Washington National Bank, Saint Louis, MO (Charter 6773)

The Washington Building, a former location of the Washington National Bank of St. Louis. Located on the corner of Washington Avenue & Fourteenth Street, two floors of the two buildings numbered 1401-1403 were used by the old Mound City Business College, ca1903. Courtesy of Google Maps, ca2022

Washington National Bank, Saint Louis, MO (Chartered 1903 - Liquidated 1911)

Town History

Letter from the Mound City Business College located in the Washington Bank Building, dated March 10, 1904. Courtesy of David Grant

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.

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.

The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central Division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals have played their home games at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis. One of the nation's oldest and most successful professional baseball clubs, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships, the most of any NL team and second in MLB only to the New York Yankees. In 1881, entrepreneur Chris von der Ahe purchased the Brown Stockings barnstorming club, renamed it the St. Louis Browns, and made it a charter member of the American Association baseball league. The team won four league championships, qualifying them to play in the era's professional baseball championship series, a forerunner of the modern World Series. In two of these championships, the Browns met the Chicago White Stockings, now the Chicago Cubs, launching the enduring Cardinals–Cubs rivalry. In 1892, the Browns – also called the Perfectos – joined the National League. In 1900, the team was renamed the Cardinals.

The St. Louis Browns was a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis after the 1901 season, where they played for 52 years as the St. Louis Browns. After the 1953 season, the team moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where it became the Baltimore Orioles.

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

Bank History

1906 advertisement for the Washington National Bank located at Washington Avenue & Fourteenth Street.

1911 advertisement for the American Trust Company located at 710 Chestnut Street, St. Louis.

• Organized April 15, 1903
• Chartered May 6, 1903
• Liquidated March 7, 1911
• Absorbed by American Trust Company, St. Louis

On Monday, October 20, 1902, the application for a new downtown national bank to be known as the Washington National Bank of St. Louis was approved by the comptroller of the currency. The location selected was on Washington Avenue east of Twelfth Street, but the exact site had not been selected. The application was signed by David Rosentreter, Simon Rothgeisser, Adolph Daust, and Theodore De Forest and it was understood that Rosentreter would be named president. The new bank would cater especially to the Washington Avenue wholesale trade for its patronage.

On May 6, 1903, a charter was issued to the Washington National Bank with capital of $200,000. The officers were David Rosentreter, president; Adolph Daust, vice president; H. Tinker, cashier; W. Frank Street, assistant cashier; and James M. Sutherland, counsellor. Members of the board of directors included the president and vice president and R.H. Johnson, S. Rothgiesser, D.B. Greenewald, Jacob Hecht, Jacob Gates, Leon Rosenblum, and William Sacks. The planned opening was for May 18 in quarters at 1401 Washington Avenue. I. Seigel was at the head of the line when the new bank opened its doors at 9 o'clock and he was recorded on the books of the institution as the first depositor. Mr. Seigel had been waiting for the bank to open for more than two hours and held his place against the crowd which came later. President Rosentreter, Vice President Daust, Cashier Tinker and the directors were at the institution all day to receive patrons who continued to come until the close of business. Mr. Daust said that deposits on the first day amounted to more than $200,000 while he did not expect more than $50,000 that day. Many floral offerings from business firms and other banks were received during the day.

In April 1905, the directors were A. Daust, capitalist; Alexander A. Eberson, paint manufacturer; J. Hecht, Belle-Hickey Manufacturing Co.; R.H. Johnson of Waters-Pierce Oil Co.; Dr. Joseph G. Pfaff, capitalist; David Rosentreter, president; Leon Rosenblum, capitalist; S. Rothgiesser of Rothgiesser Bros.; Wm. Sacks of Sacks-Stocke Catering Co.; and James Wilson, manufacturing of Wilson Heaters. The officers were David Roentreter, president; James Wilson and Adolph Daust, vice presidents; W. Frank Street, cashier; Adolph Rosentreter, assistant cashier; and James M. Sutherland, counselor.

On August 31, 1905, the Washington National Bank at Fourteenth Street and Washington Avenue, came under control of a syndicate composed of James Wilson, president of the Wilson Stove and Manufacturing Co.; Isaac A. Hedges, manager of the Cupples Station property of the Washington University, and several capitalists whose names were withheld. The change was made for the purpose of increasing the capital stock and extending the business of the institution. Pope Sturgeon who was for many years connected with the Mechanics National Bank would be cashier. Mr. Sturgeon had consequently abandoned his project of starting a new bank at Fourth Street and Chouteau Avenue. Mr. Wilson would be president and Mr. Hedges, vice president. The capital would be increased from $200,000 to $300,000.

In February 1906, the officers were James Wilson, president; Isaac A. Hedges, vice president; E.J. Archinard, cashier; W. Frank Street, assistant cashier; and James M. Sutherland, counselor.

In March 1906, involuntary proceedings in bankruptcy against David Rosentreter absorbed the attention of bankers. The petition alleged that Rosentreter transferred property to other creditors. Adolph Daust, a former director of the Washington National Bank was the heaviest creditor in the sum of $60,000 and interest. The Syndicate Amusement Co. had a claim of $8,000 and Williams, Weldon & Lick sought to collect a $50 debt. Cashier Street of the Washington National said that Mr. Daust ceased to be a director a year ago and that no one connected with the bank was in any way interested in the proceedings.

The Charity Carnival at Forest park Highlands would feature the reunion of old-time players in connection with the baseball concession at the German village.  Among the members of the old-time champion Browns would be Charles Comiskey, Hugh Nichol, Bill and Jack Gleason, Tom Dolan, George McGinnis, Charlie King and Artie Latham.  The "Little Nicols," named after Hugh Nicol, acted as the reception committee at this concession.  The "Nicols" were organized in 1881 when the boys were all in grammar school.  It was composed of Billy Louderman as catcher, Pope Sturgeon as pitcher, Jim Bowman as first baseman, Sam Lewis as second baseman, Harry Culyer as shortstop, Bob Sturgeon as third basemen, George Sherry as left fielder, Lew Winter as center fielder and Henry Winter as right fielder.  This team under the management of Billy Louderman, their captain, made a winning streak of 106 games before meeting defeat.

On Saturday November 13, 1909, Wann V. Teasdale, former paying teller of the Washington National was arrested on a federal warrant charging him with embezzling $5,921 of the banks funds. Teasdale was 34, a native of St. Louis and lived in a modest residence with his wife and child. He had been with the bank for two years.

On Monday, November 15, 1909, Franklin P. Jones, cashier and director of the Washington National Bank, Seventh and Pine Streets, resigned after a meeting of the board of directors. His resignation, which he declared due to a desire to relieve the bank officers of embarrassment, was accepted with a statement of regret. The action followed a publication of a report from Denver that Jones had been in difficulty there. He stated the report was untrue and referred to a letter from the District Attorney of Denver written shortly after the cases in connection with the Denver failure were disposed of as follows: "My Dear Mr. Jones, I learn that you are about to leave here for Kansas City of St. Louis and I wish to express to you my thanks for your valuable assistance to us in arriving at the truth of the matters connected with the Denver Savings Bank. You have been frank in all your statements and in your testimony both before the grand jury and the trial court and I have heard many expressions from both these juries as to their gratification and appreciation of your frank statements. The first investigation and the trial of Imboden and Hill certainly have completely exonerated you in connection with the Denver Savings Bank. Jones' success would be William P. Samuel who was an assistant City Treasurer and would enter the service of the bank as assistant cashier. While the shortage of the former paying teller, Teasdale, was to be regretted, it would result in no injury to the bank further than the unpleasantness of the incident.

The Title Guaranty Trust Company absorbed the Washington National Bank with Leon W. Quick, president and the City Treasurer, by buying its capital stock of 5,000 shares, par value $500,000. According to a statement issued by President J.C. Van Riper of the Title Guaranty, the price paid was $140 cash and one share of Title Guaranty stock for each two shares of Washington National. The American Trust Company which was the banking department of the Title Guaranty took over the assets of the Washington National and assumed its deposits and other liabilities. The deal became effective immediately and late in the afternoon of January 28, 1911, the $275,000 in currency and the securities which the Washington National had in its vaults at the southeast corner of Seventh and Pine Streets were transferred under guard of three policemen to the American Trust Company at 710 Chestnut Street a block away. The Washington National would liquidate, surrender its charter and pass out of existence. Mr. Samuel Niccolls would become a vice president and a number of directors of the Washington National Bank would be added to the board of the trust company.

Official Bank Title(s)

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

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Red Seal $10 bank note with pen signatures of W. Frank Street, Cashier and D. Rosentreter, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $929,000 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1903 and 1911. This consisted of a total of 74,320 notes (74,320 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 Red Seal	3x10-20	1 - 8000
1902 Date Back	3x10-20	1 - 10580

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1903 - 1911):

Presidents:

• David Rosentreter, 1903-1905
• James Wilson, 1906-1906
• Joseph Lawrence Hanley, 1906-1906
• James Wilson, 1907-1907
• Leon Willis Quick, 1908-1910

Cashiers:

• Homer Neville Tinker Sr., 1903-1904
• W. Frank Street, 1905-1905
• Edward J. Archinard , 1906-1906
• Franklin P. Jones, 1906-1909
• Samuel Niccolls, 1910-1910

Other Known Bank Note Signers

• No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

• Washington National Bank, Saint Louis, MO History (NB Lookup)
• Missouri Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

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