Lumbermans National Bank/Second NB, Houston, TX (Charter 8645)
Lumbermans National Bank/Second NB, Houston, TX (Chartered 1907 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Houston is the most populous city in Texas, fourth-most populous city in the United States, most populous city in the Southern United States, as well as the sixth-most populous in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in 2020. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the seat of Harris County. The city of Houston was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou (a point now known as Allen's Landing) and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837. It is named after former General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas and had won Texas's independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto 25 miles east of Allen's Landing. After briefly serving as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s, Houston grew steadily into a regional trading center for the remainder of the 19th century.
Since the late 19th century Houston's economy has had a broad industrial base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation. Leading in healthcare sectors and building oilfield equipment, Houston has the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters of any U.S. municipality within its city limits (after New York City). The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled.
Nicknamed the "Bayou City", "Space City", "H-Town", and "the 713", Houston has become a global city, with strengths in culture, medicine, and research.
Houston had 22 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 21 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized April 4, 1907
- Chartered April 15, 1907
- Opened for business May 1, 1907
- 1: Assumed 8288 by consolidation May 25, 1909 (National City Bank, Houston, TX)
- 1: Absorbed 9226 July 1, 1910 (American National Bank, Houston, TX)
- Bank was Open past 1935
The Lumbermans National Bank of Houston opened for business on May 1, 1907 in the building on the corner of Franklin and Fannin formerly occupied by the Union Bank and Trust Company. The bank started with capital of $400,000 and a surplus of $100,000, paid in full. The officers were S.F. Carter, president; Jesse H. Jones, J.P. Carter and Guy M. Carter, vice presidents; and A.S. Vandervoort, cashier. The directors were S.F. Carter, Jesse H. Jones, J.P. Carter, Guy M. Bryan, W.E. Richards, H.M. Garwood, W.A. Wilson, W.H. Norris, A.H. Pollard, William D. Cleveland, Jr., John S. Bonner, W.O. Ansley, E.L. Crooker, Conrad Schwarz, G.C. Street, all of Houston; J.F. Keith, Beaumont; Ernest Stevens, San Antonia; Paul Waples, Fort Worth; G.A. Sternenberg, Olive, Texas.
Mr. J.P. carter had for many years been actively connected with his brother S.F. Carter in the operations of the Emporia Lumber Co. and was the current president and principal owner of the Carter Lumber Co. and the Attoyac River Lumber Co. Messrs. William E. Richards and Guy Bryan had good records in the banking and business world. Mr. Richards was president of the Valley Route Townsite and Loan Co., president of the First National Bank of Teague and president of the Bank of Normangee. Mr. Bryan would make is home in Houston, but retained his position as director in the Galveston National Bank. Mr. A.S. Vandervoort was well-known in connection with the banking interests of Houston, then went to Austin where he was also in banking. For the past several months he had been secretary of the Houston Industrial Club.
On January 9, 1908, the Lumbermans National Bank opened for business in the new banking house at the corner of Prairie Avenue and Main Street.
Fire broke out after 11 o'clock the night of March 2, 1909, in the Lumbermans National Bank. The fire evidently had been smoldering in the second story of the building for some time and was discovered by G.R. Scott, the watchman of the bank about a quarter past 11 and an alarm was quickly turned in from box 41 at the corner of Main Street and Preston Avenue calling out a good portion of the fire department. According to Mr. Scott, the fire started in the northeast corner of the building directly above the cigar store owned by J.N. Taub and was plainly visible from across Main Street with smoke issuing through the second story windows. As firemen were making a strenuous effort to confine the fire to the second story, a large amount of burning books of the Guarantee Life Insurance Co. with offices on the second floor came through the flooring landing on the first floor area occupied by the bank. Water damaged the magnificent fixtures of the bank. Damages to the bank were sustained through water, fire and smoke damage. Vice President Guy M. Bryan said an estimate was impossible to make until morning. He stated all the bank's valuables were locked in the large vault and were undoubtedly safe. "Even should the entire building have tumbled on the vault, its contents would have been safe," stated Mr. Bryan. The vault had 24-inch walls with two-inch steel lining. Fireman Guy Boone was knocked backward off a ladder and suffered a fractured skull. Boone was working as an extra fireman and went on duty when the fire broke out. He was a son of Daniel Boone who was formerly janitor at city Hall, and a brother of Police Officer John Boone. Firemen Crowe and Tietze who were on the ladder with Boone when a hose became unmanageable both had narrow escapes from falling also. Fireman Jake Wenzell was struck by a hose, breaking three of his ribs. Two weeks after the fire, Fireman Guy Boone received $300 from the Lumbermans National Bank and H. Prince. He was expected to be able to report to work in a few weeks.
On Saturday, April 24, 1909, the officers and directors of the National City Bank decided to liquidate and move from the present institution, corner of Main and Texas, to the Lumbermans National Bank, corner of Main and Prairie. It was stated that two thirds of the stockholders desired to liquidate and that was the only reason assigned. Jesse H. Jones was president of the National city and also vice president of the Lumbermans National. National City had capital stock of $250,000, deposits of $510,255.58 with available cash of $556,298.85. The loans and discounts were $154,889.61; U.S. bonds and premiums $319,672.23, stocks and securities, $3,000, surplus and profits $25,605.22 and circulation $250,000. The National City was organized in 1906 with J.M. West as president. About a year ago, Mr. West disposed of his interests to Jesse H. Jones.
In May 1909, the directors were: W.O. Ansley, A.R. Fox & Co. (Cotton); John S. Bonner, president, Bonner Oil Co.; Joseph B. Bowles, general manager, Houston cotton oil mill; Guy M. Bryan, active vice president; J.P. Carter, president Carter Lumber Co.; William D. Cleveland, Jr., William D. Cleveland & Sons, wholesale grocers; E.L. Crooker, president, E.L. Crooker Lumber Co.; B.H. Collins, secretary and treasurer, Lone Star Canal Co. (Rice); S.F. Carter, president; David Daly, manager, Houston Electric Co. (Street Railway); H.M. Garwood, Baker, Botts, Parker & Garwood, general attorneys; Jesse H. Jones, capitalist; J.F. Keith, Beaumont, president, J.F. Keith Lumber Co.; W.H. Norris, president, W.H. Norris Lumber Co.; Q.W. Pollard, Heard & Pollard, agents Geo. H. McFaden & Bro. (Cotton); Gus Radetzki, Gen'l Supt. H. & T.C. and H.E. & W.T. Railways; Conrad Schwarz, Carriage and Buggy Factory; A.S. Vandervoort, cashier; William A. Wilson, vice president and general manager, William A. Wilson Realty Co. The officers were S.F. Carter, president; Guy M. Bryan, active vice president; Jesse H. Jones, J.P. Carter, H.M. Garwood, vice presidents; and A.S. Vandervoort, cashier.
In 1911, A.S. Vandervoort resigned as cashier to go to Chicago. He continued as a director. Lynn P. Talley of Dallas was elected to succeed Mr. Vandervoort. He left City National in Dallas about February 1st. Three new directors were elected: Lynch Davidson, J.J. Flynn, and Lyman P. Talley, making a total of twenty directors.
On Monday, December 17, 1923, The Second National Bank of Houston opened in its new building at Main and Rusk Streets. The bank which formerly occupied a building at Main and Prairie was moved Saturday night. During the night millions in cash, securities and other valuables were moved without incident.
In April 1924, the directors were A.C. Abell, Jesse Andrews, Guy M. Bryan, L.R. Bryan, Jr., S.F. Carter, S.F. carter, Jr., W.L. Clayton, Wm. D. Cleveland, Jr., Lynch Davidson, T.K. Dixon, O.F. Ewing, J.A. Fite, H.M. Garwood, Maurice L. Goldman, C.S.E. Holland, S.B. Houx, E.A. Hudson, John A. Hulen, J.C. Hutcheson, B.F. Louis, R.F. Nicholson, J.S. Pyeatt, Cyrus W. Scott, Thomas C. Spencer, A.S. Vandervoort, H.K. Waddell, G.S. Waid, J.M. West, and E.R. Wicks. The officers were S.F. Carter, president; Guy M. Bryan, C.S.E. Holland, active vice presidents; H.M. Garwood, Wm. D. Cleveland, vice presidents; R.F. Nicholson, cashier; J.A. Fite and L.R. Bryan, Jr., assistant vice presidents; H.J. Bernard, F.D. Ferrell, Howard F. Gunter, assistant cashiers; and Harvey A. Carey, auditor. The bank had total resources of $15,511,672.20 as of the close of business, March 31, 1924.
On January 14, 1932, Beverly D. Harris who began his career as messenger for a Dallas bank took office as president of the Second National Bank, one of Houston's largest institutions. Harris progressed from messenger to cashier of the City National Bank of Dallas before joining the National City Bank of New York of which he later became a vice president. He left the New York bank to accept the presidency of Houston's Second National.
In December 1955, Col. W.B. Bates, Chairman of the Board announced the new name for the Second National Bank of Houston. Bank of the Southwest was selected because it better indicated the expansive territory served by the bank. Symbolically, the new 24-story building was about 85% completed and would be one of the largest in the Southwest. Bank of the Southwest Building would occupy a full city block and would be Houston's first all-aluminum skyscraper.
In December 1972, the board of governors of the Federal Reserve approved the acquisition of Houston's Gulf Coast National Bank by Southwest Bancshares, Inc. , and consummation of the transaction was expected in about a month. According to A.G. McNeese, Jr., president of the Houston-based billion-dollar bank holding company, the merger called for the tax-free exchange of 0.892 shares of Bancshares' stock for each share of Gulf Coast's 75,600 shares. Southwest Bancshares owned 19.1% of Gulf Coast Stock before the acquisition. On September 30, 1972, Southwest Bancshares reported $1,286,767,417 in assets and $1,079,397,218 in total deposits. Gulf Coast would be the tenth bank in the Southwest Bancshares' network, and the fifth Houston bank. Southwest Bancshares included Bank of the Southwest, the Village National Bank, Long Point National Bank, Bank of Woodlake, and Gulf Coast National Bank, all of Houston; the First National Bank of Longview; Continental National Bank in Fort Worth; Denton County National Bank in Denton; the First National Bank of Port Arthur; and the First National Bank at Brownsville. Acquisition of Houston Intercontinental National Bank was pending regulatory authority approval and Bancshares' acquisition of Arlington Bank of Commerce in Arlington was awaiting shareholder and regulatory authority approvals.
MCorp was formed in 1984 through the merger of Mercantile National Bank of Dallas with Bank of the Southwest of Houston with Mercantile becoming MBank Dallas and Southwest becoming MBank Houston. The FDIC had seized the banks in March 1989. The failure of 20 of MCorp's 24 banks cost the FDIC $2.8 billion. MCorp was the second largest bank holding company in Texas at the time of its failure. Banc One acquired 20 banks that were formerly owned by MCorp, which the FDIC had consolidated into a single bank that they named the Deposit Insurance Bridge Bank. These were the first banks to be acquired by Banc one in Texas.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The Lumbermans National Bank of Houston, TX
2: The Second National Bank of Houston, TX (1/15/1923)
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $9,375,230 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1907 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 1,141,897 notes (726,812 large size and 415,085 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1: 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 7200 1: 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 5820 1: 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 38000 1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 29200 1: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 38001 - 92750 1: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 29201 - 63600 2: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 5190 2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 7143 2: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 25778 2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 17378 2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 5510 2: 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 76704 2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 34410 14011-14016 Not issued 2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 11975
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1907 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Samuel Fain Carter Sr., 1907-1927
- Guy Morrison Bryan II, 1927-1931
- Beverley Dabney Harris, 1932-1935
Cashiers:
- Arthur Stewart Vandervoort Sr., 1907-1910
- Lynn Porter Talley, 1911-1914
- Mordello Stephen Murray, 1915-1919
- Rufus Felder Nicholson, 1920-1924
- Hugh John Bernard, 1925-1935
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Texas Bank Note History
- General information on Houston (Wikipedia)
- General information on Harris County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Texas (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Houston, TX, 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 Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 82, Jan. 1911-June 1911, p. 291.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sat., Apr. 6, 1907.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Fri., Jan. 10, 1908.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Wed., Mar. 3, 1909.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Wed., Mar. 18, 1909.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., Apr. 25, 1909.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Mon. May 10, 1909.
- The Galveston Daily news, Galveston, TX, Tue., Dec. 18, 1923.
- The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Tue., Apr. 8, 1924.
- The Amarillo Globe-Times, Thu., Jan. 14, 1932.
- The Cameron Herald, Cameron, TX, Thu., Dec. 22, 1955.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Fri., Dec. 29, 1972.