Central National Bank, Columbia, PA (Charter 3873)

The Central National Bank of Columbia, Pennsylvania, located on 325 Locust Street, ca2022. Courtesy of Google Maps

Central National Bank, Columbia, PA (Chartered 1888 - Open past 1935)

Town History

Columbia, formerly Wright's Ferry, is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg, on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, across from Wrightsville and York County and just south of U.S. Route 30.

The settlement was founded in 1726 by Colonial English Quakers from Chester County, led by entrepreneur and evangelist John Wright. Establishment of the eponymous Wright's Ferry, the first commercial Susquehanna crossing in the region, inflamed territorial conflict with neighboring Maryland but brought growth and prosperity to the small town, which was just a few votes shy of becoming the new United States' capital. Though besieged for a short while by Civil War destruction, Columbia remained a lively center of transport and industry throughout the 19th century, once serving as a terminus of the Pennsylvania Canal. Later, however, the Great Depression and 20th-century changes in economy and technology sent the borough into decline. It is notable today as the site of one of the world's few museums devoted entirely to horology.

In 1724, John Wright, an English Quaker, traveled to the Columbia area (then a part of Chester County) to explore the land and proselytize to a Native American tribe, the Shawnee, who had established a settlement along Shawnee Creek. Wright built a log cabin nearby on a tract of land first granted to George Beale by William Penn in 1699, and stayed for more than a year. The area was then known as "Shawanatown".

When Wright returned in 1726 with companions Robert Barber and Samuel Blunston, they began developing the area, Wright building a house about a hundred yards from the edge of the Susquehanna River in the area of today's South Second and Union streets. Susanna Wright later built Wright's Ferry Mansion, what is now the oldest existing house in Columbia, dating to 1738. She lived in this house with her brother James and his wife Rhoda, and possibly the first of their many children. In 1729, after Wright had petitioned William Penn's son to create a new county, the provincial government took land from Chester County to establish Lancaster County, the fourth county in Pennsylvania. County residents – Indians and colonists alike – regularly traveled to Wright's home to file papers and claims, seek government assistance and redress of issues, and register land deeds. The area was particularly attractive to Pennsylvania Dutch settlers. During this time, the town was called "Wright's Ferry".

As of the 2020 census, Columbia had a population of 10,222. In 1860 the population was 5,007, peaking in 1900 at 12,316.

Columbia had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes. In addition to the Central National Bank (Charter 3873), there were the First National Bank (Charter 371) and the Columbia National Bank, (Charter 641)

Bank History

Organized March 5, 1888
Chartered April 21, 1888
Bank was Open past 1935
Merged with the National Bank and Trust Company of Central Pennsylvania, York, PA on January 30, 1967

On March 5, 1888, the meeting of the subscribers for the new national bank of Columbia was held at Maennorchor Hall. The meeting was very enthusiastic with more applications for stock being received than could be supplied, and the outlook was very favorable. A.J. Kauffman, esq., presided, and John B. Wisler acted as secretary. The following board of directors were chosen: F.A. Bennett, J.A. Minich, P.S. Brugh, Frank Shillott, William Morris, Vernon Ellis, Henry Westerman, A.J. Kauffman, J.H. Landis, Jonas H. Nolt, A.J. Duden, D.B. Case, A.H. Mellinger. The new financial institution would be known as the Central National Bank of Columbia. On March 8th the board organized by electing Andrew J. Kauffman, president and Joseph H. Zeamer, cashier. The capital stock was $100,000 and was fully subscribed.

In January 1889, the directors elected were: Jacob H. Bender, D.B. Case, Andrew J. Kauffman, John H. Landis, Jacob Minnich, Wm. Morris, Andrew J. Musser, Jonas H. Nolt, Amos W. Rogers, Frank Shillott, and Henry Westerman.

On Tuesday, January 10, 1899, the stockholders elected the following directors: Jacob H. Bender, D.B. Case, A.G. Guiles, A.J. Kauffman, Jos. Knapp, Wm. Morris, A.J. Musser, Jonas N. Nolt, Andrew G. Nissley, A.W. Rogers, Chas. Rochow, Frank Shillott, and Henry Westerman.

On Tuesday, January 10, 1899, the stockholders elected the following directors: Jacob H. Bender, C.G. Garber, Frank S. Given, A.G. Guiles, B.F. Heise, Joseph Knapp, Dr. C.F. Markel, A.J. Musser, Andrew G. Nissley, Dr. A.W. Rogers, Frank Shillott, W.K. Shultz and Henry Westerman.

On Tuesday, January 13, 1899, the stockholders elected the following directors: Jacob H. Bender, C.G. Garber, Frank S. Given, S.W. Guiles, B.F. Heise, Joseph Knapp, Dr. C.F. Markel, Andrew G. Nissley, Frank Shillott, William K. Shultz, Henry Westerman, and Joseph H. Zeamer.

On January 9, 1917, the directors were: Jacob H. Bender, C.C. Garber, Frank S. Given, S.W. Guiles, B.F. Heise, C.F. Markel, Andrew G. Nissley, H.B. Roop, Frank Shlllott, Henry Westerman and J.H. Zeamer.

In March 1930, the officers were Roy K. Garber, Pres.; Conrad Bitner, Jr., Vice Pres.; John J. Dietrich, Cashier. The directors were Conrad Bittner, Jr., Hiestand Frey, Frank S. Given, B. Frank Heise, H.A. Menchey, Charles B. Westerman, Roy K. Garber, Abram Bender, I.N. Musser, P.P. Dattisman, and H. Baylinson. The bank expanded its capital from $125,000 to $200,000 and the stock was split five for one with a new par value of $20. The institution was originally capitalized at $100,000 and in 1923, the capital was increased to $125,000.

In October 1966, stockholders approved the merger of the Central National Bank of Columbia and the National Bank and Trust Company of Central Pennsylvania, under the latter's charter and name. Central National of Columbia, as of last April 5, had total assets of $6,737,946. John J. Dietrich, president of Central National would become a vice president of National Central and chairman of the Columbia office's advisory board. National Central had 18 offices, 10 in York County, seven in Dauphin County and one in Cumberland County. Upon approval the merger would give National Central it first office in Lancaster County.

The Comptroller of the Currency approved the merger effective January 30, 1967. The bank's office at 325 Locust Street, Columbia, increased to 19 the number of full-service offices operated by National Central Bank. The addition of Central National's approximately $7 million in assets raised the total resources of National Central Bank to more than $228 million. Along with John J. Dietrich, the other members of the new Columbia Advisory board were: Harry Baylinson, Paul R. Beshler, William J. Blank, C. Ivan Herr, Paul M. Metzger, N.K. Musser, and Ralph Westerman, all of whom were members of the board of directors of Central National Bank.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The Central National Bank of Columbia, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with printed signatures of John J. Dietrich, Cashier and Roy K. Garber, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1929 Type 1 $5 bank note with printed signatures of John J. Dietrich, Cashier and Roy K. Garber, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $1,867,320 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1888 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 190,985 notes (94,632 large size and 96,353 small size notes).

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

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 4508
1902 Red Seal	3x10-20	1 - 800
1902 Date Back	3x10-20	1 - 4200
1902 Plain Back	3x10-20	4201 - 18350
1929 Type 1	6x5	1 - 6910
1929 Type 1	6x10	1 - 3632
1929 Type 1	6x20	1 - 414
1929 Type 2	5	1 - 19330
1929 Type 2	10	1 - 11287

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1888 - 1936):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

Columbia, PA, 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
Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA, Tue., Mar. 6, 1888.
The Philadelphia Times, Philadelphia, PA, Fri., Mar. 9, 1888.
The Semi-Weekly New Era, Lancaster, PA, Sat., Jan. 12, 1889.
The Semi-Weekly New Era, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 11, 1899.
The Daily New Era, Lancaster, PA, Tue., Jan. 11, 1910.
The Semi-Weekly New Era, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 14, 1914.
Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1917.
Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA, Sat., Mar. 15, 1930.
The Gazette and Daily, York, PA, Thu., Oct. 13, 1966.
The Gazette and Daily, York, PA, Thu., Oct. 13, 1966.
The Gazette and Daily, York, PA, Wed., Jan. 4, 1967