Harris National Bank/American NB, Terrell, TX (Charter 4990)

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American National Bank of Terrell, Texas, ca1910.[1]

Harris National Bank/American NB, Terrell, TX (Chartered 1895 - Closed (Merger) 1994)

Town History

American National Bank of Texas building
American National Bank of Texas building at 102 W. Moore Avenue, Terrell, Texas, ca2022. To the right is the old First National Bank building. Courtesy of Google Maps

Terrell is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Kaufman County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,465. In 1890 the population was 2,988, growing to 8,795 by 1930. Terrell is located about 32 miles east of Dallas.

Terrell developed as a railroad town, beginning in 1873 with the construction of the Texas and Pacific Railroad line. The town was named for Robert A. Terrell, a pioneer European-American settler whose farm lay on its western edge. He built an octagonal house on his property, called "Round House", to provide better defense against attacks by Native Americans. His house was later fitted with the first glass windows in the county. The community was incorporated in 1875. The first automobile appeared in 1899.

The Terrell Military College was established in Terrell, operating until after World War II. Its campus was sited on part of the former Terrell farm and incorporated his historic Round House. In 1949, the Southern Bible Institute, based in Dallas and affiliated with the Churches of Christ, bought the military college property and transferred their operations here, renaming their institution Southwestern Christian College. It is a private, historically black college. The Round House has been preserved on campus, and is one of 20 such structures in the nation.

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

Bank History

An 1875 advertisement for Waters, Bivins & Corley
An 1875 advertisement for Waters, Bivins & Corley of Terrell, Texas.[2]

In March 1883, Childress & Harris, successors to B.M. Childress & Bros., transacted a general banking business with paid up capital of $75,000. James Harris was president; W.T. Childress, vice president; and A.D. Childress, cashier.[3]

On March 23, 1885, the Childress-Harris bank changed hands, Jim Harris buying out the other partners. It was rumored that the Childress Brothers would start a national bank soon.[4] 

On December 11, 1885, there was a large crowd at the opera house to witness the wonderful sleight-of-hand performance. The distribution of presents to the ticket holders at the close was a new feature. Col. Franks, mayor of Terrell, received a common wooden washboard; Col. Jim Harris, bank president, a kit of mackerel; A.A. Laroe, a bucket of lard; and Joe Chisholm, one of the most fastidious young men, a ham of bacon and set of China.[5]

On January 3, 1887, the Harris Bank bought out the Bivens & Corley Bank, together with their real estate. This left only one bank in the city.[6] Waters, Bivins & Corley Bank opened November 22, 1875.

The morning of December 29, 1891, a serious fire occurred on Moore Avenue around 2:30 o'clock. The fire originated in the Gray & Gable's drug store which was almost a total loss except the barrels of liquors, oils, etc., in the storeroom. The building and stock of goods and jewelry owned by S.L. Day were a total loss. The furniture and building of the Harris Bank was damaged to the amount of a few hundred dollars, all covered by insurance. The Harris Bank was situated between the drug store on the east and the store of Jarvis McMorris & Co. on the west.[7] 

According to the New York Herald, Terrell, Texas was a small inland town, but "Uncle Jim Harris" was one of those people who would rather be a big toad in a small puddle than a small toad in a large pond. He was considered immensely rich, a large hotel, several brick blocks and a real, "live," unincumbered bank being on his tax roll. The bank was the apple of the old man's eye and was named simply, but unequivocally for himself--"Jim Harris' Bank." An unprominent citizen of Terrell started out with a petition for the appointment of himself as postmaster under the coming Democratic administration. Finding Uncle Jim on the street, Mr. Candidate presented his petition asking the banker to sign.  "Oh, go 'long," chaffed the old man, "I don't know nothin' about your qualifications as a postmaster.  Besides, you're too early bird, the worms ain't up themselves yet." "But Colonel," the candidate insisted, "I'd like you to look over my list. I have the indorsement of some of the leading citizens of the city."  Uncle Jim took the paper, put on his glasses and read, "J.B. Harris, Jr., cashier, Jim Harris Bank; B.L. Gill, teller, Jim Harris Bank; John Jones, auditor, Jim Harris Bank."  Taking his pencil he scrawled with a flourish "Jim Harris, owner of Jim Harris' Bank." This appeared in The Brownsville Herald in 1892.[8]

On March 15, 1895, the comptroller of the currency authorized the organization of the Harris National Bank of Terrell, Texas.[9] On March 19th, the Harris National Bank organized with the election of the following directors: J.H. Muckleroy, John B. Harris, J.H. Corley, R.L. Warren, H.H. Hickok, J.E. McMorries, Oscar Price, A.J. Childress, and J.S. Grinnan. The officers were: J.H. Muckleroy, president; Oscar Price, vice president; Walter Allen, cashier; Tom Corley, assistant cashier and bookkeeper. The capital stock was $100,000 with 50% paid in. There were 33 stockholders.[10] The bank was the successor to the individual bank so long run by Colonel Jim Harris.[11]

On March 20th, the Harris National Bank organized with the election of the following directors: J.H. Muckleroy, John B. Harris, J.H. Corley, R.L. warren, H.H. Hickok, J.E. McMorries, Oscar Price, A.J. Childress, and J.S. Grinnan. The officers were: J.H. Muckleroy, president; Oscar Price, vice president; Walter Allen, cashier; Tom Corley, assistant cashier and bookkeeper. The capital stock was $100,000 with 50% paid in. There were 33 stockholders.[12]

On Tuesday, January 11, 1910, the stockholders of the American National Bank elected E.H.R. Green, J.H. Corley, J.H. McMorries, T.E. Corley, W.P. Allen, D.M. Purvine, R. Jarvis, Oscar Price and R.L. Warren directors.[13] At the end of 1910, E.H.R. Green returned to New York at the request of his mother, Hetty. Despite returning to New York, Green maintained close ties with friends in Texas and claimed it as home for tax purposes. Two friends of particular note were Tom Corley, vice president, and W.P. Allen, cashier of the American National Bank. There are tales of Green stepping in to save a couple of Texas banks experiencing runs. Colonel Edward H.R. Green, Collector Extraordinaire and the Story of the Number 1 Series of 1929 Sheets, Chapter G7, Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes has additional information about Col. Green and his mother, Hetty Green, the "Witch of Wall Street."

On Monday, February 24, 1930, the American National Bank and the First National Bank of Terrell were merged. Business opened on Tuesday, February 25th as the American National Bank with combined assets making it one of the strongest in East Texas. The capital surplus and profits were $466,192.39 with deposits of $2,741,998.91.[14] On April 19th, the voluntary liquidation of the First National Bank of Terrel was announced by the comptroller of the currency. The First National had an authorized capital of $200,000.[15]

On August 10, 1936, Mrs. Mabel H. Green, widow of the late Colonel E.H.R. Green was appointed permanent administratrix of the Greet estate estimated at $80 million. No protest against the appointment was filed before County Judge Ben Brook and the hearing took only about 10 minutes. Mrs. Green was present in the sweltering little court room. Walter Allen, president of the American National Bank at Terrell and a personal friend of the Green family was the only witness. He testified he had known Colonel Green since he came to Texas in 1893 and that Colonel Green had always considered Kaufman County his legal residence, paying his poll taxes there until he became exempt at the age of 60 years. In answer to a question as to whether Colonel Green ever abandoned his Texas residence, the banker replied, "I think not."[16]

In July 1989, Independent Bank-East, N.A. of Rockwall with $36.9 million in assets, was assumed in a transfer of insured deposits by American National Bank of Terrell. The Rockwall bank's three offices reopened on Monday, July 3rd, as branches of the Terrell bank. The failure brought the number of Texas banks closed that year to 68 and 101 nationwide.[17]

In April 1990, First State Bank of Crandall was closed by state regulators after loan losses depleted its capital. Regulators blamed the failure of the bank on poor loan underwriting standards, inadequate collateral and ineffective loan servicing. American National Bank of Terrell assumed the Crandall bank's $15.7 million in deposits and purchased $16 million in assets at a discount of about $3.5 million. With the recent closing, 47 banks had failed nationally since that start of the year, 29 of them in Texas.[18]

  • 06/30/1989 Acquired Independent Bank - East, National Association (FDIC #21155) in Rockwall, TX.
  • 04/19/1990 Acquired First State Bank of Crandall (FDIC #22147) in Crandall, TX.
  • 09/19/1994 Acquires First National Bank of Allen, TX.
  • 09/19/1994 Merged and became part of American National Bank of Terrell (FDIC #23474) in Terrell, TX.
  • 02/01/1995 Changed Institution Name to The American National Bank of Texas.

In October 2017, application was made to the comptroller of the currency, Southern District Office, Dallas, for consent to merge First State Bank of Mesquite, Texas, into the American National Bank of Texas to be operated as a branch office of ANB upon consummation of the merger.[19]

American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX) is an independently owned community bank with 28 branches in North Texas, providing personal and business banking services. Founded in 1875, ANBTX reports over $6.1 billion in total assets, and ranks as the 16th largest bank based in Texas, according to size of total assets as of December 31, 2023. Headquartered in Terrell, Texas, the bank has locations in Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Van Zandt counties. Robert A. Hulsey has been president and CEO of ANBTX since 1989.

Official Bank Titles

1: The Harris National Bank of Terrell, TX

2: The American National Bank of Terrell, TX (1/17/1903)

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $50-$100 proof sheet
1882 Brown Back $50-$100 proof sheet approved July 9, 1898. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of W.P. Allen, Cashier and Jno. H. Corley, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $10 bank note
1902 Plain Back $10 bank note with stamped signatures of Jno. R. Hamilton, Cashier and W.P. Allen, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 2 $10 bank note
1929 Type 2 $10 bank note with printed signatures of Jno. R. Hamilton, Cashier and W.P. Allen, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $3,666,270 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1895 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 293,434 notes (230,638 large size and 62,796 small size notes).

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

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 3463
1: 1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 179
2: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 5500
2: 1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 11606
2: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 12600
2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 12601 - 37001
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 6122
2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1710
2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 12768
2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 3036

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1895 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Terrell, TX, 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
  1. ↑ Kaufman, Texas:  The County of Prosperity. Published by The Kaufman County Exhibit Association, 1910. Accessed Nov. 24, 2024 from the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.
  2. ↑ The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Thu., Apr. 22, 1875.
  3. ↑ The Dallas Daily Herald, Dallas, TX, Sun., Mar. 25, 1883.
  4. ↑ The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Tue., Mar. 24, 1885.
  5. ↑ Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Sat., Dec. 12, 1885.
  6. ↑ Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Tue., Jan. 4, 1887.
  7. ↑ Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX, Wed., Dec. 30, 1891.
  8. ↑ The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, TX, Thu., Oct. 20, 1892.
  9. ↑ El Paso Times, El Paso, TX, Sat., Mar. 16, 1895.
  10. ↑ Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Wed., Mar. 20, 1896.
  11. ↑ Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Sun., Mar. 31, 1895.
  12. ↑ Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Wed., Mar. 20, 1896.
  13. ↑ The Fort Worth Record and Register, Fort Worth, TX, Thu., Jan. 13, 1910.
  14. ↑ The Texas Mesquiter, Mesquite, TX, Fri., Feb. 28, 1930.
  15. ↑ Fort Worth Record-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Sat., Apr. 19, 1930.
  16. ↑ Victoria Advocate, Victoria, TX, Mon., Aug. 10, 1936.
  17. ↑ San Angelo Standard-Times, San Angelo, TX, Sat., July 1, 1989.
  18. ↑ Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX, Fri., Apr. 20, 1990.
  19. ↑ The Mesquite News, Mesquite, TX, Thu., Oct. 26, 2017.
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