Francis Douglas (Wilkes Barre, PA)
Francis Douglas (December 1860 – March 5, 1947)
Biography
- Name: Francis Douglas
- Birth: December 1860, New York, USA
- Death: March 5, 1947, Washington, DC
- Vice President and Cashier, First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Early life and family
Francis Douglas was the second son of Col. Henry Douglas and Isadora (Bowman) Douglas of West Point, New York where his father was an instructor at the United States Military Academy. His forbears came to America in 1686 from the Scottish Highlands. On his paternal and maternal sides were Patriots who fought in the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Mexican-American War. He was married to Anna M. Elicott of Batavia, New York.
Mr. Douglas was educated in Wilkes-Barre public schools, was graduated from De Vaux College, Suspension Bridge, New York in 1880 and became instructor of mathematics and military tactics at the school. From 1882 until 1885, he was a clerk in the quartermasters' department of the U.S. Army cantonment on the Uncompahgre River, Colorado. He was a graduate of Norwich University, Vermont.
Banking career
He was employed by the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre as a messenger on April 15, 1885. In 1899 he became assistant cashier and two years later was named cashier. Later he was advanced to executive vice president.
In 1918 he was selected a member of the executive council of American Bankers' Association, serving for three years. In 1919 he was elected a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, a position he held until 1928. In January 1933, he was promoted to the position of executive vice president of the First National Bank. Morris G. Shennan was elected vice president and cashier to succeed Mr. Douglas. He served as Chairman of Group 3 of the Pennsylvania Bankers' Association. He retired as executive vice president in 1941 but remained a director of the First National Bank.
For more than 50 years, Mr. Douglas played a substantial part in the general affairs of the Wyoming Valley, providing leadership and counsel through nearly two generations. During the first World War, Mr. Douglas served on the Liberty Bond Executive Committee and was chairman of the department for marketing Liberty Bonds. He also functioned as chairman of the American Protective League, an organization which stood guard during the war days against what would be described as the fifth column.
Later life and death
Mr. Douglas died late Wednesday night on March 5, 1947, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Grace Davis, Cathedral Avenue, Washington, DC. He resided at 79 West Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, Rev. William K. Russell, rector, officiating. Interment was private. He was a member of St. Stephen's Church, the YMCA, the Westmoreland Club, and Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
Bank Officer Summary
During his banking career, Francis Douglas was involved with the following banks:
- First National Bank, Wilkes-Barre, PA (Charter 30/2736/30): Cashier 1901-1932, Executive Vice President 1933-1941
- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Director 1919-1928
Sources
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mon., Jan. 16, 1933.
- The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wed., Jan. 15, 1941.
- The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Fri., Jan. 17, 1941.
- The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Thu., Mar. 6, 1947.
- The Wilkes-Barre Record, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Thu., Mar. 6, 1947.
- The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Fri., Mar. 7, 1947.