First National Bank, North Platte, NE (Charter 3496)
First National Bank, North Platte, NE (Chartered 1886 - Closed (Merger) 2014)
Town History
North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska. It is located in the west-central part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River. The population was 23,390 at the 2020 census, making it the 11th most populous city in Nebraska. In 1880 the population was 363, growing to 3,055 by 1890.
North Platte is a railroad town; Union Pacific Railroad's large Bailey Yard is located within the city. Today, North Platte is served only by freight trains, but during World War II the city was known for the North Platte Canteen, a volunteer organization serving food to millions of traveling soldiers.
North Platte is the principal city of the North Platte Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lincoln, Logan, and McPherson counties.
North Platte was established in 1866 when the Union Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. It derives its name from the North Platte River. North Platte was the western terminus of the Union Pacific Railway from December 1866 until the next section to Ogallala was opened the following year. Even though Congress had authorized the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1862, it had been extended only as far as Fremont, Nebraska by the end of the 1865 construction season. The 275-mile section from Fremont to North Platte was completed in 1866.
In the 1880s, Buffalo Bill Cody established his ranch, known as Scout's Rest Ranch, just north of town. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
North Platte had two National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and both of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized March 12, 1886
- Chartered May 1, 1886
- Absorbed 10970 June 24, 1927 (First National Bank (No Issue), Hershey, NE)
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Merged into First National Bank of Omaha in Omaha, NE, March 31, 2014
The First National Bank of North Platte was established on March 9, 1886, by J.H. McConnell, president; A.D. Buckworth, vice president; James Sutherland, cashier; Samuel Goozee, assistant cashier; C.F. Iddings, William Neville, A.U. Wyman, F.B. Johnson, J.H. Millard and William Wallace. The first board of directors included Buckworth, Neville, T.J. Foley, W.B. Conklin, Sutherland and Goozee.[1]
At the close of business, December 31, 1915, the bank reported total resources of $743,316.48, with capital $100,000, surplus and undivided profits 63,651.48, circulation $100,000, and total demand deposits $246,636.81. Directors attesting to the correctness of the report were Ray C. Langford, M. Keith Neville, and John J. Halligan. F.L. Mooney was cashier.[2] In May 1916 at the meeting of Group Five of the state bankers' association at Grand Island, Ray C. Langford was elected vice president.[3] He was vice president of the Bank of Keystone and president of the Nebraska Elks.[4][5] Work on the new bank was progressing. In early December workmen who were decorating the walls and ceilings returned to Kansas City. The next crew to arrive would be the vault men, then the tile and marble men and later those who would place the furnishings.[6]
On Wednesday, March 14, 1917, the First National Bank moved into its new building, a bank home that in appearance, in convenience of interior arrangements and in the safeguarding of funds and records, was surpassed by few in the state. Tuesday, from two in the afternoon until ten at night, the officers of the institution, their ladies and the employees were "at home" for those who had a desire to inspect the building, and nearly 5,000 people filed through the entrance during the receiving hours. From four to five p.m. about 800 school children attended and were presented with metal flags. Those who received the visitors were President Seeberger, Cashier Mooney, Vice President Langford, assistant cashiers Munger and Miss Annie Kramph, clerks Miss Hinman, Harold Burke and Mancil Overman, assisted by Mrs. Seeberger, Mrs. Langford, Mrs. Will Jeffers of Omaha, Mrs. Munger, Mrs. S.A. Bangs, Mrs. P. R. Halligan, Mrs. Henry Waltemath, Miss Grace Mooney and Miss Alma Waltemath. Carnations were given to the ladies and cigars and metal flags to the men. A five-piece orchestra furnished music during the afternoon and evening, and on the officers' desks and at points of vantage were a dozen or more vases of beautiful roses, lilies, snap dragon and azaleas, presented by friends of the bank in this city and elsewhere. Assisting the local people in receiving were Frank Boyd, cashier of the Omaha National, F.A. Ouscaden, assistant cashier of the Merchants' National of Omaha, A. Moorman, of St. Paul, architect of the building, F.A. Barber of the Bank of Keystone and I.E. Ware and Earl Brownfield of the Hershey Bank. Interested visitors included Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Kelly of the First State Bank of Gothenburg and President and Mrs. C.M. Reynolds of the Maxwell State Bank. The new building was constructed of buff-colored pressed brick and Carthage marble; its dimensions were 44x 66 feet, symmetrically proportioned and its general appearance bespoke the solidity of the institution it housed. The interior finish was Italian and Grecian marble and mahogany woodwork, with bronze grill work and art panels over the counters. The general arrangement provided for a private customers' room at the left and a private consultation room at the right of the entrance; a Terraza-floored lobby with a customers' counter surrounding a central pillar; desk room for the president on the left and for the cashier and vice president on the right lobby and with the several windows of the tellers facing the entrance. North of the tellers' cages was the savings department. In the rear was the burglar-proof vault containing the Manganese steel safe and tiers of filing cases. The north side of the vault, which was divided from the safe room by a heavy concrete and steel wall, were located the safety deposit boxes, 200 in number. These were of steel and very conveniently arranged. Private desk room was provided for the holders of the safety boxes who desired to open them away from the public gaze. In the southeast corner was a well-appointed directors' room, and the northeast corner is occupied by wardrobes and toilet. The entire second floor of the building is occupied by the North Platte clinic, conducted by Doctors Wurtele, Kerr, Fetter and Hooper, and the basement housed the heating plant, reserve vault and storage rooms. The building was designed by A. Moorman & Co., bank architects of St Paul, Minnesota, who supplied and placed the interior finish of the banking room. The contractors and erectors of the building were McMichael Bros. of North Platte. The three vault doors, savings boxes and other permanent vault equipment were furnished by the Victor Safe & Lock Co., and the steel filing equipment of the vault supplied by the Art Metal Co. of Jamestown, New York. The cost of the building, complete with equipment, was $45,000.[8]
On Wednesday, May 11, 1927, an announcement was made of the purchase by the First National Bank of North Platte of the First National Bank of Hershey. The reason for the change was to facilitate better banking conditions in Hershey as well as to reduce overhead expenses, taxes, etc., as was common across the country. Accounts in the Hershey bank would be closed and transferred to the Bank of Lincoln County or the First National Bank of North Platte. The First National Bank of Hershey was established in 1917 and had a splendid patronage.[11] The directors of the First National Bank of Hersey sold based on the conviction that one bank in that place could ably serve the community and that they would have more time to devote to their private business.[12]
On Monday, May 12, 1986, opening ceremonies honoring the Frist National Bank and Trust Company were held with North Platte Mayor James Kirkman and President Daniel D. Davis presenting the centennial cake. Through a century of banking, the agricultural and business customers of the First National Bank and Trust Co. have been the foundation of the business. When the bank was started at Front and Dewey Streets, its mission was to serve the business and agricultural needs of the North Platte community. The goal was the same 100 years later according to bank president Dan Davis. The bank was celebrating its 100th anniversary in May 1986 and still focused on the financial needs of the business and agricultural community. "Our primary purpose is to provide complete financial services to our customers," Davis said. Banking officials and staff members also are an Important part of the bank's history. Three generations of the Langford family worked at the bank. Keith Neville, former Nebraska governor, served the longest term among the 14 presidents, from 1932-1950. Another president, William H. Munger, was associated with First National for 57 years. He started as a messenger boy in 1909, was named president in 1950 and chairman of the board in 1964. He served on the board for 36 years. Bank presidents and their terms included: J.H. McConnell, 1886-1889; T.J. Foley, 1889-1892; E.M. Leflang, 1892-1896; Harry S. White, 1896-1904; A.P. White, 1904-1904; Arthur McNamara, 1904-1911; E.F. Seeburger, 1912-1925; Frank L. Mooney, 1925-1932; Keith Neville, 1932-1950; W. Horton Munger, 1950-1964; Lester W. Langford, 1964-1972; Dale E. Walkenhorst, 1972-1975; William C. Deitemeyer, 1975-1984; and Dan Davis, March of 1985 to present. Like the people who've operated the bank, it is likewise remembered for the sites on which it has been housed. The first, at Front and Dewey, was occupied for just two years. From 1888-1916, the bank was headquartered in the three-story building at Sixth and Dewey. The next home, also at Sixth and Dewey, was a new structure built of pressed brick and Carthage marble. The 1916 construction cost was $75,000.
Memories of the early bank extended far back for longtime employees such as Dorie Johnson who joined a staff of 16 employees as a filing clerk in January 1945. Others still working at the bank and their initial date of employment were Jack Thalken, November 1946; Joyce Anderson, June 1959; and Jim Jensen, November 1959. One former employee, A.C. Kramph, achieved the position of assistant cashier and retired in 1944. Not a feat unusual for a man, but highly unlikely for women. A.C. "Annie" Kramph paved the way for many women in the banking field.[13]
Construction of the present First National Bank and Trust Co. building started in 1967 at Second and Dewey. This building opened in September 1967. On Feb. 19, 1968, the bank opened its first motor bank at the same site. In September 1973, the bank holding company, Firnco, was established. Soon to follow were the branch banks at Tenth and Jeffers (April 1975) and at The Mall (June 1975). The city's first automatic tellers were installed at the main bank lobby and at the Mall branch in 1979.
In May 1986, the directors included W.D. Newberry, Wesley F. Hansen, James D. Keenan, Richard W. Satterfield, Kenneth N. Langford, J.L. Swanson, William M. Callahan, Donald D. Kilgore and Daniel D. Davis. Capital totaling $50,000 started the First National Bank of North Platte in 1886. Now a century later, capital at the First National Bank and Trust Co. totaled $1.5 million.
On October 17, 1988, the First National Bank and Trust Company of North Platte was purchased by First National of Nebraska, Inc. This would allow Ken Langford, president of the North Platte bank to retire and enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle. He would continue to be active in the community as chairman of financial planning for the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Trust, Treasurer of the St. Patrick's finance board, Red Cross treasurer, North Platte Industrial Development board member as well as rotary. He was an active University of Missouri alum. Ken Langford stared with the First National Bank and Trust Company of Lincoln in 1956, remaining there until 1963 when he joined the Cheyenne National Bank in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was involved in ag and consumer lending in Cheyenne. In 1967 he went to Centerre Bank in St. Louis and worked in the area of investments and correspondent banking. He joined the First National Bank and Trust Company of North Platte on September 1, 1971. His family had been involved with this bank since January 9, 1912. His grandfather, Raymond C. Langford, was executive vice president and chairman of the Board. and his father, Lester Langford, was president from 1964-1972.[14]
- 09/15/1989 Acquired Nile Valley Federal Savings and Loan Association (FDIC# 30522) in Scottsbluff, NE.
- 05/11/1990 Acquired Platte Valley Savings, A Federal Savings and Loan Association (FDIC# 32697) in Gering, NE.
- 08/01/1994 Acquired Alliance National Bank and Trust Company (FDIC# 5373) in Alliance, NE.
- 03/31/2014 Merged and became part of First National Bank of Omaha (FDIC# 5452) in Omaha, NE.
Official Bank Title
1: The First National Bank of North Platte, NE
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $1,418,440 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1886 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 113,939 notes (93,664 large size and 20,275 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 - 2681 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 800 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 6000 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 6001 - 19935 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 2356 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 694 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 1650 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 325
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1886 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Joseph H. McConnell, 1886-1886
- Thaddeus Joseph Foley, 1887-1892
- Emil Mathias Fredrik Leflang, 1893-1895
- Harry Scott White, 1896-1903
- Arthur McNamara, 1904-1911
- Emil Fredrick Seeberger, 1912-1924
- Frank La Moine Mooney (Sr.), 1925-1930
- Morell Keith Neville, 1932-1935 [18th Governor of Nebraska, 1917-19]
Cashiers:
- James Sutherland, 1886-1886
- William Burke Conklin, 1887-1891
- Arthur McNamara, 1892-1903
- Frank La Moine Mooney (Sr.), 1904-1924
- William Horton Munger, 1925-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- North Platte, NE, 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
- ↑ Telegraph, North Platte, NE, Sun., May 11, 1886.
- ↑ The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, North Platte, NE, Fri., Jan. 14, 1916.
- ↑ The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, North Platte, NE, Tue., May 30, 1916.
- ↑ The Arthur Enterprise, Arthur, NE, Fri., Dec. 29, 1916.
- ↑ The Lewellen Gazette, Lewellen, NE, Sat., June 24, 1916.
- ↑ The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, North Platte, NE, Tue., Dec. 12, 1916.
- ↑ The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, North Platte, NE, Fri., Mar. 16, 1917.
- ↑ The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, North Platte, NE, Fri., Mar. 16, 1917.
- ↑ The Hershey Times, Hershey, NE, Thu., May 20, 1920.
- ↑ Telegraph, North Platte, NE, Tue., Jan. 28, 1986.
- ↑ The Hershey Times, Hershey, NE, Thu., May 12, 1927.
- ↑ The Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, NE, Thu., May 12, 1927.
- ↑ Telegraph, North Platte, NE, Sun., May 11, 1986.
- ↑ Telegraph, North Platte, NE, Thu., Jan. 5, 1989.