State National Bank, Saint Louis, MO (Charter 5172)

The Security Building, ca2023, located at Fourth and Locust Streets, next to the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis. This was the home of the State National Bank from 1892 until 1929. Courtesy of Google Maps

State National Bank, Saint Louis, MO (Chartered 1899 - Liquidated 1929)

Town History

Advertising for The State National Bank of St. Louis from 1921. Ads would deliver various messages with these common elements: name and location of the bank, established 1855, member of the Federal Reserve System, and the tagline "Make your wants known to us--Let us make our service known to you."

St. Louis is the second-largest city in Missouri. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which extends into Illinois, had an estimated population of over 2.8 million, making it the largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the second-largest in Illinois.

The founding of St. Louis was preceded by a trading business between Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent and Pierre Laclède Liguest in the fall of 1763. St. Maxent invested in a Mississippi River expedition led by Laclède, who searched for a location to base the company's fur trading operations. Though Ste. Genevieve was already established as a trading center, he sought a place less prone to flooding. He found an elevated area overlooking the flood plain of the Mississippi River, not far south from its confluence with the Missouri and Illinois rivers. In addition to having an advantageous natural drainage system, there were nearby forested areas to supply timber and grasslands which could easily be converted for agricultural purposes. This place, declared Laclède, “might become, hereafter, one of the finest cities in America.” He dispatched his 14-year-old stepson, Auguste Chouteau, to the site, with the support of 30 settlers in February 1764. Laclède arrived at the future town site two months later and produced a plan for St. Louis based on the New Orleans street plan. The default block size was 240 by 300 feet, with just three long avenues running parallel to the west bank of the Mississippi. He established a public corridor of 300 feet fronting the river, but later this area was released for private development.

St. Louis was transferred to the French First Republic in 1800 (although all of the colonial lands continued to be administered by Spanish officials), then sold by the French to the U.S. in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. St. Louis became the capital of, and gateway to, the new territory. Shortly after the official transfer of authority was made, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. The expedition departed from St. Louis in May 1804 along the Missouri River to explore the vast territory.

St. Louis became a major port on the Mississippi River and from 1870 until the 1920 census, it was the fourth-largest city in the country. It separated from St. Louis County in 1877, becoming an independent city and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the Summer Olympics.

Saint Louis had 42 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 37 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

A 1920 advertisement for the Mississippi Valley Trust Company of Saint Louis.

Organized January 17, 1899
Chartered January 21, 1899
Succeeded State Bank and Commercial Bank
Liquidated July 29, 1929
Absorbed by Mississippi Valley Trust Co, St. Louis which changed its title to Mississippi Valley Merchants State Trust Co., St. Louis
The State National Bank of St. Louis and its Unique Engraved Signature Currency (SPMC PM#179)

The Paper Money article by David Grant has an excellent history of the bank, its officers, and currency issued until the bank liquidated in 1929. This bank history page will attempt to add detail and links not possible in the article.

On Monday, February 13, 1893, the stockholders of the State Bank of St. Louis elected the following directors: Charles Parsons, L.M. Rumsey, Daniel Catlin, A.F. Shapleigh, John A. Scudder, Joseph Franklin, Charles C. Maffitt. At the same time, three visitors were elected as follows: A.F. Shapleigh, W.S. Pope, W.H.H. Pettus. The visitors occasionally would drop in and examine the books as required by a clause to that effect in the charter.

In January 1899, the State Bank of St. Louis had capital of $650,000, Surplus $1,150,000 and the following officers: Charles Parsons, president; John A. Scudder, vice president; John H. McCluney, cashier; Logan Tompkins, assistant cashier; and Chas. S. Cone, 2d assistant cashier. The directors were A.F. Shapleigh, president, A.F. Shapleigh Hardware Co.; R.S. Brookings, vice president and General manager, Cupples W.W. Co.; Joseph Franklin, vice president, Wm. Barr Dry Goods Co.; Dan Catlin, president, Catlin Tobacco Co.; L.M. Rumsey, president, L.M. Rumsey Manufacturing Co.; Chas. C. Maffitt, president, Iron Mountain Co.; and Charles Parsons.

The Commercial Bank occupied the northeast corner of Fourth and Pine Streets.  At the start of 1899, William Nichols was president.  The Commercial had capital of $500,000 and surplus of $500,000.

On January 30, 1899 the State Bank and the Commercial Bank consolidated into the newly chartered State National Bank of St. Louis. The Commercial Bank was founded in 1868 while the State Bank traced its origins to the State Savings Institution, incorporated on December 29, 1855. The State National Bank started with capital of $2,000,000 and surplus of $400,000. Its first board of directors consisted of Charles Parsons, John A. Scudder, Daniel Catlin, Robert S. Brookings, L.M. Rumsey, Chas. C. Maffitt, A.F. Shapleigh, P.C. Maffitt, Joseph Franklin, Henry C. Haarstick, L.F. Jones, Wm. Nichols, Joseph Ramsey, Jr., Rolla Wells, and John A. Holmes. The new national bank would locate in the quarters of the old State Bank at Fourth and Locust Streets.

In January 1900, the directors re-elected all the officers with the single exception of William Nichols who declined re-election as vice president due to the state of his health. The officers elected were Charles Parsons, president; L.F. Jones, vice president; J.H. McCluney, second vice president; Logan Tompkins, cashier; A.P. Coombe, assistant cashier; and C.S. Cone, second assistant cashier.

In 1913, John H. McCluney, president of the State National Bank, celebrated the 55th anniversary of his connection with the institution. He was the oldest banker in St. Louis in terms of service. Despite his 72 years, Mr. McCluney looked less than 50. He was at his desk every day by 9 a.m. and rarely left before 4 p.m. He began his service with the bank in 1857 as an office boy in the State Savings Association. Mr. McCluney was born in Wheeling, West Virginia and was educated in the St. Louis public schools.

In January 1921, the officers were Edward B. Pryor, president; A.O. Wilson, H.M. Bixby, L.M. Rumsey, Jr., and T.S. Maffitt, vice presidents; H.L. Stadler, cashier; Warren Johnson, John F. Weiser, and Jas. D. Sullivan, assistant cashiers. The directors were Harold M. Bixby, vice president; H.L. Block, president, Missouri Portland Cement Co.; James W. Byrnes, president, Byrnes Belting Co.; Daniel K. Catlin, president, Security Building Co.; Dwight F. Davis, treasurer, Davis Estate; W.C. D'Arcy, president, D'Arcy Advertising Co.; Edward M. Flesh, vice president, intercontinental Development Co.; James W. Harris, president, Harris-Polk Hat Co.; George K. Hoblitzelle, vice president, Commonwealth Steel Co.; T.S. Maffitt, vice president; Garfield D. Merner, vice president, Wm. R. Warner & Co.; Duncan I. Meier, secretary-treasurer, Ludlow-Saylor Wire Co.; Edward B. Pryor, president; Ley P. Rexford, president, American Paper Products Co.; L.M. Rumsey, vice president; Chas. W. Scudder, president, Rawlings Manufacturing Co.

On July 1, 1929, The Mississippi Valley Trust Company, The Merchants-Laclede National Bank and The State National Bank merged to form the Mississippi Valley Merchants State Trust Company with Capital, Surplus and Undivided Profits, $9,600,000 and combined resources of over $80 million. The officers were Edward B. Pryor, Chairman of the Board; A.L. Shapleigh, Chairman of the Executive Committee; J. Sheppard Smith, President; Hord Hardin, Vice President; W.J. Bramman, Vice President; A.O. Wilson, Vice President. Provisions were made in the combined buildings of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company and the Merchants-Laclede National Bank to house the merged institutions. The Mississippi Valley Merchants State Trust Company was located on Fourth Street, Olive to Pine. Intervening walls were cut away and the departments relocated in the combined bank. Approximately $20,000,000 in cash and negotiable securities had to be moved from the State National Bank during the weekend.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The State National Bank of St. Louis, MO

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with SN 1B and printed signatures of L. Tompkins, Cashier and Charles Parsons, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.ha.com

1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with printed signatures of L. Tompkins, Cashier and Charles Parsons, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1882 Date Back $20 bank note with printed signatures of H.L. Sadler, Cashier and J.H. McCluney, President. The note appears to be a Variety 3 Battle of Lexington Vignette, but it is actually a Variety 3 over 1 over 3. Compare with the $20 Brown Back from the B plate and proof from the GHIC 1882 Date Back plate. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1882 Date Back $50 bank note with printed signatures of H.L. Sadler, Cashier and E.B. Pryor, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with engraved signatures of H.L. Sadler, Cashier and E.B. Pryor, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com

A total of $19,815,590 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1899 and 1929. This consisted of a total of 2,291,192 notes (2,291,192 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	4x5	1 - 39000
1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 63600
1882 Date Back	4x5	1 - 112327
1882 Date Back	3x10-20	1 - 80042
1882 Date Back	3x50-100	1 - 713
1902 Plain Back	4x5	1 - 147570
1902 Plain Back	3x10-20	1 - 129546

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1899 - 1929):

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

Saint Louis, MO, 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. 86, Jan. 1913-June 1913, p. 117.
The Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 100, Jan. 1920-June 1920, p. 145.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, MO, Tue., Feb. 14, 1893.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Sun., Jan. 1, 1899.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Thu., Jan. 12, 1899.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Wed., Jan. 17, 1900.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Wed., Jan. 12, 1921.
The St. Louis Star and Times, St. Louis, MO, Mon. July 1, 1929.