Danville National Bank, Danville, PA (Charter 1078)
Danville National Bank, Danville, PA (Chartered 1865 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Danville is a borough in and the county seat of Montour County, Pennsylvania, along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The population was 4,221 at the 2020 census. Danville is part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick micropolitan area. In 1860, the population was 6,385 peaking in 1870 at 8,436. Danville is the home of Geisinger Medical Center, a trauma center employing over 10,000 people. In 1869 the Danville State Hospital was built as a state institution for the treatment and care of the mentally ill.
In November 1773, William Montgomery began acquiring land in Northumberland County from J. Cummings. On November 26, 1774 he acquired 180 acres along Mahoning Creek and Susquehanna River known as "Karkaase" from J. Simpson. Following his service in the New York and New Jersey Campaign, William re-settled his family from Chester County to Northumberland. Originally referred to as "Montgomery's Landing", it would become known as Danville after his son, Daniel Montgomery. After developing his farm, William developed the first gristmill, sawmill, and trading post. In 1778, his family fled during the Big Runaway to Fort Augusta and returned following the Battle of Wyoming. In 1792, William constructed the General William Montgomery House. In the same year Daniel plotted the area between Mill Street and Church Street, the historic core of the town which now bears his name.
Danville was part of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, when it was founded. In 1813, Columbia County, Pennsylvania was formed from part of Northumberland Co. Danville became the county seat of Columbia County until 1845, when an election moved the seat to Bloomsburg. In 1850, Montour County was formed from part of Columbia County. Danville then became the county seat of Montour County.
Danville became a transportation center in the mid-19th century as the technology of early railroads developed, allowing accelerated development of inland communities. Danville first serviced canal boats plying the navigations on the Susquehanna between the coal docks in Pittston and Wilkes-Barre connecting to the Union Canal, and Harrisburg. Subsequently, it became served by several railroads also running along the banks of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Railroads helped local businesses expand their sales as they supplied major cities outside of Danville. Coal and iron mines in the surrounding hills and mountains fueled the local economy, and by mid-century Danville was an important iron mill town. Many of the rails of the nation's expanding railroad system were made in Danville, an important contribution to a network which grew explosively for decades. By the 1890s there were 7-8 major railroads running into the Wyoming Valley for Anthracite.
Danville had two National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, the First National Bank (Charter 325) and the Danville National Bank (Charter 1078), and both of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized April 18, 1865
- Chartered April 28, 1865
- Succeeded Bank of Danville
- Absorbed 8410 March 25, 1933 (Farmers National Bank, Exchange, PA)
- Bank was Open past 1935
In April 1848, the bill to incorporate a new bank at Danville was taken up in the Senate and defeated. It was generous in that body thus to kill the bill, as it saved the Secretary the labor of preparing a veto. In October 1848, the following was a list of new banks applying for charters: Dauphin Bank at Harrisburg, $200,000; Hollidaysburg Bank, $200,000; Allentown Bank, Lehigh County, $100,000; Anthracite Bank, Schuylkill County, $200,000; Bank of Danville, $200,000; Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Montgomery, $200,000; Armstrong Bank of Kittanning, $100,000; North Lebanon Sav. Institution, $75,000; Columbia Savings at Columbia, $100,000; Somerset Savings Institute, $50,000.
The bill was in April 1849 with Peter Baldy, George A. Frick, John G. Montgomery, Joseph Maus, Jacob Hibler, William Donaldson, William H. Magill, A.F. Russell, David P. Davis, Jas. C. Sproul, T.O. VanAlen, George Leebrick, Lewis Vastine, John Rhodes, John L. Watson, Jacob Gearhart, Hugh McWilliams, Geo. Smith, John Best, John Deen, Jr., J.P. Groves, Joseph Paxton Robert Moore, Thomas Woods, John F. Derr, and Joseph Lavera as commissioners of the Bank of Danville to be located at Danville in the county of Columbia with capital of $200,000.
In 1849, the first directors of the Bank of Danville were elected. Thomas C. Hayes of Lewisburg, and William C. Lawson, of Milton were among those elected.
On Sunday, June 9, 1872, George A. Frick, Esq., died on a walk to his lots without a struggle or any indication of suffering. He was carried to the house of Thomas Whitaker and medical assistance immediately summoned, but without avail. Mr. Frick was born in Lancaster City on December 26, 1786. While he was a lad, his father, John Frick, moved to Northumberland and then to Sunbury when he was appointed Register and Recorder of Northumberland County by Governor Snyder in 1810. The deceased was self-educated, pouring over books at night which he purchased using savings from his labors. In 1813, when Columbia county was formed from a portion of Northumberland, he was appointed by Gov. Simon Snyder as the first Prothonotary and moved to Danville, the county seat. His commission was dated Oct. 26th, 1813. He held this position for two terms and during the time read law under the direction of Hugh Bellas. He was admitted to the Columbia County bar on April 2d, 1821. He at once entered a large, lucrative practice. He withdrew from practice in 1849 to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Danville which had been chartered by the Legislature during the session of the previous winter. He performed the duties entrusted to him with great fidelity until the time of this resignation in 1862. He was married in 1814 to Eleanor Hurley, a sister of W.G. Hurley, Esq., and was the father of eight children, three of whom survived him: Augustus G., Martha H. (Mrs. Rober F. Clark), and Alexander J. Frick. His wife died in 1836. His eldest son, Arthur W. Frick graduated from Princeton and moved to California in 1849 where he died. His second son, Dr. Clarence H. Frick commanded the Columbia Guards during the Mexican War and died in 1861 from the affects of disease contracted in the service. He was re-married to Mrs. Phillipi who died shortly before him.
In January 1903, stockholders elected the following directors: W.J. Baldy, Joseph Hunter, D.R. Eckman, W.K. Holloway, Charles P. Hancock, Alex. Billmeyer, and F.C. Angle.
On Tuesday, January 9, 1923, stockholders elected the following directors: Hon. Alex. Billmeyer, D.R. Eckman, D.E. Edmondson, W.W. Gullick, Ralph Kisner, R.L. Marks, Dr. R.S. Petten, Edward F. Price, S.C. Rebman, J.O. Warner, W.W. Welliver, and M.G. Youngman. In May, the directors met and awarded contracts for the alterations to the bank building and for new equipment to be installed. The contract for the building changes including general improvements and repairs, lowering of the floor, changing the front doors, stairways, etc., was given to the South Danville Planing Mill Company. the contract for furnishing and istalling the grille, counters, coupon booths, wainscoting, banking furniture, etc. was awarded to the Wilkinson Equipment Company of Philadelphia. The contract for the new vault to be placed in an addition on the north side of the building was let some time earlier to the York Safe and Lock Company of York, Pennsylvania. The installation of the new vault would be the first work undertaken and upon completion, the old vault which stood in the middle of the room would be removed. Temporary quarter would be made in the Pursel Building opposite Luna Theatre.
In November 1923, work on improvements to the Danville National Bank were moving ahead rapidly. The huge new vault was installed There were 270 tons of sand, steel and cement used and the steel lining weighed an additional 16 tons and the door and vestibule for the vault and additional 16 tons. The lobby space doubled the size. The directors' room, previously on the first floor, would be located on a mezzanine floor in the rear.
On Tuesday, January 8, 1929, stockholders elected the following directors: D.E. Edmondson, W.W. Gulick, Ralph Kisner, C.P. Murray, Dr. R.S. Patten, Dallas G. Pensyl, S.C. Rebman, James O. Warner, W.W. Welliver, M.G. Youngman, and R.L. Marks.
In January 1935, all directors were re-elected. They were D.E. Edmondson, Ralph Kisner, R.L. Marks, Charles P. Murray, Dr. R.S. Patten, D.C. Pensyl, Samuel C. Rebman, Thomas G. Vincent, J.O. Warner, W.W. Welliver, and M.G. Youngman. On Monday, January 21, 1935, the bank reorganized by electing M. Grier Youngman, president; James L. Warner, vice president; William T. Deeter, cashier; Adam W. Mayan, first assistant cashier; Miss Margaret R. Sidler, second assistant cashier and trust officer.
In January 1968, the bank contracted for an IBM 360 computer able to perform 30,000 calculations per second. Combined with the present data processing equipment, the 119 year old bank would have facilities usually found only in large cities. William T. Deeter, the bank's long-time president, was elected chairman of the board, and Grier Y. Boedker, executive vice president was elected president and trust officer. Other officers were Leo S. Dennen, vice president; James C. McDermott, assistant trust officer; Howard W. Riley, cashier; James R. Richardson and George W. Robinson, assistant cashiers. On January 17, 1968, the boards of directors of the Danville National Bank and the First National Bank of Williamsport announced the plan to consolidate to form a new bank. The announcement was made by Grier Y. Boedker, president of the Danville National and A. Dean Swift, Jr., president of the First National. Total assets of the proposed bank based on year end figures from 1967 would be capital of $3.15 million $43.5 million, and deposits would be $39.5 million. It would also include a $24 million trust department. The consolidation was subject to approval by stockholders and the comptroller of the currency. The name for the new bank would be selected at a later date.
In May 1968, directors announced the election of two vice presidents, Howard W. Riley, Danville, and Kenneth R. Brungard of Muncy, a native of Beach Creek. Riley, a life-long resident of Danville, was associated with the Danville National since 1941, formerly serving as assistant and later head cashier. A graduate of the American Institute of Banking, Riley was married and the father of a son and daughter. Brungard graduated from Hughesville High School and received a bachelor's degree from Lycoming College, Williamsport. He was formerly president of the Citizens National Bank in Muncy.
On September 17, 1968, shareholders of the Danville National approved the consolidation. In a similar meeting, shareholders of the Williamsport bank took the same action. The name of the new bank would be Fidelity National Bank of Pennsylvania. It was hoped that the merger would be affected by November 1st. No changes in personnel or policy would be made. The consolidation was to provide increased resources for both banks to enable them to do a better job in their communities. On November 1, 1968, the merger of the Danville National Bank and the first National Bank of Williamsport went into effect. The officers were A. Dean Swift, Jr., chairman of the board; Grier Y. Boedker, president; John C. Brachbill, vice president and senior trust officer.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The Danville National Bank, Danville, PA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $5,450,180 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 649,974 notes (545,644 large size and 104,330 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments Original Series 3x1-2 1 - 4100 Original Series 4x5 1 - 5900 Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 2760 Original Series 50-100 1 - 290 Series 1875 4x5 1 - 1600 Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 5068 Series 1875 50-100 1 - 50 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 9950 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 12366 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 8000 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 4100 1902 Red Seal 50-100 1 - 234 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 16150 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 10700 1902 Date Back 50-100 1 - 320 1902 Date Back 3x50-100 1 - 400 1902 Plain Back 4x5 16151 - 49005 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 10701 - 32511 1902 Plain Back 3x50-100 401 - 604 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 7942 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 4294 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1086 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 14882 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 7572 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1944
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Edward Hurley Baldy, 1865-1890
- David Clark, 1891-1893
- Robert Michael Grove, 1894-1896
- William Jennison Baldy, 1897-1919
- Michael Grier Youngman, 1920-1935
Cashiers:
- David Clark, 1865-1890
- George McClellan Gearhart, 1891-1896
- Michael Grier Youngman, 1897-1919
- Frank Jameson, 1920-1934
- William Taylor Deeter, 1935-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Danville, PA, 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 Lancaster Examiner, Lancaster, PA, Wed., Apr. 5, 1848.
- The Sunbury Gazette, Sunbury, PA, Sat., Oct. 7, 1848.
- Lewisburg Chronicle, Lewisburg, PA, Wed., Apr. 25, 1849.
- The Sunbury Gazette, Sunbury, Pa, Fri., June 21, 1872.
- Montour American, Danville, PA, Thu., Jan. 15, 1903.
- The Morning Press, Bloomsburg, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1923.
- The Danville Morning News, Danville, PA, Tue., May 1, 1923.
- The Morning Press, Bloomsburg, PA, Tue., Nov. 20, 1923.
- Miltonian, Milton, PA, Thu., Nov. 22, 1923.
- The Danville Morning News, Danville, PA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1929.
- The Danville Morning News, Danville, PA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1935.
- The Morning Press, Bloomsburg, PA, Tue., Jan. 22, 1935.
- The Danville News, Danville, PA, Wed., Jan. 17, 1968.
- The Morning Press, Bloomsburg, PA, Sat., Jan. 20, 1968.
- The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, May 3, 1968.
- The Danville News, Danville, PA, Tue., Sep. 17, 1968.
- Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, Fri., Nov. 1, 1968.
- The Danville News, Danville, PA, Tue., Nov. 26, 1968.