First National Bank, Sunbury, PA (Charter 1237)

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Postcard with a view of Market Street looking east, ca1940s. The First National Bank of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, is the building on the left and the Edison Hotel is on the right.
Postcard with a view of Market Street looking east, ca1940s. The First National Bank of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, is the building on the left and the Edison Hotel is on the right. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

First National Bank, Sunbury, PA (Chartered 1865 - Closed (Merger) 2005)

Town History

The First National Bank on Fourth and Market Streets opened in 1925.
The First National Bank on Fourth and Market Streets opened in 1925. Courtesy of Google Maps

Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Central Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River Valley on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and west branches. It dates to the early 18th century and is the county seat of Northumberland County.

Thomas Edison installed the first successful three-wire electric lighting system in July 1883 at what was then known as the City Hotel. At the city's 150th anniversary celebration in 1922, it was renamed the Edison Hotel. Other historic sites include the Beck House, Northumberland County Courthouse, and Sunbury Historic District, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sunbury's population was 9,905 at the 2010 census.

The first human settlement of Sunbury was probably Shawnee migrants. A large population of Delaware Indians was also forcibly resettled there in the early 18th century after they lost rights to their land in the Walking Purchase. Canasatego of the Six Nations, enforcing the Walking Purchase of behalf of George Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, ordered the Delaware Indians to go to two places on the Susquehanna River, one of which was present-day Sunbury.

From 1727 to 1756, Sunbury was one of the largest and most influential Indian settlements in Pennsylvania. At that time, it was known as Shamokin, not to be confused with the present-day city of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, which is located to the east.

In 1745, Presbyterian missionary David Brainerd described the city as being located on both the east and west sides of the river, and on an island. Brainerd reported that the city housed 300 Indians, half of which were Delawares and the other Seneca and Tutelo.

In 1754, much of the land west of the Susquehanna was transferred from the Six Nations to Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress. However, Shamokin was not sold and was reserved by the Six Nations. The French and Indian War brought fighting to much of the region. The Delaware Indian residents of Shamokin remained neutral for much of the early part of the war, in part because a drought and unseasonable frost in Shamokin in 1755 left them without provisions. However, the Delaware Indians at Shamokin joined the war against Pennsylvania and the English after the Gnadenhutten massacre in 1755. Pennsylvania Fort Augusta was built in 1756 at Shamokin.

On March 21, 1772, Northumberland County was incorporated and subdivided. The settlement of Shamokin was renamed Sunbury that same year, and the present-day city of Sunbury identifies 1772 as the date of its establishment. It was named after Sunbury-on-Thames, a town in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne, England, just outside Greater London.

The Weis' took over their father's general store in Selinsgrove, but decided to try their hand at corner grocery stores. Sigmund and Harry Weis built their first in Sunbury in 1912, expanding to 133 stores in Central Pennsylvania by 1933. The progressing-thinking brothers moved to self-service supermarkets, consolidating their 115 corner stores into 35 Weis Supermarkets by 1955. The two lived beside one another on North Front Street in Sunbury.

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

Bank History

An 1863 obsolete $5 note from the Bank of Northumberland with signatures of Joseph R. Priestley, Cashier and J.B. Packer, President
An 1863 obsolete $5 note from the Bank of Northumberland with signatures of Joseph R. Priestley, Cashier and J.B. Packer, President Courtesy of Heritage Auctions
  • Organized May 8, 1865
  • Chartered June 7, 1865
  • Succeeded Bank of Northumberland
  • Absorbed 6877 October 26, 1923 and its circulation (Sunbury National Bank, Sunbury, PA)
  • Assumed The Sunbury Trust and Safe Deposit Company by consolidation June 4, 1932
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Merged into Susquehanna Bank PA in Lititz, PA January 22, 2005

The Bank of Northumberland was incorporated as a state bank on April 1, 1831 and was located in the borough of Northumberland with a capital stock of $200,000 and commenced business on Monday, September 26, 1831. The first election of directors was held at the house of James Lee in Northumberland on August 4, 1831. The following were chosen as directors: John Cowden, John B. Boyd, James Merrill, A.B. Cummings, John Taggart, Joseph Wallis, Abbot Green, James Hepburn, Daniel Brantigan, Henry Frick, William Clyde, Alexander Jordan, and Dr. David Petriken. James Hepburn was elected president and served until April 23, 1840, when he resigned. John Taggart was elected president of the bank on April 30, 1840 and he was succeeded by William Cameron in 1850.

Joseph Raynor Priestley, Esq, grandson of the famous Rev. Dr. Joseph Priestly, discoverer of oxygen, was elected cashier on August 8, 1831 and served in that capacity until his death on Tuesday, November 10, 1863. On November 19, 1863, S.J. Packer, brother of J.B. Packer, was elected and he acted in that capacity until his brother's death, succeeding him as president.

By virtue of an act of Assembly passed April 16, 1864, the bank was removed from Northumberland to Sunbury, July 25, 1864. It existed as a state bank until June 7, 1865 when it became a national bank under the title of The First National Bank of Sunbury.

On Tuesday, January 22, 1867, the following were elected directors: J.B. Packer, Jas. K. Davis, J.C. Horton, W.H. Waples, Simon Cameron, Wm. I Greenough, Jno. Haas, Wm. M. Rockefeller, Geo. F. Miller, Wm. Cameron, A.B. Warford, Geo. Smuller, and A. Jordan. On the 24th, directors re-elected J.B. Packer, Esq., president and S.J. Packer, cashier.

On July 7, 1923, it was announced that the First National Bank of Sunbury had taken over the entire assets, business, building and equipment of the Sunbury National Bank, subject to the approval of the stockholders. The Sunbury National Bank would retire from business and the two institutions would be consolidated with combined assets of $4,000,000; deposits of $3,000,000; and capital of $900,000. The First National Bank planned to move its operation into the old Sunbury National Bank building.

On March 26, 1925, directors held their first meeting in the luxurious quarters of the new bank at Fourth and Market Streets. The location of the old bank was Market and Center Streets. A mahogany humidor which matched the furniture was presented to the directors, a gift from the employees. It had brass handles and had on top a plate with the inscription "Compliments of the Employees." W.F. Cree made the presentation speech. Although the bank was completed, its formal occupation wasn't until April 1. The banking quarters and auxiliary rooms were complete with the exception of the removal of some fixtures from the old quarters. Draperies were hung, chandeliers were in place and everything was spic and span for Sunbury's most modernly equipped and most imposing structure of its kind in the area.

In June 1931, W.F. "Birdie" Cree, former New York American League outfielder, was elected cashier. Cree was a graduate of State College where he starred in baseball. He had been trust officer and assistant cashier and succeeded the late D.E. Bloom.

In May 1932, The First National Bank of Sunbury and The Sunbury Trust and Safe Deposit Company merged under an agreement reached by the Boards of Directors of the two institutions. The merger was approved by the Comptroller of the Currency and by vote of the stockholders of the banks becoming effective on May 31, 1932. The First National Bank was 101 years old and the trust company was chartered by the state on July 22, 1890. The Sunbury Trust and Safe Deposit company started with $250,000 in capital and was located on the northwest corner of Fourth and Market Streets. George B Reimensnyder was president and F.F. Reitz, was treasurer.

In December, 1968, merger plans were filed and barring any unforeseen obstacles, a merger of the Snyder Count Trust Company and the First National Bank of Sunbury was expected to become effective in mid-1969. The joining of the two banks under the charter of the First National of Sunbury would provide the area with a bank having resources of approximately $55 million and another $30 million in trust department assets. Plans called for the retention of the staffs and the quarters of both banks with some operations carried out in Selinsgrove and some in Sunbury. The Trust Company's main office was at Market and Pine Streets in Selinsgrove with a branch located next to the Post Office along Route 11-15 in Shamokin Dam. The Sunbury bank located at Fourth and Market Streets had branches at Fourth and Arch Streets, Sunbury, and at the Trail Shopping Center in Shamokin Dam. Customers of either would have the convenience of five banking locations. The Trust Company opened for business November 29, 1925 in Selinsgrove at the Selinsgrove Borough Building at 5 N Market Street. It acquired the assets of the Snyder County State Bank at Hummels Wharf in 1936 and the Freeburg State Bank in 1940. When it absorbed the Farmers National Bank of Selinsgrove in 1940, it took over the bank's quarters on Market and Pine Streets. On April 8, 1969, shareholders of both banks voted far in excess of the necessary two-thirds majority to authorize the merging of the two banks, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency. In October the Comptroller of the Currency approved the merger. Ralph Witmer of Selinsgrove, the president of the Snyder County Trust Company became chairman of the board and chief executive and Francis L. Shaffer, vice-chairman of the First National became the vice chairman of the combined banks. The presidency of the new bank went to Norman E. Walz, the First National President, while W. David Gross of the Snyder County Trust Co. staff became executive vice president.

The merger of the First National Bank of Sunbury and the First National Bank of Mount Carmel became effective on Sunday, October 1, 1972. The two banks new names were the First National Trust Bank of Sunbury and the First National Trust Bank of Mount Carmel. First National Trust Bank had two offices in Sunbury and one each in Mount Carmel, Kulpmont and Shamokin Dam. The combined bank had assets of $75 million, deposits of about $66 million and trust accounts of $35 million. All 117 employees were retained. Susquehanna Bankshares Inc., a Pennsylvania multibank holding company was parent of First National Trust Bank of Sunbury.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The First National Bank of Sunbury, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

Original series $5 bank note with pen signatures of S.J. Packer, Cashier and J.B. Packer, President.
Original series $5 bank note with pen signatures of S.J. Packer, Cashier and J.B. Packer, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of G.W. Deppen, Cashier and S.J. Packer, President.
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of G.W. Deppen, Cashier and S.J. Packer, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of W.F. Rhoads, Cashier and John F. Derr, President.
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of W.F. Rhoads, Cashier and John F. Derr, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of D.E. Bloom, Cashier and William B. Waples, Vice President.
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of D.E. Bloom, Cashier and William B. Waples, Vice President. Courtesy of Adam Stroup
1929 Type 2 $5 bank note with printed signatures of W.F. Cree, Cashier and William B. Waples, President.
1929 Type 2 $5 bank note with printed signatures of W.F. Cree, Cashier and William B. Waples, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com

A total of $5,541,260 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 2005. This consisted of a total of 672,393 notes (516,530 large size and 155,863 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 - 2000
Original Series 4x5 1 - 5000
Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 4400
Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 3070
1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 4260
1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 3274
1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 673
1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 7000
1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 4700
1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 16500
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 13000
1902 Plain Back 4x5 16501 - 56220
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 13001 - 38872
1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 10782
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 6316
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1958
1929 Type 2 5 1 - 24680
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 13281
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 3566

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 2005):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

  • William B. Waples signed notes as Vice President.
  • There are currently no known Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

  • Sunbury, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbury,_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://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
  • Sunbury American, Sunbury, PA, Sat., Jan. 26, 1867.
  • The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Mon., July 3, 1922.
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA, Sun, July 8, 1923
  • The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Thu., Dec. 13, 1923.
  • The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Thu., Mar. 26, 1925.
  • Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, PA, Tue., Mar. 3, 1931.
  • Shamokin News-Dispatch, Shamokin, PA, Thu., June 25, 1931.
  • The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Wed., May 4, 1932.
  • The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, Selinsgrove, PA, Thu., Dec. 19, 1968.
  • the Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Tue., Apr. 8, 1969.
  • The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Tue., Apr. 8, 1969.
  • The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, Selinsgrove, PA, Thu., Oct. 2, 1969.
  • The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Mon., Oct. 2, 1972.
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