Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Banks 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

BANKS.

   To I. G. Wickersham is due the credit of establishing the first bank in the
county of Sonoma. Mr. Wickersham came to Petaluma in 1853. In 1855 he was
elected district attorney, and served in that position to the satisfaction of
his constituents. He foresaw that the growing city, Petaluma, needed and would
support a commercial bank, and in February, 1865, put this idea into practical
opperation,—opening, on the corner of Main and Washington streets, the
banking-house of I. G. Wickersham & Co. The result of this experiment proved
that Mr. Wickersham was correct in his judgment,—the business increased every
year, and in October, 1874, it was changed to the First National Bank of
Petaluma, with a full paid-up capital of two hundred thousand dollars. The
business of the new bank was commenced January 1, 1875,—I. G. Wickersham,
president; H. H. Atwater, cashier. The trustees are the president and cashier
above named, Jesse C. Wickersham, P. B. Hewlitt and H. L. Duvis. The bank owns
the building in which the business is carried on; it is conveniently located on
the leading business street of the city. It is elegantly furnished, and well
arranged for the prompt dispatch of business.

   THE BANK OF SONOMA COUNTY was organized in July, 1866. William Hill was the
first president, and has held that position to this date. E. Sprague was the
first cashier; he was succeeded by John S. Van Doren, who has served as cashier
continuously since. The bank was organized with a capital stock of one hundred
thousand dollars, which was increased in January, 1877, to three hundred
thousand dollars. The bank building is on the northwest corner of Main and
Washington streets. It was built in 1873 at a cost of almost twenty-two thousand
dollars. The directors are E. Newburg, E. Denman, James Fowler, Warren Dutton
and William Hill.

   PETALUMA SAVINGS BANK.—The capital stock of this bank is one hundred thousand
dollars; it was organized in 1872. The first president was J. M. Bowles; he was
succeeded by H. T. Fairbanks in 1S73. Mr. Fairbanks has held the position
continuously up to this time. The first cashier was O. V. Walker; the present is
William B. Haskell. The directors are J. M. Bowles, B. Haskell, H. T. Fairbanks,
F. T. Maynard, B. F. Tuttle, S. D. Towne, J. H. Crane, A. P. Whitney and John
Moffet. The bank building is on Main street, opposite the American Hotel. It
cost, with vaults and furniture complete, about ten thousand dollars.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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