First National Bank (Bellaire, OH)

View Charter #1944 on SPMC View balance sheet

Episode Information

Episode UID
194401226
Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
19440 national
Charter Number
1944
Start Date
February 22, 1902
Location
Bellaire, Ohio (40.016, -80.742)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
b7cf4994e0edb9e4

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Full suspension, Books examined

Description

Bank closed under comptroller/examiner in 1902 and by 1905 is described as a wrecked bank, suggesting permanent failure.

Events (5)
1. March 1, 1872 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. February 22, 1902 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Fake stories/rumors triggered heavy withdrawals, paying out over $10,000 to small depositors.
Measures
Paid out funds to small depositors during withdrawals.
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, closing the bank.
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 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Judge Wanty... ruled adversely to the First National Bank of Bellaire, Ohio... the life insurance left by William Kinney, cashier of the wrecked First National Bank of Bellaire, ...wrecked First National Bank of Bellaire indicates failure or wind-up by this date.
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.