National Bank, Battle Creek, MI (Charter 3314)
National Bank, Battle Creek, MI (Chartered 1885 - Liquidated 1905)
Town History
Battle Creek is a city in northwestern Calhoun County, Michigan, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 52,731. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Calhoun County. In 1860 the population was 3,509, growing to 45,573 by 1930.
Nicknamed "Cereal City", it is best known as the home of WK Kellogg Co. and the founding city of Post Consumer Brands.
Battle Creek had eight National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and seven of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
| Title | Charter | Open | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First National Bank of the City of Battle Creek | 1204 | 1865 | 1885 | Succeeded by Charter 3314 |
| The National Bank of Battle Creek | 3314 | 1885 | 1905 | Succeeded by Charter 7589 |
| The Old National Bank of Battle Creek | 7589 | 1905 | 1934 | Succeeded by Charter 14185 (no issue) |
| The City National Bank of Battle Creek | 11852 | 1920 | 1940 | Absorbed by the Michigan National Bank |
| Central National Bank of Battle Creek | 7013 | 1903 | 1933 | Succeeded by Charter 13858 |
| The Central National Bank at Battle Creek | 13858 | 1933 | 1947 | Absorbed by the Michigan National Bank |
| The Merchants National Bank of Battle Creek | 3896 | 1888 | 1895 | Succeeded by Merchants Savings Bank |
| The Security National Bank (no issue) | 14185 | 1934 | 1990 | Merged with Comerica Bank N.A. |
Bank History
- Organized February 13, 1885
- Chartered February 26, 1885
- Succeeded 1205 (First NB of the City of Battle Creek, MI)
- Liquidated February 13, 1905
- Succeeded by 7589 (Old NB/Old-Merchants NB & TC, Battle Creek, MI)
In 1851, Loyal C. Kellogg determined that an Exchange Office was needed in Battle Creek and opened his little private bank. This institution weathered 50 years until 1863, then formed into a stock organization and in 1865, incorporated as The First National Bank and reincorporated as required by law as The National Bank of Battle Creek in 1885.[3]
In January 1901, Hon. Edwin C. Nichols, president of the Nichols & Shepard Company, the great threshing machine concern of Battle Creek, declined the position of president of the new state tax commission. He was offered the appointment by Governor Bliss.[4] He was a director of the Detroit Trust Company[5] and president of the National Bank of Battle Creek.
In February 1903, the bank had capital $150,000, surplus and profits $71,839.64, and deposits $1,731,154.65. The directors were Edwin C. Nichols, F.P. Boughton, J.J. Titus, Charles Austin, F.G. Shepard, C.C. Beach, and Wm. J. Smith. The officers were Edwin C. Nichols, president; Charles Austin, vice president; F.P. Boughton, cashier; and L.J. Karcher, assistant cashier.[6]
Hon. V.P. Collier of Battle Creek died the morning of June 28, 1898. He was president of the First National Bank and ex-state treasurer of Michigan. Deceased was one of the oldest pioneers of this section and was one of the most prominent politicians of the state, having natural ability as a political leader. His father moved from Ontario County, New York in 1838, and after stopping in this vicinity for several months bought land in Johnstown, Barry Co. where Collier served in every office of the township and was also for one term sheriff of the county. He subsequently came to Battle Creek and became wealthy by conducting a general store and later a hardware store. He was twice elected state senator from this district serving from 1864 to 1868. He was elected state treasurer twice serving from 1871 to 1874. He was regent of the university from 1878 to 1885. He was an expert financier and was president of the National Bank for twelve years. For the past four years he was totally blind.[7]
On February 1, 1905, William B. Ridgely, Comptroller of the Currency, authorized The Old National Bank of Battle Creek to commence business. The directors were Edwin C. Nichols, F.P. Boughton, C. Austin, C.C. Beach, S.J. Titus, Wm. J. Smith, and F.G. Shepard. The officers were Edwin C. Nichols, president; Charles Austin, vice president; F.P. Boughton, cashier; L.J. Karcher, assistant cashier; Arthur B. Williams, attorney; and William J. Smith, secretary of the board.[8]
Official Bank Title
1: The National Bank of Battle Creek, MI
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $563,450 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1885 and 1905. This consisted of a total of 88,384 notes (88,384 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 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 18045 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 4051
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1885 - 1905):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
- Scott Field, 1885-1887
- James Boughton, 1888-1897
- Frank Pardee Boughton, 1898-1903
- Alonzo ("Lonn") John Karcher, 1903-1903
- Frank Pardee Boughton, 1903-1904
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Battle Creek, MI, 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
- ↑ Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, Wed., Aug. 2, 1931.
- ↑ Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, Tue., Feb. 10, 1903.
- ↑ Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, Mon., Feb. 6, 1905.
- ↑ The Lansing Journal, Lansing, MI, Mon., Jan. 14, 1901.
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, Sun., Jan. 27, 1901.
- ↑ Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, Tue., Feb. 10, 1903.
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, Wed., June 29, 1898.
- ↑ Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, Mon., Feb. 6, 1905.