First National Bank, Effingham, IL (Charter 4233)

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Photo of the old First National Bank of Effingham, Illinois, located on the corner of Banker Street and Jefferson Avenue. Courtesy of Google Maps, ca2022

First National Bank, Effingham, IL (Chartered 1890 - Closed (Merger) 1995)

Town History

A December 1886 advertisement for Partridge's Bank on Jefferson Street, Effingham, Illinois.[1]

Effingham is a city in and the county seat of Effingham County, Illinois. It is in South Central Illinois and the city is part of the Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its population was 12,252 at the 2020 census. In 1890 the population was 3,260 growing to 4,978 by 1930.

Effingham was first settled in 1814, and was known from then until 1859 as Broughton. In 1859, it became the county seat with buildings relocated from nearby (now deserted) Ewington. The community was named after General E. Effingham, a local surveyor. The city bills itself as "The Crossroads of Opportunity" because of its location at the intersection of two major Interstate highways and major railroad junction of the Illinois Central main line from Chicago to Memphis with the Pennsylvania Railroad line from Indianapolis to St. Louis.

Effingham had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

A 1915 advertisement for the First National Bank of Effingham, Illinois.[2]
  • Organized February 3, 1890
  • Chartered February 15, 1890
  • Succeeded Partridge Bank
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Merged into The Harrisburg National Bank in Harrisburg, IL, May 6, 1995

Around 1866, Joseph Partridge left the American Express Company in Cairo, Illinois, becoming route agent for the American and Merchants' Union with headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, remaining there three years. He began a hotel business at Lexington Junction, Missouri, keeping a railroad eating house for a year. He next located in Jewett, Illinois again conducting a railroad eating house for two years. This was during the construction and opening of the Vandalia road and when completed, he naturally selected Effingham. In 1872 Joseph Partridge came to Effingham and leased the Effingham Hotel, conducting it for six years with great success. In 1878, he purchased the hotel and also the old Pacific House from D. Schmidt, and from that date on "he coined money." In October 1885, Mr. Partridge opened a private bank in the old VonGassy headquarters, F.A. VonGassy having failed as a private banker. Col. J.W. Filler was cashier for Mr. Partridge until his son, Joseph Partridge, Jr., succeeded him. Mr. Partridge set about organizing a national bank. One had been attempted before, but had failed. In March 1890, the First National Bank was organized with a capital stock of $50,000. Like all other undertakings of Mr. Partridge, it was a success. He continued the active management of his hotel, although engaged in the banking business, until 1895 when he installed a manager and retired from active business, giving what little business attention he desired to the management of his banking business. He owned the majority of the stock and was its president until the time of his death on April 1, 1898.[3] 

In January 1890, it had been six years since banker F.A. VonGassy left Effingham. His embezzlement and flight were brought to public attention again by the receipt of an inquiry by J. Partridge from the chief of police of San Francisco, California, asking as to whether there was a reward of $1,000 for VonGassy's capture. VonGassy left Effingham in April 1884, taking with him all of the money of the bank estimated at from $15,000 to $40,000. Mr. Partridge was the heaviest loser of about $9,500. It was supposed he went to Mexico at the time. Mr. Partridge said he would not pay any big amount to have VonGassy returned. The reward offered at the time of his flight was given with hope of apprehending him in possession of some of the plunder.[4]

In May 1890, the officers were Jo Partridge, Sr., president; Edward Austin, vice president; J. Partridge, Jr., cashier and C.L. Nolte, assistant cashier.[5] Upon completion of the Austin Block, the First National Bank moved into quarters there, now the corner of Banker Street and Jefferson Avenue.[6]

On Saturday, January 13, 1906, the directors met at the banking rooms and elected L. Burrell as president; J.H. Ensign, vice president; H.B. Wernsing, cashier; Paul Partridge, assistant cashier; B.G. Ensign, second assistant cashier. The election of Paul Partridge as cashier was necessary due to the resignation of C.L. Nolte from that position, one that he filled for 20 years. He went with the old Partridge bank when it was established and continued with it all through its existence, and always had been an efficient and faithful employee.[7]

In January 1909, at the annual election of officers and directors of the First National Bank, no changes were made. The directors were L. Burrell, Alice Partridge, Paul Partridge, J.H. Ensign, and G.I. Danks. The officers were L. Burrell, president; H.B. Wernsing, cashier; Paul Partridge and C.L. Nolte, assistant cashiers.[8]

In January 1910, the directors were J.H. Jackson, W.H. Jackson, Geo. I. Danks, Alice Partridge, H.B. Wernsing, and Paul Partridge. The directors elected H.B. Wernsing, president; Alice Partridge, vice president; Paul Partridge, cashier and Harry Alt, assistant cashier.[9]

In January 1913, the directors were W.H. Jackson, J.H. Ensign, Geo. I. Danks of Edgewood; H.B. Wernsing, Mrs. Alice Partridge, and Paul Partridge. The officers were H.B. Wernsing, president; Mrs. Alice Partridge, vice president; Paul Partridge, cashier; and Harry Alt, assistant cashier.[10]

In January 1914, at the annual meeting of the stockholders, the following directors were chosen: W.H. Jackson, J.H. Ensign, Geo. I. Danks, Paul Partridge, and H.B. Wernsing. The board of directors was reduced from six to five, Mrs. Alice Partridge retiring. The board elected H.B. Wernsing, president; J.H. Ensign, vice president; Paul Partridge, cashier; and Harry J. Alt, assistant cashier.[11] 

On Friday morning, October 26, 1923, the State Bank of Commerce, Effingham, was robbed by two-armed men. David B. Crews, official of the state bank, Cashier Charles Meislahn and Janitor Robert Baily were in the bank making the usual opening preparations when the robbers entered. They became nervous as customers started to come in so they grabbed what they could, shoved it into their pockets and beat it to the door. An Elcar touring car with a chauffeur and the engine running awaited them. This hold-up was the second in Effingham's history, the first occurred about 35 years ago when a lone bandit during the noon hour entered the Partridge Bank and held it up for $3,000. Young Joe Partridge, the cashier, was the only one in the bank at the time.  The bank then was located in the building later occupied by Reinhardt's meat market. Ed Reinhardt conducted a market where Hogan's Store latter stook and he saw the hold up just as the robber was escaping.  Sounding the alarm, others joined to chase and capture the bandit.[12]

On Saturday, January 12, 1924, at a meeting of the directors, the following officers were elected: H.B. Wernsing, president; Wm. B. Wright, vice president; Harry J. Alt, cashier; Clarence Stockman, assistant cashier; Florence Sampson, bookkeeper; and Gladys Mitchell, stenographer. The Effingham State Bank and the State Bank of Commerce held their election later in the week.[13]

On Saturday, January 15, 1938, Joseph Partridge, Jr., motion picture executive and co-head of the Tompkins and Partridge, Inc., retail liquor firm, died at his home in Scarsdale, New York. Mr. Partridge, a resident of Scarsdale for the past 18 years, was born in Effingham, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Alice Smith Partridge. He was one of the youngest cashiers ever to serve in the Partridge Bank operated by his father in Effingham and later known as the First National Bank. After a short time as president of one of Chicago's banks, Mr. Partridge went to New York City where he became manager of the Vitagraph Pictures office. His brother Paul was vice president of the Chemical Bank and Trust Company of New York.[14]

On Thursday, March 10, 1938, F.B. Wernsing, former cashier of the Effingham First National Bank indicted by a Federal grand jury on a charge of embezzling $1,400, surrendered to U.S. authorities and was immediately released on $4,000 bond. Wernsing who lived in Centralia left Effingham last December. Bank officials said he returned the shortage.[15]

In January 1947, the stockholders elected the following directors: Lester Wright, Paul Taylor, Geo. I. Danks, Clarence Stockman, and Paul W. Koboldt, all of Effingham; and N.R. Pudenz, Teutopolis. The officers re-elected were George I. Danks, president; Paul Taylor, vice president; Clarence Stockman, cashier; and Paul W. Koboldt, assistant cashier. Total assets reported amounted to $4,608,973.22.[16]

Eugene E. Gibson, prominent Illinois banker, 67, of 3384 37th Avenue, Moline, formerly of Effingham, Illinois, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, died Tuesday, November 17, 1992, at Trinity Medical Center East Moline. He was born March 27, 1925, in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Archibald and Ethel Crawford Gibson. He married Rose Costa May 22, 1945, in Paterson, New Jersey. He graduated from Rutgers University School of Business, Newark, New Jersey, in 1949 and came to the Quad-Cities area. He was vice president of First National Bank of Moline, where he was employed for 23 years. He joined the bank in 1959 and held various positions until he was named vice president in 1963. He was named president and served as chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Effingham from 1975 to 1985. Following his retirement from the Effingham bank, he was vice president of Hilton Head Bank and Trust Company until his retirement in 1987. He was an active civic leader in both Moline and Effingham.[17]

In November 1995, Evansville, Indiana-based CNB Bancshares Inc. was expanding its Illinois interests with a merger agreement with Du Quoin National Bank. Once the merger was completed in the spring, the bank at 124 W. Main Street would be renamed Citizens Bank, becoming CNB's 11th Illinois location. James J. Giancola was CNB president and chief operating officer. The NASDAQ-listed holding company had doubled in sized in the past five years with 30 acquisitions. Its Illinois acquisitions in the past year included the Harrisburg National Bank as well as banks in Effingham and King City. The Illinois holding were managed from three regional offices in Effingham, Harrisburg, and Mount Vernon. CNB Bancshares had a total of 93 locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.[18]

Official Bank Title

1: The First National Bank of Effingham, IL

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Date Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of Harry J. Alt, Cashier and H.B. Wernsing, President. Courtesy of GreatCollections.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with printed signatures of Harry J. Alt, Cashier and H.B. Wernsing, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $20 bank note with printed signatures of F.B. Wernsing, Cashier and H.B. Wernsing, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $450,130 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1890 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 38,953 notes (34,124 large size and 4,829 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 4x5 1 - 900
1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 2200
1882 Date Back 4x5 1 - 330
1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 3
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2000
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 2001 - 5098
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 506
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 176
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 574
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 163

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1890 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Effingham, IL, 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 Effingham Democrat, Effingham, IL, Fri., Feb. 5, 1886.
  2. ↑ Effingham Weekly News, Effingham, IL, Thu., Jan. 28, 1915.
  3. ↑ The Effingham Democrat, Effingham, IL, Fri., Apr. 1, 1898.
  4. ↑ The Effingham Democrat, Effingham, IL, Fri., Jan. 31, 1890.
  5. ↑ The Effingham Democrat, Effingham, IL, Fri., May 16, 1890.
  6. ↑ Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL, Mon., Feb. 3, 1947.
  7. ↑ The Effingham Democrat, Effingham, IL, Fri., Jan. 19, 1906.
  8. ↑ Effingham Daily Record, Effingham, IL, Sun., Jan. 24, 1909.
  9. ↑ Effingham Daily Record, Effingham, IL, Sun., Jan. 16, 1910.
  10. ↑ Effingham Daily record, Effingham, IL, Sun., Jan. 19, 1913.
  11. ↑ Effingham Daily Record, Effingham, IL, Sat., Jan. 17, 1914.
  12. ↑ Effingham Daily Record, Effingham, IL, Fri., Oct. 26, 1923.
  13. ↑ Effingham Daily Record, Effingham, IL, Mon., Jan. 14, 1924.
  14. ↑ The Daily Reporter, White Plains, NY, Mon., Jan. 17, 1938.
  15. ↑ Herald and Review, Decatur, IL, Fri., Mar. 11, 1938.
  16. ↑ Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL, Wed., Jan. 15, 1947.
  17. ↑ The Rock Island Argus, Moline, IL, Wed., Nov. 18, 1992.
  18. ↑ Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, IL, Sun., Nov. 19, 1995.
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