National Bank of Commerce, Pierre, SD (Charter 4279)
National Bank of Commerce, Pierre, SD (Chartered 1890 - Receivership 1925)
Town History
Pierre (/pɪər/ PEER) is the capital city of South Dakota and the seat of Hughes County. The population was 14,091 at the 2020 census, making it the second-least populous state capital in the United States, following Montpelier, Vermont. It is the eighth-most populous city in South Dakota. In 1890 the population was 3,235.
Founded in 1880, it was selected as the state capital when the territory was admitted as a state on November 2, 1889. Huron challenged the city to be selected as the capital, but Pierre was selected because of its location in the geographic center of the state. Fort Pierre had developed earlier, with a permanent settlement since circa 1817 around a fur trading post. Fort Pierre Chouteau, preceding the city, was named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., a major American fur trader from St. Louis, Missouri, who was of colonial French origin.
Pierre had four National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all four of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized February 13, 1890
- Chartered April 4, 1890
- Succeeded Bank of Commerce
- Receivership February 11, 1925
The Bank of Commerce was started by Mayor B.J. Templeton in 1888 as a private bank with just $15,000 in capital, sharing a small room with a real estate concern. Soon after, the capital was increased to $25,000 and in April 1890 the institution was chartered as a national bank, The National Bank of Commerce of Pierre, with increased capital of $75,000.
Mr. Templeton was president and Mr. Adolph Ewert, cashier. In the summer of 1890, Mr. Templeton erected at the corner of Dakota Avenue and Coteau Street the elegant "Templeton Block," which give the bank one of the finest banking rooms in the state. Realizing that Pierre one day will be the financial center of South Dakota, the bank was working to increase the capital to $150,000, the stock being rapidly taken at a premium. By November, a new bank counter and furniture arrived from the factory. The woodwork was of old English oak finished in antique style. The panels above the desk were enclosed with beveled crystalline glass and scroll work of old copper bronze.
In May 1894, the bank's directors consisted of J.C. Eager, president; James A. Ward, vice president; Adolph Ewert, cashier; Chas. L. Hyder, Real Estate; Amos N. Blandin, banker; Dr. W.P. Wimmer, stock grower; and O.J. Taylor, president, National Bank of Sioux City.
The officers for 1908 were J.C. Eager, president; Chas. L. Hyde, vice president; A.W. Ewert, cashier; and E.P. Farr, assistant cashier. Col. Edward P. Farr was a Vermonter by birth. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 10th Vermont at the age of 19 and the regiment saw hard fighting. He made captain and was detached to the Sixth Corps headquarters during the Shenandoah campaign. Later he was assistant chief quartermaster at Galveston, Texas. He was mustered out in 1866 at the rank of major. He served as the Commander of the Department of South Dakota, Grand Army of the Republic and James S. Sebree was his assistant adjutant.
The officers for 1912 were A.W. Ewert, president; V.V. Ketchum, vice president; H.C. Quackenbush, cashier; and E.P. Farr, assistant cashier.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The National Bank of Commerce of Pierre, SD
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $718,050 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1890 and 1925. This consisted of a total of 57,444 notes (57,444 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 3x10-20 1 - 3095 1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1164 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 4800 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 4801 - 10102
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1890 - 1925):
Presidents:
- B. J. Templeton, 1890-1890
- James S. Sebree, 1891-1893
- Jerome C. Eager, 1894-1907
- Adolph W. Ewert, 1908-1924
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Pierre, SD, 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 Daily Plainsman, Huron, SD, Thu., Feb. 6, 1890.
- Pierre Weekly free Press, Pierre, SD, Thu., Nov. 13, 1890.
- Pierre Weekly Free Press, Pierre, SD, Thu., May 17, 1894.
- The National Tribune, Washington, DC, Thu., Sep. 29, 1898.
- Pierre Weekly Free Press, Pierre, SD, Thu., July 23, 1908.
- Pierre Weekly Free Press, Pierre, SD, Thu., May 2, 1912.