Bellefontaine National Bank, Bellefontaine, OH (Charter 1784)

Postcard image circa 1916 of the Bellefontaine National Bank

The Bellefontaine National Bank of Bellefontaine, OH (Chartered 1871 - Receivership 1933)

Early History

The Bellefontaine National Bank was founded in 1871 through the efforts of founding president William Lawrence, a civil war veteran who went on to serve as the first Comptroller of the United States Treasury (1880-1885).

A drugstore previously stood on the lot on which the bank headquarters would be built. The drugstore was damaged and may have been destroyed as the result of a chemical explosion. In 1892, this building and an adjacent building were torn down and the first official building of the Bellefontaine National Bank was built in its place. The building is depicted in the 1916 postcard image.

Bank History

Postcard image circa 1967 of the Bellefontaine National Bank

In 1899, The Bellefontaine National Bank purchased $15,000 worth of Logan county bridge bonds.

In 1904, the Rushylvania Bank failed, of which the Bellefontaine National Bank was a minority investor. Although many investors were expected to suffer heavy losses, the losses attributed to the Bellefontaine National Bank were initially estimated at $300-$400. J. Duncan McLaughlin was originally identified as the bankruptcy referee. However, since McLaughlin was a director of the Bellefontaine National Bank, which was one of the affected creditors, he had to recuse himself. Shortly thereafter, Robert McCrory was selected as referee by the bankruptcy judge.

In 1924, a minor check fraud incident was reported in which a 19-year-old presented a fraudulent check for $50.

In August 1929, members of the Ohio Bankers' Association visited Bellefontaine on their 4th annual farm tour. Fred Spittle, cashier of the Bellefontaine National Bank was one of the welcoming committee. A visiting banker indicated that farm prosperity appeared so bright that a key area in which bankers would be assisting farmers would be in the "wise investment of profits". Unfortunately, the future would not be so bright for the Bellefontaine National Bank.

Bank Closure

The second building of the Bellefontaine National Bank, erected on the same site as the original and opened in November, 1967.

Bank Notes Issued

1929 Type 1 $10 note signed by Fred C. Spittle, Cashier and Charles S. Hockett, President.

A total of $1,846,750 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1871 and 1933. This consisted of a total of 170,287 notes (150,568 large size and 19,719 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

• Original Series ($1,$2,$5,$10,$20)
• Series 1875 ($10,$20)
• Series 1882 Brown Back ($10,$20)
• Series 1882 Date Back ($10,$20)
• Series 1902 Date Back ($10,$20)
• Series 1902 Plain Back ($10,$20)
• Series 1929 Type 1 small size ($10,$20)
• Series 1929 Type 2 small size ($10,$20)

Official Bank Title(s)

• The Bellefontaine National Bank

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

The Bellefontaine National Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1889 - 1935):

Presidents:

• William Lawrence, 1871 – 1895
• William V. Marquis, 1896 – 1899
• Charles M. McLaughlin, 1900 – 1928
• Charles S. Hockett, 1929 – 1933

Cashiers:

• James Leister, 1871 – 1895
• J. C. Brand Jr., 1896 – 1905
• Earl M. Smith, 1906-1910
• Fred C. Spittle, 1911 – 1933

Other Bank Note Signers

• Charles S. Hockett signed notes as Vice President.
• There are currently no known Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

• Ohio Bank Note History
• General information on Bellefontaine (Wikipedia)
• General information on Logan County (Wikipedia)
• General information on Ohio (Wikipedia)

References

• 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://bbdata.banknotehistory.com