14851. First National Bank (Bellaire, OH)

View Charter #1944 on SPMC

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Unsure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
1944
Charter Number
1944
Start Date
February 22, 1902
Location
Bellaire, Ohio (40.016, -80.742)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
5801d3694886dde2

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Full suspension, Books examined

Description

Article (Feb 26, 1902) reports a run beginning the prior Saturday (Feb 22, 1902) caused by fake stories and that the bank closed its doors with the Comptroller appointing an examiner (government action) on Feb 25, 1902. The paper says it is believed the bank is solvent and expects to resume, but no firm reopening date is provided. A separate 1905 article refers to the wrecked First National Bank of Bellaire in litigation, but gives no clear date of permanent closure or receivership in these snippets, so reopening vs permanent closure is uncertain.

Events (5)
1. March 1, 1872 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. February 22, 1902 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Run began because of fake stories (unfounded rumors) that prompted heavy withdrawals.
Measures
Paid out over $10,000 to small depositors by Monday evening.
Newspaper Excerpt
The run began last Saturday because, it is alleged, of fake stories, and by Monday evening they had paid out over $10,000 to small depositors.
Source
newspapers
3. February 25, 1902 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Comptroller of the Currency appointed an examiner and took charge after the run; bank closed its doors.
Newspaper Excerpt
The First National bank ... closed its doors yesterday morning. The comptroller of the currency has put J. W. Delay, bank examiner, in charge.
Source
newspapers
4. June 12, 1905 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Judge Wanty ... ruled adversely to the First National Bank of Bellaire, Ohio ... cashier of the wrecked First National Bank of Bellaire, ... Mrs. Kinney was declared a bankrupt thirty days before her husband's death.
Source
newspapers
5. January 2, 1934 Voluntary Liquidation
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. February 26, 1902 West Virginia Daily Oil Review Sistersville, WV
Article from West Virginia Daily Oil Review, February 26, 1902

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Article Text

THE BELMONT BANK CLOSED. Examiner, Appointed by Comptroller, Takes Charge of Institution-Expect to Resume. Bellaire. O., Feb. 26.-The First National bank, of Beimont, closed its doors yesterday morning. The comptroller of the currency has put J. W. Delay, bank examiner, in charge. The run began last Saturday because, it is alleged, of fake stories, and by Monday evening they had paid out over $10,000 to small depositors. It is believed that the trouble will be straightened out, as the bank is entirely solvent.

2. June 12, 1905 Evening Star Washington, DC
Article from Evening Star, June 12, 1905

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Article Text

# Court Decided Against Widow. Judve Wanty, in the United States court at Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, ruled adversely to the First National Bank of Bellaire, Ohio, and the National Exchange Bank of Wheeling, W. Va., which sought to have $20,000 life insurance left by William Kinney, cashier of the wrecked First National Bank of Bellaire, made a part of the widow's estate. Mrs. Kinney was declared a bankrupt thirty days before her husband's death. Judge Wanty said the life insurance policies could not be held to be a part of her estate for the reason that the cash surrender value was made payable to Mr. Kinney, and the policy was a thing which she could have sold or assigned to any one at the time she was declared a bankrupt.