Burnes National Bank, Saint Joseph, MO (Charter 8021)
Burnes National Bank, Saint Joseph, MO (Chartered 1905 - Open past 1935)
Town History
St. Joseph is a city in Andrew and Buchanan counties and the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Located on the Missouri River, it is the principal city of the St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Buchanan, Andrew, and DeKalb counties in Missouri and Doniphan County, Kansas. As of the 2020 census, St. Joseph had a total population of 72,473, making it the 8th most populous city in the state, and the 3rd most populous in Northwest Missouri. St. Joseph is located roughly 30 miles north of the Kansas City, Missouri, and approximately 125 miles south of Omaha, Nebraska. The city was named after the town's founder Joseph Robidoux and the biblical Saint Joseph. St. Joseph is home to Missouri Western State University.
St. Joseph was founded on the Missouri River by Joseph Robidoux, a local fur trader of French Canadian descent. It was officially incorporated in 1843. In its early days, it was a bustling outpost and rough frontier town, serving as a last supply point and jumping-off point for travelers on the Missouri River toward the "Wild West". It was the westernmost point in the United States accessible by rail until after the American Civil War. The main east–west downtown streets were named for Robidoux's eight children: Faraon, Jules, Francois (Francis), Felix, Edmond, Charles, Sylvanie, and Messanie. The street between Sylvanie and Messanie was named for his second wife, Angelique.
St. Joseph, or "St. Joe", as it was called by many, was a "Jumping-Off Point" for those migrants headed to the Oregon Territory in the mid-1800s. Such cities, including Independence, and St. Joseph, were where pioneers would stay and purchase supplies before they headed out in wagon trains across the Great Plains. The town was a very lively place.
Between April 3, 1860, and late October 1861, St. Joseph was one of the two endpoints of the Pony Express, which operated for a short period over the land then inaccessible by rail, to provide fast mail service. Today the Pony Express Museum hosts visitors in the former stables of the company. St. Joseph is identified by the slogan, "Where the Pony Express started and Jesse James ended."
Outlaw Jesse James lived here under the alias "Mr. Howard". The song, "Jesse James", includes the lines, "...that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard has laid poor Jesse in his grave." On April 3, 1882, James was killed at his home, originally located at 1318 Lafayette. It has been relocated next to the Patee House and still has the visible bullet hole from the fatal shot. It is now operated as the Jesse James Home Museum.
Saint Joseph had ten National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all ten of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized December 16, 1905
- Chartered December 26, 1905
- Opened for business January 2, 1906
- Bank was Open past 1935
In December 1905, Lewis C. Burnes and others organized the Burnes National Bank with a capital of $200,000. The new bank planned to open for business on January 1st in the building occupied by Rositzky Brothers at 120 North Fourth Street. Among the directors of the institution were L.C. Burnes, James N. Burnes, James H. McCord, John D. Richardson, J.A. Johnston, Charles E. Woodbury, Henry J. Mueller, R.W. Powell, R.M. Stevenson, a banker at Tarkio, Missouri, and David R. Francis of St. Louis, formerly president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company. The building leased at 120 North Fourth Street was the first home of Tootle Lemon & Co., bankers, until that bank moved to the Saxton & Hendrick building on Felix Street. Rositzky Brothers were moving their stock out of their present quarters to give possession to the new bank. Lewis C. Burnes was president of the National Bank of St. Joseph until that institution was purchased by the First National Bank of Buchanan County in November. It was understood that Mr. Burnes made application for a charter for the "St. Joseph National Bank." This application was denied by the comptroller of the currency because the title was so similar to the National Bank of St. Joseph. When the application was denied, Mr. Burnes applied for a charter in the name of the "Burnes National Bank."[1]
On December 18, 1905, the Empire Trust Company opened its doors to the public at 402 Francis Street. This company was backed largely by the Burnes interests. James N. Burnes, a brother of L.C. Burnes at the head of the new Burnes National Bank, who had been in the insurance and loan business in St. Joseph for a number of years was president of the trust company. The other officers were R.P. Powell, vice president; and W.P. Hoehn, secretary. The directors were W.H. Curtin, J.H. Van Brunt, C.M. Carter, L.C. Hamilton, J.N. Burnes, H.L. Stevenson, R.W. Powell, Soughton Walker, James Berlingett, John A. Johnston, and W.P. Hoehn.[2]
On December 23, 1905, a telegram was received from the comptroller of the currency that the charter for the Burnes National Bank of St. Joseph had been issued.[3] The legion of patrons of the old National Bank of St. Joseph were glad to see the old institution with a slight change in the name would again be launched as The Burnes National Bank of St. Joseph. The bank planned to open its doors to the public on or about January 1st. Mr. L.C. Burnes was at the head of the bank. The name of Burnes had been connected with banking institutions in St. Joseph for a third of a century.[4] The Burnes National had capital of $200,000 and the following directors: Jas. H. McCord, J.A. Johnston, John D. Richardson, H.J. Mueller, R.W. Powell, W.H. Curtin, Jas. N. Burnes, Chas. E. Woodbury, L.C. Burnes, Gov. D.R. Francis of St. Louis, and R.M. Stevenson of Tarkio. The officers were L.C. Burnes, president; J.H. McCord, J.A. Johnston, and James N. Burnes, vice presidents; and George A. Nelson, cashier.[5]
In December 1906, John J. Walsh was made assistant cashier of the Burnes National Bank. The many friends of "Jack" Walsh throughout the city were pleased to learn of this honor to a thoroughly reliable and courteous gentleman. Mr. Walsh had been paying teller and was regarded as one of the most competent young men in St. Joseph banks.[6]
On June 27, 1908, the fine Italian marble ordered especially from the quarries in Italy arrived in New York. The marble was destined for the new interior of the building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Felix Streets occupied by Block Brothers.[7] The Padanadaca marble was shipped in crates and because of its worth was not made into carload lots. It along with the fixtures and other material ordered would be placed in storage until the contractors were ready to begin work. Opening was planned for September 12th according to Cashier George Nelson. The main entrance would be on Fifth Street.[8] The Burnes National Bank occupied its new building in October with the public invited to visit on Wednesday, October 21st.[9] The interior of the old Block building received bank counters made of Pavonazza marble and solid bronze. The floor space was 40 by 70, much larger than the quarters at Fourth Street. The floors were marble. Offices of the bank officials were on the east side of the lobby. On the west side, an elegant waiting room was provided for women patrons. The safe was a massive affair and the vault was equipped with a triple movement time lock and large silver case inside. The door weighed 7 1/2 tons.[10]
In December 1908, the directors were James H. McCord, president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co.; Henry J. Mueller, manager, National Biscuit Co.; Wm. H. Curtin, manager, Wyeth Hdw. & Mfg. Co.; R.M. Stevenson, vice president, Tarkio Valley Bank, Tarkio; Jas. N. Burnes, president, The Empire Trust Co.; R.W. Powell, vice president, John S. Brittain Dry Goods Co.; Jno. D. Richardson, president, Richardson Dry Goods Co.; Chas. J. Schenecker, vice president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co.; Charles Ardery, president, Johnson-Woodbury Hat Co.; Lewis C. Burnes, president; and Geo. A. Nelson, cashier. The officers were L.C. Burnes, president; Jas. H. McCord and Jas. N. Burnes, vice presidents; Geo. A. Nelson, cashier; Jno. J. Walsh and I.N. Weinman, assistant cashiers. The bank had capital and surplus of $250,000 and was located at Fifth & Felix Streets.[11]
In January 1918, the directors were Jno. D. Richardson, chairman, and president, Richardson Dry Goods Co.; R.W. Powell, president, John S. Brittain Dry Goods Co.; Henry J. Mueller, president, Mueller-Keller Candy Co.; Ralph E. Costigan, president, Noyes-Norman Shoe Co.; Charles Ardery, president, Johnston-Woodbury Hat Co.; Chas. J. Schenecker, vice president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co.; Wm. H. Curtin, Sec. Hdw. Dept., Wyeth Hdw., & Mfg. Co.; William Albrecht, president, Western Tablet Co.; Calvin C. Burnes, assistant cashier; Geo. A. Nelson, cashier, and Jas. H. McCord, president, and president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co. The officers were Jas. H. McCord, president; Geo. A. Nelson, cashier; Jno. J. Walsh and Calvin C. Burnes, assistant cashiers.[12]
In February 1925, the directors were Fred R. Castle, John S. Brittain, Ralph E. Costigan, Chas. J. Schenecker, Fred M. Keller, William H. Curtin, William Albrecht, J.H. McCord, Calvin C. Burnes, George A. Nelson, and W.W. Wheeler, Jr. The officers were Chas. J. Schenecker, chairman of the board; George A. Nelson, president; Calvin C. Burnes, vice president; John J. Walsh, cashier; Milo L. Chute, Oliver F. Roth and J.W. Kost, assistant cashiers.[13]
In 1929, the directors were Chas. J. Schenecker, vice president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co.; William Albrecht, president, Western Tablet & Stationery Co.; R.E. Costigan, Trustee, Noyes Estate; William H. Curtin, General sales mgr., Wyeth Hdw. & Mfg. Co.; Fred M. Keller, president Mueller-Keller Candy Co.; Jas. H. McCord, vice president, Nave-McCord Mercantile Co.; W.W. Wheeler, Jr., Treasurer, Wheeler & Motter Mercantile Co.; Calvin C. Burnes, vice president; and Geo. A. Nelson, president.[14]
On Tuesday, January 9, 1940, stockholders elected the following directors: Roy F. Nelson, Charles A. Bailey, W.W. Wheeler, Jr., R.E. Costigan, Calvin C. Burnes, J.H. McCord, Jr., and John J. Walsh. The officers elected were Calvin C. Burnes, president; J.H. McCord, Jr., vice president; John J. Walsh, vice president and cashier; and Oliver F. Roth and J.W. Kost, assistant cashiers.[15]
At the close of business, Saturday, March 15, 1941, F.L. Ford, president of the First National Bank announced the purchase of the Burnes National Bank. The deposits of the Burnes bank amounted to approximately $4,000,000 while First National deposits totaled about $10,500,000. The First Banks included the First National Bank, First St. Joseph Stock Yards Bank and the First Trust Company. As a result of the latest transaction, these institution had combined deposits of more than $18,600,00. J.J. Walsh, vice president and cashier of the Burnes National, was retained and made an assistant vice president. Regarding the sale of the business, Mr. Burnes issued the following statement: “It is with regret that I have announced on behalf of the Burnes National Bank of St. Joseph its retirement from business. Today, we are in the most liquid condition in our history, and in the interests of our depositors and stockholders are in every way fully protected. We feel proud of our years of service to the community and are confident that the banking facilities of St. Joseph are adequate to serve the needs of the community.”[16]
Monday night, April 2, 1962, Calvin Carr Burnes, retired-president of the former Burnes National Bank, died in his sleep at his home in Lausanne, Switzerland. Word of his death was received in St. Joseph by a close friend, William M. Morton Sr., in a telephone call from Mr. Burnes' wife, Mrs. Marjorie Cox Burnes. The Burnes' maintained their home at 2821 Ashland Avenue until several years ago, when they moved to San Francisco. They later went to Switzerland to be near their children. Mr. Burnes, 69, was born in St. Joseph, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lewis C. Burnes. He attended Andover Academy, Andover, Mass., and graduated from Yale University, New Haven, Conn. In 1917, Mr. Burnes enlisted in the army, serving in the motor transport corps and field artillery. He achieved the rank of first lieutenant. After leaving the service, he entered the bank founded by his father in 1905. Calvin C. Burnes held nearly every position in the Burnes National Bank before being named its president in 1937. The Burnes National was first located on Fourth Street between Felix and Francis Streets, then at the northwest corner of Fifth and Felix, and for the next 25 years at the southwest corner of Fifth and Felix Streets in the Corby building. In 1941, the Burnes National was purchased by the First National Bank. In addition to his wife whom he married in 1935, Mr. Burnes was survived by a daughter, Mrs. Mardi Spurney, Lausanne, a son, Calvin C. Burnes, Jr., also of Lausanne, a sister, Mrs. William W. Wheeler, Jr., St. Joseph and a number of nieces and nephews.[17]
Official Bank Title
1: The Burnes National Bank of St. Joseph, MO
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $2,155,630 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1905 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 261,512 notes (206,436 large size and 55,076 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 - 3000 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 11330 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 9900 1902 Plain Back 4x5 11331 - 28170 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 9901 - 20439 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 4848 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 2188 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 592 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 5502 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 3111 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 695
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1905 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Lewis Calvin Burnes, 1906-1915
- James Hamilton McCord, 1916-1921
- John D. Richardson, 1923-1923
- George Adney Nelson, 1924-1931
- Charles Joseph Schenecker, 1932-1935
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Saint Joseph, MO, 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
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO, Mon., Dec. 11, 1905.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Jan. 27, 1906.
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Dec. 23, 1905.
- ↑ The Catholic Tribune, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Dec. 23, 1905.
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Dec. 23, 1905.
- ↑ The Catholic Tribune, St. Joseph, MO, Sat. Dec. 15, 1906.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Sun., June 28, 1908.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., July 18, 1908.
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, Sat., Oct. 17, 1908.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Wed., Oct. 21, 1908.
- ↑ The Catholic Tribune, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Dec. 5, 1908.
- ↑ The Catholic Tribune, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Jan. 5, 1918.
- ↑ St. Joseph Observer, St. Joseph, MO, Fri., Feb. 20, 1925.
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO, Sat., Feb. 23, 1929.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Wed., Jan. 10, 1940.
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO, Sun., Mar. 16, 1941.
- ↑ St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, MO, Wed., Apr. 4, 1962.