Union National Bank, San Diego, CA (Charter 10435)
Union National Bank, San Diego, CA (Chartered 1913 - Liquidated 1927)
Town History
San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the eighth-most populous city in the United States. San Diego is the seat of San Diego County. It is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as a wireless, electronics, healthcare, and biotechnology development center. The population as of the 2020 Census was 1,386,932. In 1910, the population was 39,578 growing to 147,995 by 1930.
San Diego had 11 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 10 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized July 23, 1913
- Chartered August 19, 1913
- Liquidated March 17, 1927
- Absorbed by 13044 (Bank of Italy/Bank of America NT&SA, San Francisco, CA)
In May 1913, several Kansas bankers were associated in a financial venture in San Diego, California. Frank H. Burrow resigned as vice president of the National Reserve Bank, effective July 1st. He had arranged to go to San Diego and engage in the banking business in company with Charles W. Landis, who recently sold his interest in the First National Bank of Osborne, Kansas. Financially associated with them were Mr. Burrow's father, Joel R. Burrow, ex-Secretary of State and president of the Central National Bank of Topeka, and E.E. Ames of the same bank. The latter gentlemen, however, would dispose of none of their Kansas interests, but had arranged to spend a part of each year on the Pacific Coast in the interest of the new Union National Bank of San Diego, charter #10435. Frank Burrow was born in Smith Center Kansas, where he grew up in his father's bank. In 1907 he was appointed national bank examiner by Comptroller Ridgely, which position he filled until the organization of the Central National Bank of Kansas City of which he was made vice-president. When the Central National and the National Reserve were consolidated three years ago Mr. Burrow was made vice-president of the combined institution. There was a Kansas colony of five hundred or more members in the neighborhood of San Diego.[3]
On Wednesday, August 20, 1913, a charter was issued to the Union National Bank of San Diego, capital $200,000. The president was J.R. Burrow and C.W. Landis was cashier. This was the second large bank to charter in San Diego within a few months.[4] The other bank was The United States National Bank of San Diego which received its charter on May 15th. The real estate firm of J.D. Mollison had much to do with both bring to San Diego the Union National Bank and finding for it a location. Mollison was personally acquainted with J.R. Burrow, F.H. Burrow, and C.W. Landis. Mollison recommended that they come to San Diego to establish a bank and he also negotiated the lease which the new institution secured from the L.J. Wilde estate at the corner of Sixth and Broadway Streets where the new bank would be located. That property was leased until January 1, 1916. A residence in South Park for F.H. Burrow was also rented through Mollison.[5]
In March 1918, the bank had capital $200,000, surplus and undivided profits $50,000. C.W. Landis was president; Rufus Choate, vice president; and E.J. Heimerdinger, cashier.[6]
On January 2, 1923, final arrangements were made to transfer the Union National Bank from its location at the southeast corner of Sixth and Broadway to the northeast corner of Seventh and Broadway within 90 days. The new location was formerly occupied by Merritt's bakery and cafeteria.[7]
In August 1924, the directors voted to increase capital from $200,000 to $250,000. With this increase, the capital stock, surplus and undivided profits would be $350,000. Frank R. Belville was elected assistant cashier at the same meeting. Belville came to San Diego after extensive banking experience in Nebraska. He had been connected with the First National Bank of San Diego.[8]
In March 1926, purchase of stock of the Union National Bank held by J.H. and D.H. Shreve by George R. Daley, recently elected president of the institution, gave him the controlling majority in the bank. Daley had been a director of the bank for several years an owned considerable stock in the bank.[9] The directors were Roger M. Andrews, chairman of the board, formerly vice president, Citizens Trust and Savings Bank, Los Angeles; Rufus Choate, vice president, Union National Bank; George R. Daley, president, Union National Bank and general contractor; Alfred G. Edwards, retired merchant; E.J. Heimerdinger, vice president and cashier, Union National Bank; Henry A. Kehler, executive vice president, National City Bank, Los Angeles; G. Frank Nolan, general manager, Russ Lumber Co.; G. Gilbert Quirk, president, Quirk Brothers and Municipal Bond Co., San Diego and Los Angeles; Charles E. Rinehart, president, Rinehart Cleanatorium and regional vice president of Kiwanis International; and George N. Sanger, assistant cashier, Union National Bank. Officers were George R. Daley, president; Roger M. Andrews, executive vice president; E.J. Heimerdinger, vice president and cashier; Rufus Choate, vice president; F.R. Belville, C.E. Bowers, George N. Sanger, J.A. Polzer, O.C. Taylor, and Earl Stacy, assistant cashiers.[10]
In January 1927, at a meeting of the directors of the Union National Bank, the following officers were elected: Gordon Gray, president; Roger M. Andrews, vice president and chairman of the board; Chas. H. Anthony, vice president and cashier; F.R. Belville, George N. Sanger, Earl Stacy and J.A. Polzer, assistant cashiers. The directors were C.H. Anthony, H.E. Anthony, Ralph A. Cook, Charles C. Crouch, George R. Daley, Gordon Gray, George M. Hawley, Emil Klicka, Richard T. Robinson, Jr., and H.F. Schnell.[11] Marking its second purchase in San Diego in two weeks, the Bancitaly Corp., holding company for the Bank of Italy, acquired control of the Southern Trust and Commerce Bank of San Diego. The merger included the main branch of the Southern Trust and Commerce Bank and its 10 branches in Imperial and San Diego counties. Bancitaly Corp.'s other acquisition was the Union National Bank, gaining control on December 23, 1926, placing Gordon Gray, local attorney, at its head. The Bank of Italy entered San Diego several years ago by acquiring control of the old Merchants National Bank. G.A. Davidson, managing director of three San Diego banking institutions now owned by the Bank of Italy announced plans for a magnificent new skyscraper in the metropolitan area. The new building would house the present Bank of Italy branch, formerly the Merchants National Bank, the newly acquired Southern Trust and Commerce and Union National Banks. These institutions had resources aggregating $35,000,000. Davidson gained national recognition as president of the San Diego Exposition in 1915 and was past president of the San Diego's YMCA.[12]
In November 1927, C.J. Holliday was promoted to fill the vacancy in the Union office of the Bank of Italy left by the resignation of Roger M. Andrews. Holliday, who would become the first assistant to C.H. Anthony, manager of the branch, entered the employ of the old Southern Trust and Commerce Bank in 1909 and continued as manager of the savings department when the bank was merged with the Bank of Italy.[13]
Official Bank Title
1: The Union National Bank of San Diego, CA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $1,811,750 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1913 and 1927. This consisted of a total of 144,940 notes (144,940 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 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 7820 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 7821 - 36235
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1913 - 1927):
Presidents:
- Joel Randall Burrow, 1914-1915
- Charles W. Landis, 1916-1924
- George Robert Daley, 1926-1926
- Gordon Larimore Gray, 1926-1927
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- San Diego, CA, 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 San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Sat., Aug. 15, 1914.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Tue., Feb. 8, 1927.
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, Mon., May 12, 1913.
- ↑ The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Thu., Aug. 21, 1913.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Wed., July 2, 1913.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Tue. Mar. 12, 1918.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Tue., Jan. 2, 1923.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Wed., Aug. 6, 1924.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Mon., Mar. 22, 1926.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Thu. Mar. 16, 1926
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Fri., Jan. 14, 1927.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Thu., Jan. 6, 1927.
- ↑ The San Diego Sun, San Diego, CA, Mon., Nov. 7, 1927.