The
First National of Sharon,
one of the oldest and most reliable banks of western Pennsylvania, was
founded in 1868, John J. Spearman, the iron
manufacturer of more than sixty years standing and one of the most
influential men in this part of the state, having been one of its
incorporators and its president since January, 1872. There was but one
other incumbent of that office, George Prather,
the first president, who died in the latter part of 1871. The first
vice-president was James Westerman and the
first cashier, J. T. Wilson. Besides Mr.
Spearman, following are the present [1909] officers of the bank: Norman
Hall, vice-president; A. S. Service,
cashier, and W. F. Porter, assistant
cashier; directors, J. J. Spearman, Norman Hall,
Irvine J. Hyde, David Adams, A. S. Service, J. C. Chaplin and William
Flinn. In 1875 the bank erected an excellent building on State
street, which, with alterations and improvements to conform to modern
requirements, is still occupied. By the late eighties the books of the
concern showed a surplus of $100,000 and deposits of $500,000, twenty
years after, or in 1908, these items having been replaced by $160,000
and $1,048,000, respectively. The business quarters of the First
National Bank of Sharon are models of convenience and comfort, its
vaults being among the most complete in western Pennsylvania, out side
of Pittsburg. Its savings department is well organized, and it has also
a completely equipped foreign department. Among its specialties, which
have met with much favor, are the issuance of travelers’ checks,
available in any part of the world, and allowing the privileges of a
personal checking account, even by those who are not in business.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, page 227
Places
First National Bank of Sharon
