American National Bank, Atlanta, GA (Charter 9105)
American National Bank, Atlanta, GA (Chartered 1908 - Liquidated 1916)
Town History
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, although a portion of the city extends into neighboring DeKalb County. With a population of 498,715 living within the city limits, it is the eighth most populous city in the Southeast and 38th most populous city in the United States according to the 2020 U.S. census. The population in 1880 was 37,409, growing to 89,872 by 1900.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, Atlanta was gradually rebuilt during the Reconstruction era. The work attracted many new residents. Due to the city's superior rail transportation network, the state capital was moved from Milledgeville to Atlanta in 1868. In the 1880 Census, Atlanta had surpassed Savannah as Georgia's largest city.
Beginning in the 1880s, Henry W. Grady, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper, promoted Atlanta to potential investors as a city of the "New South" that would be based upon a modern economy and less reliant on agriculture. By 1885, the founding of the Georgia School of Technology (now Georgia Tech) and the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically Black colleges made up of units for men and women, had established Atlanta as a center for higher education. In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States and International Exposition, which attracted nearly 800,000 attendees and successfully promoted the New South's development to the world.
Atlanta had 12 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 10 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized March 21, 1908
- Chartered April 15, 1908
- Conversion of the Maddox-Rucker Banking Company
- Opened for business April 15, 1908
- Liquidated December 2, 1916
- Consolidated with 1559 (Atlanta NB/Atlanta and LowryNB/FNB, Atlanta, GA)
In 1880, Colonels Maddox and Rucker transformed their cotton, guano and warehousing business into a banking house, starting as the Maddox, Rucker & Company. William L. Peel came to Atlanta from Americus to become cashier. Later, he became vice-president and president of the Maddox-Rucker Banking Company, remaining at the head of that institution when it became the American National Bank in 1908. With Col. R.F. Maddox as president, the banking house opened for business on Alabama Street near Forsyth Street about a block from the permanent location of the American National Bank at South Broad and Alabama Streets. In 1891, the firm was incorporated as the Maddox-Rucker Banking Company with Mr. Maddox as president, Mr. Rucker as vice president, and Mr. Peel as cashier.
The morning of June 6, 1899, Colonel Robert Flournoy Maddox, on of Atlanta's pioneer citizens and leading financiers, died at his home in Atlanta. Colonel Maddox was born in Putnam County on January 3, 1829. His paternal grandfather, Notley Maddox, was a captain of artillery in the revolutionary war. His father was Edward Maddox a plantation owner. His father moved to Troup while R.F. Maddox was a small boy. When not engaged in studies, his father put him to work, despite having plenty of slaves, Edward Maddox believed in the gospel of hard work. When he was 21 he was elected sheriff and accordingly moved to LaGrange to discharge his duties. In 1858, he moved to Atlanta and opened a store on Alabama Street. At the outbreak of war, he organized the Calhoun Guards and was elected their captain. When the 42d Georgia was organized, he was elected lieutenant colonel under Colonel R.J. Henderson. In 1863, he organized the 2d Georgia reserves and was elected colonel. After the final surrender, he returned to Atlanta and began to pick up the bricks and clear away the ruins. In the fall he was elected to the state legislature. He went into the cotton business and in 1879, he took up banking and the manufacture of fertilizer. He was president of the Maddox-Rucker Banking Company and of the Old Dominion Guano Company. He was a member of the Cotton Exposition of 1881. For 30 years he lived at his magnificent home at 183 Peachtree.
The night of January 12, 1900, Colonel J.W. Rucker, president of the Maddox-Rucker banking company died at Palm Beach Inn, Palm Beach, Florida. He was in Palm Beach for the winter as had been his custom for several years past. Mr. R.F. Maddox, second vice president of the bank left for Palm Beach Thursday when news of the serious illness of Mr. Rucker arrived in Atlanta. Colonel Rucker was a native of Wilkes County and came to Atlanta in 1847. After a short residence, he left for California where he remained four years returning to Atlanta in 1853. He was associated in business with D.H. Dougherty and later with W.A. Russell and Colonel R.F. Maddox. His partnership with the late Colonel Maddox began shortly after the war. They entered the tobacco business together, extending the business into a warehouse and cotton company. In 1880, they transformed the business into a banking house which grew into the well-known and extensive Maddox-Rucker Banking Company. At the death of Colonel Maddox a few months ago, Colonel Rucker became president.
A Statement of Condition Cover for the Maddox-Rucker Banking Co. dated Nov. 6, 1907 shows the directors as Wm. L. Peel, Robert. F. Maddox, Thos. J. Peeples, Geo. A. Nicolson, and Benj. L. Lillingham. The officers were Wm. L. Peel, president; Robt. F. Maddox, vice president; Thos. J. Peeples, cashier; Jas. G. Lester and Jas. P. Windsor, assistant cashiers.
On Tuesday, January 11, 1916, J. Epps Brown was elected a director of the American National to succeed B.L. Willingham who had been ill for over a year. The officers re-elected were W.L. Peel, president; R.F. Maddox, vice president; T.J. Peeples, cashier; J.P. Windsor and James F. Alexander, assistant cashiers. The consolidated report as of May 1, 1916, the American National had total resources of $5,944,168.21. Deposits were $4,189,473.82, circulation $484,600, capital stock $600,000, and surplus and undivided profits $670,094.39. The directors were L.H. Beck, B.M. Blount, J. Epps Brown, W.S. Elkin, J.T. Holleman, W.H. Kiser, R.F. Maddox, G.A. Nicolson, W.L. Peel, and T.J. Peeples.
On November 1, 1916, negotiations were completed whereby the American National Bank and the Atlanta National Bank were merged and would conduct future business under the name of the Atlanta National Bank in its own building by that name at the corner of Whitehall and Alabama Streets. Shareholders of the American National would net $210 a share, plus the accrued dividend. In total, the amount was in excess of $1,250,000. The combined deposits of the new bank would be approximately $15 million. Actual physical transfer of the American Bank's business from its old location at the corner of South Broad and Alabama Streets to the Atlanta National Bank Building was effected on the 2d. New officers of the Atlanta National were elected as follows: Charles E. Currier, chairman of directors; Robert F. Maddox, president; Frank F. Block, James S. Floyd, George R. Donovan, and Thomas J. Peeples, vice presidents; J.S. Kennedy, cashier; J.D. Leitner, D.B. DeSaussure, R.B. Cunningham, and James F. Alexander, assistant cashiers. The directors were Charles E. Currier, Robert F. Maddox, Frank E. Block, Jack J. Spalding, Edward H. Inman, Albert E. Thornton, Samuel C. Dobbs, James L. Dickey, Henry R. Durand, James S. Floyd, George R. Donovan, W.L. Peel, J. Epps Brown, J.T. Holleman, and Dr. W.S. Elkin.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The American National Bank of Atlanta, GA
Bank Note Types Issued
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 5000 1902 Red Seal 4x10 1 - 5625 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 60088 1902 Date Back 4x10 1 - 56969
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1908 - 1916):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Atlanta, GA, 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
- The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Wed., July 7, 1880.
- The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, GA, Tue., June 6, 1899.
- The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, GA, Sat., Jan. 13, 1900.
- The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, GA, Fri., Jan. 1, 1915.
- The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Wed., Jan. 12, 1916.
- The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Sun., May 7, 1916.
- The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Thu., Nov. 2, 1916.