German NB/NB of America, Allegheny/Pittsburgh, PA (Charter 2261)
German National Bank/NB of America, Allegheny/Pittsburgh, PA (Chartered 1875 - Liquidated 1934)
Town History
Allegheny City was a municipality that existed in Pennsylvania from 1788 until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. It was located north across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, with its southwest border formed by the Ohio River, and is known today as the North Side. The area of Allegheny City included the present Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Chateau, East Allegheny, Fineview, Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland, North Shore, Northview Heights, Perry North, Perry South, Spring Garden, Spring Hill–City View, Summer Hill, and Troy Hill.
The City of Allegheny was laid out in 1788 according to a plan by John Redick. The lots were sold in Philadelphia by the State government or given as payment to Revolutionary War veterans. It was incorporated as a borough in 1828 and as a city in 1840. Prior to the 1850s, most of the area was still largely farmland, but was subdivided into residential lots, first for the growing German population and later for Croat immigrants. It was commonly referred to as "Deutschtown," derived from the German word Deutsch, referring to the language and ethnicity.
Allegheny City annexed adjoining municipalities such as the boroughs of Manchester, Spring Garden and Duquesne, and the areas that became Brighton Heights, Observatory Hill, Perry Hilltop, Summer Hill, Spring Hill and Troy Hill.
The annexation of Allegheny City by Pittsburgh began in 1906 and was effected in 1907, authorized by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision Hunter v. City of Pittsburgh that year. It was approved by the United States Government in 1911. The annexation was controversial at the time, as an overwhelming majority of Allegheny City residents were opposed to the merger. Previous Pennsylvania law had directed that a majority of the voters in each merging municipality had to approve an annexation agreement. In 1906, the State Assembly passed a new law that authorized annexations if a majority of the total voters in both combined municipalities approved the merger. The annexation was rejected by the residents of Allegheny City by a 2:1 margin, but was approved by much more populous Pittsburgh residents, and the annexation bill passed into law. Allegheny City residents tried unsuccessfully for years to have the annexation overturned in court.
The population of Allegheny City in 1860 was 53,180, increasing to 129,896 in 1900.
Allegheny/Pittsburgh had no National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it did not issue National Bank Notes. Allegheny/Pittsburgh also had no Obsolete Banks that issued Obsolete Bank Notes during the Obsolete Bank Note Era (1782-1866).
Bank History
- Organized April 30, 1875
- Chartered May 17, 1875
- 2: Conservatorship March 22, 1933
- 2: Liquidated November 19, 1934
- 2: Succeeded by 14271 (National Bank of America, Pittsburgh, PA)
- 2: Circulation assumed by 14271 (National Bank of America, Pittsburgh, PA)
In January 1880, the directors were Adam Wiese, Leonard Walter, Sr., Herman Langhaus, John H. Lutz, Wm. Riemensnyder, and J.W. Wiley.
In January 1883, the directors were Adam Wiese, Leonard Walter, Sr., Damas Lutz, C.W. Anschutz, Alex. Holstein, Hermann Langhaus, John H. Lutz, Wm. Riemensnyder, and J.W. Wiley.
In January 1886, the directors elected were Adam Wise, Leonhard Walter, Sr., Damas Lutz, C.W. Anshutz, John H. Lutz, William Riemensnyder, J.W. Wiley, F.H. Eggers, and William Buente.
In April 1887, at a meeting of the board of directors, Mr. Leonard Walter Sr., was elected president to fill the vacancy cause by the death of Mr. A. Wiese. Mr, Fred H. Eggers was elected vice president and Mr. F.N. Hoffstot director, to fill the vacancy on the board.
On January 9, 1900, the following directors were elected: F.N. Hoffstot, William Remensnyder, John Helm, J.W. Friend, Joseph Stratman and W.K. McCance.
In January 1904, the directors were F.N. Hoffstot, J.W. Friend, W. Reimensnyder, John Helm, Henry J. Lotz, and T.W. Friend.
In January 1914, the following were elected directors: F.N. Hoffstot, William Remensnyder, John Helm, Henry J. Lotz, T.W. Friend, Henry P. Hoffstot, and C.R. Hanna.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The German National Bank of Allegheny, PA
2: The National Bank of America at (6/1/1918), Pittsburgh, PA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $4,802,630 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1875 and 1934. This consisted of a total of 774,170 notes (578,282 large size and 195,888 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 - 1575 1: Series 1875 4x5 1 - 20138 1: Series 1875 50-100 1 - 1458 1: 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 18700 1: 1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 3480 1: 1882 Date Back 4x5 1 - 5204 1: 1882 Date Back 50-100 1 - 239 1: 1902 Date Back 3x50-100 1 - 900 2: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 95465 2: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 27704 2: 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 29664
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1875 - 1934):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Bank Note Signers
- O. Niese, Vice President signed notes.
- There are currently no known Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Pennsylvania Bank Note History
- General information on Allegheny/Pittsburgh (Wikipedia)
- General information on Allegheny County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Pennsylvania (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Allegheny/Pittsburgh, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny/Pittsburgh,_Pennsylvania
- 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
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Jan. 14, 1880.
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1883.
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1886.
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Apr. 20, 1887.
- The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, Tue., Jan. 9, 1900.
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1904.
- Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Jan. 14, 1914.