The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-03-14
NEW DIRECTORS ARE NAMED
Increased Capital Stock Has Been Paid
i'll and z. G. Simmons and A. Fl. Lance
Are Elected to the Added Places on
the Board Interesting Bank History.
(From Thursdays Daily.)

The First National Bank of Kenosha,
| tho oldest of the financial institutions
| in the city, and one of the Oldest OF
the national banks of the state, cele-
| brated the sixtieth anniversary OF its
founding today and the stockholders
| of the bank met to provide Tor an
increase in the number Of the men,
bers of the board of directors of
the institution, the increased capital
stock having been paid in. This in
crease in the members Of the board
Of directors was especially interesting
| to the people of the city as it marked
the return of the name of Simmons &
to the directorate of the bank. For
nearly thirty eight years the late ~
G. Simmons was president of the bank
but several years ago wishing to be
relieved Of some Of his business cares
just before the death Of Mr.. Simmons,
he retired from the presidency and at
| the same time from the directorate OF.
| the bank. At the election Of the new
directors today 2. G.. Simmons and A..
H. Lance, both connected with the
Simmons family, were named as the
added directors.
The history Of the First National
Bank is interesting to the people OF
| the city on account of the fact that it
has been the scene Of much Of the
financial activity Of the city since the
incorporation Of Kenosha. The city
was Incorporated in 1850 and two years
after when the name OF the city was
changed from Southport to kenoshs
| the bank now known as the First Ma
tional Bank was organized under the
proud title Of "The City Bank Of
| Kenosha.
| The first board Of directors was made
1up Of some Of the best known of the
pioneer residents of Southport and Ke
nosha county. Some Of the names APP
pearing on the early directorate of the
bank were Samuel Hale, FL. w. Hub
bard, Seth Doan, Alonzo Campbell
John V. Aver, H. B. Towslee, and G.
| G Davidson. Henry B. Towslee was
president Of the bank and i. G. Du
rant, cashier. The City Bank Of Ke
nosha was one of the most progressive
financial institutions in the state and
when in 1864 just as the civil war was
coming to a close the national bank
act was passed, this bank was one Of
the first in the country to enter the
national banking system. The City
| Bank Of Kenosha went under the con-
troll Of the national government Jan.
lei, 1864. 1T had capital stock Of
$4,000 and Thomas Pricture was the
first president. r. b. Towslee was
vice president, and e. G. Durant
cashier. The board Of directors was
made up of Thomas Pricture, r. B.
| Towslee, E. G. Brown, f. II. Head and
+. G.. Durant There were few
changes in the management Of the
bank after its first few years Of bust
ness. b. T. Aldrich succeeded Thomas
| Pricture as president of the bank in
-
1867 and in 1871 he was succeeded by
IL G. Simmons, who held the Office to
the time Of the election Of Charles G.
Brown, the present executive. The
list of cashiers of the bank included,
| E. G. Durant, g. A. Burbank, John I'll.
/ Vermilye, L. G. Merrill, Gilbert M
Simmons, Charles G. Brown and w.
I'll. Purneli.
At the time the bank went into the
national currency system it was assign
ed the number 1922 which number
lit still retains. AT the present time
there are only s: banks in the United
Estates with q lower number than the
/ Kenosha bank.
/ During the years that it has been in
| existence the bank has numbered
among its directors many of the most
prominent and influential men of Ke-
osha. In the list were such men as
IL G. Simmons, Edward Balm, Fred
erick Robinson, James FL. Howe and
/ Thomas b. Jefery, all whom left thei1
/ IMPRINT on the history of Kenosha. OF
/ the old list Of directors there still
remains George Yule, who has been
connected with the bank in an official
capacity for nearly twenty years. The
late q. G. Simmons served in the
lcapacity of president of the bank for
Imcre than thirty seven years Charles
Ie. Brown, the present president of the
bank, has been connected with it Of
icially for twenty-five years.
The First National Bank has always
been q progressive bank and has in
creased its capital stock as the de-
niands Of the city and county have
Igfown greater. Its business has grown
from a few thousand dollars until at
THE present time its assets aggregate
a