First National Bank, Hartford, CT (Charter 121)
First National Bank, Hartford, CT (Chartered 1864 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the 2010 United States census have indicated that Hartford is the fourth-largest city in Connecticut with a 2020 population of 121,054, behind the coastal cities of Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford.
Hartford was founded in 1635 and is among the oldest cities in the United States. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), the oldest publicly funded park (Bushnell Park), the oldest continuously published newspaper (the Hartford Courant), and the second-oldest secondary school (Hartford Public High School). It is also home to the Mark Twain House, where the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family, among other historically significant sites. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."
Nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World", Hartford is home to the headquarters of many insurance companies, the region's major industry.
Hartford had 12 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all 12 of those banks issued National Bank Notes. Hartford also had 14 Obsolete Banks that issued Obsolete Bank Notes during the Obsolete Bank Note Era (1782-1866).
Bank History
- Chartered January 28, 1864
- Notation on Organization Report:
- Original dated November 10, 1863, surrendered January 28, 1864, replaced with new one for new bank with same title
- Succeeded Merchants & Manufacturers Bank
- Assumed 361 by consolidation October 21, 1916 (National Exchange Bank, Hartford, CT)
- Assumed circulation of 361
- Bank was Open past 1935
Originally organized in 1857 as the Merchants & Manufacturers Bank, it converted to a national bank on January 28, 1864
On Tuesday, August 4, 1857, stockholders of the Merchants & Mechanics Bank met at Gilman's Saloon with Albert Day in the chair and J. Hammond Trumbull, secretary. Gurdon Trumbull, F.A. Brown, and Hezekiah Sheldon were appointed a committee on proxies; J.F. Judd, Sam Colt, E.D. Tiffany, and J. Hammond Trumbull, tellers. The polls were opened at 10:30 and closed at noon. Over three-fourths of the stock was represented. The following board of directors was elected: George Beach, Jr., Ebenezer Flower, James M. Bunce, Austin Dunham, Samuel Austin, Lawson C. Ives, Henry Kellogg, Lucius F. Robinson, and George Kellogg. The directors met at 2 o'clock and unanimously chose George Beach, Jr., as president.[1]
On May 7, 1861, at the annual meeting of stockholders held at the banking house, No. 19 Pearl Street, the following directors were elected: Edwin D. Tiffany, Ebenezer Flower, Austin Dunham, Lawson C. Ives, Henry Kellogg, Samuel Austin, Jonathan B. Bunce, Wm. W. House, and J.B. Russell. The directors subsequently elected E.D. Tiffany, Esq., president and re-elected Mr. Tyron, cashier.[2]
In 1863, the following national banks were chartered since the 9th of November:[3]
- First National Bank of Utica, NY. $100,000, charter 120
- First National Bank of Hartford, Conn. $100,000, charter 121
- First National Bank of Springfield, Vermont 50,000, charter 122
- First National Bank of Columbus, Ohio. $100,000, charter 123
- First National Bank of Whitewater, Wisconsin. $50,000, charter 124
- First National Bank of Reading, Penn. $100,000, charter 125
- First National Bank of South Bend, Indiana. $100,000, charter 126
- First National Bank of Cardington, Ohio. $50,000, charter 127
- First National Bank of Chillicothe, Ohio. $100,000, charter 128
In November 1863, the First National Bank of Harford with capital of $100,000 and authority to increase to $1,000,000, planned to commence business soon. It would take the place of the Merchants and Manufacturers Bank and occupy the same location, its organization being identical with the single exception of one of the directors, Mr. Geo. H. Clark, who was one of the board. The bills of the M and M bank would be redeemed by the new bank. E.D. Tiffany was president and J.S. Tryon, cashier.[4] On December 8th, stockholders of the Merchants and Manufacturers approved the change with 4,155 shares 'for' and 240 shares 'against'. There were some 600 shares not voted and in order to give the holders of those shares the same opportunity to record their "yes" or "no," the books would remain open until the 31st when another meeting of the stockholders would be held. Mr. Tyron, the cashier, went to Washington to arrange for the change and telegraphed home on the 24th, "All right."[5]
The bank was founded by the stockholders of the Merchants & Manufacturers Bank who voted to change from the state to a national banking system on January 12, 1864. The First National Bank opened its doors for business on February 1, 1864. In 1869, the institution moved to No. 50 State Street, then known as the Trumbull House end of the United States Hotel. The bank remained there until 1897 when it took temporary quarters on Main Street near Asylum Street while its new home was being erected.[6]
In March 1864, John F. Holmes, late teller, was appointed assistant cashier of the First National Bank and Charles S. Gillette appointed teller.[7]
In January 1867, the staff of the bank consisted of the following: Edwin D. Tiffany, president; James H. Tryon, cashier; John F. Holmes, assistant cashier; Charles S. Gillette, teller, James H. Knight, bookkeeper; Lawrence S. Forbes, discount clerk; Charles D. Riley, junior clerk or messenger. The bank was located on Central Row in the store later occupied by H.W. Conklin & Company. The cramped quarters were on the first floor where they had remained for many years. The capital stock was $500,000.[8]
In January 1871, the directors were Samuel Austin, Edwin D. Tiffany, John B. Russell, William W. House, George H. Clark, Wareham Griswold, Newton Case, Thomas Sisson, Henry L. Holcomb. The directors elected E.D. Tiffany, president; J.S. Tryon, cashier; and Charles S. Gillette, assistant cashier.[9]
In January 1889, the directors were William W. House, Newton Case, Thomas Sisson, Jotham Goodnow, Ward W. Jacobs, Lester L. Ensworth, John C. Mead, Elisha C. Hilliard, and James H. Knight. The officers were James H. Knight, president; Ward W. Jacobs, vice president; and C.D. Riley, cashier.[10]
On Thursday, October 19, 1916, the directors of the First National Bank met and completed the merger of this banking house with the National Exchange Bank, the only remaining business now being the election of officers of the merged institution. This would be on the program for tomorrow when the newly elected board of directors would meet at the First National Bank. It was voted to rescind the articles of association, changing article three so that it reads "not less than five or more than twenty-five directors," this action being taken to provide for the National Exchange directors, which had previously consisted of twelve members; thirteen names were added. With the exception of one, George H. Tryon, the newly elected directors were directors of the National Exchange Bank. The directors elected were: Julius Gay, Edward A. Fuller, James H. Brewster, Lewis D. Parker, Francis R. Cooley; Elijah C. Johnson, Hewitt Coburn, Jr., William T. Howe, Robert W. Dwyer, L. Edmund Zacher, George R. Reed, Henry M. Sperry, and George H. Tryon. The previous board consisted of Ward W. Jacobs, James H. Knight, Lucius F. Robinson, William B. Clark, Robert W. Huntington, Jr., Judson H. Root, Newton C. Brainard, Francis T. Maxwell, Charles Soby, James Lee Loomis, Louis F. Butler and Elisha E. Hilliard. It was also necessary for the First National Bank directors to declare a special dividend of 12 percent in the process of adjusting values in the exchange of stock in the consummation of the merger. This dividend was payable November 1st to stockholders of record at the close of business yesterday. Executive officers of the National Exchange Bank sent out to depositors notice that the merger had been approved by the stockholders of both banks and would become effective at the close of business on Friday the 20th and telling them that beginning Monday morning, they would find the entire official and clerical force of the National Exchange Bank at the First National Bank. The new First National Bank would have James H. Knight of the old First National at its head, with Ward W. Jacobs, vice president of the First National; President Elijah C. Johnson and Vice President and Cashier Henry M. Sperry of the National Exchange as vice presidents. Under the merger arrangements, all officers of the National Exchange were to have responsible places with the new First National. The moving of the National Exchange Bank from No. 76 State Street to the quarters of the First National Bank, No. 50 State Street, began Friday afternoon. The moving process would not involve a long trip, the journey from the National Exchange Bank to the First National Bank, with only The Courant building and the Princess Theater between, being one of the shortest on record, and the securities to be transferred would not have to make the journey which was called for when the Aetna and Hartford National got together, or when the Charter Oak was merged with the Phoenix, or even when the Hartford National took over the Farmers & Mechanics.[11]
On January 16, 1917, a giant bouquet of fifty American Beauty roses with a spread of nearly three feet were placed at the side of the desk of Cashier Charles D. Riley. It was the 50th anniversary of the entrance of Mr. Riley into the First National Bank. A stream of customers all day long, many of whom had known the veteran banker for upwards of 30 years, were extending warm congratulations to Mr. Riley. From junior clerk in 1863, Mr. Riley went up to discount clerk and next to teller and in 1887 to cashier. When he was made teller, he performed the work of both receiving and paying teller, there being no assistant cashier in 1887. Mr. Riley said that of those active in the bank in his early years, the only men on the board now were President James H. Knight and Vice President Ward W. Jacobs. President Knight entered the banking business March 9, 1863 and celebrated his 50th anniversary nearly 4 years earlier. It had been about three years since A.E. Hart of the Society for Savings had celebrated a similar anniversary. In October 1916, the National Exchange Bank merged with the First National, the new institution having capital stock of $1,150,000.[12]
In 1918 an amendment to the Federal Reserve Act gave national banks authority to establish trust departments and soon thereafter the First National Bank established a trust department.[13]
In 1923, the directors were Lucius F. Robinson, Robinson, Robinson & Cole, attorneys; William B. Clark, chairman of the board, Aetna Insurance Co.; Robert W. Huntington, president, Connecticut General Life Insurance Co.; Judson H. Root, Newton C. Brainard, president, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co.; Francis T. Maxwell, president, Hockanum Mills Co., Rockville; James Lee Loomis, vice president, Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Louis F. Butler, president, Travelers Insurance Co.; Elisha E. Hilliard, president, E.E. Hilliard Co., Buckland; Lewis D. Parker, vice president, Billings & Spencer Co.; Francis R. Cooley, F.R. Cooley & Co., brokers; Elijah C. Johnson, president; Hewitt Coburn, Jr., president, Glastonbury Knitting Co.; Robert W. Dwyer, treasurer, Dime Savings Bank; George R. Reed, treasurer, The Dunham Mills, Inc.; Henry M. Sperry, vice president; Wellington R. Slocum, cashier, Travelers Insurance Co.; Thomas C. Temple, vice president, Phoenix Insurance Co.; John H. Vreeland, United States Manager, Scottish Union & National Insurance Co., Edinburgh; Frank D. Layton, vice president, National Fire Insurance Co.; and Wickliffe S. Buckley, treasurer, Mechanics Savings Bank. The officers were Elijah C. Johnson, president; Henry M. Sperry, vice president; Robert A. Boardman, cashier; Henry W. White and Stephen G. Pierce, assistant cashiers.[14]
Official Bank Title
1: The First National Bank of Hartford, CT
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $17,282,400 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1864 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 2,413,005 notes (1,857,388 large size and 555,617 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 - 12600 Original Series 4x5 1 - 18255 Original Series 4x10 1 - 9000 Original Series 3x20-50 1 - 2390 Series 1875 3x1-2 1 - 1200 Series 1875 4x5 1 - 7000 Series 1875 4x10 1 - 4625 Series 1875 3x20-50 1 - 2000 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 10453 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 9265 1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 400 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 16300 1902 Red Seal 4x10 1 - 3000 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 9880 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 30000 1902 Date Back 4x10 1 - 22500 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2300 1902 Plain Back 4x5 30001 - 200273 1902 Plain Back 4x10 22501 - 155606 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 45018 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 21530 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 108448 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 47887 9925-9930 Not issued
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1864 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Edwin Demosthenes Tiffany, 1863-1876
- Erastus Hubbard Crosby, 1877-1882
- Charles Stanton Gillette, 1883-1886
- James Henry Knight, 1887-1922
- Elijah Cooper Johnson, 1923-1928
- James Whitney Knox, 1929-1935
Cashiers:
- James Seymour Tryon, 1863-1871
- Charles Stanton Gillette, 1872-1882
- James Henry Knight, 1883-1886
- Charles D. Riley, 1887-1918
- Emerson Francis Harrington, 1919-1921
- Robert A. Boardman, 1922-1928
- Stephen Garfield Pierce, 1929-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Hartford, CT, 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
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Aug. 5, 1857.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., May 8, 1861.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Nov. 18, 1863.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Nov. 11, 1863.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Fri., Dec. 25, 1863.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 17, 1917.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Fri., Mar. 18, 1864.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 17, 1917.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 11, 1871.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 9, 1889.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Fri., Oct. 20, 1916.
- ↑ Harford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 17, 1917.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Sun., July 1, 1923.
- ↑ Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Sun., July 1, 1923.