Harford National Bank, Bel Air, MD (Charter 2797)

Needed: a contemporary postcard or photo of the bank.

Harford National Bank, Bel Air, MD (Chartered 1882 - Liquidated 1915)

Town History

The town of Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County, Maryland. According to the 2020 United States Census the population of the town was 10,661.

Bel Air was part of a land grant issued to Daniel Scott in 1731. In March 1782 "Belle Aire" was designated the county seat of Harford County. At the turn of the twentieth century the "e" was dropped and the second "l" and its companion "e" gave way a few years later. The town's incorporation was effective in 1874. The town began with just 42 lots along Main Street centering on the Court House and the county jail and sheriff's house. Over the years, the population grew slowly to about 200 residents by 1865. The introduction of the canning industry, the Ma & Pa railroad and related financial businesses jump started the growth after the Civil War.

Bel Air had four National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all four of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

Organized August 15, 1882
Chartered October 13, 1882
Liquidated August 12, 1915
Succeeded by Harford Bank of Bel Air

The Harford National Bank of Bel Air. —Messrs. On Wednesday, June 28, 1882, S.A. Williams, John Moores, John G. Rouse, Allen Hoffman and George E. Silver, of the committee of canvassers for subscriptions to the stock of the new national bank to be established in Bel Air, met at the office of Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams reported that he had visited Washington and procured from the Comptroller of the Currency all the necessary blanks to be filled up at different stages in proceeding to organize the bank. An application for permission to organize a bank with a paid-up capital of $100,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $200,000 was filled up, signed by the committee and others, and forwarded to Washington by Mr. Williams. A meeting of the stockholders was planned for Monday, July 31st, when a board of directors would be elected. The effort was being made to have a majority of the stock taken in small lots, in order to secure as many friends for the bank as possible.

On August 19, 1882, the directors met in Bel Air and unanimously elected Mr. James H. McAfee of the Cecil Bank, Port Deposit, cashier. Mr. McAfee’s recommendations were of the highest character. The cashier’s salary was fixed at S1,000, and he was required to give bond in the sum of $25,000. Mr. McAfee would begin his duties October 1st. A number of the directors advanced their subscriptions, in order to provide $12,500 with which to buy United States bonds for deposit with the Treasury Department at Washington, so that the bank could be ready to begin business on November 1st.

On Monday, September 24, the bond of Mr. McAfee was accepted. The bondsmen were Jesse Hilles, Arthur Vosbury, Robert R. Vandiver, Edward Hall and A.P. McCombs The election of bookkeeper, watchman etc. was postponed until Monday, October 24. It was determined to increase the deposit of bonds with the U.S. Treasurer 20,000 which the Government will issue to the bank 18,000 in notes for circulation. These would consist of fives, tens and twenties. Committees were appointed to procure books and stationery and to have the building put in order. The bank for the present time would occupy two of the lower rooms in Messrs. Hopkins & Williams’ law building on Courtland Street.

The directors elected Mr. William M. Hines, of Baltimore city, bookkeeper and clerk, at a salary of $800 a year, and Mr. Nathan H. Oldfield, clerk, at a salary of S100 a year. Each was required to give bond in the sum of S10,000. Mr. Hines was formerly bookkeeper at the House of Correction. Mr. Oldfield was a son of Mr. William Oldfield, of this county. After examining safes of various kinds, a committee decided to purchase a Farrel & Co. fire and burglar proof safe at a cost of $1,200. The new safe had a time lock so that it could not be opened, even by a person knowing the combination, until a certain hour.

On October 13, the Comptroller of the Currency, Jno. Jay Knox, authorized the bank to commence business. Edwin H. Webster was president and Jas. McAfee, cashier. The bank opened on Wednesday, November 1st with deposits amounting to $10,300. The first check cashed was for Mr. Wm. R. Wallis of Forest Hill. Mr. William M. Hines as teller for the bank would visit Aberdeen every Tuesday and Thursday to accommodate persons in that vicinity.

On January 9, 1883, stockholders re-elected the old board of directors. The board consisted of Messrs. Edwin H. Webster, J.T.C. Hopkins, S.A. Williams, John Moores, James Lee, Nathan Grafton, William Woolsey, Allen Hoffman and John G. Rouse. Mr. John H. Janney and Mr. Wm. D. Lee were appointed tellers. Three hundred and seventy-four shares were voted, representing $37,400 of the capital stock, which being a majority, the old board were declared re-elected.

The stockholders met on Tuesday, January 8, 1907. Col. Otho S. Lee presided. The tellers were J. Edwin Webster and W.S. Forwood. The 440 shares, represented in person or by proxy, were voted for the present board of directors: Messrs. S.A. Williams, John G. Rouse, William H. Harlan, John Moores, Robert C. Richardson, James Lee, and Nathan Grafton.

At a meeting on July 19, 1915, the decision was made to re-organize The Harford National Bank of Bel Air under a State Charter. Henceforth the bank was known as The Harford Bank of Bel Air. This was the largest and oldest bank in Harford County. The re-organized bank had the same paid up capital of $50,000 and same surplus of $50,000 and was under the same management. Under the re-organization the bank was permitted to re-establish their "Runner" on trips to Kelville, Jerusalem, Franklinville, Upper Falls, Bradshaw, Pfeiffer's Corner, Kingsville, Fork, Reckord and Benson. Additionally, arrangements were in process for the establishment of a branch of the bank at Darlington with Mr. Ramsay Standiford of Darlington as cashier of this branch. The directors were Stevenson A. Williams, president, James Lee, Robert C. Richardson, William H. Harlan, Eugene Tucker, and John A. Evans.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The Harford National Bank of Bel Air, MD

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of James McAfee, Cashier and Edwin H. Webster, President. Courtesy of NBNCensus.com

A total of $446,250 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1882 and 1915. This consisted of a total of 14,780 notes (14,780 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 - 550
1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 1980
1902 Red Seal	50-100	1 - 1160
1902 Date Back	50-100	1 - 640
1902 Date Back	3x50-100	1 - 265

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1882 - 1915):

Presidents:

Edwin Hanson Webster, 1882-1892 NOTE: A featured biography is available
Stevenson Archer Williams, 1893-1914

Cashiers:

James McAfee, 1882-1888
William Marshall Hines Jr., 1888-1893
William Webster Finney, 1894-1898
John Alexander Evans, 1899-1914

Other Bank Note Signers

There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

Bel Air, MD, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_Air,_Maryland
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 Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., June 30, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Aug. 25, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Sep. 29, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Oct. 6, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Oct. 13, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Nov. 3, 1882.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Jan. 12, 1883.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Jan. 11, 1907.
The Aegis, Bel Air, MD, Fri., Aug. 6, 1915.
The Midland Journal, Rising Sun, MD, Fri., Aug. 13, 1915.