First National Bank, Millerstown, PA (Charter 7156)
First National Bank, Millerstown, Perry County, PA (Chartered 1904 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Millerstown is located in Perry County. David Miller bought a plot of ground on September 1, 1780, filling for a patent in 1790 for the "laying out of the town," thus making Miller's Town the first town to be plotted for sale in the territory at that time part of Cumberland County. Miller's Town was later combined to form Millerstown. The Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal first approved in 1827 passed through Millerstown.
In 1867, Beaver, Marsh & Co. operated an iron ore mine in the vicinity of Millerstown. They shipped the ore by boat to their furnace at Winfield, Union County. In 1877, James Rounsley, an experienced miner, bought the mines and shipped much ore to that firm until they ceased operating the furnace in 1892.
During the National Bank Note Era (1863-1935), the population of Millerstown was 652 in 1880, growing to 689, its peak, in 1930. The current population is estimated at 679 (2020).
Millerstown had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era. A second Millerstown located in Butler County also had one National Bank, The German National Bank. Both of those banks issued National Bank Notes. You will find the German National Bank incorrectly listed with Perry County as its location when it is in fact a Butler County bank.
Bank History
- Organized Feb 15, 1904
- Chartered Mar 2, 1904
- Opened for business Apr 4, 1904
- Bank was Open past 1935
- Consolidated with The Juniata Valley National Bank of Mifflintown (Charter 5147) March 1962
The Farmers' Bank of Millerstown was organized December 21, 1872, with Perry Kreamer, president and William S. Rickabaugh, cashier. However, it closed December 21, 1878.
On January 20, 1904, application was made to the Comptroller of the Currency for the establishment of the first National Bank of Millerstown with capital stock of $25,000. That amount was considerably over-subscribed. On February 15, 1904, stockholders elected the following directors: C.A. Rippman, Harry G. Rippman, A.H. Ulsh, Dr. J.G. Ludwick, James Rounsley, George W. Frey, and Samuel L. Beaver. The directors effected an organization with C.A. Rippman, president; James Rounsley, vice president; Dr. J.G. Ludwick, secretary. Prof. J.E. Rounsley resigned from the principalship of the Millerstown schools to go into the Millerstown bank; Miss Lily Nankivel was elected to fill the vacancy. On March 3, 1904, the Comptroller of the Currency, William B. Ridgley, authorized the First National Bank of Millerstown to commence business and the directors that same day elected James E. Rounsley, cashier. A new stone building was being built by U.H. Ward between the Ward house and the home of H.S. Branyan solely for the purpose of banking. In May 1904, A.H. Ulsh was elected president due to the resignation of C.A. Rippman. Ulsh was a director of the Swineford First National Bank.
In January 1933, The directors elected were George W. Fry, Thos. P. Cathcart, D.A. Lahr, T. Clair Kerchner, J. Logan Jones, L.F. Wright, C.E. Beaver. Officers elected were Geo. W. Fry, president; D.A. Lahr and Thos. P. Cathcart, vice presidents; T. Clair Kerchner, cashier; Miss Mary L. Ulsh, assistant cashier.
On March 17, 1941, firemen stood watch over the smoking embers of a morning fire which sept through nearly an entire block in the center of Millerstown causing an estimated damage of $50,000 and destroying a hotel and two adjoining homes. The Millerstown Hotel, a two-story frame building where the fire was believed to have started in a hallway was destroyed. Dory Cox of Thompsontown, the owner, estimated his loss at $10,000 of which $2,500 was covered by insurance. The adjoining home of Russell Arnold, Millerstown burgess and that of Roy Rupp were also destroyed. Flames were fanned by a high wind and swiftly spread to the roofs of the Millerstown Theater and the First National Bank as well as a number of buildings and homes nearby. Documents and money were removed from the bank just before the slate roof burned through and caved in. A scarcity of fire hydrants forced firemen to run hose lines more than two blocks and to pump water from the Juniata River. The hostelry was built in the 1860s and old-timers recalled that the original owner, Shuman Miller, was shot to death in an altercation with some patrons. The shooting took place in front of the building after Miller, a member of the family after which this community was named, had been invited to "step outside and get shot." The bank temporarily moved into the J.D. Cupp garage until repairs could be completed.
In January 1960, officers and directors were: president, T. Clair Kerchner; vice president and secretary, J. Login Jones; cashier, Mary L. Ulsh; assistant cashiers, Laura D. Wilt and Faye A. Hetrick; directors, T. Clair Kerchner, J.L. Jones, J.D. Cupp, Loren F. Wright and George G. Beaver.
In March of 1962, Comptroller of the Currency, James J. Saxon, approved the consolidation of Juniata Valley National Bank of Mifflintown and the First National Bank of Millerstown. On September 21, 1978, the bank switched to a state charter and changed its name to the Juniata Valley Bank. The Millerstown Branch of the JV Bank is located on the square with a new building, featuring drive through banking situated where the old Gulf service station was located.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The First National Bank of Millerstown, PA
Bank Note Types Issued
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A total of $470,230 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1904 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 59,534 notes (48,712 large size and 10,822 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 950 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 760 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 1925 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1390 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1926 - 6468 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1391 - 4000 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 920 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 430 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 118 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 1174 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 636 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 204
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
First National Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1904 - 1936):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Pennsylvania Bank Note History
- General information on Millerstown (Wikipedia)
- General information on Perry County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Pennsylvania (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Millerstown, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millerstown,_Pennsylvania
- 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://bbdata.banknotehistory.com
- Huntoon, P., Millerstown, Pa. Two Banks, One Town Name, Two Locations: Numismatic News, May 3, 2022.
- Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, PA, Wed., Jan. 20, 1904.
- The News, Newport, PA, Thu., Feb. 18, 1904.
- Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, PA, Fri., Feb. 19, 1904.
- The Perry County Democrat, Bloomfield, PA, Wed., Feb. 24, 1904.
- Harrisburg Daily Independent, Harrisburg, PA, Fri., Mar. 4, 1904.
- Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, PA, Sat., Mar. 5, 1904.
- The News-Sun, Newport, PA, Thu., Jan. 12, 1933.
- The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA, Mon., Mar. 17, 1941.
- The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Mon., July 21, 1941.
- Perry County Times, New Bloomfield, PA, Thu., Jan., 21, 1960.
- The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Mon., Mar. 19, 1962.