Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FOWLER.� No town in California is 
more fortunate than Fowler in the character and caliber of the men entrusted 
with its financial interests, as will be seen alone from the history of the First 
National Bank which was organized on August 25. 1904. Another bank 
was organized at Fowler in January, 1913, .having also been created under 
the Federal laws, and that was called the Fowler National Bank, an insti- 
tution that built the beautiful two-story brick building occupied by the First 
National since 1913. 

In 1914 there was a merger of the two banks mentioned, an achievement 
made possible by the purchase of the stock in the First National Bank by 
the Fowler National, whose interests were thereupon transferred to the First 
National Bank, which has ever since occupied the banking offices and con- 
tinued a general banking business under the corporate name of the First 
National Bank. 

It is a solid financial institution, as may be seen by the examination of 
any of its recent official reports. On December 31, 1917, for example, it had 
for its resources loans and discounts to the amount of $337,580.46; United 
States bonds worth $96,106; municipal and other bonds totalling $59,876.67; 
$1,800 worth of Federal Reserve Bank stock; banking house and fixtures 
worth $27,700 ; $500 in other real estate ; a five per cent, fund amounting to 
$2,500; and $162,855.82 in cash and due from other banks. Its liabilities are 
included in a capital stock of $50,000; a surplus fund of $10,000; undivided 
profits to the amount of $5,843.44; a dividend (No. 14) of $5,000; a circula- 
tion of $50,000, and deposits to the amount of $568,075.31, the debits and 
credits balancing at the sum of $688,918.75. The bank pays four per cent, 
interest on' time deposits, and rents its safe deposit boxes at $2, $3 and $5 
per year. 

The officers of this institution for 1917 were: President, Fred Nelson; 
Vice-president, C. V. Peterson; Cashier, L. J. Harriman ; Assistant Cashier] 
R. E. Giffen. Directors, Fred Nelson, C. V. Peterson, L. J. Harriman, J. H. 
Weinberg, C. A. Rigby. and H. W. Wrightson. Among the bank's stock- 
holders are many wealthy men of Fowler and Fresno County, and these, 
with the officers, endeavor in every way to further the best interests of the 
bank's patrons.