First National Bank, Topeka, KS (Charter 2646)

A July 1882 advertisement for two new banks in Topeka, Kansas, The First National Bank, chartered March 13th, and the Central Bank of Kansas, incorporated January 4th.

First National Bank, Topeka, KS (Chartered 1882 - Receivership 1905)

Town History

Topeka is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 126,587. In 1910 the population was 43,684, growing to 64,120 by 1930.

The city, laid out in 1854, was one of the Free-State towns founded by Eastern antislavery men immediately after the passage of the Kansas–Nebraska Bill. In 1857, Topeka was chartered as a city.

The name "Topeka" is a Kansa-Osage word that means "place where we dig potatoes", or "a good place to dig potatoes". As a placename, Topeka was first recorded in 1826 as the Kansa name for what is now called the Kansas River. Topeka's founders chose the name in 1855 because it "was novel, of Indian origin, and euphonious of sound". Mixed-heritage Kansa Native American Joseph James, called Jojim, is credited with suggesting Topeka's name.

In the 1840s, wagon trains made their way west from Independence, Missouri, on a journey of 2,000 miles, following what came to be known as the Oregon Trail. About 60 miles west of Kansas City, Missouri, three half-Kansas Indian sisters married to the French-Canadian Pappan brothers established a ferry service allowing travelers to cross the Kansas River at what is now Topeka. During the 1840s and into the 1850s, travelers could reliably find a way across the river, but little else was in the area.

In the early 1850s, traffic along the Oregon Trail was supplemented by trade on a new military road stretching from Fort Leavenworth through Topeka to the newly established Fort Riley. In 1854, after completion of the first cabin, nine men established the Topeka Town Association. The group included Cyrus K. Holliday, an "idea man", who became mayor of Topeka and founder of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Soon, steamboats were regularly docking at the Topeka landing, depositing meat, lumber, and flour and returning eastward with potatoes, corn, and wheat. By the late 1860s, Topeka had become a commercial hub that offered many Victorian era comforts.

Topeka had 11 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all 11 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

• Organized December 26, 1881
• Chartered March 13, 1882
• Succeeded Henry Taylor
• Receivership July 3, 1905

On Sunday, May 13, 1900, Henry Taylor, aged 66 years, died at his home 709 West Sixth Street. He had been in poor health for some time, having been confined to his home for the past week. Mr. Taylor left a widow, five children, two sons, William and Nat Taylor, and three daughters, all of whom were married, Mrs. R.P. Reckards, and Mrs. Herman Lescher, of Great Falls, Montana, and Mrs. M.W. MacFerran of Topeka. The funeral was held from thee family residence with the Rev. J.B. McAfee, for many years an intimate friend of the family, conducting the services. Mr. Taylor came to Kansas from Ohio in 1859 and located at Oskaloosa, where for twenty years he was prominently interested in livestock and banking business. In 1879 Mr. Taylor moved to Topeka where he had since made his home, being engaged in banking and real estate. For many years and at the time of his death he had been a director in the Bank of Topeka. The pall bearers were: William Sims, Henry Keeler, W.G. Smyser, Joab Mulvane, T.B. Sweet and A.W. Knowles.

In June 1879, one of the windows in front of a building on 133 Kansas Avenue was ornamented with the sign, "Henry Taylor, banker." Mr. Taylor had previously advertised his banking business in Oskaloosa, Kansas, as early as August 1872, moving to the capital in 1879.

In January 1882, the First National Bank of Topeka planned to open around February 2d if it could gain possession of the building then occupied by Mr. Henry Taylor, banker. Mr. Taylor had it leased until April 1st and the new banking company was talking of paying him to vacate in February. If the terms could not be agreed upon, the bank would not open until April 1st. In February 1882, Mr. D.A. Moulton, an organizer of the First National Bank of Topeka, wrote that he had secured a fine safe, all the books and other necessary items for a banking house and would be ready to open for business on March 1st. The authorized capital stock was $500,000; paid up stock $100,000 with 45% of this amount taken by residents of Topeka. Mr. Geo. Willard and his son-in-law, Mr. D.A. Moulton of Ironton, Ohio, were in Topeka for the final meeting of the Board of Directors, making arrangements for opening the bank in the new building erected by C.M. Foster a few doors south of the courthouse as early in March as practicable. The disks were being made by Mr. C. Exstrom, the well-know cabinet maker and a mammoth safe was on the was from Mosler, Bahman & Co.'s factory in Cincinnati. The bank planned to occupy a permanent office in Col. Holliday's building, corner of Fifth Street and Kansas Avenue by April 1st. Mr. Willard was president of a large banking house in Ironton and a gentleman of considerable wealth, possessing a large interest in the new bank. Mr. D.A. Moulton, the cashier of the bank, would move to Topeka at once and build a residence there at an early date. The officers of the bank were Theo. Curran, president; Dr. J.W. Redden, vice president; D.A. Moulton, cashier; Theo. Curran, J.W. Redden, Wm. Wellhouse, W.W. Manspeaker, Wm. Sims, D.A. Moulton, T.J. Anderson, T.L. Stringham, J.D. Burr, W.A. Johnston, and Geo. W. Wood.

On Tuesday, January 9, 1883, at the annual election of directors of the First National Bank, J.W. Morris, P.G. Noel, George Willard, Theodore Curran, T.L. Stringham, J.D. Burr, T.J. Anderson, D.A. Moulton, Wm. Sims, Wm. Wellhouse and J.W. Redden were elected. The officers were J.D. Burr, president; J.M. Redden, vice president; D.A. Moulton, cashier; and F.G. Willard, assistant cashier.

In November 1884, the officers of the First National Bank were Geo. Willard, president; Wm. Wellhouse, vice president; D.A. Moulton, cashier; and Frank G. Willard, assistant cashier. The capital was $150,000 and surplus $15,000.

In May 1896, the officers were Wm. Sims, president; F.E. Holliday, vice president; Wm. Henderson, cashier; and E. Henderson, assistant cashier. The bank was located at 635 Kansas Avenue with capital $300,000 and surplus $75,000.

In January 1897, Edward Henderson, assistant cashier of the First National Bank, resigned his position and purchased the interest of Mrs. T.J. Kellam in the Kellam Book and Stationery Company.

In January 1905, the officers were Wm. Sims, president; W.H. Rossington, vice president; C.E. Hawley, cashier; and C.S. Bowman, assistant cashier. The bank had paid up capital of $300,000.

On Monday, July 3, 1905, The First National Bank of Topeka with C.J. Devlin as principal stockholder, failed to open its doors, having been closed by order of the comptroller of the currency. Afterward there was a slight run on the Central National Bank in which Devlin was a large stockholder. To offset the run, $300,000 in cash was deposited in the Central National. Devlin had turned over property valued at nearly $1.5 million along with $700,000 of life insurance to the Central. The most recent report showed the First National owed depositors $1.4 million.

Because of Devlin's illness, the result of overwork, it had been decided to form a corporation to cover all his properties worth about $7 million.  The Devlin Mining, Mercantile & Manufacturing Company was organized at Kansas City by Devlin's business associates.  The capital was placed at $1 million.  It was announced the question of raising a large sum of money needed by the holding company to keep the Devlin properties going.  Several hundred thousand dollars had been telegraphed to Topeka to offset the anticipated run on the Topeka bank in which Devlin held stock.

On July 5, 1905, a petition was filed in federal court on behalf of Kansas City creditors to declare C.J. Devlin bankrupt. The comptroller of the currency appointed national bank examiners as receivers for the Spring Valley National Bank and the First National Bank of Toluca, Illinois. C.J. Devlin was president of both banks.

On July 7 in United States district court in Topeka, Devlin's bankruptcy petition was granted. The statement of Devlin's liabilities was given as follows: First National Bank of Topeka, about $1.2 million; Central National Bank of Topeka, about $300,000; American National Bank of Kansas City, about $263,000; National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, about $200,000; Corn Exchange National Bank of Chicago, about $150,000 Central Trust Co. of Chicago, about $70,000; Bank of Topeka, Topeka, about $30,000; Union National Bank of Kansas City, about $9,000; Hirsch, St. Louis, about $5,000; Merchants National Bank of Topeka, about $5,000; Long Brothers Kansas City, about $4,000; Southwestern Fuel Co., of Topeka, $138,000; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis, about $200,000; First National Bank of Toluca, Illinois, Spring Valley National Bank of Spring Valley, Illinois and two national banks in the City of New York, amounts not given.

On October 31, 1905, Charles J. Devlin, the bankrupt millionaire coal operator, died at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Chicago at midnight, the result of a second stroke. He suffered his first stroke the previous summer and this led to the failure of his vast interests. Mr. Devlin was 52 years old and left a widow and five children. He was one of the wealthiest men in Kansas at the head of 26 different companies, coal mining enterprises and mercantile establishments in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and other states. C.J. Devlin carried life insurance policies aggregating $1,200,000 of which $678,000 was assigned to Receiver J.T. Bradley of the First National Bank of Topeka, the rest was carried in the name of his wife or children. Burial was made at his old home, La Salle, Illinois.

In January 1906, the receiver for the First National Bank of Toluca announced it would begin paying out $68,924.25 to creditors and the creditors would receive about 75% when affairs were finally settled.

In December 1906, James T. Bradley, receiver of the defunct First National Bank of Topeka paid a second dividend amounting to $229,153.19. The receiver was negotiating for the sale of all of the assets of the institution at one time and expected to be able to wind up the affairs of the institution with a final dividend before Christmas.

In August 1907, the depositors of the defunct First National Bank of Topeka would soon receive another 12% dividend. The next and last dividend would likely amount to 4% and would bring the total up to 86%. Ex. Treasurer Kelly had more than $500,000 of state money in this bank, contrary to law, when it failed. The state's loss unless Kelly's bondsmen were called upon to make it good would be more than $70,000.

On Friday, November 4, 1921, William Henderson, age 89, died in a Topeka hospital. Henderson was born in New York City on August 29, 1832, and came to Topeka in 1880. A Civil War Veteran, he was the cashier of the First National Bank and later was engaged in a number of businesses there. He was survived by a son, Edward Henderson, of St. Louis, who had been engaged in the wholesale paper business.

Official Bank Title

1: The First National Bank of Topeka, KS

Bank Note Types Issued

Series of 1875 $5 bank note with stamped signatures of C.E. Hawley, Cashier and William Sims, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Series of 1875 $10 bank note with stamped signatures of C.E. Hawley, Cashier and William Sims, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1882 Brown Back $50 bank note with stamped signatures of C.E. Hawley, Cashier and William Sims, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $899,350 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1882 and 1905. This consisted of a total of 88,804 notes (88,804 large size and No small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
Series 1875	4x5	1 - 16940
Series 1875	3x10-20	1 - 4071
1882 Brown Back	50-100	1 - 2380

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1882 - 1905):

Presidents:

• Theodore Curran, 1882-1882
• James Dewey Burr, 1883-1883
• George Willard, 1884-1884
• Perry G. Noel, 1885-1893
• William Sims, 1895-1904

Cashiers:

• Don Alonzo Moulton, 1882-1890
• William Henderson, 1891-1900
• Charles Everett Hawley, 1901-1904

Other Known Bank Note Signers

• No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

• First National Bank, Topeka, KS History (NB Lookup)
• Kansas Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

Sources

• Topeka, KS, 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