California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


FIRST NATIONAL BANK, FORT BRAGG.� From "the standpoint of 
industrial achievement and educational and commercial enterprise Fort Bragg 
boasts many desirable features. Perhaps none of these is more worthy of men- 
tion as a substantial acquisition to the city's list of concerns than the First 
National Bank, which with its subsidiary institution, the First Bank of Sav- 
ings, shows a combined capital and surplus of $95,000, with deposits aggre- 
gating $450,000. The history of this prosperous institution dates back to a 
small beginning in October, 1891, when the Bank of Fort Bragg was organ- 
ized as a state institution, under the laws of California, with a paid-in capital 
of $26,000, and with the following officers : Calvin Stewart, president : T. L. 
Johnson, vice-president; H. A. Weller, cashier, all of Fort Bragg; Thomas 
Pollard, E. J. Dodge and James Hunter, all of San Francisco, being asso- 
ciated as directors in the management of the concern. A small building on the 
corner of Redwood avenue and Main street was secured as the first headquar- 
ters of the new institution and it was occupied until 1904, when the new bank 
block was completed, one block north of the former location on Main street. 
A change from a state to a national institution brought a corresponding 
change in the name, which since January 10, 1910, has been the First National 
Bank of Fort Bragg. At that time the following were chosen officers : H. A. 
Weller, president ; W. P. Plummer, vice-president ; and J, E. Weller, cashier. 
In January of 1912 W. P. Plummer was chosen president ; J. E. Weller, vice- 
president and C. R. Weller, cashier. The death of Mr. Plummer in February, 
1912, caused a change in the official management, J. E. Weller being then 
promoted to the presidency, while L. Barnard became vice-president and 
C, R. Weller retained as cashier, and these still continue at the head of the 
institution, being aided in its management by C. F. Hunt, L. J. Scooffy and 
George Golden as directors. At the time of changing from a state to a national 
institution, the First Bank of Savings was established as an affiliating concern, 
with a capital of $25,000 and the following officers : L. Barnard, president ; 
George Golden, vice-president ; J. E. Weller, cashier ; C. W. Broback and F. 
Windlinx, directors. The policy of both institutions has been sane, con- 
servative and sagacious. Speculations of all kinds have been frowned upon, 
but progressive business concerns have been aided and in this way the bank 
has not only had a steady growth, but in addition has built up a reputation 
as one of the substantial financial concerns of Mendocino county.