First National Bank, Alexander City, AL (Charter 7417)
First National Bank, Alexander City, AL (Chartered 1904 - Closed (Merger) 2011)
Town History
Alexander City, known to locals as "Alex City", is the largest city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, with a population of 14,843 as of the 2020 census. It has been the largest community in Tallapoosa County since 1910. It is known for Lake Martin with its 750 miles of wooded shoreline and 44,000 acres of water. Lake Martin stands on the Tallapoosa River and offers boating, swimming, fishing, golfing, and camping. Many neighborhoods and luxury homes are located on the lake. The population in 1900 was 3,822 growing to 8,077 by 1930.
The city's economy was traditionally based on the textile industry, but in recent times its economic base has become more diversified as textile jobs have gone to India.
Alexander City was incorporated in 1872 as Youngsville, after its founder James Young. In 1873, the Savannah and Memphis Railroad came to the city. The city was renamed in honor of the railroad's President Edward Porter Alexander, hero of the Battle of Gettysburg for the Confederate States.
On June 13, 1902, at 1 pm, a fire broke out in the Alexander City Machine shop and destroyed much of the town. At the time, Alexander City did not have a water system and all buildings, including the telegraph office, post office and three banks were burned.
Alexander City had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized September 27, 1904
- Chartered September 30, 1904
- Succeeded Citizens Bank of Alexander City
- Opened for business October 3, 1904
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Merged into USAmeriBank in Clearwater, FL, December 31, 2011
On May 29, 1900, it was announced that the new banking institution for Alexander City would be the Citizens' Bank. The officers were Benjamin Russell, Jr., president and Tom C. Russell, cashier, both of whom were members of the well-known mercantile establishment of B.F.C. Russell & Sons of Alexander City. The bank would open in the corner room of the Russell Building on Main Street. Work on the office and vault was begun last week and was expected to be completed in six weeks.[2] In November, B.F.C. Russell & Sons announced its going out of business sale. Beginning Tuesday, November 27, 1900, their large stock of hardware, cutlery, groceries, etc. would be offered at and below cost.[3] In December, B.F.C. Russell & Sons sold their mercantile business to Mr. L.M. Johnson, one of the leading young business men of Union Springs. Mr. Johnson took immediate charge of the business.[4]
On June 13, 1902, Fire broke out in the Alexander City Machine Company's shop at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. A stiff wind from the south spread the fire over the entire business portion of the city and in less that an hour every business house in the town was on fire. Three banks, both hotels, two livery stables and nine dwellings were totally destroyed. The Methodist Church, courthouse, and post office went up like tinder boxes. No people were killed, but the loss was estimated at from $400,000 - $600,000.[5] Alexander City was a thriving place with a cottonseed oil mill, a cotton mill, a knitting mill manufacturing ladies' cotton underwear, several cotton warehouses, electric light plant and other smaller industries were located there. In the aftermath much aid in the way of provisions and money was sent and Mayor Jack Nolan and a hard-working committee was working to distribute the same.[6]
On January 8, 1903, a fire was discovered in the home of Mr. Albert Cotton on north Railroad Street and fanned into fierce flames by a brisk wind from the north. It crossed the street consuming Coley's warehouse. By the dint of hard-work, the citizens saved Coley's big warehouse where many bales of cotton were stored and the big blaze was stopped at this point. The property loss was estimated at between $4,500 and $5,000, partly insured.[7]
On September 21, 1904, the comptroller of the currency approved the application of Benjamin Russell, J.S. Henderson, Bettie Russell, H.Z. McDonald, S.R. Thomas and others to organize the First National Bank of Alexander City with $35,000 capital.[8] On September 30th, the bank was authorized to begin business. Benjamin Russell was president and T.C. Russell was cashier.[9]
On February 1, 1911, the Montgomery and Chattanooga Railroad Company was incorporated in Montgomery. The company planned to build a railroad from Montgomery to Anniston, Alabama through one of the richest sections of the state. The company was capitalized at $50,000 to launch the corporation. Benjamin Russell, president of the First National bank of Alexander City was president of the railroad.[10] J.C. Haas was vice president and W.T. Robertson, secretary and treasurer, both of Montgomery. The new line would stop at Anniston, but it was planned to continue it to Chattanooga later.[11]
On Sunday, March 21, 1948, Thomas Commander Russell died in Alexander City. He was president of the First National Bank of Alexander City and for 40 years the town's mayor. Russell retired as mayor last hear. He helped to organize the Citizens Bank in 1900 and was made president of the First National Bank in 1941 following the death of his brother, Benjamin.[12] In May George W. Hulme, superintendent, Board of Education, resigned his position to accept the vice presidency of the First National Bank of Alexander City. Mr. Hulme had been Superintendent of Education in DeKalb County before entering the Navy during World War II. Principal P.G. Meyer of the Alexander City High School succeeded Mr. Hulme.[13]
Official Bank Title
1: The First National Bank of Alexander City, AL
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $1,195,870 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1904 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 148,436 notes (101,416 large size and 47,020 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 4x5 1 - 1550 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 1260 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 4450 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 3500 1902 Plain Back 4x5 4451 - 13273 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 3501 - 9271 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 3104 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1738 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 464 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 9076 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 4776 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1332
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1904 - 1935):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Alexander City, AL, 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 Alexander City Outlook, Alexander City, AL, Fri., Dec. 14, 1900.
- ↑ The Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL, Tue., May 29, 1900.
- ↑ The Alexander City Outlook, Alexander City, AL, Fri., Dec. 7, 1900.
- ↑ The Alexander City Outlook, Alexander City, AL, Fri., Dec. 21, 1900.
- ↑ Nashville Banner, Nashville, TN, Sat., June 14, 1902.
- ↑ Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, TN, Mon., June 16, 1902.
- ↑ The Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL, Thu., Jan. 8, 1903.
- ↑ Birmingham Post-Herald, Birmingham, AL, Thu., Sep. 22, 1904.
- ↑ Birmingham Post-Herald, Birmingham, AL, Sat., Oct. 1, 1904.
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, GA, Wed., Feb. 1, 1911.
- ↑ The Chattanooga News, Chattanooga, TN, Thu., Feb. 2, 1911.
- ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Mon., Mar. 22, 1948.
- ↑ The Alexander City Outlook, Alexander City, AL, Fri., May 14, 1948.