Washington National Bank, Burgettstown, PA (Charter 6944)

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The old Washington National Bank of Burgettstown
The old Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, located on N Main Street. Construction began in 1920, and the bank was occupied in 1921. Courtesy of Google Maps, ca2023

Washington National Bank, Burgettstown, PA (Chartered 1903 - Open past 1935)

Town History

The Washington National Bank of Burgettstown ca1903
The Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, ca1903. This one-room, one-story building was constructed on Main Street, and later, around 1910 to 1912, additions were made making it a three-story brick building with lodge rooms and offices.

Burgettstown is a borough in northwestern Washington County, Pennsylvania. It is located 18 miles northwest of Washington, Pennsylvania, and 26 miles west of Pittsburgh. The population was 1,424 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. In 1900 the population was 961, peaking at 2,497 by 1940.

Burgettstown was laid out in 1795 by Sebastian Burgett, and named for him. Burgettstown is surrounded entirely by Smith Township, which includes the nearby communities of Joffre, Bulger, Cherry Valley, Atlasburg, Slovan, Langeloth, Eldersville, Florence, Paris, and Studa.

Burgettstown had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, The Burgettstown National Bank (Charter 2408), The Washington National Bank (Charter 6944), and The Peoples National Bank (Charter 13009), and only the first two of these banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

  • Organized July 17, 1903
  • Chartered September 3, 1903
  • Opened for business November 4, 1903
  • Bank was Open past 1935

In July 1903, Samuel H. Hughes who recently resigned the position of cashier of the Bolivar National Bank, accepted a similar position with the Washington National Bank at Burgettstown.[1] Major Hughes was part of the Fifth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. The Washington County bank was recently organized with a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $5,000.[2] The other officers were John A. Ray, president; J.A. Scott and J.W. Reed, vice presidents.[3] On November 4, 1903, the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown opened for business in their new building.[4]

In February 1904, the directors were J.A. Ray, J. Winfield Reed, William I. Jones, H.G. Taylor, R.K. Scott, Ellsworth Jackson, Thos. P. Jones, John W. Keys, Sam H. Hughes, M.L. Cooke, J.A. Ray, George W. Malone, J.R. McNary, David G. Jones, and J.A. Gillespie.[5]

On Thursday, November 13, 1919, stricken suddenly with heart trouble while visiting at the home of his nephew, Stewart Taylor Cook of Buffalo, New York, D.S. Taylor, aged 72, of Smith Township, one of Washington County's prominent citizens, lived but few hours, his death occurring that night. Mr. Taylor was president of the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, and vice president of the Mutual Insurance Co. of Oakdale. For 35 years he was a member of the Union Agricultural Association, serving two years as president, and for several years as secretary. At the time of his death, he was also president of Smith Township board of school directors. Formerly he was a large stockholder in the Burgettstown Publishing Co., which published the Burgettstown Enterprise. Mr. Taylor never married. Three brothers and one sister survived him: H.G. Taylor of Dinsmore; Dr. W.P. Taylor of Noblestown; J.B and Miss Jane O. Taylor at home.[6]

On Tuesday, September 4, 1934, J.B. Taylor, 83, of Burgettstown R.D., one of the most influential citizens of that section of Washington County, died on the farm homestead of the family. Mr. Taylor was president of the Washington National Bank and of the Oakdale Insurance Co. of Oakdale, Pennsylvania.[7] In October, John M. Scott was elected president to succeed James B. Taylor. D.J. Coulter and W.B. Culley, vice president of the bank, both declined to accept the position. Mr. Scott had been cashier of the bank for 20 years. Lee R. McKinney, assistant cashier since the bank was organized was elected cashier to succeed Mr. Scott.[8]

On Monday, May 13, 1935, Joseph Rea McNary, 87, one of the most prominent residents of his district, died at his Burgettstown home. He was a member of a pioneer family, a son of Joseph and Jane Rea McNary, and was born July 18, 1847 in the old homestead in Smith Township, later the site of the Francis mine. He lived on the farm the greater part of his life, moving to Burgettstown in 1903. Mr. McNary was a noted breeder of fine wool sheep and Poland China hogs, and was one of the organizers of the Washington National Bank at Burgettstown. He was a familiar figure at the Burgettstown fair, having attended each gathering for a period of more than 75 years. He took much pride and interest in the family history which he traced back in an unbroken line to the 16th century.[9]

In January 1940, James C. Wolfe, employed by the First National Bank for the past four years was named as assistant cashier.[10] The officers were John M. Scott, president; D.J. Coulter and W.B. Culley, vice presidents; Lee R. McKinney, cashier; and James C. Wolfe, assistant cashier. Directors were D.J. Coulter, Lee R. McKinney, John M. Scott, H.A. Scott, W.B. Culley, H.R. Wilson, and J.R. Bell.

In January 1943, the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown elected James C. Wolfe, assistant cashier, although he was on leave and serving in the United States Army. E.F. Charlier was elected an assistant cashier.[11]

On Tuesday, January 11, 1944, stockholders elected the following directors: D.J. Coulter, Lee R. McKinney, John M. Scott, W.R. Culley, H.R. Wilson, and J.R. Bell. The officers elected were John M. Scott, president; D.J. Coulter and W.B. Culley, vice presidents; Lee R. McKinney, cashier; and James C. Wolfe and E.F. Charlier, assistant cashiers.[12]

In October 1947, the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown was expected to be absorbed by the Citizens National Bank of Washington, a part of the Mellbank group. The sale would be presented for ratification at a special meeting of shareholders called for October 31st at the bank. The terms called for the Citizens National to pay $462,000 in cash for the 500 shares of stock, $925 per share, and to assume all liabilities of the institution. The Washington National Bank of Burgettstown was organized in 1903 and as of December 31, 1946, was fourth largest financial institution in Washington County with total resources of $6,432,648.46, deposits of $6,011,729.92 and surplus and undivided profits of $370,954.54.[13] On Friday, October 31, 1947, shareholders of the Washington National Bank unanimously approved purchase of their institution by the Citizens National Bank of Washington. According to John M. Scott, president, a total of 500 votes was cast in favor of the purchase, 249 votes cast by 15 personal representatives and the remainder cast by proxy.[14] With arrangements completed at the close of business, Saturday, November 1, 1947, the Washington National Bank of Burgettstown was thereafter operated as a branch under the name of The Citizens National Bank of Washington, Burgettstown Branch. Deposits of the Burgettstown bank of approximately $6,000,000 were assumed by the Citizens Bank.[15]

On Friday, June 12, 1959, John M. Scott, retired Burgettstown bank president died at his home. He was president of the Washington National Bank and later vice president and manager of the Mellon Branch Bank until his retirement in 1950.[16][17]

Official Bank Title

1: The Washington National Bank of Burgettstown, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Date Back $20 bank note
1902 Date Back $20 bank note with stamped signatures of John M. Scott, Cashier and D.S. Taylor, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with a binary repeater SN and printed signatures of John M. Scott, Cashier and J.B. Taylor, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $1,045,860 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1903 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 83,888 notes (70,788 large size and 13,100 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 3160
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 4600
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 4601 - 14537
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1402
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 426
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 1687
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 445

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1903 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Burgettstown, PA, on Wikipedia
  • Burgettstown Area Banks accessed Sep 29, 2025.
  • 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
  1. ↑ The Indiana Progress, Indiana, PA, Wed., July 22, 1903.
  2. ↑ Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Fri., Aug. 21, 1903.
  3. ↑ The Weekly Courier, Connellsville, PA, Wed., Oct. 14, 1903.
  4. ↑ Monongahela Valley Republican, Monongahela, PA, Thu., Nov. 12, 1903.
  5. ↑ The Enterprise, February 16, 1904.
  6. ↑ The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, Sat., Nov. 15, 1919.
  7. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Wed., Sep. 5, 1934.
  8. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Thu., Oct. 4, 1934.
  9. ↑ The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, PA, Tue., May 14, 1935.
  10. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1940.
  11. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1943.
  12. ↑ Burgettstown, Enterprise, Burgettstown, PA, Jan. 13, 1944.
  13. ↑ The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, PA, Fri., Oct. 10, 1947.
  14. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Mon., Nov. 3, 1947.
  15. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Wed., Nov. 5, 1947.
  16. ↑ The Daily Herald, Monongahela, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1951.
  17. ↑ Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Pittsburgh, PA, Sat., June 13, 1959.
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