David M. Peterson Biography Hancock County, WV ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** Submitted by Valerie F. Crook The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 272 Hancock County DAVID M. PETERSON. A business experience covering a number of years is honorable or otherwise, according to its nature, but in either case it develops capacity and broadens the outlook upon life. While every honorable career must include certain qualities to attain success, that of the banker finds those qualities indispensable which rest on a higher plane than in many other lines and for this reason, if for no other, the banker occupies a position in a community of a distinctive character. While he is still comparatively a young man, David M. Peterson has hail sixteen years of honorable experience in the banking busi- ness, and at the present time occupies the position of vice president of the Bank of Weirton. Mr. Peterson was born at Steubenville, Ohio, May 24, 1888, a son of one of the successful and influential busi- ness men of that city who lived in retirement for some years before his death. The education of David M. Peter- son was acquired in the graded and high schools of Steubenville, and when he was only eighteen years of age he began his banking career as a minor employe in the National Exchange Bank of Steubenville, with which in- stitution he remained for six years, during which time he gained not only promotion but valuable experience. In ]912 he came to Weirton to become cashier of the Bank of Weirton, of which he has since become vice president. This institution was chartered in 1911 and was opened for business in April, 1912, with a capital of $40,000, those active, in its organization being E. T. Weir, president; and Cyrus Ferguson, the first vice president. At the pres- ent time the officials are: E. T. Weir, president; D. M. Peterson, vice president; H. E. Hawkins, cashier, and E. D. Rothrock, assistant cashier, the board of directors consisting of: E. T. Weir, D. M. Weir, C. Ferguson, W. J. Hudson, G. L. Buchanan, J. A. Purdy, F. S. Loeb, D. M. Peterson and J. C. Williams. The bank now has resources of $1,500,000, and has paid dividends regularly. In 1921 a modern banking house was constructed by and for the bank, which includes all the latest devices and appurte- nances for the insuring of absolute safety for the deposi- tors' money. Mr. Peterson is one of the popular men of Weirton, both among his business associates and the depositors of the institution which he represents. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Columbus, Ohio, and in polities supports the republican party's candidates. He is unmarried.