Northern National Bank, Lancaster, PA (Charter 3367)

The Northern National Bank in 1924 (left) and sketch of the replacement building (right) on North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA.

Northern National Bank, Lancaster, PA (Chartered 1885 - Liquidated 1923)

Town History

Cashier John C. Carter, Northern National Bank of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ca1886.

Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population among Pennsylvania's municipalities. The Lancaster metropolitan area population is 552,984, making it the 104th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and second-largest in the South Central Pennsylvania area. In 1860, the population was 17,603 growing to 59,949 by 1930.

The city's primary industries include healthcare, tourism, public administration, manufacturing, and both professional and semi-professional services. Lancaster is a hub of Pennsylvania's Dutch Country.

Lancaster is located 59 miles southwest of Allentown and 61 miles west of Philadelphia. It is a transportation hub with many major roadways passing through or around the city, including US 30, US 222, PA 283, PA 72, and PA 272.

Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812, with the state capital located at the Court House (built 1784 and demolished 1852 and now site of Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Penn Square). In 1812, the capital was moved to Harrisburg, where it has remained since. After the American Revolutionary War, Lancaster became an iron-foundry center. Two of the most common products needed by pioneers to settle the Frontier were manufactured in Lancaster: the Conestoga wagon and the Pennsylvania long rifle. The Conestoga wagon was named after the Conestoga River, which runs through the city. The innovative gunsmith William Henry lived in Lancaster and was a U.S. Congressman and leader during and after the American Revolution. The city of Lancaster was home to several important figures in American history. Wheatland, the estate of James Buchanan, the fifteenth President of the United States, is one of Lancaster's most popular attractions.

Lancaster had seven National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all seven of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

Elam J. Ryder, President of the Northern National Bank and Northern Trust and Savings Company

Organized June 19, 1885
Chartered July 23, 1885
Liquidated February 10, 1923
Absorbed by Northern Trust and Savings Company of Lancaster

In March 1885, about fifty gentlemen favorable to the organization of a new national bank in Lancaster met in the directors' room of the Northern Market House. D.G. Baker, Esq., was chosen chairman of the meeting and Owen P. Bricker, secretary. The general desire was to establish the banking house north of the Pennsylvania Railroad and convenient to the Farmers' Northern Market. Various committees were established. The committee appointed to select a name for the new bank proposed the following names: Northern National Bank, Second National Bank, Union National Bank, Keystone National Bank and Conestoga National Bank. On motion of Mr. Bricker, the Northern National Bank of Lancaster was selected as the name.

On Tuesday, January 12, 1886, the election for Directors of the Northern National Bank resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen: J. Frederick Sener, John H. High, John K. Stoner, Daniel G. Baker, John Evans, John Sigle, John H. Landis, Isaac L. Hess, Benj. L. Landis, Hon. Aaron H. Summy, Levi S. Gross, Hiram K. Miller, and Jacob L. Brubaker. Officers were J. Frederick Sener, president; John Evans, of Warwick, vice president; and John C. Carter, cashier.

John C. Carter, cashier of the Northern National, was born in Lancaster, the son of the Edward and Elizabeth Carter.  He was educated in Lancaster public schools and graduated high school in 1871.  For a short time he attended Lehigh University, afterwards entering the banking house of Reed & Hederson in 1872.  He resigned to become the receiving teller of the Farmers National Bank in March 1882.  He remained there for three years and was on May 11, 1885 elected cashier of the new Northern National Bank, opening its doors for business on August 10th.  Mr. Carter was a power in the Odd Fellows and Masonic Fraternities of Lancaster.  Mr. Carter was assisted in management of the bank by John D. Connelly, paying teller, and John L. Summy, receiving teller.

On Tuesday, January 14, 1890, stockholders elected the following directors: J. Fred'k Sener, John H. High, John K Stoner, Frank Mettfett, John Evans, John Sigle, John H. Landis, Isaac L. Hess, Benj. L. Landis, Aaron H. Summy, Levi S. Gross, Hiram K. Miller, and Jacob L. Brubaker. The one new director in this bank was Frank Mettfett, taking the place made vacant by the death of Daniel G. Baker.

As of December 30, 1922, The Northern National Bank reported total resources of $1,295,507.94. The bank had capital stock of $125,000, Surplus and undivided profits $183,236.94, circulation of $125,000 and deposits of $800,255.28. The Officers were E.J. Ryder, president; H.K. Myers, vice president; and J.L. Summy, cashier. The directors were H.K. Myers, Fred A. Achey, MD, B. Brant Stauffer, A.L. Haverstick, Jos. S. Strickler, E.J. Ryder, George Bard, Martin E. Gross, and John E. Snyder. The national bank was co-located with the Northern Trust and Savings Company in the one building at No. 138 North Queen Street.

On December 30, 1922, the Northern Trust & Savings Company of Lancaster reported total resources of $2,775,290.95.  The capital stock was $125,000, Surplus and undivided profits $221,253.50, and deposits of $2,300,128.38.  The officers were E.J. Ryder, president; H.K. Myers, vice president; Warren S. Rehm, treasurer; M.H. Baer, Jr., Secretary.  The directors were H.K. Myers, George S. Geyer, Fred A. Achey, MD, Chas. F. Adams, W.A. Brinkman, John K. Herr, F.K. Sener, George Bard, J.W. Eshleman, martin H. Myers, and E.J. Ryder.

In a letter to depositors of the Northern National Bank dated February 6, 1923, sent by E.J. Ryder, it was stated that for a number of years, the directors of both the Northern National Bank and the Northern Trust and Savings Company had planning for the consolidation of the two institutions. While the national bank powers had been broadened, the field of service of the Trust Company was still much greater than that of the national bank, and for this reason, the consolidation would take place and the business continued under the name of the Northern Trust and Savings Company. During the past year, the details had been worked out. The boards of directors of both institutions would be combined, and all the officers and clerks of both banks retained. Every stockholder of the Bank would exchange their stock for Trust Company stock, and the Trust Company would increase its capital, surplus and undivided profits so that after the consolidation it would amount to about $600,000, and the deposits would be about $3,000,000. The formal consolidation would take place at the close of business, February 10, 1923 and depositors would receive a new pass book. Northern National bank checks could be used until exhausted. It was noted that within the past year or two, the Pennsylvania Trust Company of Reading, the Farmers Trust Company, of Lebanon and the Commonwealth Trust Company, of Harrisburg, absorbed national banks and they informed the bank that many advantages had accrued to the enlarged institution, and that they were giving better service to their patrons. The Commissioner of Banking at Harrisburg was consulted and he gave his hearty approval. It was the plan of the Trust Company to remodel, or rebuild as soon as building conditions were more favorable, with view of giving patrons all modern services and conveniences. Two properties owned (138 to 144 North Queen St.) had a frontage of 65 feet, running through to Market Street, so that there was ample room for expansion.

The Northern Trust and Savings Company was organized in 1902. Mr. J. Frederick Sener was the first president and Mr. E.J. Ryder the first treasurer. the Northern National Bank was organized in 1885 and was located in the building then occupied by the United Telephone Company, until 1893 when it moved to its final location. Upon consolidation the name would change to the Northern Savings and Trust Company.

In January 1924, work was started to change the old Northern National Bank on North Queen Street into a modern, up-to-date bank for the Northern Savings and Trust Company. The plan called for tearing down the building which only extended back 85 feet. A new one-story building, 32 feet from the floor to the skylight and extending back 152 feet would be built, extending over the Girvin and Wingert and Haas stores bought by the bank two years earlier. The front of the bank would be supported by Corynthian pillars with a large arched window above the entrance. The front would be of litholite while the inside trimming would be of Italian marble and bronze. The contract was let with the Griswold Contracting Company of New York and was expect to cost upwards of a quarter of a million dollars. The officers of the Northern Savings and Trust Company were E.J. Ryder, president; H.K. Myers, vice president; Warren S. Rehm, treasurer; J.L. Summy, assistant treasurer; M.H. baer, Jr. Secretary; and E.L Eshleman, teller. The directors were F.K. Sener, B. Grank Stauffer, John K. Herr, E.J. Ryder, Martin E. Gross, Fred A. Achey, MD, W.A. Brinkman, Jos. S. Strickler, A.L. Haverstick, J.W. Eshleman, H.K. Myers, Geo. S. Geyer, George Bard, Martin H. Myers.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The Northern National Bank of Lancaster, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of E.J. Ryder, Cashier and J. Frederick Sener, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1902 Date Back $5 bank note with SN 1B and pen signatures of E.J. Ryder, Cashier and J. Frederick Sener, President. This is a Replacement note. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $1,620,850 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1885 and 1923. This consisted of a total of 125,744 notes (125,744 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 - 12760	$10s with the Abnormal Border variety
1902 Red Seal	50-100	1 - 1400
1902 Date Back	4x5	1 - 8500
1902 Date Back	50-100	1 - 700
1902 Date Back	3x50-100	1 - 1371
1902 Plain Back	4x5	8501 - 16255

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1885 - 1923):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

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

Wiki Links

Sources

Lancaster, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_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
The Lancaster Examiner, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Apr. 1, 1885.
Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1886
Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Sep. 29, 1886.
Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 15, 1890.
The News-Journal, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1923.
Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Wed. Feb. 7, 1923.
The News-Journal, Lancaster, PA, Thu., Feb. 8, 1923.
Lancaster New Era, Lancaster, PA, Thu., Jan. 3, 1924.
Sunday News, Lancaster, PA, Sun., Jan. 6, 1924.