Thomas Abrams Scheets (Wellsville, OH)
Thomas Abrams Scheets (February 13, 1883 – September 7, 1937) served a nearly 30 year career with the Peoples National Bank of Wellsville, OH. He spent 12 years as assistant cashier followed by 14 years as cashier of the bank. Unfortunately, the bank closed due to Scheets' impropriety and he died shortly after serving a 5 year prison sentence for his misdeeds.
Biography
Early life and family
Scheets was born in Wellsville, OH where he attended public schools.
On October 15, 1907 Scheets married Edna Katheryn Donaldson and they had 2 children: Thomas C. (born 1910) and Mary C. (born 1912).[1]
Banking career
The Peoples National Bank was organized in 1902 and Scheets joined the following year[2]. By 1906 he had achieved the position of assistant cashier.[3] He would serve as cashier from 1918 until the bank's closure in 1932 caused by Scheets and his assistant cashier, Ralph C. Merriam.[4] The pair were convicted of multiple counts of embezzlement, misapplication of funds, and misrepresentation of funds. For his portion of the crimes, Scheets received a sentence of five years imprisonment in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, GA while Merriam received only half that amount.
As the proceedings against him started, Scheets pled not guilty and his bond was set at $10,000.[5] Scheets was not able to post this bond and was jailed in Cleveland, OH during his trial.[6]
As part of the Peoples National Bank's attempt to recover assets from Scheets, its receiver sued claiming Scheets fraudulently conveyed a piece of property inherited from his wife's mother to Harold R. Driggs.[7] In the resolution of this case, the deed was canceled and Scheets' interest was preserved so that the bank might lay claim to it.[8]
Other career highlights
Scheets resigned as secretary of the Wellsville High School Alumni Association in 1912.[9]
In 1919, Scheets was elected an officer in the Wellsville Elks Lodge.[10]
Scheets served on the Wellsville chamber of commerce from at least 1920[11] to 1922.[12]
In 1927, Scheets was finance chairman of the Kiwanis,[13] an organization he was a member of until at least 1931.[14]
In 1929, Scheets was one of 14 citizens to contribute $100 to the pool finance campaign to build a swimming pool at Wellsville's Hammond Park.[15]
Later life and death
In August 1924, a police officer discovered two youths sleeping on the lawn of the Scheets residence. The officer awakened them and was preparing to take them into custody when one drew a weapon. He was shot by the officer and the wound was later treated by J. S. McCulloch, president of the Peoples National Bank.[16]
Scheets died at home of cirrhosis of the liver on September 7, 1937. [17]
Bank Officer Summary
During his banking career, Thomas A. Scheets was involved with the following bank(s): [18]
- Peoples National Bank, Wellsville, OH (Charter 6345): Cashier 1918 - 1932
References
- ↑ History of Columbiana County, Ohio By Harold B. Barth (1926)
- ↑ History of Columbiana County, Ohio By Harold B. Barth (1926)
- ↑ Bankers Magazine Volume 73 (1906)
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review January 26, 1932
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review June 6, 1932
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review June 7, 1932
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review March 19, 1932
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review May 27, 1932
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review March 28, 1947
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review March 24, 1944
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review December 28, 1920
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review September 22, 1922
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review January 5, 1927
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review December 23, 1931
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review June 4, 1929
- ↑ East Liverpool Evening Review August 14, 1924
- ↑ Death Certificate
- ↑ Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://bbdata.banknotehistory.com.