American National Bank, Wichita Falls, TX (Charter 11301)
American NB (No Issue), Wichita Falls, TX (Chartered 1919 - Liquidated 1921)
Town History
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 102,316, making it the 43rd-most populous city in Texas.
American settlers arrived in the 1860s, mainly as cattle ranchers. The city was named Wichita Falls on September 27, 1876, as the Wichita River runs through the area and a waterfall was in the river's course in 1876. Just 10 years later in 1886, a flood destroyed the original waterfall on the Wichita River for which the city was named. After nearly 100 years of visitors wanting to visit the no longer existing falls, the city built an artificial waterfall beside the river in Lucy Park. The recreated falls are 54 ft high and recirculate at 3,500 gallons per minute.
A large petroleum reservoir was discovered just west of the city of Burkburnett, a small town in Wichita County in 1912. Burkburnett and its surrounding communities became boomtowns, experiencing explosive growth of their populations and economies. By 1918, an estimated 20,000 new settlers had taken up residence around the lucrative oil field and many Wichita County residents had become wealthy virtually overnight. As people streamed into the local communities in search of high-paying jobs, the nearby city of Wichita Falls began to grow in importance.
In 1941, Texas cattleman, oilman, and philanthropist, Joseph Sterling Bridwell, sold 300 acres of land to the United States Army for one dollar for Sheppard Field. It was officially opened as a United States Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941, following the arrival of the first military members on 14 June. As the Army Air Corps became the Army Air Forces, facilities were completed sufficiently to allow the first class of 22 aviation mechanics to enter training that October; the class graduated 23 February 1942. During World War II, then-Sheppard Field conducted basic training, and it also trained glider mechanics, technical and flying training instructors and B-29 Superfortress flight engineers. In addition to the basic flying training, the base also provided advanced pilot training. Sheppard Air Force Base is named in honor of Senator John Morris Sheppard of Texas (1875–1941), chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee from 1933 until his death on 9 April 1941. Senator Sheppard helped lead the fight for military preparedness before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Wichita Falls had eight National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and five of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized January 30, 1919
- Chartered February 8, 1919
- 1902PB plate made. Notes printed. None issued
- Absorbed by 3200 (Panhandle National Bank/First NB, Wichita Falls, TX)
- Liquidated October 1, 1921
On Monday, February 10, 1919, the American National Bank, Wichita Falls' newest financial institution, opened its doors for business. The new bank was located at the corner of Seventh Street and Ohio Avenue in the Hines building. Wade E. Hampton, formerly cashier of the Security Bank of Ponca City, Oklahoma, was president of the new bank and R.S. Nixon, formerly cashier of the Pearsall National Bank of Pearsall, Texas, was vice president and cashier. H.S. Griffin, president of the Bank of Dundee and owner of valuable oil and ranch lands was another vice president. Charles Crowell, well-known in Wichita Falls, was assistant cashier. Mr. Hampton had eight years experience in the banking business in his bank at Ponca City where he won many friends among the oil men of that thriving Oklahoma town. It was his plan to make the new bank of of special service to the oil industry in Texas. The bank opened in record time taking just a few weeks since preliminary steps were taken to organize and secure quarters.[2] The directors were prominent in the affairs of Wichita Falls and the Burkburnett field, and included: H.C. Herndon, oil producer; R.E. Marlow, oil and livestock; W.N. Bonner, district judge; J.L. Jackson, real estate and oil; Ed Howard, postmaster; J.B. Marlow, mayor of city; H.S. Griffin, banker and oil producer; L.J. Bryan, oil producer; B.D. Donnell, president, Times Publishing Co.; H.B. Hines, real estate; J.V. Howell, oil operator; D.P. Taylor, owner, Hearn Hotel; Will A. Miller, oil operator; Sam Kruger, jeweler; Phil Kleinman, merchant; Louis Kleinman, merchant; T.R. Dan Boon, attorney; and R.E. Howell, oil operator.[3]
In March 1919, the American National Bank secured the services of F.L. McCoy, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Burkburnett, as its new active vice president. Mr. McCoy began his banking career at the bottom and made rapid and steady progress. He was born near Ferris, Ellis County, Texas. When a small boy his parents moved to Dallas where he received his education in the public schools. About 8 years ago he entered the employ of the First State Bank of Dallas as runner. So well did McCoy perform his work that he was rapidly promoted and on severing his connection with the First State Bank last fall, had served in practically every department of that institution. Mr. McCoy was well-informed as to the oil development in the area and had personal acquaintance with hundreds of the leading operators in Texas, Oklahoma and northern and eastern states. His personal interests in oils and refinery propositions were considerable.[4]
On Friday, December 24, 1920, four new directors were appointed at a meeting of the directors of the American National Bank. The new directors were T.O. Shappell, Ed Howard, Roscoe Stayton, and Joseph A. Kell. Directors also voted to recommend to stockholders in January an increase in the capital stock to $300,000.[5] The controlling interest in this bank was recently acquired by a group of local businessmen headed by Frank Kell, T.J. Taylor, Orville, Bullington, S.W. Sibley and others. Orville Bullington was made president of the bank and T.J. Taylor chairman of the board. The bank was located on the corner of Eighth and Indiana.[6]
In January 1921, the directors were S.W. Sibley, W.N. Bonner, T.J. Taylor, Orville Bullington, J.G. Culbertson, Dr. Charles W. Wallace, Dr. Everett Jones, Joseph A. Kell, T.O. Shappell, A.C. Parker, L.A. Fine, Roscoe Stayton, Ed Howard, H.G. Burlew, and Homer Lee. The officers elected were T.J. Taylor, chairman of the board; Orville Bullington, president; W.W. Sibley, vice president; Homer Lee, vice president and cashier; Rhea Nixon, active vice president; H.G. Burlew, active vice president; Dr. Charles W. Wallace, vice president.[7]
On Saturday night, August 27, 1921, purchase of the assets and deposits of the American National Bank by the First National Bank was jointly announced by the officers of the two institutions. The cash and books of the American National were transferred Sunday and the business of both institutions opened on Monday in the First National Bank. Through this transaction the First National acquired about three quarters of a million in additional deposits, bringing their total deposits to more than $7 million and their total resources to $10.6 million, making the bank one of the largest and strongest financial units in the 11th Federal Reserve District. In addition to the assets and deposits, the First National gained the close personal business association of the men in charge of the affairs of the American National for the past few months, including T.J. Taylor, chairman of the board; Orville Bullington, president; Homer Lee, vice president; and John R. Hyatt, cashier. W.M. McGregor was president of the First National; R.E. Huff, president for nearly a generation was chairman of the board; C.E. McCutchen, L.R. Buchanan, W.D. Cline, and Fred M. Gates, vice presidents; and Carter McGregor, cashier. No statement was made as to the arrangements for the American National banking room. The building was not owned by the bank, but jointly by M.J. Bashara and an investment company.[8]
Official Bank Title
1: The American National Bank of Wichita Falls, TX
Bank Note Types Issued
No National Bank Notes were issued by this bank.
A Series of 1902 50-50-50-100 plate was prepared, but no notes were issued.
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1919 - 1921):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
- Rhea Samuel Nixon, (Sr.), 1919
- Henry Grady Burlew, (Sr.), 1919
- Walter M. Frank, 1920
- Homer Lee, 1921
- John Roscoe Hyatt, 1921
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Wichita Falls, TX, 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
- ↑ Wichita Falls Times, Wichita Falls, TX, Sun., Feb. 9, 1919.
- ↑ Wichita Falls Times, Wichita Falls, TX, Sun., Feb. 9, 1919.
- ↑ Wichita Falls Times, Wichita Falls, TX, Sun., Mar. 9, 1919.
- ↑ Wichita Falls Times, Wichita Falls, TX, Sun., Mar. 23, 1919.
- ↑ Wichita Falls Times, Wichita Falls, TX, Sat., Dec. 25, 1920.
- ↑ Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX, Sat., Dec. 25, 1920.
- ↑ Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX, Wed., Jan. 12, 1921.
- ↑ Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX, Sun., Aug. 28, 1921.