The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-29
CHANGES IN THE
 FIRST NATIONAL N. E. Barker Leaves to Accept Position With Chicago Bank HARDING NOW PRESIDENT MT. Barker Not Only Retains His Holdings In the First National
 Bank but Ills Move Brings
 New Capital Here.
HARDING NOW PRESIDENT

Mir. N. E. Barker has resigned the presidency of the First National Bank to accept the vice presidency of the Con- tinental National Bank of Chicago, and Vice President w. P. G. Harding has been elected to fill the vacancy.
 At a meeting of the board of directors of the First National Bank held yester- day, MT. Barker rendered his resigna- tion and announced his acceptance of the Chicago position. The Continental Ma tional bank has a capital of $9,OO0OOO, surplus of $3.000,000 and a line of deposits amounting to nearly $50.0O0 GOO. It is one of the strongest banks in the United States. and In Chicago there is only one ahead of 1t.
 Mir. Barker in rendering his resgna- tion as president of the First National, said to the board that the inducements held out to him by the Continental were such that he could not in justice to him self decline the offer. He would, however, retain his holdings in the First National and would remain a member of the board. His resignation was accepted with sincere regret but the board promptly elected MT. Harding president. Cashier J. H. Barr was then elected vice president and Assistant Cashier w. w. Crawford was elected cashier
 Loving Cup.
 In accepting MT. Bakers resignation the board of directors passed resolutions couched in terms of hearty appreciation of his services to the bank and presented him with magnificent loving cup as a token of affectionate regard. Mir William in which he paid MT. Barker feeling and eloquent tribute.
 The cup is the largest and handsomest even seen In Birmingham. It is very heavy and the artistic establishment Is all handwrought. It is on exhibition at F. W. Brombergs jewelry store. The in- scription follows:
 Presented to
 NELSON E. BARKER
 of the
 First National Bank
 of Birmingham, Ala, AS mark of their personal esteem and as a token of their appreciation of his eminent services as President
 of the Bank.
 Oct ', 1893, June 2S. 1902"
 While Mir. Barker leaves Birmingham he says he will never lose his interest in this city and will be frequent visitor here.
 The Armour interests and large rail- road interests are prominently identified wifi h tha al Mott r3or T as & result of Mir Barker's connection with that institution Mir. J. Odgen Ar incur. tho president of the Armour Com pany, and MT. P. A Valentine. vice pres ident became interested in the First Ma tional Bank of Birmingham. This means that the capital of the First National will he materially increased. It IS understood that 800 shares of new stock will be is- sued, and that the Chicago interests will pay s25o Q share for :t. This will bring tho capital stock up to S3OO.ooo ana the surplus up to $500o0O.
 MT. Barker Is only forty-f1ve years of age. but he has a national reputation and is regarded as one of the ablest and safest financiers in the country. The Continental bank has been trying for
 
 day or two ago new $2O0o,000 trust company in New York, asked him to take the presidency of It's institution. MT. Barker was born in New Haven, Conn.,. and had his first banking experi- ence in that city. While yet a young man he came south and in 1889 established the Chattanooga Savings Bank. He made' great success of that institution. and 1t now has a savings deposit of $1, ,000 900. He became president of the First Ma tional Bank on October 2, 1S93 when 1t had about half a. million of deposits, and leaves 1t with about four millions of de- posits.
 The New President.
 MT. Harding has been vice-president of the First National for six years and in that position he was MT. Barker's as- sistant and adviser. so that he is excep- tionaliy well equipped for the presidency. He ranks high as a banker and the same broad and wise policy that has character ized the bank under MT. Barker's admin istration will be continued under the new administration, He Is a native of this state and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. He has had splendid busi- ness training and Is a man of large, and at the same time conservative views. Vice-President Barr is a native of Ten nessee. but has lived in Birmingham since 1886. He Is banker by instinct and train Ing. and is one of the most popular men in this community.
 The new cashier. Mir. Crawford, Is also bank officer of large training. and great popularity. and when 1t comes to the board of directors there Is no strong CT or more representative board in any bank in the south. Thus 1t is seen that the First National Is in shape to push ahead and grow stronger and stronger. and serve well the business interests of this district in the future as 1t has in the past
 Storm In Chicago.