb. 24, 1978.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA, Sat., Oct. 21, 1978.