FNB/First and Hamilton NB/First and Tri State NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN (Charter 11-2701-11)
FNB/First and Hamilton NB/First and Tri State NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN (Chartered 1863 - Liquidated 1931)
Town History
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is 18 miles west of the Ohio border and 50 miles south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Census, making it the second-most populous city in Indiana after Indianapolis, and the 76th-most populous city in the United States.
Fort Wayne was built in 1794 by the United States Army under the direction of American Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne, the last in a series of forts built near the Miami village of Kekionga. Named in Wayne's honor, the European-American settlement developed at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee rivers, known originally as Fort Miami, a trading post constructed by Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur de Vincennes around 1706. The modern city was platted in 1823 following its revitalization after the War of 1812 and its siege. It underwent tremendous growth after completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal and advent of the railroad.
Hugh McCulloch was an American financier who played a central role in financing the American Civil War. He served two non-consecutive terms as U.S. Treasury Secretary under three presidents. He was originally opposed to the creation of a system of national banks, but his reputation as head of the Bank of Indiana 1857 to 1863 persuaded the Treasury to bring him in to supervise the new system as Comptroller of the Currency 1863–65.Born in Kennebunk, Maine, he was the son of Hugh McCulloch Sr., one of the largest shipbuilders in New England, and Abial Perkins. He was educated at Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine, and attended Bowdoin College for two years, leaving due to ill health. He taught school, then studied law in Boston, and in 1833 began practicing law at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was cashier and manager of the Fort Wayne branch of the state chartered Bank of Indiana and president of the larger organization from 1835 to 1857, and president of its successor, the privately owned Bank of Indiana, from 1857 to 1863. His house at Fort Wayne, the Hugh McCulloch House, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Fort Wayne had nine National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all nine of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Chartered June 22, 1863
- 1: Liquidated May 22, 1882
- 1: Succeeded by 2701 (First National Bank, Fort Wayne, IN)
- 2: Charter 11 reassigned to 2701, June 10, 1910 (FNB/First & Hamilton/First & Tri State NB, Fort Wayne, IN)
- 2: Assumed 2439 by consolidation April 30, 1917 and its circulation with title change to The First and Hamilton National Bank of Fort Wayne, May 10, 1917 (Hamilton National Bank, Fort Wayne, IN)
- 3: Title changed to First National Bank of Fort Wayne, January 19, 1922
- 4: Assumed Tri State Loan and Trust Company by consolidation December 14, 1929 with title change to First and Tri State National Bank and Trust Company of Fort Wayne
- 5: Liquidated September 29, 1931
- 5: Absorbed by 3285 (Old National Bank/Old-First NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN)
- 5: Circulation assumed by 3285 (Old National Bank/Old-First NB & TC, Fort Wayne, IN)
- 5: Receivership June 22, 1934
In May 1863, a new bank was organized at Ft. Wayne under the national banking law with capital stock of $100,000, 30% paid in, with privilege of increasing the capital to $500,000. The directors were J.D. Nuttman, A.D. Brandriff, W.H. Withers, F. Nirdlinger, J.M. Miller, J. Orff, Hon. J. Breckenridge, A.S. Evans, and John Brown. J.D. Nuttman was president and W.B. Fisher, cashier.
In June 1864, the directors were Samuel Hanna, John Orff, C.F.G. Meyer, F. Nirdlinger, J.D. Nuttman, A.D. Brandiff, A.S. Evans, John Brown, and John M. Miller. The officers were J.D. Nuttman, president and W.B. Fisher, cashier.
On May 22, 1882, the First National Bank, under the old charter, entered liquidation and the new bank began with O.A. Simons as president and as directors William Fleming, John H. Bass, O.A. Simons, A.D. Brandriff, W.H. Hoffman, L.R. Hartman and C.S. Bash.
In 1910, the officers were J.H. Bass, president; C.H. Worden, first vice president; H.A. Keplinger, second vice president; H.R. Freeman, cashier; and J.H. Orr, assistant cashier. The directors were J.H. Bass, president, Bass Foundry and Machine Co.; M.B. Fisher, wholesale paper; S.S. Fisher, wholesale paper; W.A. Fleming, treasurer, Berghoff Brewing Co.; Herman Freiberger, wholesale leather; Wm. Geake, contractor; F.S. Hunting, treasurer, Fort Wayne Electric Works; F.E. Hoffman, vice president and treasurer, Hoffman Bros. Co., hardwood lumber; J.H. Jacobs, retired; J.B. McKim, superintendent, Pennsylvania Company; H.J. Miller, secretary, Hartford City Paper Mills; W.L. Moellering, secretary and manager of the Home Telephone and Telegraph Co. of Fort Wayne; B.P. Mossman, wholesale iron, steel and heavy hardware; R.L. Romy, real estate; A.B. Trentman, manager, Wayne Paper Mills; Judge W.J. Vesey, Vesey & Vesey, lawyers; E.F. Yarnelle, wholesale iron, steel and heavy hardware; J.W. White, manufacturer; Edward White, president, White Fruit House; C.A. Wilding, president, Tri-State Loan and Trust Co.; and C.H. Worden, vice president and executive officer.
On April 29, 1910, the First National Bank, sixth largest bank in the Hoosier State, opened for business in its new fireproof quarters in the Shoaff building. The bank had a frontage of 85 feet on Berry Street facing Fort Wayne's million-dollar court house, and extended down Calhoun Street. The main banking room was finished in Sienna Italian marble, the side walls wainscoted and paneled in Bassville marble taken from French quarries. Ceilling decorations maintained an ivory tone throughout and were paneled, each panel containing a cluster of six electric lights, while on the sides were brackets with three-light arms, each carrying an 8-inch globe. Fixtures were mainly of solid bronze.
On January 9, 1917, Charles H. Worden, vice president of the First National Bank since 1902, was elected president at a meeting of the board of directors. He succeeded John H. Bass who for years had been president. Mr. Bass asked to be retired in order that a man actively in charge of the business might be at its head. By reason of his untiring and efficient service in behalf of this great institution, the directors honored him by making him chairman of the board. Other officers elected were as follows: H.A. Keplinger, vice president, H.R. Freeman, cashier; J.H. Orr, assistant cashier; E.F. Scheumann, assistant cashier; and E.L. Hobrock, auditor. Robert L. Romy, Charles M. Niezer, and Byron H. Somers were new men elected to the board of directors. When Mr. Worden was elected to the place of first vice president in 1902 the deposits were $703,770.20. By 1917 deposits had grown to $5,701,891.52. The total resources in July 1902 were $1,190,488.06, growing to $6,927,574.17 as of December 27, 1916.
In January 1917, the following officers were elected by the Hamilton National Bank: Charles McCulloch, president; J.R. McCulloch, vice president; F.H. Poole, cashier; Henry Taylor, assistant cashier; William Thiel, Jr., assistant cashier. The directors were August Freese, Louis Fox, A.W. Heit, Charles McCulloch, L.C. Waring, Herman Michael, John B. Reuss, Benj. Rothschild, John A. Theinie, Dr. Allen Hamilton, and J.R. McCulloch.
On April 30, 1917, stockholders voted to increase the capital stock to $400,000, to purchase all assets of the Hamilton National Bank and assume liabilities and to change the title of the bank to The First and Hamilton National Bank of Fort Wayne. No event more notable or important had ever taken place in Fort Wayne's financial history than the merger of the First and the Hamilton National banks. These two old and firmly established institutions consolidated their capital and resources in the largest financial institution in all of Indiana save for three of the national banks in the much larger city of Indianapolis. This merger gave the consolidated bank a capital of $900,000 and total resources of more than $10,000,000. A banking concern of this magnitude would be considered of noteworthy importance in any city. Few cities of Fort Wayne's class could boast a fiduciary establishment so large. This consolidation would be of advantage to Fort Wayne’s fast expanding industry and commerce and possibly the means to influence new growth in all branches of business. Fort Wayne's financial institutions were noted the country over for their progressive yet conservative character and it was written bright in the pages of banking finances of the United States that this city had never had a bank crash. Fort Wayne bankers always had the confidence of the public. These banks and their predecessors had their history finely interwoven with Fort Wayne's marvelous progress. Both the Hamilton and the First National Bank were old institutions. The First National Bank of Fort Wayne, was the first national bank to be chartered in Indiana and the eleventh in the United States, a somewhat poetical recognition of the late Hon. Hugh McCulloch, pioneer citizen and financier of the city, for he was virtually the father of the national banking system. So, too, was the case of the elder Hamilton, also a pioneer citizen and financier, and founder in Fort Wayne of one of the city's best known families as well as one of its oldest and best known banks. The Hamilton bank was founded in 1853 by Allen Hamilton, Hugh McCulloch and Jesse L. Williams. That the Hon. Charles McCulloch, son of the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, was to retire from active work in banking after a long term as president of the Hamilton bank, would be regretted but not begrudged him. In a long lifetime of hard work, John H. Bass would become chairman of the board of the merged institution and Mr. Charles H. Worden, for many years vice president and later president of the First, would be president of the consolidated bank.
In September 1923, the directors were S.F. Bowser, Dr. Albert E. Bulson, Jr., Max B. Fisher, August Freese, Herman Freiberger, WIlliam Geake, W. S Goll, Major Allen Hamilton, MD, A.W. Hoit, F.E. Hoffman, H.A. Keplinger, J.R. McCulloch, J.B. McKim, Herman Michael, H.J. Miller, W.L. Moeliering, B.P. Mossman, Charles M. Niezer, Wm. C. Rastetter, J.B. Reuss, Byron H. Somers, John A. Thieme, W.J. Vesey, L.C. Waring, C.A. Wilding, C.H. Worden, E.F. Yarnelle. The officers were Charles H. Worden, chairman of the board; Charles M. Niezer, president; H.A. Keplinger, E.F. Yarnelle, C.A. Wilding, M.B. Fisher, J.R. McCulloch, F.H. Poole, vice presidents; E.F. Scheumann, cashier; J.H. Orr, Henry J. Taylor, Wm. Thieul, Jr., C.W. Aumann, E.L. Hobrock, assistant cashiers; George M. Gillion, auditor; and F. Arthur Schack, trust officer. The bank had capital stock $1,000,000, surplus and undivided profits $516,190.15, Circulation $1,000,000, and total deposits $11,339,962.47.[1]
In 1924, the First National Bank moved into its new twelve-story building, considered the finest bank building in the State of Indiana. The bronze doors of the main entrance formed the side panels of the vestibule during banking hours. The main banking room was 160 feet by 48 feet and 28 feet high with a skylight. Warm gray Missouri marble was used throughout and the floor was of marble tile. The architect was the Thomas M. James Co. of Boston. The vault was supplied by the Mosler Safe Company. There were two doors to the security vault, one of which was entirely for use in an emergency. Both were of special construction so that they would withstand drilling and the oxy-acetylene blow torch. The upper stories of the building provided for about fifty offices.
On April 10, 1929, the First National Bank and the Tri-State Loan and Trust Company, the two largest banking institutions in Fort Wayne were consolidated at a meeting of the boards of directors of the two organizations. Tri-State Loan and Trust Co. would move into the new First National Bank building. Total resources of the First National were more than $20 million and of the Tri-State Loan and Trust Company, more than $25 million. In June stockholders approved the merger under the name of the First and Tri-State National Bank and Trust Company. The new bank would have capital of $3,000,000 and resources of approximately $32 million. The deposits would total $26 million.
On January 26, 1930, an announcement was made of an alignment between the Citizens State Bank of Hartford City and the First and Tri State National Bank and Trust Company of Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne bank bought a minority block of stock in the Hartford City bank. The step was in keeping with the action of the Fort Wayne bank in aligning itself with a number of the strongest banks within a radius of 50 or 75 miles of Fort Wayne. The management of the bank would remain the same, with the exception that Edward G. Hoffman, vice president of the Fort Wayne bank would become a director of the Hartford City bank.
On June 22, 1934, Herbert K. DeWees, formerly of Kokomo, Indiana, was named as receiver of the First and Tri State National Bank and Trust Company according to word from Washington. DeWees was formerly connected with the citizens National Bank of Kokomo and had been serving as assistant manager of the home Owners Loan Corporation for the Fort Wayne district. A trusteeship for the impounded assets of the First and Tri State Bank expired this day. The bank was taken over three years ago by the Old National Bank, and the merged institution was succeeded by the Fort Wayne National Bank (Charter 13818) on October 28, 1933.
Official Bank Titles
Charter 11 Titles
1: The First National Bank of Fort Wayne, IN
2: The First National Bank of Fort Wayne, IN (6/14/1910)
3: The First and Hamilton National Bank of Fort Wayne, IN (5/10/1917)
4: First National Bank of Fort Wayne, IN (1/19/1922)
5: First and Tri State National Bank and Trust Company of Fort Wayne, IN (12/14/1929)
Charter 2701 Titles
1: The First National Bank of Fort Wayne, IN (5/22/1882)
Bank Note Types Issued
Charter 11 Bank Note Types Issued:
A total of $11,281,680 ($9,590,160 in large size and $1,691,520 small size) National Bank Notes was issued by Charter 11 between 1863 and 1931. This consisted of a total of 1,434,960 notes (1,218,216 large size and 216,744 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1: Original Series 3x1-2 1 - 14120 1: Original Series 4x5 1 - 7225 1: Original Series 4x5 7501 - 15205 1: Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 430 1: Original Series 3x10-20 1001 - 2200 1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 156 2: 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 22000 2: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 14800 2: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 22001 - 26265 Plate dated 1902 2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 14801 - 18264 Plate dated 1902 3: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 44750 3: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 44000 4: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 80793 Plate dated 1922 4: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 59646 Plate dated 1922 4: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 8808 4: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 4154 4: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1392 5: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 13588 5: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 6308 5: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1874
Charter 2701 Bank Note Types Issued:
A total of $1,954,620 in National Bank Notes was issued by Charter 2701 between 1882 and 1910. This consisted of a total of 166,988 notes (166,988 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 1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 4698 1: 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 15000 1: 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 18100 1: 1902 Red Seal 50-100 1 - 1000 1: 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 8750 1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 8000 2: 1902 Date Back 50-100 1 - 398
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1863 - 1931):
Charter 11 Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Presidents:
- Joseph D. Nuttman, 1863-1882
- John H. Bass, 1910-1912
- Charles Howard Worden, 1913-1913
- John H. Bass, 1914-1916
- Charles Howard Worden, 1917-1922
- Charles Mahlon Niezer, 1923-1930
Cashiers:
- William B. Fisher, 1863-1871
- Lemuel R. Hartman, 1872-1882
- Henry Rudisill Freeman, 1910-1918
- Edward Frederick Scheumann, 1919-1930
Charter 2701 Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Indiana Bank Note History
- General information on Fort Wayne (Wikipedia)
- General information on Allen County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Indiana (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Fort Wayne, 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
- The Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 81, July 1910-Dec. 1910, p. 405-412.
- The Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 108, Jan. 1924-June 1924, pp 672-3.
- The Indiana Herald, Huntington, IN, Wed., May 6, 1863.
- Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, Sat., June 18, 1864.
- The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, Mon., May 8, 1882.
- The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, Fri., Apr. 29, 1910.
- The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, Wed., Jan. 10, 1917.
- The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, Tue., Mar. 27, 1917.
- The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN, Sat., Apr. 28, 1917.
- The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, Sat., Mar. 19, 1921.
- The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN, Thu., Apr. 11, 1929.
- The Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, IN, Fri., June 28, 1929.
- The Star Press, Muncie, IN, Sun., Jan. 26, 1930.
- ↑ The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazetter, Fort Wayne, IN, Wed., Sep. 19, 1923.