First National Bank, Zelienople, PA (Charter 6141)

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Postcard of the First National Bank of Zelienople, Pennsylvania ca1920s.
Postcard of the First National Bank of Zelienople, Pennsylvania ca1920s. The bank was built in 1906. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

First National Bank, Zelienople, PA (Chartered 1902 - Liquidated 1934)

Town History

Modern view of the First National Bank Building on Main Street, Zelienopolis, Pennsylvania. The plaque, expanded and inset at bottom left shows 1906.
Modern view of the First National Bank Building on Main Street, Zelienopolis, Pennsylvania. The plaque, expanded and inset at bottom left shows 1906. Courtesy Google Maps

Zelienople is a borough in southwestern Butler County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles north of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,812 at the 2010 census.  It is situated on the south bank of Connoquenessing Creek, in an area that is rich with coal and iron ore. The borough is bordered by Jackson Township on the north, southeast, and south, and by the borough of Harmony on the northeast. The western border of Zelienople is the Beaver County line.

Zelienople was named for the eldest daughter of Baron Dettmar Basse (1762–1836), whose chosen name was Zelie (her given name was Fredericka) which she named herself after her favorite doll.  Baron Basse arrived in 1802 from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and purchased a tract of 10,000 acres of land in Butler and Beaver counties.  He proceeded to lay out a village and build his own private residence, a three-story castle, complete with towers, turrets and battlements, named "The Bassenheim", which was destroyed by fire on July 29, 1841. At the time, Zelie was betrothed to Philip Louis Passavant, and was still in Germany. Extensive preparations were made by Baron Basse to establish the new home and town in America and prepare it for his daughter's arrival in September 1807.

Baron Basse sold 5,000 acres of his land to George Rapp, a Bavarian pietist religious leader, who founded the village of Harmony. Baron Basse came to be known as "Dr. Muller". Whether the title of "Doctor" was given to him due to a knowledge of medicine, or conferred upon him as a degree, is unknown. He was regarded as an intelligent man, and during the Napoleonic era represented Frankfurt as an ambassador to Paris. Basse returned to Germany in 1818, leaving his business to his son-in-law, Philipp Passavant.

Philip Passavant opened the first store in 1807, and managed it for 41 years, until he gave it to his son, C. S. Passavant. By 1826, there were fifty houses in Zelienople, and three churches. The population in 1870 was 387, and in 1890, it had grown to 639. In 1879, the first passenger train arrived to the town, substantially increasing the growth and commerce. In 1880, the American Union Telegraph Company established an office in Zelienople. The Federalists appointed Andrew McClure, a local tavern-keeper, as the first postmaster of Zelienople in the first decade of 1800. Christian Buhl was named the first justice of the peace in 1840.

Early Zelienople commerce supported the local agriculture community, as there was no viable means of transportation. In 1840 Zelienople was incorporated as a borough. In 1878 a railroad was built through Zelienople. Zelienople was linked to Ellwood City, Evans City and Pittsburgh in 1908 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, an interurban trolley line. The line closed on 15 June 1931, and the trolleys were replaced by buses. Zelienople is also known for its historical Eichholtz Building. The Eichholtz family played a historical and transformational role in Zelienople.

Zelienople had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and two of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

  • Organized Jan 27, 1902
  • Chartered Feb 28, 1902
  • Liquidated Aug 17, 1934
  • Succeeded by 14215 (Union National Bank (No Issue), Zelienople, PA)

Application was made for The First National Bank in 1901 with Ira H. Ziegler, C.J.E. Strohecker, George Meeder, A.H. Meeder, J.G. Lamberton, H.E. Seaton as directors. In 1902, the Comptroller of the Currency authorized the First National Bank of Zelienople to commence business on $50,000 capital and with the following officers:  G.D. Swain, President; William Gelbach, Cashier.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The First National Bank of Zelienople, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Red Seal $10 bank note with pen signatures of W.H. Gelbach, Cashier and G.D. Swain, President.
1902 Red Seal $10 serial number 1 bank note with pen signatures of W.H. Gelbach, Cashier and G.D. Swain, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1929 Type 1 $20 bank note with printed signatures of H.B. Wise, Cashier and Henry Kloffensteen, President
1929 Type 1 $20 bank note with printed signatures of H.B. Wise, Cashier and Henry Kloffensteen, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com

A total of $783,380 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1902 and 1934. This consisted of a total of 62,975 notes (53,856 large size and 9,119 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 - 2550
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 3700
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 3701 - 6367 Plate dated 1902
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 4547 Plate dated 1922
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1110
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 286
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 560
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 183

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

First National Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1902 - 1934):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

Wiki Links

Sources

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