First National Bank of East Saint Louis, IL (Charter 4328)

Postcard of the Cahokia building of the First National Bank of East St. Louis, Illinois, located on the corner of Missouri and Collinsville Avenues, with an East St. Louis postmark of August 24, 1906. The new building was occupied by the bank in April 1906. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

First National Bank of East Saint Louis, IL (Chartered 1890 - Liquidated 1907)

Town History

The old First National Bank of East St. Louis, Illinois, located on the corner of Missouri and Collinsville Avenues. Courtesy of Google Maps ca2022

East St. Louis is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois. It is directly across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, Missouri, and the Gateway Arch National Park. East St. Louis is in the Metro East region of Southern Illinois. Once a bustling industrial center, like many cities in the Rust Belt, East St. Louis was severely affected by the loss of jobs due to the flight of the population to the suburbs during the riots of the late 1960s. In 1950, East St. Louis was the fourth-largest city in Illinois when its population peaked at 82,366. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 18,469, less than one-quarter of the 1950 census and a decline of almost one third since 2010. In 1890 the population was 15,169, growing to 29,734 by 1900.

East Saint Louis had seven National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and six issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

• Organized May 24, 1890
• Chartered May 31, 1890
• Succeeded East St. Louis Bank
• Liquidated March 30, 1907
• Absorbed by Illinois State Trust Company of East St. Louis, IL

On April 1, 1861, the citizens voted to change the name of Illinoistown to that of East St. Louis. The officers elected were Samuel W. Toomer, president of town council; Samuel B. Walker, Florence Sullivan, John Moneghan and Frank Karle, town council; John B. Bowman, police magistrate; John Henesy, town marshal.

East Saint Louis Real Estate and Savings Bank

The bank that would be succeeded by the First National Bank of East Saint Louis was charted by a special act of the Illinois Legislature as the "East St. Louis Real Estate and Savings Bank" in 1865. One of the incorporators was Charles Parsons who became president of the State Bank of St. Louis.

On Wednesday, April 8, 1868, at a meeting of the board of directors of the East St. Louis Bank and Savings Association, Colonel Vitol Jarrot was elected president in place of Mr. Samuel W. Toomer, deceased. In August 1868, the contract for the building of the East St. Louis Bank and Saving Association edifice was awarded to J.A. Stanton & Bro. of St. Louis at a cost of $7,650. The company abandoned the idea of a marble front owing to the great difficulty of getting out the marble and the great expense to undertake for just one building. The structure would be built of stock brick with cut stone caps and facings.

On Wednesday, June 14, 1871, directors of the East St. Louis Bank elected Mr. Henry Oebike, president; Thomas Winstanley, vice president; and Theodore Meumann, cashier.

In July 1871, the materials, fixtures, etc. of the East St. Louis Gazette were seized by the sheriff and moved to the basement of the East St. Louis Bank building, corner of Collinsville and Missouri Avenues. The property was seized under a writ of replevin. John B. Bowman, apparently the owner, sued in the circuit court of St. Clair County. He would use the equipment to print a paper on the regular publication day. Meanwhile, Mr. Macauley and his friends made arrangements to publish a paper and the citizens of East St. Louis would have the favor of two East St. Louis Gazettes issued under very different auspices. Mr. Macauley's Gazette would be printed in St. Louis for the present.

On Wednesday, June 18, 1873, at the regular meeting of the stockholders of the East St. Louis Bank, the following stockholders were elected directors to serve for the ensuing year: Henry Oebike, J.B. Lovingston, Thomas Winstanley, A.M. Allerton, J.B. Bowman, Henry Jackiesh, W. Heinrichshoffen, Vital Jarrot, and Joseph L. Griswold. At a subsequent meeting of the directors, Henry Oebike was elected president; Henry Jackiesch, vice president; and Theo Meumann, cashier.

On June 3, 1885, stockholders of the East St. Louis Bank elected the following directors: Thomas Winstanley, Henry Trendley, Henry Oebike, Henry Jackiesch, Frank B. Bowman, Ferdinand Heiur, Jr., John O. Butler, Mr. Diebinger, and B.B. George. The directors met on the 17th and elected the old officers for the ensuing year as follows: Henry Oebike, president; Henry Trendley, vice president; Col. Theo. Meumann, cashier; and Louis Boismenue, assistant cashier.

In June 1886, the directors organized by electing Frank B. Bowman, president; Henry C. Jacklesch, vice president; and Col. Theodore Meumann, cashier, a position he had held for over 15 years. On July 14, 1886, at a meeting of the board of directors, John J. McLean, Jr., was appointed collector.

On Saturday morning, February 12, 1887, a horse attached to a wagon belonging to William Horn, the baker on Fifth and Missouri Avenue, ran away from in front of the East St. Louis Bank. The wagon was overturned on Fourth Street near Walsh's saloon and badly wrecked.

At the annual elections, the following were elected directors: Henry Oebike, M.M. Stephens, J.J. McLean, Paul W. Abt, J.B. Lovingston, Harry Elliot, A.M. Meints, J.W. Renshaw, and Ferd Heim, Jr. In August, D.G. Ramsay resigned his position as assistant cashier of the East St. Louis Bank and would go to Bloomington to study law.

In March 1890, an application to organize the First National Bank of East St. Louis was filed with the comptroller of the currency by L.E. Goddard of Marion, Illinois, and his associates.

First National Bank of East Saint Louis

In May 1890, The First National Bank of East St. Louis with paid-up capital of $100,000, divided into 1,000 shares, planned to open for business on June 1st. The officers were Paul W. Abt, president; Henry C. Fairbrother, vice president; and Lewis A. Battaile, cashier. The directors of the new bank were Paul W. Abt, Chas. C. Carroll, Henry C. Fairbrother, Thos. L. Fekete, Henry C. Griesedleck, G.H. Kemper, John B. Lovingston, John J. McLean, Albert M. Meints, M.M. Stephens, and John Whitacker.

On June 11, 1897, Secretary Gage decided to make the Southern Illinois National Bank of East St. Louis the depository for the funds of the internal revenue for the Southern District of Illinois. The internal revenue office was formerly located at Cairo, but had recently moved to East St. Louis. Since the move, there had been quite a contest going on between two of the East St. Louis banks to be made the depository of the funds of the internal revenue office. Henry D. Sexton, representing the Southern Illinois National, and Thomas L. Fekete, representing the First National Bank of East St. Louis, were both in Washington to present the claims of their respective institutions to Secretary Gage. The Southern Illinois National Bank became a national bank only a short time ago. It was formerly the Workingmen's Bank of East St. Louis, but as a State bank, it could not become the depository of national moneys. Its officers decided to incorporate it as a national bank in order to compete for the privilege of caring for the funds of the internal revenue office. The change was made about six weeks ago, allowing them to carry off the prize which they sought.

On Tuesday, January 18, 1898, stockholders elected the following directors: M.M. Stephens, Thomas L. Fekete, John J. McLean, G.H. Kemper, W.H. Elliot, Paul W. Abt, Robert Bethmann. At a later meeting, the board selected Paul W. Abt, president; Thomas L. Fekete, vice president; J.M. Woods, cashier; and John J. McLean, Jr., assistant cashier.

On Tuesday, May 21, 1901, the stockholders of the Illinois State Trust Company held a meeting at the office of the directors of the First National Bank of East St. Louis and elected the following gentlemen as the first board of directors:  E.C. Simmons, E.O. Stanard, W.L. Huse, T.W. Crouch, W.X. Bixby, W.E. Guy, H.C. Haarstick, I.H. Orr, John S. Filley, E.S. Pfeffer, J.C. Van Riper, H.C. Coleman, B.F. Buffington, C.T. Jones, F.E. Nulson, H.J. De Haan, H. Elliot, Paul W. Abt and T. E. Fekete. A committee consisting of Messrs. J.C. Van Riper, T.L. Fekete and Paul W. Abt was appointed to select a site for the new trust company. It was understood that the site had been selected and that the trust company would take the rooms occupied by. Mr. Hager on the Collinsville Avenue side of the bank building. The new trust company planned to open for business within thirty days, and it was claimed that it would make a strong bid for the business of insurance and general financial agents. For many years past the financial affairs of the city, it was claimed, had been in the hands of individuals, and the company was organized for the purpose of transacting this business with the individuals as a corporation. It is also reported that other financiers will form a trust company soon on the same lines. All classes on the East Side were pleased with the invasion of the trust companies, and it was believed that they would be a potent agent in developing East St. Louis. One of the lines that would receive united attention would be the erection of a vast number of small houses for the accommodation of the mechanics of the community. These houses would be of the three- and four-room variety, but with all modern conveniences and on that account, it was thought would pay a very handsome revenue on the general investment.

On Tuesday, January 12, 1904, stockholders elected directors and the directors reappointed the old officers. The directors were Maurice V. Joyce, J.C. Van Riper, Thomas L. Fekete, W.H. Elliott, J.J. McLean, Sr., Paul W. Abt, Dr. H.J. De Haan, George G. Heller, and R.L. Rinnaman. The officers were Paul W. Abt, president; J.C. Van Riper, first vice president; Thomas L. Fekete, second vice president; John J. McLean, Jr., cashier; and P.S. Abt, assistant cashier. On January 22, 1904, at a meeting of the directors, Ben P. Goodwin who had been connected with the Merchants-Laclede National Bank for several years, was appointed cashier. He took the place made vacant by the resignation of Cashier John J. McLean, Jr.

On Monday, April 16, 1906, the First National Bank of East St. Louis and the Illinois State Trust Company opened for business in their new quarters in the Cahokia building at the corner of Missouri and Collinsville Avenues. The Cohokia was six stories, costing $125,000, situated on the site of the old First National Bank building. The bank occupied the first or lower floor and the trust company was on the second floor. A formal opening was expected within a week or two.

In February 1907, two East St. Louis Financial institutions, the First National Bank and the Illinois State Trust Company planned to merge by the end of the month. The First National Bank would go out of business and be succeeded by the Illinois State Trust Company. The officers of the national bank were J.C. Van Riper, president; Thomas L. Fekete and Paul W. Abt, vice presidents; F.T. Joyner, cashier; and James E. Combs, assistant cashier. These were practically the same as the officers of the trust company. R.L. Rinaman was secretary and treasurer of the trust company. The new trust company would have a capital of $300,000 and a surplus of $170,000, making it the largest bank in Southern Illinois. The principal reason for the merger and liquidation of the First National Bank was due to more elastic conditions permitted by state law. The new bank would have a directorate of 19 and the directors would authorize an executive committee to transact the business of the institution. Officers of the new Illinois State Trust Company Bank were elected on February 28th. They were J.C. Van Riper, president; Thomas L. Fekete, Paul W. Abt, H.J. De Haan, vice presidents; F.T. Joyner, vice president and cashier; R.L. Rinaman, vice president and cashier; James E. Combs, assistant cashier; R.P. Munger, assistant secretary and trust officer.

Official Bank Title

1: The First National Bank of East St. Louis, IL

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of Ben P. Goodwin, Cashier and Paul W. Abt, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $608,450 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1890 and 1907. This consisted of a total of 73,036 notes (73,036 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
1882 Brown Back	4x5	1 - 10150
1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 8109

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1890 - 1907):

Presidents:

• Paul William Abt, 1890-1904
• John Crowell Van Riper, 1905-1906

Cashiers:

• Lewis Allen Battaile, 1890-1890
• John Matthews Woods, 1891-1901
• John Joseph McLean, Jr., 1902-1903
• Benjamin Prentice Goodwin, 1904-1905
• Frank T. Joyner, 1906-1906

Other Known Bank Note Signers

• Paul Stephen Abt, Assistant Cashier 1904

Bank Note History Links

• First National Bank of East Saint Louis, IL History (NB Lookup)
• Illinois Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

Sources

• East Saint Louis, IL, 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