Evansville National Bank, Evansville, IN (Charter 730)

Postcard of the Old State National Bank of Evansville, Indiana, occupied since 1838. In 1916, the Loyal Order of Moose No. 85 purchased and remodeled the old State National Bank building, 20 Main Street for approximately $50,000. The building was opened for public inspection on December 22, 1916. Courtesy of David Grant

Evansville National Bank, Evansville, IN (Chartered 1865 - Liquidated 1885)

Town History

Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, and its county seat. With a population of 118,414 at the 2020 census, it is Indiana's 3rd-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the most populous city in Southern Indiana, and the 249th-most populous city in the United States. It is the central city of the Evansville metropolitan area, a hub of commercial, medical, and cultural activity of southwestern Indiana and the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky tri-state area, which is home to over 911,000 people. The 38th parallel north crosses the north side of the city and is marked on Interstate 69 immediately north of its junction with Indiana 62 within the city's east side.

Situated on an oxbow in the Ohio River, the city is often referred to as the "Crescent Valley" or "River City". Early French explorers named it La Belle Rivière ("The Beautiful River"). The area has been inhabited by various indigenous cultures for millennia, dating back at least 10,000 years. Angel Mounds was a permanent settlement of the Mississippian culture from AD 1000 to around 1400. The city of Evansville was founded in 1812.

Evansville had 13 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all 13 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

Photo of the Old National Bank of Evanston, Indiana. Courtesy of David Grant

• Organized January 3, 1865
• Chartered January 19, 1865
• Liquidated January 3, 1885
• Succeeded by 3281 (Old National Bank, Evansville, IN)

On Wednesday, March 4, 1857, the Evansville branch of the new State Bank was organized and the following gentlemen were elected directors: Geo. W. Rathbone, Robert Parrett, H.Q. Wheeler, George Foster and Robert R. Roberts. At a meeting of the board, the following officers were chosen: Geo. W. Rathbone, president; and Samuel Bayard, cashier. The branch would be ready for business on May 18th.

On November 1, 1863, the directors of the Bank of Mt. Vernon ordered that the bank go into voluntary liquidation. Holders of notes were requested to present them for redemption within two years from this date. W.J. Lowry was cashier.

The office of W.J. Lowry & Co., bankers, opened for a general banking and exchange business on May 23, 1864. The bank was located at No. 1, First Street, Evansville, Indiana, and the officers were Wm. J. Lowary, Samuel Ward, Geo. W. Rathbone and Philip C. Decker. The parties were well-known and their high character, large experience in banking and ample means were thought to guarantee good management and their success.

On January 19, 1865, Hugh McCulloch, Comptroller of the Currency, authorized "The Evansville National Bank," to commence the business of banking. The authorized capital was $1,000,000, subscribed capital $300,000, and paid-in capital $150,000. Stockholders were Wm. J. Lowry, Geo. W. Rathbone, David J. Mackey, Levi Igleheart, Sam'l M. Archer, Sam'l Bayard, Robt. K. Kunkerson, Samuel Orr, Geo. P. Hudspeth, Geo. R. Preston, Wm. Heilman, Robt. R. Roberts of Evansville; Jas. F.D. Lanier of New York; N.G. Nettleton of Cincinnati. The officers were William J. Lowry, president; Samuel Orr, vice president; and Robert R. Roberts, cashier. The directors were Wm. J. Lowry, Sam'l Orr, D.J. Mackey, Geo. P. Hudspeth, Rob't K. Dunkerson, Samuel M. Archer, and Robert R. Roberts. The bank would open for business at the corner of Main and Water Streets under Brown Dunkerson & Co.'s office on Manday, February 20th.

In January 1869, there was a unanimous vote for directors and the old board was re-elected except that Mr. Dunkerson was chosen to fill a vacancy. The board was as follows: George W. Rathbone, Samuel Bayard, Samuel Orr, David J. Mackey, Matthew Dalzell, Wm. Heilman, Samuel M. Archer, George R. Preston, and Robert K. Dunkerson.

In July 1874, notice was given of the purchase of the interest of Samuel Bayard and Philip C. Decker in the firm of W.J. Lowry & Co. by the heirs of W.J. Lowry. The business of the bank would continue in the same banking house without other changes by the heirs of the estate and under the same management as for the past two years. On Thursday, October 1, 1874, the absorption of the banking house of W.J. Lowry & Co. by the newly organized Citizens National Bank took effect. Mr. S.P. Gillett, manager of the former, was cashier of the later. The new institution commenced business under very favorable auspices. The stock of the Citizens National Bank was distributed among a large number of active businessmen which would serve to popularize it.

On Wednesday, February 8, 1882, the people of Evansville were startled by the announcement that Mr. Samuel Orr was dying. Only a week ago, on Monday, he was seen on horse back, his favorite exercise, on the street, and on Tuesday of last week he visited the Evansville National Bank, of which he had long been a director. The news spread rapidly, and created consternation among the citizens, and when, late in the evening, it was announced that he was dead, a deep gloom settled like a pall over the city. Samuel Orr was born in Newtonards, County Down, Northern Ireland in September 1810, and at the time of his death was in the 72ud year of his age. He came to the United States with his wife in 1833, and stopped for two years in Pittsburgh where he obtained employment, and came to Evansville in 1835 and engaged in buying pork, and merchandising. In 1836 he was the organizer of the firm of A. Laughlin & Co. of which Alexander and James Laughlin and Samuel Orr were members. Mr. Orr soon became sole manager, and the house with various members grew and prospered up to the present time. In 1866 his only son James L. Orr and James Davidson, who bad long been in the employ of the house were admitted to a co-partnership and since then the firm has been known as Samuel Orr & Co. It was one of the oldest and largest iron houses in the West. He had been a director in the Evansville National Bank since its institution and was President of the German National Bank (Charter 1772) at the time of his death. He married in Ireland Miss Martha Lowry, a most excellent Christian lady, who, with two children, Jas. L. Orr and Mrs. Samuel Bayard, survived him.

On December 22, 1884, steps were taken for winding up the affairs of the Evansville National Bank in consequence of the expiration of its charter on January 3, 1885, and for the reorganization of the bank under a new charter and with a change of title to that of "The Old National Bank of Evansville, Indiana." The Old National Bank of Evansville would begin its existence on January 4th and commence transacting business Monday morning, January 5th in the same place and with the same officials and employees that the Evansville National Bank had. The stock of the newly organized bank would amount to $200,000. In order to make a convenient start, the following gentlemen subscribed this whole amount: Samuel Bayard, E.G. Ragon, Matthew Dalzell, Wm. M. Akin, R.H. Dunkerson, James L. Orr, Wm. Heilman, August Brentano, D.J. Mackey, J.W. Jenner, H.F. Blount, R.L. Dawes. The following additional stockholders were then added to the list by the transfer of stock to them by the aforementioned: S.M. Archer, Wm. Dean, John Gilbert, Mary B. Darby, John A. Reitz, Isabel Babcock, Edward White, C.H. Butterfield, Ragon Bros., C.H. Kellogg, F.T. Hodge, Henry Reis, W. Capelle, Caroline Nitzer, T.E. Garvin, Gans Bros., Edward Murphy, Catherine Venmann, Bitterman Bros., Lucia E. Blount, Azro Dyer, Mattie J. Bayard, F.J. Reitz, Lizzie Shanklin, Koester & Korff, Kate Orr, Kate Rathbone, Carolins S. Rathbone, John McHugh, L.M. Rice, Emma S. Sullivan, A.M. Phelps, Newburgh, Hermann Rothert, Huntingburgh, J.G. Morton, Madisonville, Kentucky, W.W. Gray, Grayvill, Illinois, Henry Hunsdon, New Harmony, John G. Potts, Inglefield, L.D. Stinson, Washington, and others. The officers elected were Samuel Bayard, president; Henry Reis, cashier; Samuel Bayard, D.J. Mackey, Wm. Heilman, R.K. Dunkerson, H.F. Blount, W.M. Akin, E.G. Ragon, August Brentano, directors.

On December 31, 1884, H.W. Cannon, Comptroller of the Currency, authorized The Old National Bank of Evansville to commence the business of banking.

Official Bank Title

1: The Evansville National Bank, Evansville, IN

Bank Note Types Issued

Original series $2 bank note with pen signatures of Samuel Bayard, Cashier and Wm. J. Lowry, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Original series $5 bank note with pen signatures of Henry Reis, Cashier and Samuel Bayard, President. Courtesy of David Grant

Series of 1875 $50 bank note with pen signatures of Henry Reis, Cashier and Samuel Bayard, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $2,076,950 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1885. This consisted of a total of 148,186 notes (148,186 large size and No small size notes).

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

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
Original Series	3x1-2	1 - 10000
Original Series	4x5	1 - 10525
Original Series	3x10-20	1 - 8000
Original Series	50-100	1 - 3312
Series 1875	4x5	1 - 500
Series 1875	3x10-20	1 - 4000
Series 1875	50-100	1 - 4731

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1885):

Presidents:

• William Johnson Lowry, 1865-1865
• George Washington Rathbone, 1866-1875
• Samuel Pierre Michael Bayard, 1876-1884

Cashiers:

• Robert R. Roberts, 1865-1865
• Samuel Pierre Michael Bayard, 1865-1866
• Victor M. Watkins, 1867-1867
• Samuel Pierre Michael Bayard, 1868-1868
• John G. Kennedy, 1869-1872
• Henry Reis, 1873-1884

Other Known Bank Note Signers

• No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

• Evansville National Bank, Evansville, IN History (NB Lookup)
• Indiana Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

Sources

• Evansville, IN, 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
• Historic Evansville: Old State National Bank. Photos of the Old State National Bank.