The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-05-12
MER CHANTS MA TI0NAI
BANK is Gel EBRATlNG
ITS SEMI CENTENNIAL
Oldest Local Financial Insti-
tuition Has a Very
Proud Career.
HISTORY OF THE BANK
Is One of Interest and Shows
1t Has Ever Had Very
Strong Backing.

Ending a half cen.ury's proud rec
ord, the Merchants National Bank Mt
tinsly celebrated its semi-centennial
saturday. Huge bouquets of flowers
we're slatlcncd In various portions of
the elegant banking rooms With pref
" effcc; and the reception appoint
ments were perfect and most pleas
Ing.
Preparatory TO the event the bank
officers had printed aad gent cut a
beautiful and costly announcement in
bccl1c; form, highly Illustrated show
ing the exterior and Interior OF the
bank building and containing a brief
historical sketch of the Institution.
The booklet is entitled, Before Lin
coin Was PRESIDENT signifying that
he banks natal day was before that
important epoch In the nations his
tory. j. brief historical sketch Of the
hank is as follows: II
Banks beginning.
The Merchants National Bank was
first organized May 4, 1860. as a
branch Of the Merchants and aIechan-
les Bank OF Wheeling. Nathan Con-,
in whose dwelling house 1t was or
ganlzed, was Its first president. The
directors were Nathan Goff. Robert
Johnson. Aaron CrIss, Cyrus Ross,
Lloyd Lowndes. W. p. Con and Bur-
ton Despard. Its first cashier was the
late Luther Raymond, who died CEN
;enarian after thirty-four years of
continuous and useful service as the
banks cashier.
August s, 1866 the bank was reor-
ganized. independently OF the Wheel
Ing Bank and given Its present name.
The stockholders at that time,
Nathan Goff, Lloyd Lowndes, Waldo
p. Golf. Cyrus Ross, l.. L. Stealey and
John Irwin. were elected directors and
Mr.. Nathan Goff was again elected
president and remained in that posi-
ton until his death in the year 1885.
He was succeeded by his nephew,
General Nathan Con-. whose incum-
bency ended in 1899, when he be-
cane United States judge
Mr.. Lowndcs President.
Judge Golf was succeeded as presi-
dent by Mr.. Richard T. Lowndes, who
was elected April 90, 1892, and who
has served in that capacity from that
date to the present one. Mr.. Lowndes
takes keen and active interest in
the conduct of the banks business.
In 1895 an event long looked for
took place when the bank was moved
into its present home at the corner
Of Third and Main streets. This
structure is regarded by many bank
ers and architects as model build
Ing. 1t is two stories in height and
constructed of Lake Superior red
stone and pressed brick.
Tic New Building.
The design is Romanesque. Huge
doors of solid bronze guard the main
entrance and marble partition. sur
mounted by a solid bronze screen
separates the banking room from the
prbllc lobby. The furniture is solit
mahogany throughout.
The three large vaults OF the bank
rest on soiiu foek AouiiAa e ion CIV
are lined with heavy. burglar-prool
steel. These vaults contain besides
the regular deposits and vaiuables Of
the bank, private safe deposit oexe:
for the use of the regular patrons.
The building was designed to give
maximum convenience to those II
serves.
The late Col. Luther Raymond, the
first cashier of the bank, was succeed
ed January, 1895, by Maj. Lee Hay
m0nd.