First National Bank/American-First NB/First NB & TC, Findlay, OH (Charter 36)

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The First National Bank of Findlay, Ohio, originally operated from the building at 500 South Main Street. The Joy House Hotel operated there until the early 1900s.
The First National Bank of Findlay, Ohio, originally operated from the building at 500 South Main Street. The Joy House Hotel operated there until the early 1900s. Courtesy of Mark Borckardt and Eric Van Renterghem

First National Bank/American-First NB/First NB & TC, Findlay, OH (Chartered 1863 - Closed (Merger) 1991)

Town History

The old First National Bank building located on the corner of Main and Crawford Streets, Findlay, Ohio.
The old First National Bank building located on the corner of Main and Crawford Streets, Findlay, Ohio.  Courtesy of Google Maps ca2022

Findlay (/ˈfɪnli/ FIN-lee) is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Ohio. The second-largest city in Northwest Ohio, Findlay lies about 40 miles south of Toledo. The principal city of the Findlay micropolitan area, it is home to the University of Findlay, and the headquarters of Fortune 100 company Marathon Petroleum. The Blanchard River travels through Findlay, flowing east to west. Findlay's population was 40,313 at the 2020 census. In 1860, the population was 2,467 growing to 4,633 by 1880 rapidly growing to 18,553 by 1890.

In the War of 1812, Colonel James Findlay of Cincinnati built a road and a stockade to transport and shelter troops in the Great Black Swamp region. This stockade was named Fort Findlay in his honor. At the conclusion of the war, the community of Findlay was born. The first town lots were laid out in 1821 by future Ohio Governor Joseph Vance and Elnathan Corry.

For three months in the early 1960s, Findlay had the distinction of being the only community in the world where touch-tone telephone service was available. Touch-tone service was first introduced there on November 1, 1960.

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

Bank History

  • Chartered July 25, 1863
  • 1: Assumed 3729 and its circulation by consolidation January 2, 1923 with title change (American National Bank, Findlay, OH)
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Merged into The Fifth Third Bank of Toledo, N.A. in Toledo, OH, November 12, 1991

The First National Bank of Findlay, Ohio, originally operated from a building at 500 South Main Street in the same space of a previous bank, The Exchange Bank, that operated from 1858 to 1860. The building, constructed in 1854, was divided into three sections. The north part served as the general store of Hank P. Gage. The middle part was initially the Exchange Bank, operated by Cunningham Hazlett, and the south part was a hotel that George H. Crook operated. David Joy and Abiather Joy eventually acquired all three parts of the building and operated the Joy House Hotel until the early 1900s. Registered guests include Benjamin Hayes, James Garfield, William McKinley, James Whitcomb Riley, Henry Ward Beecher, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb.

In October 1865, the directors were E.P. Jones, R.B. Hurd, W.H. Wheeler, H.P. Gage, and Henry Brown. The bank was in Crook House Block with E.P. Jones, president and C.E. Niles, cashier. 

In November 1867, At the first annual meeting of the Findlay Savings & Building Loan association, the following board of officers was elected:  Directors--Two Years:  Wm. Anderson, K.S. Baker, H.P. Gage, Frank Karst, and Henry Byal;  One Year: A. Hurd, Jno. Engleman, H.B. Green, J.P. Clough, D.C. Fisher.  C.E. Niles was president; Jno. M. Hamlin, secretary; and C.D. Ettinger, treasurer.

In April 1872, workmen were fitting up the corner room in Wheeler's Block for the use of the First National Bank. The location was in the center of business on the corner of Main and Crawford Streets, west side, and thus a good one. About the 20th of May, the bank planned to move into their new room in Wheeler's Block.

In February 1873, the directors were E.P. Jones, Jas. H. Wilson, Chas. E. Niles, Isaac Davis and James A. Blair. E.P. Jones was president; Chas. E. Niles, cashier; and J.A. Blair, teller.

On August 31, 1922, announcement was made of the sale of P.W. Ewing’s interest in the First National bank to David Kirk who transferred his holdings in the Ohio Bank and Savings Company to Ewing. Ewing had been president of both institutions and Kirk a heavy stockholder in each. The transfers effect a divorcement of the Kirk-Ewing financial interests. A new president for the First Nation bank was expected within a few days.

On January 3, 1923, the comptroller of the currency, D.R. Crissinger, approved the consolidation of the First National and the American National Bank of Findlay under the corporate title of the American-First National Bank of Findlay with a capital stock of $250,000. Each bank was capitalized at $150,000.

In July 1925, the American-First National Bank was authorized to do trust business by state bank superintendent Scott. 

On May 6, 1930, O.C. Gray, state superintendent of banks, was notified by directors of the Buckeye Commercial Savings Bank of Findlay that they had closed the bank because of frozen assets.  The bank had a capital stock of $500,000 and reported resources of $4,924,232 at the last state bank call of March 27.  Gray announced he would take charge of the bank at once.

On Monday, June 30, 1930, unwilling to see the life savings of thousands of his fellow townsmen swept away by a recent bank crash, O.D. Donnell, president of Ohio Oil Company, announced he would use $2,000,000 of his own resources as the first move in paying every depositor in full. Donnell's gesture meant that scores of widows could keep their homes; that hundreds of farmers would not lose their farms; that businessmen would stay in business; that financial depression would not engulf Findlay and the entire countryside. It was a sad day in Findlay when the Buckeye Commercial Bank closed due to frozen assets, tying up more than $3,000,000 in deposits. Most of the depositors were people who had struggled for years to accumulate modest savings accounts. Times had been hard and the struggle to keep above water had been difficult for many. This was the knockout blow. Gloom pervaded the town and the farm communities surrounding it. Businessmen, farmers, women and children suffered. Then, Donnell stepped into the picture. He studied the situation carefully. He was not a banker and never had been connected with a bank. But he couldn't get his mind off the thought of his friends, his neighbors, losing all their money. He knew too intimately the heart throbs the bank crash had brought. He made his decision and moved swiftly. He acquired control of the American-First National Bank of Findlay, the predominating financial institution of the town. He was made a director of the bank. He did all this with the distinct stipulation that the American-First National was to take over at once the affairs of the defunct Buckeye Commercial. Since the total deposits of the Buckeye, totaling $3,936,004, were tied up hopelessly for years on the face of evidence revealed by examiners' inspections, Donnell knew direct action was needed. "I'll put up the money," he said. "I'll repay every cent of that money. Tell them they can have their money now, that no one will lose." The First National Bank applied to the state banking department for permission to take over the defunct bank. This was expected to be granted. Donnell disclaimed any credit for his act. "It will help us all," he said. "Of course, I am no banker. Civic pride alone actuated my move. I have been so busy with the oil business I haven't had a chance to do anything else. This seemed to be an opportunity to aid." Donnell took with him two vice presidents of the Ohio Oil Co., R.J. Berry and C.L. Fleming, also named directors of the American-First National Bank.

On November 13, 1930, the stockholders voted to increase capital from $250,000 to $350,000 and to change the name to the First National Bank and Trust Company. At the time, the bank held the seventh oldest charter in the United States.

In October 1962, First National Bank of Findlay received word from the comptroller of the currency of official approval to establish a branch at 1801 Tiffin Avenue. The new branch would be located near the Fort Findlay Village Shopping Center with construction to begin soon.

John R. Donnell, chairman of the board of directors announced that Robert A. Feller was elected president of the bank to succeed the late H.E. Widenhofer. Feller was previously vice president and a director. A native of Hancock County, Feller was graduated from Mount Blanchard High School. In 1942 he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Agriculture at Ohio State University. Following graduation he served four years with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps during World War II, including two years overseas. He was discharged from active duty holding the rank of Major. On July 1, 1946, Feller joined the staff as a teller and farm representative.

On Thursday, July 25, 1963, open house at the First National Bank of Findlay was attended by several thousand people. The open house was in observance of the bank's 100th birthday anniversary. Visitors were entertained by a barbershop quartet and with free movies. Tours of the bank's facilities were made and historical displays were on exhibit.

On November 12, 1991, the First National Bank of Findlay, Ohio, merged and became part of the Fifth Third Bank of Toledo, National Association.

John Randolph Donnell, a banker, oilman and philanthropist, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He was 92. Born June 22, 1912, in Findlay, Ohio, he was the son of Otto D. and Glenn (McClelland) Donnell. His family was well-known in the oil industry. His grandfather, James, long friend of John D. Rockefeller, founded the Ohio Oil Co. The company, which later became Marathon Oil, was part of the Rockefeller Standard Oil Trust. Mr. Donnell attended Findlay schools and, in 1934, he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Case Institute of Technology, now Case Western Reserve University. He also attended the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School in 1956. He began his business career with Marathon Oil in 1936, where he eventually became president of international relations and senior vice president of finance and planning. He was a member of the company's board of directors until its sale to U.S. Steel. He served 35 years as president of the First National Bank of Findlay, before the bank was sold in the late 1980s to Fifth Third Bank. He was also a director of the Toledo Trust Co.

  • William A. Hollington, President 1934-1946
  • Herbert E. Widenhofer, President 1947-1962
  • Robert A. Feller, President 1962-??

Official Bank Title(s)

Series of 1875 $20 bank note with pen signatures of Charles E. Niles, Cashier and E.P. Jones, President.
Series of 1875 $20 bank note with pen signatures of Charles E. Niles, Cashier and E.P. Jones, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1: The First National Bank of Findlay, OH

2: The American-First National Bank of Findlay, OH (1/2/1923)

3: The First National Bank and Trust Company of Findlay, OH (12/23/1930)

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Charles E. Niles, Cashier and E.P. Jones, President.
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Charles E. Niles, Cashier and E.P. Jones, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1902 Red Seal $100 bank note with pen signatures of George P. Jones, Cashier and James C. Donnell, President.
1902 Red Seal $100 bank note with pen signatures of George P. Jones, Cashier and James C. Donnell, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of W.A. Hollington, Cashier and P.W. Ewing, President.
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of W.A. Hollington, Cashier and P.W. Ewing, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with SN 1A and pen signature of J.H. Macklin, Assistant Cashier and stamped signature of J.E. Bicknell, President.
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with SN 1A and pen signature of J.H. Macklin, Assistant Cashier and stamped signature of J.E. Bicknell, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $50 bank note with printed signatures of A.E. Eoff, Cashier and J.E. Bicknell, President.
1902 Plain Back $50 bank note with printed signatures of A.E. Eoff, Cashier and J.E. Bicknell, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1929 Type 1 $100 bank note with SN 2 and printed signatures of W.A. Hollington, Cashier and A.E. Eoff, President.
1929 Type 1 $100 bank note with SN 2 and printed signatures of W.A. Hollington, Cashier and A.E. Eoff, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $50 bank note with printed signatures of W.C. Laycock, Cashier and R.J. Berry, President.
1929 Type 1 $50 bank note with printed signatures of W.C. Laycock, Cashier and R.J. Berry, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $2,387,860 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1863 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 175,658 notes (144,056 large size and 31,602 small size notes).

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

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: Original Series 4x5 1 - 3000
1: Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 500
1: Original Series 3x10-20 1001 - 1200
1: Original Series 20 501 - 1000
1: Series 1875 4x5 1 - 250
1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 900
1: 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 8857
1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 1041
1: 1902 Red Seal 50-100 1 - 560
1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2200
1: 1902 Date Back 50-100 1 - 800
1: 1902 Date Back 3x50-100 1 - 400
1: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 2201 - 10300
2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 9064
2: 1902 Plain Back 3x50-100 1 - 697
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 2356
2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 670
2: 1929 Type 1 6x50 1 - 206
2: 1929 Type 1 6x100 1 - 70
3: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1268
3: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 424
3: 1929 Type 1 6x50 1 - 197
3: 1929 Type 1 6x100 1 - 76

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1863 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

Wiki Links

Sources

  • Findlay, OH, 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
  • The Findlay Jeffersonian, Findlay, OH, Fri., Oct. 20, 1865.
  • The Findlay Jeffersonian, Findlay, OH, Fri., Nov. 22, 1867.
  • The Findlay Jeffersonian, Findlay, OH, Fri., Apr. 5, 1872.
  • The Findlay Jeffersonian, Findlay, OH, Fri., May 3, 1872.
  • The Findlay Jeffersonian, Findlay, OH, Fri., Feb. 14, 1873.
  • The Daily Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, OH, Thu., Aug. 31, 1922.
  • The Cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati, OH, Thu., Jan. 4, 1923.
  • News-Journal, Mansfield, OH, Tue., July 7, 1925.
  • Delphos Daily Herald, Delphos, OH, Mon., June 30, 1930.
  • The Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati, OH, Tue., July 1, 1930.
  • The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Fri., Nov. 14, 1930.
  • The Marion Star, Marion, OH, Tue., May 6, 1930.
  • The News-Messenger, Fremont, OH, Mon., Oct. 22, 1962.
  • The News-Messenger, Fremont, OH, Fri., Nov. 9, 1962.
  • The News-Messenger, Fremont, OH, Sat., July 25, 1963.
  • Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach, FL, Thu., Sep. 16, 2004.
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