First National Bank, Crockett, TX (Charter 4684)

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The old First National Bank building
The old First National Bank building located on E Goliad Avenue, Crockett, Texas. Courtesy of Google Maps, ca2022

First National Bank, Crockett, TX (Chartered 1892 - Closed (Merger) 2009)

Town History

Crockett is a city in and the county seat of Houston County, Texas. Houston County is the oldest county and Crockett the fifth-oldest city in Texas. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,332. In 1890 the population was 1,445, growing to 4,441 by 1930.

The town was named after Davy Crockett who had camped nearby on his way to the Alamo; the site was very near the Old San Antonio Road. Andrew Edwards Gossett, a Texas Revolution soldier from Maury, Tennessee, along with his father and brother, donated the land for the town in 1836, and named it after Crockett, whom they had previously known. The town was incorporated in 1837, and a post office was granted the following year.

Crockett had two National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and both of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

  • Organized January 7, 1892
  • Chartered January 16, 1892
  • Assumed 5953 by consolidation March 1, 1904 (Farmers and Merchants NB, Crockett, TX)
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Merged into First Community Bank, N.A. in Sugar Land, TX, March 6, 2009
J. Edwin Winfree, a native of the state of Virginia, came to Texas immediately after the close of the civil war, moving at that time to Crockett, Houston County. He was an artilleryman in the Confederate Army, serving in the army of Northern Virginia during the war and surrendering under Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Arriving in Texas he engaged in the banking business, first operating two different private banks and afterwards merging one into what became the First National Bank of Crockett. Prior to the organization of the First National Bank of Crockett, he became county judge of Houston County in 1896, holding that position until 1902. He was elected county judge again, but running for representative in the legislature from Houston County, was elected and served during the regular and special session of the Thirty-Sixth legislature, resigning to accept the position of superintendent of the Confederate Home at Austin.[1]

On February 11, 1892, The Granbury News announced the First National Bank of Crockett had commenced business.[2] The St. Louis National Bank was approved as reserve agent.[3] 

The early banking house is marked by the State of Texas with an Official Historical Medallion. It reads, "A typical late 19th Century Texas commercial building, with cast iron front and pressed tin ornamentation. Erected for bank developed in mercantile store of W.E. Mayes (1837-1915). To aid his customers, Mayes in 1880s took care of cash and currency, issued loans and credit; in 1891 sold this business to First National Bank of Crockett, which he and H.F. Moore were organizing. This structure, built 1893-94, was sold 1954 to Mary Aldrich, abstractor."[4]

In January 1895, the comptroller of the currency announced changes in Texas national banks including the addition of Arch Baker as assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Crockett.[5] 

In July 1901, the application of Arch Baker, H.F. Craddock, B.F. chamberlain, T.D. Craddock and W.E. Mayes to organize the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Crockett, Texas, with $50,000 capital, was approved by the Comptroller of the Currency.[6]

On February 18, 1904, the Farmers and Merchants National Bank and the First National Bank held a meeting and an agreement was reached between the respective stockholders of the two banks by which they were consolidated under the name of the First National Bank of Crockett and the capital stock increased to $100,000. The Farmers and Merchants National bank was organized about two years ago and had been doing a very good business. The First National Bank was one of the strongest national banks in the State, starting business about ten years ago with a capital of $50,000, and when the consolidation was made there was $50,000 in undivided profits to be proportioned among the stockholders. The new bank starts out with the following officers: H.F. Moore, president; John B. Smith, vice president; Arch Baker, cashier; M.P. Jensen, assistant cashier; Dan McLean, A.H. Wootters, John B. Smith, Arch Baker, W.C. Teter and James S. Shivers, directors. The new bank occupied the building previously occupied by Farmers and Merchants bank.[7]

In March 1904, the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Crockett, Texas, by resolution of its stockholders, entered into voluntary liquidation. Signed, P.H. Tansey.[8]

In January 1908, the directors were H.F. Moore, James S. Shivers, John B. Smith, Arch Baker, M.P. Jensen, W.C. Teter, and George W. Burckett. The officers were H.F. Moore, president; John B. Smith, vice president; Arch Baker, cashier; M.P. Jensen, assistant cashier.[9]

In September 1910, the work on the new offices being fitted up by the First National Bank of Crockett was nearing completion and all offices would be ready for occupancy by October 1st. The entire second story of the Mayes Opera House which was purchased from Colonel W.E. Mayes in the early part of the summer had been converted into modern offices fitted throughout with water, fan and light service as well as janitor service. Crockett had long needed a modern office building.[10]

On Tuesday, January 9, 1912, at the annual meeting of the stockholders, the following officers and directors were elected for the ensuing year: H.F. Moore, president; Arch Baker, vice president; M.P. Jensen, cashier; James S. Shivers, John Le Gory, W.C. Teter, and D.G. Nevin, directors.[11] 

In December 1912, a party of hunters left Crocket to spend a week or more on the Trinity River fishing and hunting. The party was composed of Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia Athletics; A.C. Steever and H.P. Hilliard, capitalists of St. Louis; Tucker Royall, president of the Royall National Bank, Palestine; I.A. Daniel and A.B. Burton of the firm of Daniel & Burton; and Arch Baker, active vice president of the First National Bank of Crockett.[12]

W.E. Mayes died on August 26, 1915, at Crockett, Texas. "Alabama native William Elbert "Buck" Mayes, son of the Rev. Isaac C. Mayes and Lucinda Fuller, came to Texas in 1856. He married Sarah (Dickerson) Clark in 1858. After serving in the Civil War Mayes returned to Houston County and became a successful lumber and mercantile businessman. Mayes' various commercial enterprises, which included one of the area's earliest banking operations, played a vital role in Houston County's post-Civil War development."[13]

On April 9, 1920, Don Moore, bank cashier and Edgar Arledge, live stock expert, left for Fort Worth on a buying trip. The First National Bank of Crockett inaugurated a campaign for the improvement of the live stock industry of Houston County. A carload of registered Hereford bulls would be purchased by the bank and sold to farmers on a year's time without one dollar of profit.[14]

On January 22, 1944, Mr. Donald G. Moore, 57,president of the First National Bank of Crockett died after 36 years in the banking business.[15]

On June 1, 1964, Phil C. Moore, vice president of the First National Bank of Crockett died at a local hospital in Houston County.[16] He was president of the First National from 1944-1950.[17]

Official Bank Title

1: The First National Bank of Crockett, TX

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of Arch Baker, Cashier and H.F. Moore, President. This is a replacement note. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1882 Brown Back $20 bank note
1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of Arch Baker, Cashier and John B. Smith, Vice President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $5 bank note
1929 Type 1 $5 bank note with SN A000001A and printed signatures of J.L. Burton, Cashier and Arch Baker, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com

A total of $1,508,110 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1892 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 132,491 notes (101,404 large size and 31,087 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 - 6260
1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 3241
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 6700
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 6701 - 15850
1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 2002
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 678
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 234
1929 Type 2 5 1 - 7428
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 4890
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1285

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1892 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Crockett, TX, 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
  1. ↑ The Houston Chronicle. Houston, TX, Sun., Aug. 19, 1923.
  2. ↑ The Granbury News Granbury, TX, Thu., Feb. 11, 1892.
  3. ↑ The Times-Democrat, New Orleans, LA, Tue., Mar. 22, 1892.
  4. ↑ Recorded Texas Historical Landmark - 1972
  5. ↑ The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Thu., Jan. 24, 1895.
  6. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., July 7, 1901.
  7. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Mon., Feb. 22, 1904.
  8. ↑ The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Sat., Mar. 12, 1904.
  9. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Fri., Jan. 17, 1908.
  10. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Mon., Sep. 12, 1910.
  11. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Mon., Jan. 15, 1912.
  12. ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., Dec. 15, 1912.
  13. ↑ Bio from Texas Historical Marker
  14. ↑ The Bryan Weekly Eagle, Bryan, TX, Thu., Apr. 8, 1920.
  15. ↑ The Tyler Courier-Times, Tyler, TX, Sun., Jan. 23, 1944.
  16. ↑ The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Tue., June 2, 1964.
  17. ↑ From Texas Historical Marker for the First National Bank of Crockett
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