First National Bank/First-Columbia NB, Columbia, PA (Charter 371)
First National Bank/First-Columbia NB, Columbia, PA (Chartered 1864 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Columbia, formerly Wright's Ferry, is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg, on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, across from Wrightsville and York County and just south of U.S. Route 30.
The settlement was founded in 1726 by Colonial English Quakers from Chester County, led by entrepreneur and evangelist John Wright. Establishment of the eponymous Wright's Ferry, the first commercial Susquehanna crossing in the region, inflamed territorial conflict with neighboring Maryland but brought growth and prosperity to the small town, which was just a few votes shy of becoming the new United States' capital. Though besieged for a short while by Civil War destruction, Columbia remained a lively center of transport and industry throughout the 19th century, once serving as a terminus of the Pennsylvania Canal. Later, however, the Great Depression and 20th-century changes in economy and technology sent the borough into decline. It is notable today as the site of one of the world's few museums devoted entirely to horology.
In 1724, John Wright, an English Quaker, traveled to the Columbia area (then a part of Chester County) to explore the land and proselytize to a Native American tribe, the Shawnee, who had established a settlement along Shawnee Creek. Wright built a log cabin nearby on a tract of land first granted to George Beale by William Penn in 1699, and stayed for more than a year. The area was then known as "Shawanatown".
When Wright returned in 1726 with companions Robert Barber and Samuel Blunston, they began developing the area, Wright building a house about a hundred yards from the edge of the Susquehanna River in the area of today's South Second and Union streets. Susanna Wright later built Wright's Ferry Mansion, what is now the oldest existing house in Columbia, dating to 1738. She lived in this house with her brother James and his wife Rhoda, and possibly the first of their many children. In 1729, after Wright had petitioned William Penn's son to create a new county, the provincial government took land from Chester County to establish Lancaster County, the fourth county in Pennsylvania. County residents – Indians and colonists alike – regularly traveled to Wright's home to file papers and claims, seek government assistance and redress of issues, and register land deeds. The area was particularly attractive to Pennsylvania Dutch settlers. During this time, the town was called "Wright's Ferry".
As of the 2020 census, Columbia had a population of 10,222. In 1860 the population was 5,007, peaking in 1900 at 12,316.
Columbia had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes. Including the Columbia National Bank (Charter 641), and the First National Bank (Charter 371), there was the Central National Bank (Charter 3873).
Bank History
- Chartered April 8, 1864
- Succeeded Detwiler & Brother
- 2: Assumed 641 and its circulation by consolidation Apr 14, 1917 (Columbia National Bank, Columbia, PA)
- Bank was Open past 1935
- Merged with the Lancaster County Farmers National Bank, Lancaster, in August 1966
James Wright Jr. and James Mifflin constructed the three-story Federalist style townhouse on Second and Locust Streets in 1814. In 1852, Gerhardt Brandt purchased the property as a hotel, The National House Hotel. Brandt rented the corner of the property to Solomon & Daniel H. Detwiler and it was used for Detwiler Brothers Bank. In 1860, Solomon Detwiler bought the entire property and moved his residence into the remaining portion. In 1864 the Detwilers charter their bank under the new national bank law with $100,000 capital.
In May 1864, The First National Bank of Columbia advertised its opening, succeeding Detwiler & Bro. The location was the old Detwiler's banking house on the corner of Second and Locust Streets. The directors were M. Hershey, P. Gossler, J.G. Hess, A. Bruner, Wm. G. Case, C.S. Kauffman, Washington Righter, J.B. Shuman, and Justus Gray. The officers were E. Hershey, president; A. Bruner, vice president; and S.S. Detwiler, cashier. The bank had capital of $100,000 with privilege of increasing same to $300,000.
In January 1870, the directors elected were E.K. Smith, Robert Crane, John Fendrich, J.J. McTague, H.W. Kehler, Jac. Seitz, D.H. Detwiler, and John Forrey.
In January 1915, the directors elected were D.H. Detwiler, J.R. Bucher, H.M. North, Jr., H.N. Kehler, E.H. Staman, Blanton C. Welsh, W. Sanderson Detwiler, J.P. Kennedy, M.D., and H.F. Yerkey. On March 22, 1915, at the meeting of the directors, Daniel H. Detwiler, presented his resignation as President. W. Sanderson Detwiler, his son and Chief Burgess of Columbia, was elected President to fill the vacancy. Daniel H. Detwiler was one of the organizers and first directors of the First National Bank. On June 8, 1903, he was elected Vice President and January 20, 1908, was elected President. He resigned on account of advancing age.
In January 1916, J.C. Shellenberger was elected a director to replace D.H. Detwiler. At the Columbia National Bank, the directors were Hugh M. North, Jr., Esq., S.S. Mann, Joseph Janson, M. Machenheimer, Alfred Brunner, Esq., John W. Stacy, Matthew Kerr, P.B. Breneman, and Amos Hollinger.
On January 9, 1917, the directors were: D.H. Detwiler, H.M. North, Jr., E.H. Staman, Blanton C. Welsh, W. Sanderson Detwiler, J.P. Kennedy, M.D., H.F. Yergey, J.C. Shellenberger, and Joseph Janson. The stockholders of the First National Bank of Columbia placed on their board of directors the president, Mr. North and cashier, Mr. Jansen of the Columbia National Bank, and the stockholders of the latter bank placed on their board the cashier and two of the directors of the former. This meant that the two banks would soon consolidate, making one bank with capital of $500,000, surplus of $124,000 and deposits of about a million and a quarter. The Columbia National had under various names been in existence almost 108 years. The First National was organized nearly 54 years ago.
On Saturday, February 24, 1917, the stockholders of the Columbia National Bank met to vote upon the question of consolidation with the First National Bank and the result was in favor of the consolidation. The First National Bank stockholders met on Friday afternoon and also favored such action. It was expected that by the middle of April the banks would he combined under the name of the First-Columbia National Bank of Columbia, and occupy the Columbia Bank building. The effects of the First National Bank were moved to the building of the Columbia National Bank late Saturday evening and the following Monday, April 16, the doors opened under the name of the First-Columbia National Bank.
In January 1920, the directors were Phares G. Brenneman, Alfred C. Brunner, Horace Detweiler, W. Sanderson Detweller, Joseph Janson, Dr. Joseph P. Kennedy, Dr. Simon S. Mann, Hugh M. North, Jr., Jacob C. Shellenberger, Edward H. Staman, Blanton C. Welsh, Henry F. Yerkey, and E.C. Shannon.
In November 1962, the First Columbia National Bank was looking for an anniversary present from Congress next year. The present could total anywhere from $50,000 to $400,000. The anniversary present would be in the form of a 100-year-old debt owed to the bank since the Civil War. The debt centered around the old Columbia-Wrightsville covered bridge. Columbia was planning a centennial next year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the burning of the bridge on June 28, 1863. Walter Lucas, president of the First Columbia National Bank, thinks the anniversary might be a good time for the Federal Government to settle the debt for the destruction of the bridge. The original debt owed to the bank for the bridge was $50,130. But if interest over the past 100 years was taken into consideration, the amount could swell to nearly $400,000. Ever since the bridge was burned back on that hot, sultry night in June of 1863, bank officials have been trying to collect war damages. But according to banker Lucas, Congress won't appropriate the money through special legislation. In 1905, the U.S. Court of Claims decreed that it was a bonafide wartime claim and directed that $100,000 be paid to the bank. The amount was later reduced to $50,150. But through the years. Congress refused to appropriate one single cent. Time after time, Pennsylvania congressmen introduced bills to pay the bill, but each time the South votes solidly against it and the bills were defeated. The bank last tried to collect in 1949 and a bill was again defeated. But now that it was an even 100 years, banker Lucas planned to try again during the next session of Congress. "I plan to talk to Senator Clark in January," Lucas said. Sen. Joseph S. Clark just won reelection to Congress on his support of the New Frontier and his ways of keeping Pennsylvania moving forward through various special legislation to improve the economic climate of the state.
The bridge was built in 1843 by the Columbia Bridge Co. The company was over-subscribed and was forced to go into the banking business as the Columbia Bank and Bridge Co. The name changed over the years and in 1917 was changed to the First-Columbia National Bank through the merger of two early national banks. Lucas had some pretty good evidence to back up the bank's claim for damages. The bank had the actual orders issued by General Couch, commanding general of Union Troops of the Department of the Susquehanna, to burn the bridge to prevent the advance of Confederate forces. The bank had another good argument. There might not be a unified Congress today if the Bridge had not been burned. Its burning put an end to General Lee's great invasion of the North which had been highly successful throughout June of 1863. Confederate troops moved well into Pennsylvania occupying York and moving toward the Susquehanna. Their plan was to cross the Susquehanna, looting wealthy Lancaster of its "spoils of war" and then move back toward Harrisburg. This would have tied up the railroad system supplying Northern troops and thrown the Union forces into panic. With the destruction of the bridge, Lee thought it would take too much time to ferry troops, horses, supplies and artillery across the river as Yankees were advancing rapidly through Maryland. Lee recalled his troops and reformed at Gettysburg and that battle was the turning point of the war.
The bank quarters served as the site of Columbia's library from July 4, 1925 until October 1962. Both the bank and the library occupied the same section of the old Detwiler mansion constructed in 1814. The mansion was a handsome colonial structure with a magnificent winding stairway. During the years that the library occupied the former bank quarters, the early bank fixtures were left intact and books were checked out for borrowers at the former teller's window with the big bank vault in the background. The mansion's owner, Miss Effie Detwiler, left the home and $98,000 for the library, but stipulated that the estate should not be used for a new building.
Shareholders of both the Lancaster County Farmers National Bank and the First-Columbia National Bank approved a proposed merger of the two banks. The Lancaster County Farmers National Bank had its headquarters at 23 East King Street, Lancaster. First-Columbia shareholders voted over 90% in favor on July 7, 1966. The merger would bring the number of branch offices of the County Farmers to 13. Under the plan, stockholders of the Columbia bank received three and one-quarter shares of County Farmers stock which carried a $10 per share price while First-Columbia was listed at $50 per share. First-Columbia had 4,500 shares held by 190 shareholders.
For more history and photos, see The First National Bank Museum.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The First National Bank of Columbia, PA
2: The First-Columbia National Bank (4/12/1917), Columbia, PA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $2,740,050 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1864 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 299,967 notes (244,472 large size and 55,495 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 3x1-2 1 - 1000 1: Original Series 4x5 1 - 2996 1: Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 5700 1: Series 1875 3x1-2 1 - 920 1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 2800 1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 6576 1: 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 4000 1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 6581 2: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 18915 2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 11630 2: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 4778 2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 2302 2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 596 2: 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 5314 2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 3417 2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 708
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1864 - 1936):
Presidents:
- Ephraim Hershey, 1864-1866
- Edward Keasbey Smith, 1867-1872
- Hugh McAlister North, (Sr.), 1873-1907
- Daniel Hiestand Detwiler, 1908-1914
- Major W. Sanderson Detwiler, 1915-1916
- Hugh M. North, Jr., 1917-1928
- Jas. W. Staman, 1929-1935
Cashiers:
- Solomon S. Detwiler, 1864-1897
- George W. Haldeman, 1898-1904
- Horace Detwiler, 1905-1919
- Jas. W. Staman, 1920-1928
- Elmer C. Zeigler, 1929-1930
- Walter W. Lucas, Jr., 1932-1935
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 Columbia (Wikipedia)
- General information on Lancaster County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Pennsylvania (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Columbia, PA, 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 Daily Evening Express, Lancaster, PA, Tue., Mar. 29, 1864.
- Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, PA, Tue., May 24, 1864.
- The Daily Evening Express, Lancaster, PA, Thu., Jan. 13, 1870.
- The Lancaster Examiner, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1915.
- Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Mon. Mar. 22, 1915.
- Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA, Tue., Jan. 11, 1916.
- The Inquirer, Lancaster, PA, Sat., Jan. 13, 1917.
- The News-Journal, Lancaster, PA, Mon. Feb. 26, 1917.
- The News-Journal, Lancaster, PA, Mon., Apr. 16, 1917.
- Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA, Tue., Jan. 13, 1920.
- Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Fri., Nov. 9, 1962.
- Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA, Fri., July 15, 1966.
- Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Aug. 31, 1966.
- Sunday News, Lancaster, PA, Sun., Nov. 17, 1968.