Old National Bank, Evansville, IN (Charter 3281)

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Postcard of the Old National Bank of Evansville
Postcard of the Old State National Bank of Evansville, Indiana, occupied since 1838. In 1916, the Loyal Order of Moose No. 85 purchased and remodeled the old State National Bank building, 20 Main Street for approximately $50,000. The building was opened for public inspection on December 22, 1916.[1] Courtesy of David Grant

Old National Bank, Evansville, IN (Chartered 1884 - Liquidated 1904)

Town History

Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, and its county seat. With a population of 118,414 at the 2020 census, it is Indiana's 3rd-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the most populous city in Southern Indiana, and the 249th-most populous city in the United States. It is the central city of the Evansville metropolitan area, a hub of commercial, medical, and cultural activity of southwestern Indiana and the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky tri-state area, which is home to over 911,000 people. The 38th parallel north crosses the north side of the city and is marked on Interstate 69 immediately north of its junction with Indiana 62 within the city's east side.

Situated on an oxbow in the Ohio River, the city is often referred to as the "Crescent Valley" or "River City". Early French explorers named it La Belle Rivière ("The Beautiful River"). The area has been inhabited by various indigenous cultures for millennia, dating back at least 10,000 years. Angel Mounds was a permanent settlement of the Mississippian culture from AD 1000 to around 1400. The city of Evansville was founded in 1812.

Evansville had 13 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all 13 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

Photo of the Old National Bank of Evanston, Indiana
Photo of the Old National Bank of Evanston, Indiana. Courtesy of David Grant

On December 31, 1884, H.W. Cannon, Comptroller of the Currency, authorized The Old National Bank of Evansville to commence the business of banking.[2]

On Saturday, September 3, 1898, Samuel Bayard, president of the Old National Bank passed away at Saratoga, New York. His father, John Francis Bayard of Grenoble, France, came to Vincennes, Indiana in 1817. He had been a soldier in Napoleon's army but settled down to a quiet commercial life in the old French post. Samuel was first a clerk in his father's grocery store, then worked on a farm and became a flat boat trader on the lower Mississippi, and later a maker of ornamental wood work in Vincennes. He came to Evansville in 1851 and entered the old state bank established in 1834. Beginning at the very bottom, Mr. Bayard gradually worked his way to the top of the ladder and for years as president of the Old National Bank had been recognized as at the head of financial interest of Evansville and southwestern Indiana. When the Bank of Indiana succeeded the old state bank, he became its cashier. In 1865 the bank was reorganized as the Evansville National Bank by Mr. Bayard and in 1867 he succeeded to the vice presidency. He did not formally succeed to the presidency until 1876. On the expiration of the charter in 1885, the Old National Bank was founded as its successor and until the day of his death Mr. Bayard was it head. He was also a director in the German Bank and a stockholder in the First National and Citizens National banks. His ability was ably demonstrated during the panic of 1893 and it was largely due to his influence and ability that no banks went under in Evansville. Mr. Bayard was married to Miss Mattie J. Orr in 1867 who survived him as did one sister, Mrs. Lizzie Shanklin of Vincennes.[3]

On Wednesday, August 14, 1901, John Gilbert, president of the Old National Bank, former mayor of Golconda, Pope County, Illinois, entrepreneur, riverboat builder and owner, died in Evansville. The local board at Evansville of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association placed on record this tribute to the memory of Captain John Gilbert, late a member of this association. For more than a half century Captain Gilbert had been prominently identified with the commercial interests of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, and was actively engaged in the development of the commercial marine of the southwest. During a long and successful business career, he took an active and substantial interest in the river commerce of the Ohio, Mississippi, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and aided largely by his means the maintenance of regular steamboat lines on these rivers. Captain Gilbert was a wise, safe and sagacious business man; liberal and kind in his dealings with his associates and the business community, and closed a long and successful business career with the confidence and respect of every one with whom he came in contact.[4]

In January 1903, the directors of the Old National Bank were as follows: Robert K. Dunkerson, James L. Orr, William M. Akin, Matthew Dalzell, Henry Reis, Allen Gray, Alexander Gilchrist, Marcus S. Sonntag, and Sidney L. Ichenhauser.[5] The officers elected were R.K. Dunkerson, president; and Henry Reis, vice president and cashier.[6]

Official Bank Title

1: The Old National Bank of Evansville, IN

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $20 bank note
1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of Henry Reis, Cashier and John Gilbert, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $1,475,950 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1884 and 1904. This consisted of a total of 118,076 notes (118,076 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 - 29519

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1884 - 1904):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  1. ↑ Evansville Courier and Press, Evansville, IN, Sat., Dec. 23, 1916.
  2. ↑ The Evansville Journal, Evansville, IN, Fri., Jan. 9, 1885.
  3. ↑ Evansville Courier and Press, Evansville, IN, Sun., Sep. 4, 1898.
  4. ↑ Evansville Courier and Press, Evansville, IN, Wed., Aug 21, 1901.
  5. ↑ Evansville Courier and Press, Evansville, IN, Wed., Jan. 14, 1903.
  6. ↑ Evansville Courier and Press, Evansville, IN, Fri., Jan. 16, 1903.
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