Orange National Bank, Orange, TX (Charter 6050)
Orange National Bank, Orange, TX (Chartered 1901 - Closed (Merger) 1997)
Town History
Orange is a city and the county seat of Orange County, Texas. It is the easternmost city in Texas, located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, and is 113 miles from Houston. Orange is part of the Beaumont−Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. Founded in 1836, it is a deep-water port to the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 19,324. In 1900 the population was 3,835, growing to 9,212 by 1920.
This community was originally called Greens Bluff after a man named Resin Green, a Sabine River boatman, who arrived at this location sometime before 1830. A short time later, in 1840, the town was renamed Madison in honor of President James Madison. To resolve the frequent post-office confusion with another Texas community called Madisonville, the town was renamed "Orange" in 1858. The area experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century due to 17 sawmills within the city limits, making Orange the center of the Texas lumber industry.
The harbor leading into the Port of Orange was dredged in 1914 to accommodate large ships. Ship building during World War I contributed to the growth in population and economy. The Great Depression, not surprisingly, affected the city negatively, and the local economy was not boosted again until World War II. A U.S. Naval Station was installed and additional housing was provided for thousands of defense workers and servicemen and their families. The population increased to just over 60,000 residents. USS Aulick was the first of 300 ships of various types built in Orange during the war.
Orange had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized December 2, 1901
- Chartered December 16, 1901
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Converted to a state charter with title change to Orange Bank on December 31, 1970
- Merged into Hibernia National Bank of Texas in Texarkana, TX on November 7, 1997
In October 1901, the application of W.D. Bettis and associates to organize the Orange National Bank of Orange, Texas, with $50,000 capital, was approved by the comptroller of the currency. This application was in place of one approved April 15 for title "The City National Bank of Orange."[3]
In June 1904, the directors elected Mr. E.W. Bancroft as vice president, succeeding George M. Sells in that position.[4]
On Tuesday, January 10, 1905, stockholders of the Orange National Bank elected G.W. Bancroft, S.W. Sholars, Sr., D.K. Petty, George A. Foreman, Jr., G.M. Sells, R.B. Goree, and H.B. Jackson, directors. The directors elected G.W. Bancroft, president; E.W. Bancroft, vice president; and H.B. Jackson, cashier.[5] The election was the same as the last one with the exception of two names added to the directory, R.B. Goree and G.M. Sells.[6] In May 1905, James P. Roach, who for the past several years had been prominently identified with the banking business of Orange, Texas, moved to New Orleans. Mr. Roach became interested in the development of the oil trade and with other prominent citizens of New Orleans had engaged in that pursuit. He was a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, where for many years he was president of the First National Bank of Vicksburg, one of the solid institutions of the Hill City.[7]
On Tuesday, January 8, 1907, stockholder met and re-elected the same board of directors. The directors were George W. Bancroft, A.J. Bancroft, E.W. Bancroft, S.W. Sholars, and G.M. Sells. The officers were George W. Bancroft, president; A.J. Bancroft, vice president; and H.B. Jackson, cashier.[8]
On Tuesday, January 12, 1909, the directors of the Orange National Bank were George W. Bancroft, George M. Sells, George Call, Sam C. Trimble, and A.J. Bancroft. The officers elected were George W. Bancroft, president; Sam C. Trimble, vice president; G.M. Sells, cashier; and W.L. Joiner, assistant cashier.[9]
On February 24, 1911, fire broke out in the ceiling of the second story of the Bancroft building on Front Street around 4 o'clock. The Orange National Bank, the Elks club room, numerous offices, barber shop and a clothing store were located in the building and all were more or less damaged by the fire and water with the exception of the bank. The damage was estimated between $1,500 and $3,000.[10]
On Thursday, January 15, 1914, there were no changes with the same board elected for the coming year as follows: G.W. Bancroft, A.J. Bancroft, George Call, Same C. Trimble, and G.M. Sells. The same officers were re-elected with G.W. Bankcroft, president; Sam C. Trimble, vice president; G.M. Sells, cashier; and W.L. Joiner, assistant cashier. The Orange State Bank organized last summer would meet later in the year.[11]
In May 1915, Thomas Dodd, formerly of Yoakum accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Orange State Bank. Mr. Dodd was for a number of years with the Orange National Bank, but for the past few years had been in business in Yoakum.[12]
In January 1918, directors elected were as follows: G.W. Bancroft, A.J. Bancroft, George Call, F.W. Hustmyre, B.F. Brown, G.M. Sells, S.M. White, and J.P. Hilliard. The officers elected were G.W. Bancroft, president; B.F. Brown, vice president; G.M. Sells, active vice president; F.W. Hustmyre, vice president; W.L. Joiner, cashier; and J.E. Harrison, assistant cashier.[13] At the close of 1917, the Orange National Bank reported total assets of $748,882.58, with capital stock paid in $50,000, surplus $75,000, undivided profits $1,646.97, circulation $50,000, and individual deposits of $367,438.38.[14]
In January 1920, stockholders elected the following directors: George W. Bancroft, F.M. Hustmyre, B.F. Brown, A.J. Bancroft, J.P. Hilliard, S.M. White, George Call, and G.M. Sells. The direct met and elected the following officers: Geo. W. Bancroft, president; F.W. Hustmyre, first vice president; B.F. Brown, second vice president; G.M. Sells, active vice president; W.L. Joiner, cashier; R. Bateman, W.A. Campbell, and J.H. David, assistant cashiers; R.M. Welch, C.D. Wilson, Miss Ruth Graham, and Miss Leigh Thomas, bookkeepers.[15]
In January 1922, stockholders unanimously decided to increase the capital stock of the bank from $50,000 to $200,000. The new stock was subscribed by the old stockholders. A report on the new banking home was presented and all were pleased with the progress. The old board was re-elected for the coming year as follows: Geo. W. Bancroft, H.L. Brown, F.W. Hustmyre, B.F. Brown, R.A. Moore, S.M. White, J.P. Hilliard, J.E. Harrison, and G.M. Sells. The directors elected the following officers and employees: Geo. W. Bancroft, chairman of the board; H.L. Brown, president; F.W. Hustmyre, B.F. Brown, and G.M. Sells, vice presidents; J.E. Harrison, cashier; W.A. Campbell, Ras Bateman, and J.H. David, assistant cashiers; C.D. Wilson, teller; Matthew Skeeler and Miss Leigh Thomas, bookkeepers; and Horace Herbert, stenographer.[16] In February 1922, orders were placed for new furniture and fixtures to be installed in the new stone front structure under construction for the bank. The cost of the furnishings was $20,000. The fixtures would be made of Tennessee marble and mahogany.[17] May 15 was the date set for the bank to be in its new, two-story home on Main and Fifth Streets. In June, the opening was pushed back to July due to delays in setting of marble and drying of walls.[18] Early in August, J.E. Harrison, cashier, reported the bank would move into its new quarters on August 15. An all-day reception would be held by bank officials. The new building represented an outlay of $80,000.[19]
On Tuesday, January 15, 1924, at the annual meeting of stockholders the following were elected directors: H.L. Brown, B.F. Brown, George W. Bancroft, S.A. Emerson, J.E. Harrison, F.W. Hustmyre, R.A. Moore, G.M. Sells, S.M. White, Mrs. E.W. Brown. The directors elected the following officers, G.W. Bancroft, chairman of the board; H.L. Brown, president; F.W. Hustmyre, B.F. Brown, R.A. Moore, vice presidents; G.M. Sells and J.E. Harrison, active vice presidents; A.W. Campbell, cashier; J.H. David, R.C. Mash, and C.D. Wilson, assistant cashiers. C.D. Wilson was a new assistant cashier.[20]
Howard S. Peterson, 54, president of the Orange National Bank and long a civic leader died Friday, November 8, 1963, of an apparent heart ailment. He was the immediate past president of the Orange Chamber of Commerce and formerly was vice president of the Texas Creosoting Company of Orange and Houston.[21]
In December 1970 State Bank Commissioner Robert E. Stewart said the Orange National Bank received a charter as a state bank to be known in the future as the Orange Bank. Stewart estimated about 36 national banks in Texas had converted to state banks in the last several years. The name change was effective on December 31st, 1970.[22]
Official Bank Title
1: The Orange National Bank, Orange, TX
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $935,140 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1901 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 75,416 notes (60,664 large size and 14,752 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 - 3260 1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2720 1882 Value Back 3x10-20 2721 - 6111 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 5795 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1616 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 388 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 2124 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 604
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1901 - 1935):
Presidents:
- George Walter Bancroft, 1902-1920
- Henry Lutcher Brown, 1921-1928
- Edgar William Brown, Jr., 1929-1935
Cashiers:
- James P. Roach, 1902-1904
- H. B. Jackson, 1905-1907
- George Monroe Sells, 1908-1914
- William Lee Joiner, 1915-1919
- John Edward Harrison Sr., 1920-1922
- William Archibald Campbell, 1923-1935
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Orange, 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
- ↑ Longview News-Journal, Longview, TX, Sat., Jan. 1, 1966.
- ↑ The Orange Leader, Orange, TX, Sun., Oct. 22, 1989.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Wed., Oct. 16, 1901.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Thu., June 16, 1904.
- ↑ The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Wed., Jan. 11, 1905.
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Wed., Jan. 11, 1905.
- ↑ Vicksburg Evening Post, Vicksburg, MS, Mon., May 29, 1905.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Wed., Jan. 9, 1907.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., Jan. 17, 1909.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sat., Feb. 25, 1911.
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Fri., Jan. 16, 1914.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., May 2, 1915.
- ↑ The Orange Daily Leader, Orange, TX, Sat., Jan. 12, 1918.
- ↑ The Orange Daily Leader, Orange, TX, Wed., Jan. 16, 1918.
- ↑ The Orange Daily Leader, Orange, TX, Wed., Jan. 14, 1920.
- ↑ The Orange Daily Leader, Orange, TX, Fri., Jan. 13, 1922.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Thu., Feb. 2, 1922.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sat., June 10, 1922.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sat., Aug. 5, 1922.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Wed., Jan. 16, 1924.
- ↑ Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Sat., Nov. 9, 1963.
- ↑ Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Fri., Dec. 11, 1970.