CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BUSINESS Cornell University Library HG2613.T74M48 The Mechanics bank, 1834-1919, Trenton i 3 1924 019 341 845 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 9341 845 KING (S. Warren)st 5ecoNDCW. — French Arms Tavern. — StateDSt. 4f The Mechanics Bank 1834-1919 TRENTON IN NEW JERSEY A HISTORY BY DR. CARLOS E. GODFREY PRIVATELY PRINTED MCMXIX CONTENTS PAGE Foreword S PART I The Historic Site 7 PART II The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank 43 PART III The Mechanics National Bank 73 Sketch of the present Officers and Directors 105 Price of Stock 114 Chronological records of the Officers 115 Alphabetical records of the Directors 117 Authorities to The Historic Site 139 Index 141 (1) ILLUSTRATIONS THE FRENCH ARMS TAVERN Frontispiece An india ink sketch prepared by Carl W. Stead from original sources. PACING PAGE MAIN FLOOR PLAN OF THE FRENCH ARMS TAV- ERN 8 Showing position of the Long Room used by the Con- tinental Congress, drawn from measurements in the Library of Congress. 10 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Sectional portion of the title page containing the con- temporary ink inscription now in the State Library at Trenton. PROPOSED NATIONAL CAPITOL SITE IN TRENTON i8 Photograph of the original manuscript map in the Library of Congress. LEASE OF THE FRENCH ARMS FOR USE OF CON- GRESS 24 Reproduced for the first time from the original in the temporary possession of Dr. C. E. Godfrey. GENERAL LAFAYETTE 37 A photogravure of the original taken as he appeared in Trenton in 1824. FIRST BANKING HOUSE 48 The present building known as No. 6 North Warren Street. (3) ILLUSTRATIONS— Conft'na?^ PACING PAGE BANKING HOUSES 78 Second Banking House, Corner of State and Warren Streets, 1838-1883. Second Banking House, Improved, 1883-1894. THE PRESENT BANKING HOUSE 81 THE BANKING ROOM 82 East View of the present banking room. West View of the present banking room. BRONZE TABLET 89 Erected and dedicated by The New Jersey Society of Pennisylvania. TABLET DEDICATION INVITATION 90 Fac-simile of the original issued by The New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania. PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE MECHANICS BANK. . . 105 PRESIDENTS OF THE MECHANICS BANK— First Section 115 Second Section 116 VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE MECHANICS BANK.... 118 CASHIERS OF THE MECHANICS BANK 120 ATTORNEYS OF THE MECHANICS BANK 122 (4) FOREWORD Over three-quarters of a century's successful bank- ing warrants an institution in giving its story to the world. In presenting this narrative to the public we have not confined it to a record of financial growth, but have en- deavored to weave in, from authentic authority, current history of Trenton from the earliest colonial times. The site of our institution is an historical spot of unusual State and National importance. To-day shadowy, but in their time real figures who participated in the for- mation of our Republic, passed across the stage that has now become a modern successful banking enterprise. Congressional and Legislative sessions, social func- tions, business ventures, civic and patriotic organizations, touching the life of Trenton from the earliest days, all had their beginnings and activities on the site now occu- pied by The Mechanics National Bank of Trenton. Those who may not be interested in the financial growth of the community will find a rich store of reminis- cences and historic lore on the pages of this narrative. To aid the student of research, we have included a list of authorities for the records and statement herewith con- tained. We commend this work to the kindly interest of the citizens of one of the most historic communities in the land, and we venture the hope that we have contributed something to the storehouse of memory in the way of literary and patriotic incidents, as well as in industrial and financial progress and growth. The; Mechanics National, Bank, Edward C. Stokes, July I, 1919. President. (5) PART I THE HISTORIC SITE On the southwest corner of King (now Warren) and Second (now State) Streets, the present site of The Mechanics National Bank, originally stood the stone stuc- coed residence of John Dagworthy, classed as the largest and most handsome house in Colonial Trenton. It faced King Street, and was built for Mr. Dagworthy some time in the early 1730's. The building occupied a lot having a frontage of 66 feet, which extended back 230 feet on Second Street. The main structure had an inside measurement of forty- five feet in width by forty-three feet in depth, two stories high, with a gable roof. Each story was traversed east and west in the middle by a spacious hall, containing four rooms on a floor, each provided with large open fire- places, and with an exceptionally large room in the attic. Adjoining in the rear, along Second Street, was a two story kitchen built of the same material, the second floor being utilized for servants' quarters; and further back, at the end of the lot, was located the coach-house and stables.^ The main entrance to the building was reached by eight stone steps, extending either way from the north or south, to a broad landing, thence to the door, in King Street.* On November i, 1740, the property became the ofii- cial residence of Lewis Morris, the royal Governor of the Colony of New Jersey. He remained here until the 25th of June, 1742, when he leased "Kingsbury," now known (7) 8 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL, BANK. as "Woodlawn" and situated on South Warren Street, the present home of Mr. Edward A. Stokes.^ Thereafter, Mr. Dagworthy removed from his plan- tation near Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, to his former residence in Trenton,* and where he died September 4, 1756.® Subsequently the premises were sold at public sale on June 27, 1760 by the executors of the Dagworthy Estate.® Before the opening of the Revolution it was acquired by Samuel Henry, who owned and operated the iron works out Second Street on the Assanpink Creek,'' which he occupied for his residence until the month of March, 1780, when Mr. Henry removed to his farm in Nottingham Township, near Trenton, where he ultimate- ly died on May 10, 1784.* On April i, 1780, Mr. Henry leased his Trenton homestead to Jacob G. Bergen for tavern purposes.® He was from Princeton, where he had for some years suc- cessfully catered to the epicurean tastes of his varied guests both in his inn at the sign of the College in Prince- ton and later at the sign of the Confederation. In transforming the house into a tavern it appears that an additional story, with the gable roof, was added to the building; and the two rooms on the south side of the hallway on the main floor were converted into one, having the width of twenty feet and the depth of forty- three feet, so it might be utilized in various ways by public assemblies.^" This large room was ever after familiarly known as the "Long Room!"^^ In the basement a bar- room was established, which was entered from King Street by a door under the high stone steps in front of the building, and from the inside by stairways leading to it. On May 17, 1780, in the stereotype fashion of the day, Mr. Bergen announced in The New Jersey Gazette his ' /^-\/:".-^- ^>y^'^^^ 1^ i Long Room WMM..^///myo King(5.Warren;5t Hall Rantry h. Kitchen Dining Room I I 1 5iTTiNG Room 'A'. \yM^^M^^M~Jmz:;^l «n Plan of FIR^T riOOR. or THE French Akms Taveiin. a- Diagram of Main Fioor FRENCH ARiVIS TAVERN THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 9 possession of the tavern, where he "hopes his endeavours to serve the Publick in his business at this place will be acceptable," and which he called the Thirteen Stars.^ The opening of the hostelry by Mr. Bergen in 1780 marked the commencement of a series of festivities and other gaieties which made it the social centre of Trenton in bygone days. Its prominence was enhanced by the distinguished guests it entertained, and where occurred other attractive functions of State and National import- ance which rendered the house famous as the French Arms and later as the City Tavern. In this tavern also were organized banking, commercial and other institu- tions, and where miscellaneous transactions relevant to the people were conducted down to the time when the building was demolished in 1837 to make room for The Mechanics Bank. On the Fourth of July, 1780, after the celebration of American Independency by the citizens, "A number of the Gentlemen of the town repaired to the Thirteen Stars, where a handsome dinner was provided" and where thir- teen toasts were drank. "The whole was conducted with that cheerfulness, good order and decency, which should ever characterize the Freemen of America,"^^ Here in this tavern, in the year 1780, the House of the General Assembly held its legislative sessions, and where the Council met it in Joint Meeting on June 17, September 23, 26 and 2'^, October 30 and November 23, 1780, and again on January 8, 1781.^' It might be shock- ing for the present generation to know that the House of Assembly of the State of New Jersey conducted its busi- ness up in the garret of this building; nevertheless, the proof is obtained from a contemporary ink inscription made upon the title page of one of the printed copies of 10 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. "The Votes and Proceedings of the Second Sitting of the Fourth Assembly," now in the State Library, which reads : House of Assembly in Jacob G. Bergen's garret in Trenton, October 6, ifSo. On February 14, 1781, John Cape announced in The New Jersey Gazette his succession to Jacob G. Bergen as proprietor of the Thirteen Stars. Some time prior to May 24, 1782, Mr. Cape changed the name of his tavern the French Arms}*' In pursuance of an order issued by Governor William Livingston on February 13, 1781, a general court-martial was convened at the inn on the 21st of the following month for the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel William Cham- berlain of the Hunterdon County Militia, and such other prisoners ordered before it. The board consisted of Colonel Joseph Phillips, President; Colonels William Shreve and William Scudder; Lieutenant-Colonels John Taylor and Oakey Hoagland; Majors Joseph Brearley and John Van Emburgh; and Captains Philip Phillips, John Hunt, William Tucker, John Mott, Israel Carle and Timothy Titus; with William Willcocks as Judge Advo- cate. ^^ With expressions of unbounded pleasure the people of Trenton were startled with news brought by an ex- press-rider on Monday afternoon, October 22, 1781, an- nouncing the capture of Cornwallis and his army at York- town in Virginia. Here the important event was cele- brated by the citizens on the following Saturday "with every mark of joy and festivity." The day was ushered in with the beating of drums, while the American colours were hoisted in various parts of the town. At 11 o'clock the Governor, Council and Assembly, and citizens gener- ally, attended divine service at the Presbjrterian Church MotlSE V O T E S AND £ PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE T A O F T K E W - J E R S E* Y, At a SESSION begun at Trenton on the 26th Day of OBober, i'JT<^, and continued by Adjournments. BilNC THE •SECOND SiTTINC OF THE FOURTH ASSEMBLY. TITLE PAGE— ASSEMBLY JOURNALS 1779 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL, BANK. 11 conducted by the Rev. Dr. Elihu Spencer. At noon can- non were fired by the corps of artillery before the assem- blage on the common at the Barracks. At three o'clock they again gathered at an entertainment provided by Mr, Cape where thirteen toasts were drank, severally accom- panied with a discharge of cannon. At seven o'clock in the evening the citizens retired from the tavern to witness the brilliant illumination of the town.^® An event of State and National importance occurred at the French Arms in celebration of the Birth of a Dau- phin and heir to the Crown of France, who was a son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The birth was formally announced to the Continental Congress on May 2, 1782, by order of the King through the Minister Plenipoten- tiary of His Most Christian Majesty. By a resolve of Congress, adopted the following Tuesday, the fact was officially communicated by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the Governor and the Legislature of New Jer- sey, so "the people of the States may partake in the joy which an event that so nearly affects the happiness of their great and generous ally cannot fail to excite."^''^ In compliance with the suggestion the event was celebrated in the State of New Jersey at Trenton on May 24, 1782. At noon the American flag was displayed from the staff on the French Arms, when the town artillery paraded close by in King Street. Promptly at three o'clock the guests assembled to an "elegant entertain- ment" provided in the Long Room of the French Arms. They included Governor Livingston, the Members of the Council and General Assembly, several army officers, and the gentlemen of the town and vicinity. After dinner fourteen toasts were drank, severally accompanied with a discharge O'f artillery, when the assembly retired at the 12 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK hour of five. Of this occasion The New Jersey Gazette for May 29, 1782, remarked :^^ It could not but afford the highest pleasure to every friend of the liberties of his country and the rights of mankind to observe the joy and satisfaction manifested on this occasion. The liberal prin- ciples of the alliance, the generous aids offered to these states in consequence of it, and the great end it has been instrumental in securing, must ever interest us in the happiness of a nation whose character and conduct is the laudable reverse of that of our enemies. Again we find the New Jersey Legislature holding Joint Meetings in the French Arms on October 30, November 2 and 30, December 26 and 29, in 1781, and also on May 23 and 30, and June 21, 1782.^' Unfor- tunately the legislative records and other kindred docu- ments do not indicate which branch was holding its regu- lar sessions in the tavern. There is reason to believe that it was the House, and yet it might have been both houses of the Legislature. The dancing school and the opportunity for the youth of Trenton to learn French and other foreign lan- guages were advantages offered to the social set by Mr. D'Orififiere from the French Academy in Philadelphia at the French Arms, commencing Wednesday, April 2, 1783. "All sorts of dances, the most in fashion, will be taught," said Mr. D'Oriffiere, "but principally the graces and manners."^® April 15, 1783, was a gala day in New Jersey for Trentonians, incident to the ceremonies observed for the "glorious peace" lately concluded at Versailles with Great Britain. The Governor of New Jersey, the Vice Presi- dent of the State, Members of the Legislature, Judges of the Supreme Court, and other public officials, together "with a great number of the inhabitants of the town and THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 13 vicinity," including the trustees, teachers and students of the Academy, about ii o'clock met at Rensselaer Wil- liams's tavern in upper King Street and proceeded to the Court-house where the Governor's proclamation, declar- ing a cessation of hostilities in pursuance of a proclama- tion of Congress of April nth, was read. Thereupon thirteen cannon were fired, succeeded by the huzzas of the people. Entertainments followed at three o'clock in the French Arms, the Biasing Star and Roy in Unbounded Wishes to America, Sir, I am Happy to ob- serve the prevailing disposition of the people to Strengthen the Con- federation, preserve public faith. Regulate trade, and in a proper guard over Continental Magazines and frontier posts, in a General System of Militia, in foreseeing Attention to the Navy, to insure Every kind of Safety — May this immense temple of freedom Ever Stand a Lesson to oppressors, an Example to the oppressed, a Sanc- tuary for the Rights of Mankind ! and May these Happy United States attain that Complete Splendor and Prosperity which will illustrate the Blessings of their Government, and for Ages to Come rejoice the departed Souls of its founders! • However Unwilling to trespass Upon Your time, I must Yet present You with Grateful thanks for the late favours of Congress, and Never Can they oblige me So much, as when they put it in my power, in Every part of the World, to the latest day of My life, to Gratify the Attachment Which Will Ever Rank me Among the Most zealous and RespectfuU Servants of the United States Lafayette Immediately upon the completion of these formal ceremonies President Lee handed to General Lafayette an autograph letter containing his personal congratulations and farewell,*^ together with a sealed envelope which he requested the Marquis to deliver personally to the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Uni- ted States to Prance, inclosing a letter to him,** and also containing the congressional letter addressed to the French King commending the Marquis to his royal favor in recognition of the invaluable services which he had rendered to this country in the Revolution.*^ The pack- age addressed to Dr. Franklin was evidently forgbtten by General Lafayette when he left Trenton on the following Monday morning, for President Lee forwarded it by special messenger on Wednesday, December 14th, to the Postmaster at New York, requesting him, in the name of Congress, to deliver the packet immediately to Genera! THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 31 Philadelphia. Upon Mr. Schuyler's declination John Brown of Providence, Rhode Island, was elected in his place on March i6th, which office he in turn declined on May 19; 1785.* The personal influence of General Washington was then brought to bear on the members of Congress to crush the Trenton capitol proposition. On the eighth of Feb- ruary, 1785, he wrote President Lee of the Continental Congress: "By the time your Federal buildings on the banks of the Delaware, along the point of a triangle, are fit for the reception of Congress, it will be found that they are very improperly placed for the seat of the empire, and will have to undergo a second erection in a more convenient one."*'^ When the first appropriation to the Commissioners was called for by the Committee of Supplies on the 5th of April, 1785 — "Federal buildings, $30,000" — Mr. Gray- son, of Virginia, moved its refusal, but he was overruled. Then, on motion of Mr. Pinckney, that vote was recon- sidered, and the report was recommitted. Here the mat- ter rested until the 22d of September, when the appropria- tion of $100,000 coming before the house, Mr. Gerry moved to make it the whole sum of $100,000, but none of the States except Massachusetts and New Jersey voted for it ; whereupon, on motion of Mr. Hardy, of Virginia, the item was entirely stricken out of the bill, which was a virtual repeal of the ordinance.* Thus died the project to make Trenton the Capitol of the United States. Upon the departure of the Continental Congress from Trenton the State Commissioners, on January 4, 1785, leased the French Arms tavern to Francis Witt for the unexpired term' of the lease ending March 31, 1786, in consideration that the New Jersey Legislature might 32 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. have the gratuitous use and occupation of the Long Room and the front room across the hallway for its delibera- tions, so long as Mr. Witt might occupy the tavern, whether before or after the expiration of the lease. The instrument reads;** I Francis Witt of Trenton having taken the Lease of the House in Trenton which was taken by the State of New Jersey for the Use of the United States in Congress Assembled, do hereby Promise and agree to and with Moore Furman, Conrad Kotts and James Ewing on behalf of the said State, that in consideration of their giving up the said lease to me, I will furnish unto the Legisla- ture of the State at every sitting which they may have during my continuance in the said house whether before the said lease shall expire or afterwards the whole of the room wherein Congress sat, and of the front room adjoining the same, free for the said Legisla- ture to sit and deliberate therein during their whole sitting without rent, fee or reward, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of January, 1785. Francis Witt. The recent appearance of this valuable document re- moves the confusion which has heretofore existed among historians as to when, if ever, Francis Witt kept a public house on the site of The Mechanics Bank. This fact is most important because it identifies the location of Witt's hostelry with the spot in question. It is known that cer- tain important events occurred in the inn kept by Mr. Witt, and the recognition of the site is authority for the citation of the occurrences of the session of the New Jersey Legislature, the Presbyterian Board Meetings, the ratification of the Constitution of the United States, and other historic incidents. The first known public house kept by Mr. Witt in Trenton was announced by him on January 21, 1782, at the sign of Alexander-the-Great, formerly kept by Cap- THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. 33 tain John Clunn.*^ This sign was changed by Mr. Witt on the i8th of the following June to the Blazing Star}^ Afterwards the hostelry was known as the Indian King; being the present site of the Alhambra at No. 25 North Warren Street, owned by Mr. James H. Letts.^^ When Mr. Witt leased the French Arms in January, 1785, he displaced that name for the sign of the Biasing Star, which he removed with him and retained as late as the summer of 1788, as shown by the advertisement of An- thony Robinson contained in the Trenton Weekly Mer- cury for August 26, 1788. The New Jersey Legislature held its sessions in Trenton from October 25 to November 29, 1785 ; Febru- ary 15 to March 24, and from October 24 to November 24, in 1786; October 23 to November 7, 1787; August 27 to September 9, and from October 28 to December i, 1788, during the time Francis Witt was proprietor of the Biasing Star tavern. If the covenants specified in the above recited lease are to be accepted, the Legislature necessarily held its sessions in the tavern which is the present site of The Mechanics Bank. The original Minutes of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton show that its Minister, Elders and Deacons did not always meet in sacred places, for on February 14, 1786, they officially met at the tavern of Francis Witt, as they did on the 4th- of the following April, because, as the record runs, "the weather being severe adjourned (from the Church) to the House of Francis Witt, Inn- keeper in Trenton." On December 11, 1787, in pursuance of a resolution of the Legislature passed on the 29th of the previous October, the delegates of the Convention for the ratifica- tion of the Constitution of the United States by the State 3 34 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. of New Jersey convened at the Biasing Star tavern for its deliberations.^^ The proposed Constitution having been daily dis- cussed and ultimately ratified by the Convention, on Wed- nesday morning, December 19, 1787, the duplicate en- grossed parchment copies of the ratification were signed by the delegates assembled. At one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day the members of the Convention, accompanied by the principal citizens of Trenton, were escorted from the Blazing Star tavern to the Court-House by a uniformed company of light infantry commanded by Captain Bernard Hanlon. In the presence of the large assemblage there collected the Secretary, Samuel Witham Stockton, read aloud the ratifi- cation of the new Constitution by the Convention of New Jersey. This publication created great applause, as thir- teen rounds were fired by the militia present — "one more for the State of Delaware, and another for Pennsylvania." After which the Convention returned in the same proces- sion to its chambers in the Blazing Star to wind up its unfinished business.®' The Convention before its final dissolution on the following morning, however, unanimously recommended to the Legislature that a cession of territory, not exceed- ing ten miles square, be offered Congress for the seat of the general government ; which it did by a bill passed Sep- tember 9, 1788. On September 7th, in the following year, Mr. Elias Boudinot, in the House of Representatives, once more proposed that the National Capitol should be located along the Falls of the Delaware, when his motion failed by a vote of 4 to 46. The final attempt made to have Trenton erected into the seat of the national government was by a resolution unanimously adopted by the Legisla- THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 35 ture on December 2, 1801, which was likewise unsuccess- ful. On April i, 1789, Henry Drake became proprietor of the tavern vacated by Mr. Witt, which tradition says then first became known as the City Tcvuern. It was here where General George Washington and his escort dined with the principal citizens of Trenton, and where he held a public reception in the Long Room of the inn on April 21, 1789, following the beautiful cere- monies at the Assanpink Bridge where the little maidens of the town sang an ode with exquisite sweetness to the music "See the Conquering Hero Comes,"^* while en route to New York to assume office as the first President of the United States — so graphically portrayed in Stryker's "Washington's Reception by the People of New Jersey in 1789." It was also here in the City Tavern where President Washington remained over Wednesday night on Septem- ber I, 1790, while en route from New York to the south- ward. Besides the President and Mrs. Washington, the traveling party comprised Eleanor Parke and George W. Parke Custis, the two grandchildren of Mrs. Washing- ton, Major William Jackson, Thomas Nelson, two maids, four white and four black servants, with sixteen horses. The next morning they breakfasted at Bristol.^® The New Jersey Legislature again held Joint Meet- ings in the City Tavern on October 29, November 9 and 24, 1 79 1, and on May 23, 1792. After this date its deliberations were held in the new State Capitol building at Trenton. In The New Jersey Gazette for June 26, 1793, Joseph Broadhurst "respectfully informs the public that he has removed to that large and commodious house — 36 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. the City Tavern, lately occupied by Mr. Henry Drake." While it was the invariable custom for the lease of this hostelry to begin on the first day of April, the rule also applied to Mr. Broadhurst, although his liquor license was not granted by the city authorities until April i6, 1793. The tavern was thereafter continuously occupied as a licensed inn until the building was demolished in April, 1837. A list of the subsequent proprietors of the City Tavern are hereunto appended, which includes the date of the original license annually and individually granted to them by the City of Trenton : John Voorhees, April 26, 1800. Joseph I. Thompson, April 7, 1806. Jacob Herbert, April 4, 1816. Joseph I. Thompson, April 6, 1818. Joseph M. Bispham, April 5, 1819. Joseph W. Vancleve, March 30, 1824. Benjamin South, March 31, 1831. Stacy Kirkbride, March 31, 1834. Mrs. Frances Green, April 18, 1836. Following the Year 1790, the most prominent social function at the City Tavern occurred while Lafayette was a guest of the City of Treton in the fall of 1824. Upon his arrival at New York on Sunday, August 15, of that year, the citizens of Trenton on the following Tuesday assembled at the City Tavern, where resolutions were passed providing ways and means for the entertainment of General Lafayette and his party, which comprised his son, George Washington Lafayette, and his secretary, Mr. Auguste Le Vasseur.^® About noon on Saturday, September 2Sth, General Lafayette and his suite were inducted into Trenton with great pomp and military splendor which "electrified our GENERAL LAFAYETTE In 1824 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 37 izens with delight." That evening, about nine o'clock, left his apartments in the Trenton House to be enter- ined with supper by the New Jersey Society of the ncinnati in the Long Room of the City Tavern, where spent most of the night in conversation with his veteran lends of that Society.^''^ The magnificent reception and itertainment given General Lafayette by the people of renton during the two days he remained our guest is inutely described in The True American for October i, (24. The last time General Lafayette visited Trenton was 1 Saturday morning, July i6, 1825, when he took break- st provided for him at the City Tavern, while en route om New York to visit Joseph Bonaparte at Bordentown, hence he went to Philadelphia.^® Other chronological occurrences at the City Tavern : local or state interest were : In the annual celebration oi American Independence . Trenton, beginning with 1780, the City Tavern was the .vorite social centre for official entertainments and other inctions of the day; and where also, commencing with 786, the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati usually ;ld its biennial sessions on the even years, as shown by le local newspapers of the day. The Board of Elders and Deacons of the Presbyterian hurch held further official meetings at the tavern on [arch 22 and April 2, 1790; October 21, 1791 ; January [, February 7, and September 10, 1792; October 28 and ecember 23, 1793; January 31, 1794; October 26, 1795 ; id the last on April 9, 1802. Here the subscription books to the capital stock of he Trenton Banking Company were opened for three >nsecutive days beginning on January 8, 1805, ^"om of the State House to accommodate the Legislative 40 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. Council, Court of Appeals, Court of Chancery, State Bar Association and the Public.^® On Saturday night, February 27, 1836, the citizens of Trenton assembled at the tavern to express an opinion as to the propriety of the State becoming the purchaser of the property of the canal and railroad companies within the State.'^" The subscribers for the erection of the "Calico Print- ing Mills" on the property of the Delaware Falls Com- pany, pursuant to the articles of agreement, met here on the afternoon of September 24, 1836.''^ This was the last meeting of any importance held in the City Tavern be- fore its demolition in April of the following year. In the Raum House, occupying a portion of the original site of the City Tavern and which was acquired for the extension of The Mechanics Bank in 1872, was located the city post-office while Dr. John McKelway was postmaster from July i, 1842, to July 18, 1843.''^ The newspapers of the day show a multiplicity of other varied events occurring at the tavern. In the Rev- olution slaves were sold here, as vrere quartermaster's stores and goods contraband of war. Afterwards, it was the favorite site for town meetings of a minor character; annual meetings of manufacturing and other companies; and where dentists held their periodical headquarters. Here public vendues were frequently held for the sale of real estate, bank stock, horses, wagons and the like. It was the headquarters of most of the stage routes traversing Trenton during the Revolutionary and later days down to a comparatively short time before the City Tavern was demolished. Without apparent authority local history has a tendency to credit Governor Livingston's residence at the THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 41 'ench Arms for the three years he resided in Trenton evious to his departure for his home in EHzabeth on pril 19, 1783. An affidavit made by Colonel Ephraim artin, published in The Trenton Federalist for April \, 1803, shows that Governor Livingston lodged with e widow Crolius during his stay in Trenton. This idow was of kin to Peter Crolius who kept a general ore in the same building located on the south-east corner : King and Second Streets, where the postoffice was tuated in 1788/* now the present site of the Forst- ichey building. There is no landmark in historic Trenton which ands forth so pre-eminently as that now occupied by he Mechanics Bank. The combination of events occur- ng upon it are as conspicuous as they were extraordinary id rare. On the site resided one or more of our colonial 3vernors. The Seventh Capitol of the United States was cated in the Old Tavern, where the Continental Con- fess deliberated, and where the New Jersey Legislature equently met during and after the Revolution. Here afayette took his farewell of Congress, and where — ;ars after — ^he was entertained by his illustrious com- ides in arms of the Society of the Cincinnati. The first merican Flag definitely known to have been hoisted in renton was unfurled to the breeze from the French Arms 1 May 24, 1782.'^* In the tavern the National Constitu- on was ratified by the Convention of the State of New :rsey. And here also Washington was dined and where I held a public reception when en route to New York to ; inaugurated President of the United States. On the site frequently gathered men famous in the )uncils of the Nation and of the State, foreign diplomats, stinguished officers of the army and of the militia, and 42 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Other eminent citizens. Many notable functions of inter- national, national, state and local interest occurred here. Among the prominent patrons of the tavern were such men as President George Washington, the Marquis Lafayette and other celebrities. Here also banks, manu- facturing and other interests were organized and manip- ulated. The varied fascinating attractions by which the inn was surrounded, it long maintained its supremacy as the social centre of Trenton, and where congregated interesting convivial spirits in ye olden days. ADDENDA The following legislative bodies of New Jersey met in the inn on this site, when it was known either as the Thirteen Stars, French Arms, or the City Tavern: COUNCIL October 25, 1785 to November 29, 1785. February 15, 1786 to Match 24, 1786. October 24, 1786 to November 24, 1786. ASSEMBLY May 10, 1780 to June 19, 1780. September 13, 1780 to October 7. 1780. October 24, 1780 to January 9, 1781. October 23, 1781 to Etecember 29. 1781. May IS. 1782 to June 24. 1782. October 25, 1787 to November 7. 1787- October 25, 1 791 to November 25, 1791- May IS. 1792 to June 2, 1792. October 23, 1792 to November 30, 1792. PART II THE MECHANICS AND MANUFAC- TURERS BANK On January lo, 1833, a bill was introduced in the ouse of the General Assembly to incorporate The echanics and Manufacturers Banking and Insurance ampany of Trenton. What relation, if any, the move- ent subsequently had with the organization of this Bank n be surmised only from articles published in The True merican for January 5, 1833, which anonymously in- ted the public, favorable to an application to be made the approaching session of the Legislature "for a new ink to be called The Mechanics and Manufacturers ink, at this place," to meet the following Monday even- g at the house of Miss Hannah Wildes, who kept the ising Sun Tavern now known as the American House, he measure failed to receive the approval of the Legisla- re on the 226. of the ensuing month, and was lost. This institution, however, was created by and for e benefit of the citizens of Trenton. It was they who rculated and signed petitions within the city and sur- unding country "praying for the establishment of an iditional bank in the City of Trenton to be called The 'echanics and Manufacturers Bank." These petitions ere duly presented by the Hon. Edward S. Mcllvaine id read before the House of Assembly on October 23, $33 ; whereupon, in the afternoon of the same day, in cordance with the public announcement of the intention do so, a bill was introduced in the House to incorporate he Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank. 44 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. On Monday evening, December 23, 1833, at 7 o'clock, in pursuance of notice inserted by "Many Citi- zens" in The True American on the previous Saturday, the inhabitants of Trenton favorable to the new banking proposition met at the City Tavern, where a memorial was by them prepared to the Legislature expressing in no un- certain language why The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank should be incorporated. This memorial was pre- sented to the General Assembly by the Hon. William S. Sloan on the 9th of the following month. The True Americam, on January 11, 1834, remarked : We are pleased to observe that petitions for the establishment of a new bank in this city have been signed by the great mass of merchants, traders, manufacturers and mechanics doing business here. Better evidence could not be produced of the wants of the community; and we entertain the conviction that they will not be spread before the Legislature in vain. On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 22, 1834, the bill came up for final passage when the House rejected it by a vote of 22 to 27. The disappointment of the people of Trenton was "deeply felt and warmly expressed." The True Ameri- can for January 25, 1834, in comment said, in part: We have not lately had so much excitement among our citizens as appeared Wednesday afternoon last, when it was understood the Bank bill had been lost by four votes. * * * it was a matter that came home to every business man, in every branch of trade and manufacture, and aroused within his bosom both surprise and dis- may. When, however, we take a retrospective view of the instability of the average banks that were incorporated by the various States throughout the Union generally for the bonuses which were given for the charters or which THE MECHANICS NATIONAli BANK. 45 were otherwise granted simply out of political or financial preference, with no liability imposed upon the directors or stockholders in the event of failure — simply the banks' promise to redeem their paper notes in gold or silver upon demand ; and then turn aside and notice the avalanche of banks which were then infesting all country towns and most of the villages throughout the West, and especially the fact that notice had been published of intended appli- cations for 1 05 new banks to the Legislature of New York within three weeks after the session convened on January I, 1834, with capital amounting to about fifty-six millions of dollars, it required no foresight to see what must be the end. It was primarily the existence of these condi- tions which induced the New Jersey Legislature to adopt a concurrent resolution on January 21, 1834, providing for the appointment of a joint committee to ascertain "what further provisions of law are necessary to protect individuals and private interests from frauds or failure of banks." While prior to 1826 the State of New Jersey almost invariably demanded and received bonuses in cash or other reserved equivalents for the issuance of a banking franchise, yet in granting it, irrespective of the numerous applications presented, the Legislature was particularly concerned to observe the class of people who sought these special privileges, as witnessed by the fact that between the years 1804 and 1833 thirty-one banks had been chartered out of which only eight had failed. During the legisla- tive session of 1833 and 1834 twelve applications for charters of banks were made and only four granted. Thus we see, in some degree, the demoralized condition of the general banking system which actuated the conservative legislators to hesitate to grant the articles of incorpora- 46 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. tion to this institution by the narrow majority of four members, in a city having less than four thousand inhabi- tants and which already possessed an established bank since 1804. However, the people of Trenton immediately revived their forces by retaining General Samuel R. Hamilton and the Hon. William Halsted, two of the most eminent law- yers in this city, who, together with the Hon. Charles Parker, the popular State Treasurer, on the morning fol- lowing the rejection of the bill — Thursday, January 23d — appeared before the House of Assembly to advocate the reasons why the charter of The Mechanics and Manufac- turers Bank should be favorably considered. These rep- resentations evidently had their effect. The House imme- diately reconsidered the vote by which the bill had been lost with more than two-thirds majority, and on the fol- lowing morning the measure passed the third reading by a vote of 33 to 16; whereupon, the Speaker signed the same and transmitted it at once to the Senate for its con- currence. This favorable result elated The True American to say, in part : We sincerely hope for the welfare and best interests of our citizens that it will succeed. There is one common sense of grati- tude felt in the place toward those gentlemen who have so ably and disinterestedly advocated the bill. On Wednesday, February 19, 1834, the bill finally passed the Senate by a vote of 9 to 4, when it immediately became law under the caption — "An act to incorporate 'The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank' at Trenton." The first section of the act enumerated Samuel S. Stryker, William Potts, Edward S. Mcllvaine, Henry W. Green, Joseph A. Yard and William A. Benjamin, with THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 47 their associates, as incorporators. The following section provided that the corporation should have a minimum capital of $150,000 in shares of $50 each, with the privi- lege of increasing the same to $250,000 ; that the subscrip- tion to the capital stock should be taken under the direc- tion of Ebenezer P. Rose, Charles Parker, Stacy A. Paxson, William Grant and Joseph Wood as Commis- sioners, who, after first giving twenty days notice thereof by publication in the Trenton newspapers, should open subscription books for the period of five consecutive days, and upon the completion of the work turn the subscription money received over to the directors named in the third section of the act. The first board of directors consisted of Stacy G. Potts, Edward S. Mcllvaine, Samuel R. Hamilton, George Dill, Anderson Lalor, Henry W. Green, Charles Parker, Samuel McClurg, Jasper S. Scud- der, John McKelway, Robert Chambers, John A. Weart and Joseph Wood, who were to retain their ofifice until April 14, 1835. Thereafter their successors were directed to be elected annually on the second Tuesday in April, with the expressed proviso that they should "be stock- holders and citizens of the United States and of this State, and of whom, at least eight together with the presi- dent shall have been residents within the townships of Trenton and Nottingham for at least one year imme- diately preceding their election." The fifteenth section provided that the charter should remain in force until Jan- uary I, 1855. By arrangement of the parties in interest it was determined that the capital of the bank should be $250,- 000. On March i, 1834, the Commissioners advertised in both newspapers of Trenton that on Tuesday, April 8th, at 10 o'clock in the morning, the subscription books 48 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. would be opened for five consecutive days at the house of Joshua English, and that five dollars would be required to be paid on each share of stock subscribed. The house of Joshua English at this time was the "Washington Hotel," situated on the south-west corner of what is now known as State and Broad Streets. The local press in commenting upon this said : Judging from the amount of banking business done in Tren- ton for some time past, and from the increase of business facihties and population consequent upon our local position and improvements, there can be no doubt of the flattering prospects of this institution. We understand that Charles Parker, Esq., the able and experienced Treasurer of the State, has consented to take the office of cashier and that he will be appointed. The institution under the auspices of Mr. Parker must command unlimited confidence. The capital stock of 5,000 shares of the Bank having been fully subscribed, the Board of Directors held their first meeting on April 15, 1834, and organized by electing Jasper S. Scudder President and Charles Parker Cashier, preparatory for the arrangement of the essential details for the commencement of business. Following the organization, the selection of a proper banking site commanded immediate attention. The four story brick building belonging to Mr. Armitage Green at No. 75 (now No. 6 North) Warren Street, which had been built in the summer of 1833 and had become vacated on April 5 of the following year, was finally accepted by the Bank with the understanding that the rental of the building would not commence until the 24th of the fol- lowing September. During the interval the lower floor of the structure was fitted up for the banking room with appropriate fixtures and with the installation of a new vault at the expenditure of $149.85. -' ™-"J->^- :«SBtr?i.;iaK- FIRST BANKING HOUSE 1834-1838 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 49 The second installment of five dollars upon the capi- stock of the bank was officially called for from the :kholders through publication on July 31, which was 1 in at the banking house on the first Monday of the owing September. On Thursday, September 25, 1834, at 9 o'clock in morning, the doors of The Mechanics and Manufac- :rs Bank were first thrown open to the public for the isaction of business — the official force present consist- of Jasper S. Scudder, President; Charles Parker, hier ; Stacy A. Paxson, General Clerk ; and John Dob- 5, Porter. In the commencement of operations on that the records show that the Bank had on deposit with Commercial Bank of P'ennsylvania the sum of $25,- .00; with the Trenton Banking Company $21,262.98; in the vault of the Bank $3,476.02; making in the regate $50,000 the paid up cash capital of the Bank. As was the experience of the Trenton Banking npany upon the subscription of its stock in 1804, the fority of the stock of this corporation was likewise rkly subscribed by Philadelphia interests. So import- was the circumstance that it became necessary for the ik to apply to the Legislature for a supplement to the ;-inal charter, which was passed on March 4, 1835, pro- ng that two members of the board of directors might ;hosen from the State of Pennsylvania. At the first annual election of directors on April 14, 5, the polls were kept open from 11 A. M., until i S/l., when Samuel S. Stryker, Crispin Blackfan, Lewis R. Phillips, Isaac G. Farlee, James Hoy, Sr., Samuel nly and Jolly Longshore were chosen new members — last two being Pennsylvanians — and Stacy G. Potts, luel R. Hamilton, Anderson Lalor, Samuel McClurg 4 50 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. and Jasper S. Scudder were re-elected, all by the vote of 195 s shares of stock polled. On the following Thursday Jasper S. Scudder and Charles Parker were re-elected President and Cashier, respectively ; when the salary of the President, in addition to his duties as accountant to the Bank as theretofore, was continued at the annual salary of $800, as were likewise the salaries of the Cashier at $1,000, the General Clerk at $700, and the Porter at $250 per annum. The first financial statement rendered by the Bank to the Legislature on November 5, 1835, serves to illus- trate the primitive manner in which it was formulated and the insignificant amount of business transacted as compared with to-day : DR. Capital stock paid in $50,000 00 Notes of bank in circulation 75.398 00 Due depositors 42,236 84 Balance due for plates, fixtures, etc 691 43 Due banks 3,498 28 Discounts received unappropriated 664 87 $172,489 42 CR. By discounted notes outstanding $123,874 72 Cash deposited in Conunercial Bank, Philadelphia 7,214 91 Cash deposited in Phoenix Bank, New York 10,816 97 Other bank assets i,o6g 69 Specie in vault 20,982 13 Notes of other banks 8,531 00 $172,489 42 On April 14, 1836, Charles Parker, father of Gover- nor Joel Parker, became President. One of the important THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 51 atters which came up during his brief administration IS the propriety of purchasing a permanent site for the cation of the Bank. The old City Tavern property, :uated on the south-west comer of Warren and Second low State) Streets, having been in the market for some ne, it was, on July 25, 1836, upon motion of Stacy G. Dtts, "Resolved, That the President and Cashier be ithorized to procure the lot now occupied by the City avern, embracing the entire front on Warren Street id fifty feet on Second Street, on the most favorable rms it can be procured, not exceeding five thousand dol- rs." Mr. Parker, on the isth of the following month, esented to the Board the articles of agreement he had itered into with William Potts, John McKelway and /"illiam Grant for the purchase of the City Tavern lot — en prospectively subdivided into two lots, one facing /■arren Street 22.5 feet south from the corner of Second treet, and the other extending 24 feet on Warren Street imediately below the first lot, with a combined depth of ) feet — in conformity with previous instructions from le Board of Directors, which were approved. On the first of September the President, Cashier and [r. Hoy were appointed a committee to procure plans id estimates of cost: "First, of erecting a banking Duse on the lot 24 feet adjoining Boswell and Clark; 2cond, of erecting the same on the comer lot ; and Third, : erecting the same on the center of both lots." The immittee submitted their report to the Board on the >th of the same month, when the Directors unanimously :cided to erect the banking house on the corner lot; hich conclusion was induced by Joseph Withemp's offer construct a two story brick building 22j4 feet front by 52 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. 50 feet in depth, with a slate roof and pressed brick walls facing both Warren and State Streets, exclusive of the vault, for $3,500. Subsequently the Directors approved a resolution offered by Mr. Stiyker, which provided that the press brick walls should be substituted by "common hard brick" to be "rough cast" from the basement up. The offer made by Mr. Liscomb R. Titus to purchase from the Bank the lot adjoining the new banking site on the south for $2,400 was accepted by the Directors on the 6th of January, 1837, providing he would erect thereon simultaneously with the construction of the banking house a brick building having a slate roof; the Bank agreeing to give possession as soon as the old tavern was pulled down, and the present owners made a deed to the Bank. Upon the consummation of Mr. Titus's written agreement of compliance with the terms, the title to the ground was passed to him by deed bearing date September 4, 1840. The erection of the new banking house engaged the prompt attention of Mr. William Grant upon his election to the presidency on April 13, 1837. He together with Dr. McKelway and William Potts were owners of the City Tavern property, who were obligated to sell the ground to the Bank on the demolition of the building, which work had then just been completed. On the 24th of the same month the Directors unanimously determined to proceed with the building upon plans previously adopted by the Board, and contracted with Joseph and David Witherup to construct the edifice. At the same meeting Messrs. Grant, Parker and Dill were appointed the build- ing committee, and Mr. George Dill was selected to pro- cure the materials and superintend the work. The Bank paid the owners $2,600 for its new site on May 16, after the deed, which was executed on the first of that month. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL, BANK. 53 id been submitted to the Board of Directors and by them ferred to their attorney for an examination of title. tie appearance of the finished building is illustrated )posite page 78, except the windows of the first floor sre without the iron gratings, but provided with out- le shutters'; and the building was also without the ched roof. The banking house having been completed a cost of $4,713.65 or an aggregate of $7,313.65 in- uding the purchase of the lot, the site was first occupied ' The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank on Monday, pril 9, 1838. In the summer and fall of 1836 the people of Tren- n were experiencing prosperity "of the most gratifying laracteT." "Substantial and elegant" buildings were )ing up in all parts of the city. The seven manufac- ries were in full operation, while two other mills were :ing built. In the following spring "the business and itivity of Trenton had taken a fresh start." Early in May, 1837, coincident with the construction ■ the new banking house, a condition of embarrassment id distress, unparalled in the history of our country, ;gan to develop. Suddenly, credit perished; confidence as destroyed ; business in all its branches prostrated ; and e banks, from one extremity of the Union to the other, ere driven to the necessity of suspending specie pay- ents — a condition chiefly induced by the practical istruction of the Bank of the United States, and the iper-abundance of the circulation of a deranged paper irrency everywhere issued by the great hoard of state inks. When the New York and Philadelphia banks ispended specie payments, this institution was imme- ately compelled to pursue the same course on May 12, 537- 54 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. On the fifth of the following month the President was requested by the Board of Directors to procure a written opinion from Henry W. Green and William Hal- sted, Esquires, whether the Bank had forfeited its charter by the suspension of specie payments, and whether it could continue discounting new paper and renew the old. Upon receipt of the opinion on the following Thursday, the Board resolved to "recommence the discounting of new notes to a limited extent." When the Legislature convened in the fall of the same year, Governor Dickerson in his annual message expressed the view "that we have too many banks" and too much paper circulation. He recommended that no law be passed recognizing the "suspension of specie pay- ments, or justify its continuance," but simply suggested that the banks be placed under proper restraint. On November ii, 1837, the Legislature, however, passed an act suspending all penalties or forfeitures of charters of banks failing to redeem their notes in specie until the termination of the next session; unless the majority of the banks in the cities of New York and Philadelphia should sooner resume specie payments, in which event the gover- nor was directed to issue his proclamation requiring all banks in the state to redeem their paper currency in specie within fifteen days after its publication. The second sec- tion of the act further provided that all banks should render forthwith to the Executive answers to certain inter- rogatories to be propounded respecting their financial af- fairs. Subsequently, by a supplement passed March i, 1838, all provisions of the organic act were indefinitely suspended, except the power invested in the governor to issue his proclamation when the banks of New York and Philadelphia resumed specie payments. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 55 In conformity with the legislative act of November , 1837, the officers and directors of The Mechanics mk on the 19th of the ensuing month rendered the gov- nor a sworn detailed statement of its affairs. Aside :>m the cash capital of $100,000 given in the statement, le of the material parts of the report showed that the mk only had notes of $42,762 in circulation, and possess- [ $16,124.63 in specie. The State Gazette on Decem- ;r 22, 1837, remarked: The condition of The Mechanics Bank is now before the mmunity, and it is proved to be worthy of great confidence. * * We want no new banks in place of such an old one. Four years later the situation of affairs in this city is ustrated in The State Gazette for May 25, 1841, by a unorous satire which began : DREADFUL HARD TIMES. Yesterday I walked down, to that part of the town, Where people collect at the sign of the tun ; To discuss and debate the great matters of state, And show how things that go wrong should be done : There was ragged Sam Bent, who is not worth a cent, There was idle Dick Lawless, and noisy Jack Grimes, ' And swaggering Jim Bell, who has nothing to sell, All cursing the banks, and these dreadful hard times. The efifects of the panic of 1837 had not blown over . Philadelphia in the beginning of 1842, for within sixty lys thereafter, aside from the banks which had failed iring the crisis, six more were forced to the wall with a )mbined capital stock aggregating over $451,000,000, aving about $6,500,000 as the banking capital of that ty. So far as the Trenton banks were then concerned, rumor was circulated in Philadelphia that The 56 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. Mechanics Bank had failed, and subsequently the Phila- delphia Ledger warned the people to be cautious in receiv- ing the notes of the Trenton Banking Company. The Mechanics Bank resumed the payment of specie for its notes in small amounts October i, 1839; but, on April 20th, 1 84 1, the Bank redeemed its notes and other obligations in hard money whenever demanded; and so continued until the 25th of the following March, when the Directors unanimously resolved to suspend specie pay- ments "and from this time forward pay out the notes of this bank instead of foreign notes." The act of March S, 1842, required the resumption of specie payments by all the banks in New Jersey on the 15th of the ensuing August. This Bank, however, did not wait for the en- forcement of this compulsory measure, for when the Philadelphia banks resumed the payment of specie on March 18, 1842, The Mechanics Bank did likewise the following day; and thereupon announced in The Phila- delphia American that its notes would be received at par in Philadelphia by the Bank of North America and by the Western Bank. And notice was also given in The True American on the 25th of March, in the same year, that this Bank exchanged the notes of the New Hope Dela- ware Bridge Company with specie. The new President, Samuel Evans, was elected April 16, 1840, and on the following Monday Timothy Abbott, Jr., who had served the Bank as teller since March 26, 1838, was appointed Cashier in place of Charles Parker who declined further service. On April 15, 1841, Mr. Evans was succeeded by Colonel Jacob Kline as President. Shortly after the re- sumption of specie payments in March, 1842, Colonel Kline commenced to subserve the interests of the Bank THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 57 rough a process of retrievement. In doing this the rvice of the teller was dispensed with, and the aggregate laries paid were reduced to two thousand dollars an- lally. The accumulated loss of nearly $25,000 in worth- 5s promissory notes and other like securities occasioned ' the late panic was sought to be wiped out by reducing e capital stock from $125,000 to $100,000. This pro- ■amme was approved by the Board of Directors on ctober 24, and consummated by an act of the Legisla- re passed February 16, 1843. In pursuance of notice iblished in the Trenton papers and the United States azette of Philadelphia, by order of the Directors made sbruary 20, the stockholders assembled in the banking )use on March 14, 1843, and by a vote of 2,643 shares tified the proposition of reducing the capital to [00,000. Colonel Kline having departed this life on November ;, 1844, appropriate resolutions were adopted by the irectors the following Monday; when, at the annual eeting held on the loth of the ensuing April, George ill was elected as his successor. The charter of the Bank was extended to January 1875, by a supplement to the organic act passed by the egislature and approved March 14, 1851. On April 13, 1852, Timothy Abbott, Jr., was elected the presidency, and Jonathan Fisk, who came into the ank's employ on January 6, 1845, was advanced to suc- ed Mr. Abbott as Cashier. Mr. Joseph Brearley became President October 17, 553, the day Mr. Abbott resigned his position. The Ivent of Mr. Brearley infused new life into the institu- >n. He was one of Trenton's most prosperous mer- ants, possessing large interests in most every enterprise 58 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. which had been estabhshed in the city. To his conserva- tism was added a keen business vision which enabled him to take advantage of every legitimate means for the finan- cial development of the Bank, which increased nearly five fold before the close of his administration in 1870. The day of Mr. Brearley's election the Directors ap- pointed Messrs. Moore, McClurg and Abbott a committee "to prepare a plan for improving the internal arrange- ment and structure of the banking house." On the 27th of the same month the plan presented was approved by the Directors, and the committee instructed "to carry the same into effect." Aside from the interior improvements, the exterior appearance was greatly enhanced with the substitution of the flat for the arched roof; which work was completed in February of the following year. The "thief proof iron safe," as described in the minutes, was purchased by the Directors on May 14, 1855, "for use in the vault." Within a year after Mr. Brearley had assumed the presidency, the business of the Bank had increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to have more capital. On November 23, 1854, the Directors ordered the Cashier to publish a notice of the Bank's intention to make appli- cation to the Legislature for an increase of capital to $400,000. Messrs. Brearley, Ingham, Abbott, Sherman and Moore, on the i8th of the ensuing January, were ap- pointed the legislative committee to facilitate the object "if the prospect is favorable." For some unknown reason the matter was dropped. A similar notice of application for capital of $500,- 000 was inserted in The State Gazette for November 20, 1855; and, on January 21 following, Messrs. Sherman, Sager, Moore, Titus and Wilkinson were designated a THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 59 committee to expedite the legislation. The committee on the following Thursday morning informed the Board of Directors their inability to give the subject the personal attention it required, when they were released and Mr. Ralph H. Shreve was retained to perform the service. On January 23, 1856, the bill to increase the capital stock of the Bank to $500,000 was introduced in the Senate. It was favorably considered on the 30th of the same month by a vote of 12 to 7, and immediately sent to the House of Assembly for its concurrence. The majority report of the Committee on Banks opposed the bill on February 5th, in connection with eleven other bills intro- duced for the incorporation of new banks, because the special privilege sought was in conflict with the policy of the general banking law established by the Legislature February 27, 1850; in consequence, the measure was de- feated on March 4 by nine votes less than that required by the Constitution. On motion made the following day the House refused to reconsider the vote and the bill was lost. The Mechanics Bank having been chartered by the Legislature in 1834, the Directors would not concede that it was compelled to reincorporate under the general bank- ing act, of 1850 to obtain its increase of capital, for if there was any force in the policy which the Committee on Blanks now endeavored to impress against it, those prin- ciples were not recognized when the Legislature extended the charter of the Bank for twenty years by its supple- ment approved March 14, 1851. Moreover, while it was recognized by some persons that the general banking law could be successfully operated in large commercial cities of other States where the deposits were large, and whose transactions were carried on by checks, call loans and 60 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. other devices of rapid commercial business, it was gene- rally conceded that the system was not applicable to the reversed conditions of the rural banks. And so far as the general banking act of 1850 in New Jersey was concerned, Governor William A. Newell, in his annual message to the Legislature on January 20, 1857, not only pronounced the act a failure, but gave warning that in the future banks will be established by special acts of incorporation. In view of Governor Newell's anticipated attitude on the banking question, the Board of Directors of The Mechanics Bank decided to make another attempt to in- crease its capital stock; and on November 10, 1856, order- ed the usual notice of intention to be inserted in the papers. On December first, Mr. Brearley together with Messrs. Richey, Sherman, Sager and Moore were named a committee to care for the Bank's interest in the Legisla- ture. The bill to increase the capital stock of The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank was introduced in the House of Assembly on January 15, 1857, known as Assembly Bill No. 12. Subsequently, four separate peti- tions of the citizens of Trenton favorable to the proposi- tion were presented to and read before the House. On the 4th of February the minority report of the Commit- tee on Banks was submitted to the Assembly in opposition to the so-called "monopoly." Then a series of amend- ments were proposed and discussed, accompanied with political log-rolling and trickery until the measure was defeated on February 25 by a vote of 33 to 22. The motion made the following morning to reconsider the vote by which the bill had been lost was tabled. The political see-saw continued until March nth, when the motion was released and the bill passed by a vote of 38 to 19; THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 61 hereupon, it was transmitted for the action of the Sen- e. On March 19, 1857, the Senate favored the final Lssage of the bill by a majority of five votes, on which Lte it was approved by the governor. On March 26, 1857, Messrs. Richey, Moore and lerman, a committee appointed the previous Monday, ibmitted to the Board of Directors a plan to be recom- ended to the stockholders for increasing the capital ock of the Bank under the recent act authorizing it. In irsuance of notice the stockholders assembled in the inking house at the annual meeting held on Tuesday, the |.th of the following month, when they voted, according i the established rule and ratio, "that the par value of e capital stock should be restored to the sum of fifty jllars per share." There were cast 3,427 votes in the firmative against 192 in the negative, to increase the ipital stock "by the creation of five thousand additional lares of fifty dollars each." The prosperity following the resumption of specie lyments in 1842 was unprecedented and nation>-wide. continued until August, 1857, when the first sign of lancial trouble was experienced in the failure of the hio Life Insurance and Trust Company in New York, o the public it was a bolt from the clear sky. The com- Lny's capital was $2,000,000. Its failure was complete, id its business was never resumed. Here was the straw at broke the overladen back of the entire financial and dustrial structure of the United States for a while. The railroads, especially those in the West, had been arfully overbuilt. Improvements had been projected ith extravagance. In the Western tracts recently opened r settlement towns grew into cities in a few weeks, dd to this the rise in commodity prices and the conse- 62 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. quent speculation in them, the cause is plain for the crash of the industrial fabric that came in 1857, that engulfed in the ruin wrought thousands of firms throughout every section of the country. The banks of the cities of New York and Philadel- phia felt the blow as they never have felt a blow, before or since. "What had merely been termed a crisis," de- clared one newspaper, "has become paralysis." When the Bank received telegraphic advice of the suspension of the Philadelphia banks on Friday after- noon, September 25, 1857, the Directors held a special meeting that evening in the banking house to determine what course they should pursue to conserve its interests. As a result Messrs. Richey and Sherman and the Cashier were delegated to consult a similar committee of The Trenton Banking Company and report the result of the conference. At another meeting of the Board held on the following — Saturday — night, the committee reported "that it had been deemed advisable to continue specie payments;" whereupon, Imlah Moore and Jonathan Fisk were requested to proceed to New York immediately to "make arrangements to secure the necessary means to carry us safely through." The suspension of the Philadelphia banks was the principal topic of conversation of the people on the streets of Trenton early Saturday morning, September 26. A few persons became frightened, and for an hour or two the demand for specie from the Bank became pretty con- stant. It was promptly met, and confidence was restored before noon after a comparatively small amount of hard money had been withdrawn. In reciting these circum- stances in The State Gazette on September 28 and 29, 1857, the editor further said: THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 63 The Mechanics Bank has not engaged in speculation, and its stability and solvency is beyond question. No one acquainted with its condition expressed the slightest alarm or the least diminution of confidence. The bank is strong. It would require a much greater panic than any we have yet experienced to get up a run. upon such an institution. When Mr. Moore and Mr. Fisk returned from New York, they reported to the Board of Directors on Mon- day morning, September 26th, that the Bank of the Com- monwealth had agreed to extend all the accommodation this Bank required "provided the note of the directors was executed and delivered to them for the sum of fifty thousand dollars as collateral security for any indebted- ness of this bank to them, which was agreed to." The height of the panic reached New York on Tues- day, the 13th oif October. On that day, after four and a half rnillion of specie had been withdrawn, the doors of no less than eighteen banks were closed. In the evening, after a protracted meeting of the officers of the solvent banks, it was decided that specie payments would have to be suspended." Upon telegraphic receipt of the action of the New York banks, this institution on October 14th was com- pelled to yield to the pressure and suspend specie pay- ments. The State Gazette again said, on the following day: The statement published last week shows that The Mechanics Bank is abundantly strong, and it would not have been obliged to suspend had it not been for the action of the New York banks. There was no run upon it; its suspension created no excitement; and its business will be continued as heretofore. The Mechanics Bank certainly deserves great credit for the manner in which it has stood up in this season of distress, and it can boast truly that it has been among the last to yield and cease the resumption of its issues in specie. 64 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. By the loth of November business generally began to improve everywhere. Three days later the Philadel- phia papers announced that the notes of The Mechanics Bank were received by all the banks in that city. When the associated banks in New York City resumed the pay- ment of specie on December 12, 1857, this Bank imme- diately pursued the same course. The Hon. Samuel D. Ingham, who had been actively associated with the directorate in the affairs of The Mechanics Bank since April 9, 1850, was now, on June 30, 1859, approaching his eightieth year in feeble health. On that day, by reason of his infirmities, he reluctantly tendered his resignation to the Board because of the "improbability that he would be able to resume his seat." Upon his earnest solicitation it was accepted, but in com- pliment to him the Board of Directors immediately elected Dr. John Howard Ingham a director to succeed his father. Mr. Ingham, in early life, represented the State of Pennsylvania for many terms in the National Congess at Washington. When Andrew Jackson was inaugurated President of the United States in 1829, Mr. Ingham be- came his Secretary of the Treasury, which position he held until 1831. On his removal to Trenton his interest in finance was illustrated in an article he wrote entitled "Observations on the Currency of the United States." At the request of Timothy Abbott and Jonathan Fisk, on the insistance of the Board of Directors of this Bank to pay half of the cost of printing, Mr. Ingham published his sketch in 185 1 ; and the only copy now known to exist may be found in The Boston Athenaeum. He led a re- tired life while in this city, being identified with all public and charitable affairs. In the fall of i860, while the commercial condition THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. 65 of the country was prosperous, there began another finan- cial upheaval owing to the alarm which afifected our poli- tical future by the unwise and aggressive policy which the people of the Southern States were exercising against a large portion of the Union. This immediately startled the money and stock markets. The banks in Baltimore, and those throughout the South and Southwest, almost simul- taneously suspended. The Philadelphia banks, as a pre- cautionary measure, likewise suspended specie on Thurs- day afternoon, November 22, i860. To protect its interests from the unscrupulous brokers of gathering up the notes of this Bank and for- warding them here for redemption. The Mechanics Bank on November 23 suspended specie payments. The State Gazette on the following day commented on this action by saying : The business men of this city generally approve of the course taken by The Mechanics Bank; and so entire is the confidence felt in it, that the announcement of its suspension on the streets yester- day scarcely produced a ruffle. There is no safer banking institution in the United States, having an abudance of means to meet all its liabilities, and being under the management of careful, prudent and honest men. How long the suspension will continue no one can tell, but the probabilities are that it will only be of short duration. As a matter of fact the banks of New Jersey did not thereafter resume specie payments until the general re- sumption on January i, 1879. The penalties of the non- redemption in specie of bank notes were suspended for one year by a legislative act approved March 24, 1862; which act was supplemented on March 6th of the follow- ing year, suspending the penalties indefinitely. On April 12, 1864, the Board of Directors approved a new by-law offered by Mr. Abbott, empowering the 5 66 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. Board to appoint an assistant-cashier whenever it should be justified. Two days later Mr. Charles Whitehead, an employee of the Bank since January i, 1854, was appoint- ed to fill the position. About noon on Monday, April 3, 1865, "The Glor- ious News of the fall of Petersburg and Richmond" was received in Trenton. The Union League flung the first flag to the breeze, followed shortly by numerous others. About three o'clock the "Good Will" boys fired a salute of 100 guns ; and later in the day, a National salute was fired at the State Arsenal. In response to an appeal of a committee of citizens, that all houses should be illuminated in honor of our victories on the evening of the 6th between the hours of 7.30 and 9 o'clock, the Board of Directors resolved at their meeting on the morning of that day "That we join in the celebration by having the Banking House suitably illimiinated." The State Gazette on the next morning, April 7, 1S65, in part, said : The illumination and celebration in this city last evening, in honor of the recent victories over our enemies, was one of the most brilliant and successful affairs of the kind ever witnessed here. * * * The number of buildings illuminated, both public and pri- vate, were so numerous that it is impossible for us to mention them all. * * * Xhe Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank made a very handsome appearance. The proclamation of the President of the United States of April 29, promulgated in Governor Joel Parker's proclamation on May 22, 1865, appointing June I as a day of Humiliation and Mourning on account of the death of the late President Lincoln, the Bank remained closed. President Brearley and the Directors of The THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 67 Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank thought favorably of the opportunity to extend their activities which was created by the passage of the National Currency Act of 1864. The signatures of stockholders representing more than two-thirds of the capital stock of $350,000 having been obtained favorable to the conversion, the Directors, on May 15, 1865, announced that it was expedient to change the organization from the State to the National system, to be known as "The Mechanics National Bank." At a special meeting of the Directors held on June I, 1865, the "Authority for Conversion," "Articles of Association" and "Organization Certificate" were duly executed and forwarded to the Comptroller of the Cur- rency in Washington. The list of the stockholders on the conversion makes reminiscent reading. Many of the men whom it brings to remembrance were not only among the financial, manu- facturing and mercantile leaders of their day, but they founded or belonged to families that have remained rep- resentative of the best to the present time. NAMES. RESIDENCE. NO. SHARES. Amy Ann Abbott Trenton, N. J 35 Ann Eliza Abbott do 3 Ann Eliza Abbott, in Trust do 2 Catherine M. Abbott do S George B. Abbott Nashville, Tenn 11 Susan C. .Abbott Trenton, N. J 32 Timothy Abbott do 3 James S. Aitkin do iS Charles C. Anderson do i Hezekiah a. Anderson do 6 James Anderson do 40 John A. Anderson Lambertville, N. J 18 John H. Anderson do S James F. Armstrong Trenton, N. J 13 68 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. NAMES. RESIDENCE. NO. SHABES. Sarah Armstrong Philadelphia, Pa 2 Susan Armstrong Trenton, N. J 9 Daniel Baker. Philadelphia, Pa 24 John C. Baker, Uxr do 4 Edward Balderston Bucks County, Pa 4 John B. Baxderston do 21 John Rhea Barton Philadelphia, Pa 127 Mercer Beasley Trenton, N. J 24 Catherine L. Beatty do 20 John J. Beatty AUentown, N. J 11 Mary E. Beatty Trenton, N. J 20 Mary E. Beatty, Trustee do i Mary E. R. Bei,vii,i,e do i Alexander Benson Philadelphia, Pa 26 Joseph H. Blackfan .Washington, D. C 68 OgdEn W. Bi^ckean Trenton, N. J 30 Ogden W. Blackean, 'Bxr 1 do 2 Joseph G. Brearley do 126 Stacy Brown Brownsburg, Pa 46 Bucks County Contributionship. .Bucks County, Pa 70 Horace A. Buttolph ^Trenton, N. J 23 Ann Callis do 3 William Callis do 4 Henry F. Carriel do ii Mary C. Carriel do 20 John S. Chambers do 36 William R. Clapp do 50 Arthur Collins Morrisville, Pa 10 John S. Comfort do 70 Sarah E. Conard Trenton, N. J 4 Nancy Convery do 3 Elias CboK do 2 John Cooper, Jr .Philadelphia, Pa 20 Lehman A. Cooper do 20 Hannah, Coryell Lambertville, N. J 6 Edward Crossland Waterbury, Conn 14 Esther H. Crozer Trenton, N. J 5 James M. Davis do 24 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 69 NAMES. KESIDBNCE. NO. SHARES. Hiram Deats Stockton, N. J 56 Robert R. Depuy Stroudsburg, Pa 37 Ch ARIES H. Dexter, Trustee Windsor Locks, Conn 50 EwzABETH R. Dii,i, Trenton, N. J 78 George Dai, do 71 John R. Dui, do 35 Harriet C. Doi,on Mauch Chunk, Pa 10 Jane Drummond Trenton, N. J 2 Jacob Dunton Philadelphia, Pa 2 Mary Dunton do 5 Richard Elias Ely New Hope, Pa 15 Hannah S. Emley Bordentown, N. J 10 Edward W. Evans Trenton, N. J 24 Samuel Evans do 303 James Ewing. do 47 Joseph Exton Clinton, N. J 14 Benjamin Fish Trenton, N. J 14 Jonathan Fisk do 120 John Fitzpateick do 40 William M. Force Jersey City, N. J 50 Daniel P. Forst Trenton, N. J 60 Jacob R. Freese do 40 Ezra B. Fuller do 63 Bennington Gill... Allentown, N. J 30 Mary E. Gill do 16 Caleb S. Green Trenton, N. J 140 Henry W. Green, TrMJi^e do 8 Nathan Haines, son of Wm Maryland 25 Reuben Haines do 25 George Hale Pennington, N. J 25 Mary Lay Hale do 12 Rebecca K. Hall Salem, N. J 12 Samuel M. Hamill Lawrenceville, N. J 40 Edith E. Hewlings Trenton, N. J 20 Emily C. Holmes Allentown, N. J 12 Joseph H. Hough Trenton, N. J 13 Elvira Howell do 73 EsiCK Howell Fallsington, Pa 20 70 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. NAMES. RESIDENCE. NO. SHARES. Eliza Jane Hunt Trenton, N. J 2 John P. Hutchinson Bordentown, N. J 20 Letitia Hutchinson ..-Trenton, N. J 13 Mahlon Hutchinson Bordentown, N. J 25 Robert C. Hutchinson .Sand Hills, N. J 50 John H. Ingham Salem, N. J 248 Jonathan Ingham do 220 William A. Ingham Philadelphia, Pa 260 William A. Ingham, in trust for B. R. Hate do 237 William A. Ingham, in trust for M. L. Emerson do 220 Alphonso C. Ireland ,,do 5 Matthew C. Jenkins do 100 Anna Johnson .Trenton, N. J 8 Clemens Jones do 37 Patrick Kelly do S William Kerwood do 20 Elizabeth Kinsman ^Philadelphia, Pa 32 Jacob Kline, Bxr .;PIuckamin, N. J 5 Lydia Kline do 30 Isaac W. Lanning, Trustee .Trenton, N. J 6 Gilbert S. Lawrie Ame3rtown, N. J 70 Asa Lippincott Cinnaminson, N. J 25 Lydia Lippincott do as Eliza M. Maynard .-Trenton, N. J 50 Mary McCauly Philadelphia, Pa 20 Hannah Middleton Crosswicks, N. J 42 Charles Moore Trenton, N. J no Imlah Moore do no Imlah Moore, Trustee do 8 ...;. 3 7 4 20 31 25 3 Sarah Moore Ewing, N. J Alfred Muirheid do John Napton Trenton, N. J... William Napton do Mary C. Newell Allentown, N. J. William J. Owens Trenton, N. J... Samuel R. Packer do THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 71 NAMES. RESIDENCE. NO. SHARES. Hei-En T. F. Paul Trenton, N. J S Frances M. Pearson do 2 Wiix/iAM A. Pierce Kingston, N. J 42 William H. Potts Trenton, N. J i Philetus S. Powers do 6 Joseph F. Randolph Jersey City, N. J 29 John M. Read Philadelphia, Pa 87 Mary E. Reading Trenton, N. J 6 Sarah A. Reading do 5 Lewis A. Reeder Lawrenceville, N. J 6 James A. Reid , Black Mills, N. J 49 Joseph Rice Trenton, N. J 10 Augustus G. Richey do 100 John J. Ridgway Philadelphia, Pa 93 Elizabeth V. Riston New York City, N. Y 3 John A. Riston do 10 Edmund Roberts Trenton, N. J 24 Elizabeth Roberts Moorestown, N. J 7 Lydia Roberts do 6 Nathaniel H. Roberts Trenton, N. J 10 Samuel Roberts do 24 StJSAN Roberts Moorestown, N. J 7 John A. Roebling Trenton, N. J 200 N. Beaks Rossell do 30 Martha Rush Philadelphia, Pa 2 Caleb Sager Trenton, N. J 9 Mary J. Sager do 2 Henderson G. Scuddek do 7 Morgan ScuddEr Ewing Township, N. J 10 David Shaw Trenton, N. J 13 Olivia Sherman do 26 Marvel Shove do 47 Eliza ShrevE do 10 Phebe Ann ShrEVE do 18 Rebecca K. Sinnickson Salem, N. J 20 John K. Smith Trenton, N. J IS Julia Ann Smith Baltimore, Md 60 Adelaide R. Stevenson Trenton, N. J i 72 THE MEX3HANICS NATIONAL BANK. KAMES. RESroeNCfi. NO. SHARES. Edward H. Stokes Trenton, N. J 20 Amelia ip. StrykEe Philadelphia, Pa 138 Elizabeth O. Stryker do 50 James D. Stryker Lambertville, N. J 140 Charles Swan Trenton, N. J. 34 Mary Taber do 6 Caroline M. Tate do 20 William S. Thomas Cinnaminson, N. J 25 Benjamin W. Titus '. Trenton, N. J 9 Benjamin W. Titus, TrMjf^e do 17 Elizabeth Titus do 16 Aaron Van Sickle Plemington, N. J 60 Maria L. VoorhEES Trenton, N. J'. 14 John P. Vroom do 60 Peter D. Vroom do 70 Joseph Waln Burlington County, N. J.. 35 Emily H. E. Watkins Washington, D. C i Robert Whitaker ..Philadelphia, Pa 100 William White Trenton, N. J 43 Charles Whitehead do 15 Frederick R. Wilkinson do 78 Ogden D. Wilkinson do 125 Samuel K. Wilson do 34 Sarah W. Wilson do 24 7,000 PART III THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK The new charter was secured and dated Saturday, July I, 1865, on which date The Mechanics Bank com- menced operations under the National Currency Act. More and more attention was constantly being direct- ed to the extraordinary success of the Bank. On July 3, 1865, The True American commented upon its new ad- venture, as follows : The Mechanics & Manufacturers Bank passed under the Na- tional Banking Law on Saturday, July i, and will hereafter be known as The Mechanics National Bank. This Bank has obtained in this community a high reputation as a safe and prudentally managed institution. Its officers are gentlemen of the first integrity — enjoying a large degree the confidence of the community. The State Gazette, on July 4, 1865, had this to say: The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank of this city has organized under the National Banking Law as The Mechanics Na- tional Bank. The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank was established over thirty years ago, and during the whole period of its existence has been an admirably managed institution ; encouraging every proper local enterprise, and by its judicious liberality adding to the pros- perity of the city. Under its new organization we trust it may meet with success. The special order of business before the Board of Directors on January 15, 1866, was the increase of the capital stock of the Bank from $350,000 to $500,000. This proposition was agreed to, and three thousand addi- tional shares of stock were ordered to issue and the money converted to the Bank on the loth of the following April. (73) 74 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Since that date the paid-up capital has remained half a million of dollars. Mr. Jonathan Pisk, who had been with the institu- tion as teller and cashier for more than twenty-two years, by reason of his continued ill health was constrained to resign his position on May 6, 1867. He was an uncle of the senior member of the famous banking firm of Fisk & Hatch in New York. In 1827 he left his native State of Vermont to enter Princeton College, but three years later his delicate health required him to abandon his studies. He then retired to Allentown, in this State, and entered the mercantile business with Mr. R. M. Stout, under the firm name of Stout & Pisk. When the firm dissolved on June 8, 1833, he continued the business for a time. On January i, 1838, he became Cashier of the banking depart- ment of the New Hope Delaware Bridge Company, where he remained until he came to this Bank on the 6th of January, 1845. His singleness of purpose, together with his courtesy toward all men, furnished a striking illustra- tion of the truth that it is possible for a Christian gentle- man to carry his ideals of Christianity with him in his business. Such representative traits suggested his selec- tion as ruling elder of the Pirst Presbyterian Church in Trenton, to which service he was ordained January 16, 1846. These and the noble standards of honesty and faithfulness in Mr. Pisk to the Bank prompted the Direc- tors to create the office of Vice-President for him on the day of his resignation as Cashier, which compliment he accepted with the condition that he should receive no remuneration. The Hoodoo Day of The Mechanics Bank was Satur- day, July 17, 1869, when the officers and clerical force present in the banking room had no funds or records to THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 75 transact business. Before the hour of nine arrived in the morning strenuous efiforts had been made to unfasten the refractory lock — Sargent's Magnetic — of the inner vault door, without avail. Their embarrassment was further increased when the customers appeared, which necessi- tated the officers of the Bank to go out among the other banking institutions of the city to borrow money to tide them over for the day. Upon telegraphic request to Wat- son & Son, safe manufacturers in Philadelphia, an expert by the name of Rogers came up, who, within a few hours, was followed by another bearing the name of Conrad. These two men labored unsuccessfully until the afternoon of the following day, when they were compelled to break through the lock with a sledge hammer, to find a broken screw in it which had caused all the trouble. Just before this was accomplished, however, Aaron Carlisle, a mason in this city, had effected an entrance by cutting through the ceiling of the vault, which rendered no service in re- moving the impediment. At the annual meeting of the Directors on January II, 1870, Mr. Joseph G. Brearley, who had been Presi- dent since 1853, and who had conducted the institution in its insignificance through the vicissitudes of life to one of wealth and prominence in the National banking sys- tem, positively declined further service by reason of the precarious condition of his health. As early as February 21, 1867, he announced to the Board his intention of vacating the presidency on the first of the following April, to afford it an opportunity to select his successor. True to his word, he sent in his written resignation on March i8th, when the Directors unanimously resolved "That the President be requested not to press the accept- ance of his resignation." Generous as Mr. Birearley was. 70 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. to his friends, he acquiesced ; but on the 27th of the fol- lowing January, he intimated to the Board a desire, "in consequence of the state of his health, to be relieved par- tially of some of the duties and that his salary be reduced accordingly," which was agreed to. Mr. Timothy Abbott, who resigned the presidency in the fall of 1853 to become Vice-President of The Tren- ton Iron Company, was re-elected President of the Bank in succession to Mr. Brearley on January 11, 1870. On October 31, 1870, the death of the Cashier, Mr. William Howe, was announced at the Board meeting, which occurred that morning at half-past seven o'clock from the lingering disease of consumption. Mr. Howe was born in Lawrenceville, N. J., February 27, 1828. He was employed by the Bank April 6, 1853 ; advanced Assist- ant-Cashier May 21, 1866; and elected Cashier on the 6th of May in the following year. He was unmarried; in- corruptibly honest; and as a scholar with cultivated re- finement and taste, he had few equals. In recognition of his valued services to this institution the usual resolutions of condolence were adopted by the Directors on the Thurs- day following his death, copies of which were transmitted to his family and also published the same day in the Trenton newspapers. In the afternoon at two o'clock the funeral was attended by the Directors in a body from the residence of his father, Roswell Howe, on West State Street. The three story brick residence of John O. Raum, adjoining the banking site on the west, with a frontage of 21.8 feet on State Street by 46.5 feet in depth, was pur- chased by the Bank at the assignee's sale on February 28, 1872, for $11,335. The deed from James Buchanan, assignee, dated April i, 1872, was delivered to the Bank, THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. 77 as was another for the same property executed by Mr. Raum and wife on June 6 of the same year. Within a week after the first deed was delivered the first floor of the Raum house was furnished for the Directors' use. In the great panic occurring in September, 1873, when large banks toppled down so generally and smaller ones following so rapidly, The Mechanics Bank with abundant resources promptly met all its obligations, as it subsequently did in every crisis or financial stringency which ensued to the present time. Mr. Timothy Abbott, who had been confined to his house at 471 Bellvue Avenue from a complication of dis- eases, was suddenly stricken with heart failure and ex- pired at 10.20 A. M., on Monday, November 20, 1882. This intelligence reached the Board room as the Direc- tors were about adjourning; whereupon, Daniel P. Forst was immediately elected Vice-President of the Bank. On the following Thursday morning the Directors adopted resolutions expressing the sterling qualities of the de- ceased President, and in the afternoon were present at his funeral. On the ninth day of the year 1883, The Mechanics Bank elected as President a man who had already been a factor in its growth near nineteen years in the person of Mr. Daniel P. Forst. In assuming his new relations Mr. Forst had long recognized that the banking house was inadequate to properly care for its increased business. The external and internal appearance of the building was antiquated; the vault primitive and too small ; and the counting-room unsuitable to the times. He communicated these views to the real estate committee, and requested it to prepare and submit plans to remedy the conditions. When these 78 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. had been formulated they were specially considered and approved by the Board at its meeting March 22, 1883. In April the work commenced by stripping off the layer of "rough cast" from the entire front walls, which were then painted in imitation brick. Around the entire building between the first and second stories, exclusive of the old Raum house, the walls were decorated with a rock- ribbed panel about two feet wide having inserted borders of buff and red-maroon title. In Warren Street the front door was walled up, and the old stone steps, approachable either from the north or south, were removed. The new entrance was established at the comer; arched, built of brown stone, and supported by a polished granite shaft in the center. It was approached by five stone steps leading to an elegant tiled vestibule, and thence to heavy polished walnut doors paneled with plate glass. A new steel vault having an interior measurement of 14 by 10 feet, with the latest improved burglar proof doors and combination locks, was relocated at the west end of the building. The interior on the main floor of the structure was replastered and decorated. New floors finished in oil substituted the old. All the old furniture was replaced with new made from mahogany, walnut and glass. The improvements were completed on October i, 1883, except the Directors' quarters, which were not finished until the following December, at a total cost of $8,456.61. On September 11, 1884, through plans submitted by the Butler Safe Company of New York, a safe deposit vault was constructed on top of the main vault of the Bank. The sixth article of the "Articles of Association" was amended by the Directors on February 16, 1885, J^i ac- cordance with the provisions of the act of Congress ap- SECOND BANKING HOUSE 1838-1883 SECOND BANKING HOUSE Improved 1883-1894 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 79 proved July 12, 1882, extending the Bank's corporate existence until May 29, 1905 ; which proceeding was sub- sequently ratified by the Comptroller of the Currency. President Forst died in his Clinton Avenue residence on Monday afternoon, May 9, 1887, from an acute at- tack of neuralgia of the heart. On the previous Saturday he had been at the Bank attending to business until noon, when, feeling somewhat indisposed, he concluded to go home and spend the remainder of the inclement day. Funeral services were held the following Thursday after- noon. The Board of Directors were represented in this last tribute of respect to one who had been so intimately associated with them. The eleventh President of The Mechanics Bcink was Mr. John Moses, who was elected May 16, 1887, vice Mr. Forst, deceased. As early as February 19, 1866, the Directors decided to make application to the authorities in Washington to have the Biank selected as a government depository, but for unknown reasons the matter was dropped. On the 9th of January, 1888, the subject was renewed, when the Board requested Harvey Fisk & Sons in New York to purchase a half million dollars of United States bonds to carry out the project; and on the 12th of the same month formal application was made to Washington to have The Mechanics Bank designated a National Depository. This was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury on the following day; and shortly thereafter $547,000 of gov- ernment funds were deposited with the Bank. On the 2 1 St of January in the ensuing year, however, the Bank relinquished the depository voluntarily as an undesirable adventure. On May i, 1888, owing to illness, Mr. Moses was 80 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. obliged to seek a three months' rest and recreation on the Pacific coast. In the fall of the following year he spent a few weeks in Europe to recuperate a declining health. And on the 27th of March, 1890, Mr. Moses, as he was about leaving again for Europe by the advice of his physicians, expressed a desire to the Board of being en- tirely relieved from the cares of the presidency of the Bank, and upon his insistance his resignation was accept- ed with expressions of regret. Mr. Sering P. Dunham was elected President of the Bank on April 7, 1890. In the fall of the same year he, in connection with other members of a special committee, submitted to the Directors a system for balancing daily all the accounts kept in the general ledger, which was approved on the 13th of November. In effecting a prospective plan for the future en- largement of the banking house, the three story brick premises adjoining it on the south, known as No. 3 South Warren Street, was purchased by the Bank from Mrs. Margaret P. James, et al., by deed executed November 23, 1891. A serious loss was sustained by The Mechanics Bank in the death of the Hon. Augustus G. Richey, which oc- curred in Trenton on Monday morning, January 15, 1894, in the 75th year of his age. To his wisdom and good judgment the successful progress of the Bank was largely attributed. He had been its Vice-President since 1889; its Attorney near thirty-seven years; and when he was stricken he was serving his thirty-eighth consecutive term on the directorate — a period longer than that of any other member, before or since. Mr. Richey graduated from Lafayette College in 1840. He then studied law, and subsequently reached 3 O I o z 2 z < m t- 2 Ul (0 Ul c a. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 81 the pinnacle of his profession. In politics he was a Re- publican, and served in the New Jersey Senate from 1866 to 1868. He was officially identified with the Trenton Saving Fund Society, and a director in many other cor- porations. In all his personal relations of life Mr. Richey exemplified the noble standards of honesty, faithfulness and courtesy that endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. At the time of his death he had for many years been a ruling elder of the Prospect Street Presbyterian Church. The fimeral services were held at noon on January i8th from his residence irf West State Street. On February i, 1894, the Board of Directors of The Mechanics Bank decided to enlarge and build another banking house on plans submitted by William A. Poland, architect; placing the general supervision of the work under the control of the real estate committee, consisting of Messrs Roebling, Rice, Moses, Hancock and Kelsey. This committee on April 2 contracted with Herring, Hall, Marvin Company to build the new safe deposit vaults; and on the 13th of the following August, the Directors accepted the proposals of W. Schwarzwailder & Co., of New York, to install the new fixtures and other furnishings upon the completion of the building. In consequence of these improvements the Bank re- moved to temporary quarters in the building of Scudder & Dunham at 26 East State Street on Wednesday after- noon, May 30, 1894. When the new structure was com- pleted, it removed back to its permanent site and resumed business on Monday, January 28, 1895. The description of the new banking house is well described by Mr. Lee in his History of Trenton, in the following language : 6 82 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. The style of the architecture is Italian renaissance. It is two stories high, with a frontage of seventy-two feet on West State Street and forty-eight on South Warren. The outside height is forty-two feet and the height of the first story is eighteen feet. The exterior is of rock-faced brick, brown stone trimming, and surmounted by a metal cornice and balustrade. Whilst the ex- terior of the building is a crowning ornament to city architecture, the inteior is said to be unequaled in the State of New Jersey. The wainscoting is of a mottled colored marble from Africa, both odd and rare, and is trimmed with yellow Nubian marble. The division between the corridors and the bank proper is of the same material; the grill work above and all other metal work is of oxidized silver. The woodwork is entirely of mahogany. The four limestone arches capping the polished granite columns near the rear end of the bank are carved. The floor is of Mosaic. Three colors of marble are used — red antique, a French marble; Glens Falls, a black, and sienna, a light colored. Across the entrance the name of the bank is shown in the floor, the letters being in the black marble. The President's room is on the lower Warren street comer, and adjoining it toward the west end the Cashier's room. The Direc- tors' room is beyond it on the south side of the building and lighted from the skylight. At the far end of the State street corridor a railing divides an apartment for the use of the women customers of the bank. White marble steps lead down to the basement, where is situated the safe deposit vault. It is said to be as nearly burglar- proof as can be made, and was constructed regardless of cost. It is fitted with coupon stalls for the convenience of customers. The bank already has in its custody three hundred safe deposit boxes, and will have room for several times that many. The second floor of the building is in keeping with the bank- ing department. A wide flight of steps leads to a handsome hall- way, where are located eight offices in suites. These offices are decorated in blue, with quartered oak woodwork, electrically lighted, heated by hot water and perfect in all appointments. They are the finest offices of their tjrpe in the State. After an administration characterized by conserva- tism and a broad intelligence in the handling of its affairs, Mr. Sering P. Dunham tendered his resignation both as V m CO m z m H (A CD -* > < 2 S z o n o o 2 o o a o z i r> < -M h5 z m « ui cc Q. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 83 President and Director, which was accepted by a letter of regret from the Directors on January 9, 1899. Mr. William M. Lanning was chosen Mr. Dunham's successor on January 12, 1899. Shortly after he assumed the office of President, Mr. Lanning observed that the in- creased duties seriously interfered with his extensive legal practice, and for that reason resigned on the 27th of the following April. During his regime, however, the United States District Court of New Jersey designated the Bank, on the 23d of January, a depository for money of bankrupt estates. On April 27, 1899, ^oi" the first time in the history of The Mechanics Bank, it secured in the election of Edward C. Stokes the services of a President who was essentially a trained banker. Mr. Stokes' bachelor life, his dislike for ostentation, and his unremitting attention to the affairs of the Bank soon caused him to be designated a man of unusually methodical methods. It was, how- ever, this strict adherence to business, combined with a rare judgment and sagacity in financial affairs, that enabled him to witness the growth of the institution to such a point of resources and power as could hardly have been conceived at the time of his selection. The import- ant events of the years 1890 to 1908 had elevated Gover- nor Stokes to that position popularly styled "a public man;" for in the interval he had served the State of New Jersey in the House of Assembly ; the Senate — its Presi- dent in 1895; Clerk of the Court of Chancery; and who completed his three year term as Governor in 1908. As a shrewd careful banker it is now generally conceded in New Jersey that Governor Stokes has few equals; as a politician and a public speaker, which is merely a diver- 84 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. sion, he has no competitor in either of the great political parties of the State. The practice heretofore in vogue of accepting the personal bonds of private individuals for the faithful per- formance of duty by the Bank's officials and employees was substituted, by order of the Directors made February I, 1900, by bonds of recognized bonding insurance com- panies. The venerable Hon. Henry C. Kelsey, who became a Director in this institution in 1888, its Vice-President in 1894, and who is well-known for his munificent philan- thropy, was given the "Bon Voyage" by all the officers and directors at the Board meeting June 17, 1901, on his initia,l trip to Europe the following day. Thereafter, until the summer of 191 5 when the World's War was in full operation, Mr. Kelsey continued his annual trips to various European countries for rest and recreation, and especially to purchase rare objects of art in pottery, bric- a-brac and other ware, which must ever remain as evi- dences of refined taste and of artistic appreciation. In recognition of the final obsequies of the late President of the United States, William McKinley, the Bank remained closed on Thursday, September 19, 1901. The property No. 5 South Warren Street, adjoining the banking house on the south, was purchased by the Bank from Mrs. Emmaline M. Snook by her deed dated June 2, 1903. On December 7, 1903, the Cashier, William W. Stelle, by reason of ill health and advancing years, re- signed his position to take effect December 31, of the same year. He was succeeded on the latter date by the promotion of Joseph R. Sweeny, who had been Assistant- THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 85 Cashier since January 12, 1888, and who came into the Bank's service on November 15, 1870. The "Articles of Association," by consent of the stockholders, were amended by a resolution of the Direc- tors on March 13, 1905, to extend the Bank's corporate existence to May 29, 1925. This succession was officially sanctioned by the Comptroller of the Currency on May 29, 1905. The new banking house that in 1894 had seemed ample for all future growth had become too cramped and inconvenient for the satisfactory conduct of its increased business. In consequence the Board decided, on Febru- ary 25, 1907, to extend the banking house twenty feet south on Warren Street in conformity with the architec- ture of the main building, upon the property lately pur- chased from the Snook estate. On the 9th of the follow- ing May, on the recommendation of Henry C. Kelsey, chairman of the building committee, the contract for the extension was awarded by the Directors to Mr. Charles W. Kafer and to Burton & Burton. In the fall of the same year the work was completed. On July I, 1908, the Bankers Association in Tren- ton recommended to the boards of the respective banks that no interest be allowed on active accounts unless the daily balance exceeded one thousand dollars. This initia- tive proposition was the ultimate solution of a trouble- some question which the banks for years had failed to harmonize. The Mechanics Bank always maintained the principle that every patron should be treated alike without discrimination, and for this reason ratified the proposition on the 9th of the same month. When the minimum bal- ance was reduced to five hundred dollars, it promptly agreed to that. And on the 27th of the following month 86 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. the Directors of the Bank ordered that, beginning with September i, 1908, the annual rate of interest to be paid on active accounts should be one and one-half per cent, on amounts in excess of an average daily balance of five hundred dollars, and three per cent, on inactive ac- counts of any amount, both to be computed and credited on the isth day of January and July of each year. Since this system has been inaugurated the Bank has paid to its customers the total sum of $1,182,730.00 as follows: Active Accounts. Year. Inactive Accounts, $45,524.77 1908 $24,865.48 50,074.05 1909 27,694.89 46,949.93 1910 32,195.54 52,759-85 rgir 38,737.26 54,402.65 1912 42,266.54 49,223.27 I9I3 44,990.60 45,617.50 1914 52,524.14 46,432.95 1915 54,479-48 62,157.20 1916 56,020.70 86,990.06 1917 67,695-32 113,690.47 1918 87y437-3S $653,822.70 $528,907.30 Section 4 of the by-laws of the Bank was amended August 5, 1909, so as to provide for two vice-presidents. This necessity then arose by reason of Mr. Kelsey's ab- sence in Europe. On the same day Joseph Rice was elect- ed Vice-President. The death of Archibald M. Maddock, Director, who died in this city on March 25, 1910, was officially an- nounced to the Board on the following Thursday, when resolutions were adopted commemorative of his high personal character and generous qualities which he ever exemplified towards his fellow men. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 87 On September i8, 191 1, the Bank was officially designated as a Postal Savings Depository, a service which it still performs. The Vacation and Holiday Clubs were inaugurated March 10, 1913, and they are operated under Charles M. Wrightson's system. At the close of the fiscal year of 19 1 8, the Bank had paid out in the past six years the total sum of $6x3,590.76. The annual statements are: :iubs. Members. Amounts. I9I3 760 $14,582.00 I9I4 2,671 73,630.00 19IS 2.9S6 84,615.00 1916 3>937 123,378.00 I9I7 4,885 160,087.00 I9I8 4,085 157,298.76 Mr. Joseph Rice, the Vice-President, and who had been an influential member of the directorate for more than twenty-two years and whose personality exerted a beneficial influence in many directions, after a brief ill- ness died at his summer home in Belmar, N. J., on July 14, 1913, in the 79th year of his age. The ftmeral ser- vices were held in the mortuary chapel of Ivins & Taylor in this city on the following Thursday afternoon, and his remains were subsequently interred in the Greenwood Cemetery. By reason of the burdens which had gradually been heaped upon the President through the astonishing growth of the Bank, Harry D. Leavitt, the Assistant Cashier and trusted friend of Governor Stokes, on June i, 191 3, was appointed an assistant to the President ; and on the death of Mr. Rice, he was again elevated to the position of Vice- President on the 13th of the following November. 88 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. The innovation introduced by some of the city banks of keeping their institutions open for business on Friday and Saturday evenings of each week beginning Friday, December 5, 1913, this Bank commenced to do likewise, between the hours of 7.30 and 9.30, but abandoned the scheme on the 2d of the following month. On Monday, January 26, 1914, Governor Stokes an- nounced to the Board the death of Harry S. Maddock, Director, which occurred at his residence 340 Hamilton Avenue after a few days illness. Mr. Maddock was prominently identified with the leading pottery interests of this city, and by his personality, ability and success he commanded the highest esteem and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. His funeral was held on the following Tuesday morning, and his body interred in Riverview Cemetery. The Mechanics Bank was the first one in Trenton to notify the Organization Committee of its intention to accept the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act, which it did January 26, 1914. The proposition was ratified on the 1 6th of the following month. When the geographical limits of the federal system were defined, locating this Bank in District No. 3 and served by the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia, the necessary stock was subscribed and paid as called for in installments of $11,000 each on October 30, 1914, January 26 and April. 30, 1915. On September 28, 1914, the Directors approved the plans of Hoggson Brothers, architects, of New York City, recommended by the building committee, to make certain alterations and improvements in the interior of the bank- ing house. These consisted chiefly in installing a ladies' department; removing the Directors' room in the south- west corner of the building and providing a new one on THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 89 the second floor; changing the platform of the executive officers to the Warren Street side; the installation of a new telephone system; new electrical fixtures; electrical elevator; and numerous minor changes. While the improvements were being made the Bank occupied temporary quarters in the building owned by Mr. Charles Stuckert at No. lo North Warren Street. It moved thereto on Saturday afternoon, the 5th of October, and returned to its permanent site on Saturday afternoon, December 21, 19 14. During the alterations the Board of Directors held its meetings in a room on the second floor of the Bank until the 15th of October, when they were held in the Stuckert building. Thereafter, on November 16, the Board met in the law offices of Mr. Isaac F. Richey at No. 11 West State Street until it re- moved to its new quarters at the Bank on January 11, 1915- The New Jersey Society of Pennsylvania on Satur- day afternoon at 2.30 o'clock, December 11, 191 5, with appropriate ceremonies dedicated a, large bronze tablet which it caused to be erected on the outer north wall of the banking house, commemorative of the historical in- terests associated with the site. Hon. Frederick W. Don- nelly, Mayor of the City, in a short speech welcomed the Society to Trenton. The Hon. J. Hampton Moore of Philadelphia made the presentation address, which was responded to by the Hon. Barton B. Hutchinson of this city. The ceremonies were followed by an informal lunch- eon tendered by the Bank to its guests at the Trenton House. On March 19, 191 7, Governor Stokes announced to the Board of Directors the death of Ferdinand W. Roeb- ling, which occurred at his residence 222 West State 90 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Street on Friday afternoon, March i6, 19 17, following a brief illness. Mr. Roebling became a Director in this Bank January 12, 1869, and with the exception of a little over two months time in the fall of 1892 when he was off from the directorate, he served longer on the Board than any other member. Mr. Roebling was the son of John A. Roebling, the world's distinguished engineer. He was a most loyal and devoted friend, generous and public spirited, whose per- sonal habits were characterized by simplicity, totally devoid of ostentation. His long career meant much to the finan- cial and other enterprises of this city and to the nation. The funeral rites were conducted at his late residence on the following afternoon, and his remains were subse- quently interred in the Ewing Cemetery. The necessity for more room to accommodate The Mechanics Bank's increased business needs had been so clearly recognized during the past two years that on Feb- ruary 14, 1918, it purchased from Albert C. D. Wilson and others the property adjoining it on the south known as No's 7 and 9 South Warren Street, which will probably be held in reserve until the war conditions favor methods for extending the present banking house or erecting an entirely new structure. On August 5, 19 1 8, the Bank was designated by the Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer as a depository for the Alien Property Custodian. By a resolution adopted by the Board on February 10, 1919, application was made to The Federal Reserve Board of Philadelphia for permission to establish a Trust Department in the Bank, to act as Trustee or in any other fiduciary capacity allowable under the laws of New Jersey 2 < > H O Z H O I m D m D o > O 2 O ■n H I m m o 2 N m > CD r m H THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 91 and subject to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. The request was approved March 29, 1919, and on the 1st of the following June the Department was open- ed for business. The Mechanics Bank was founded with the purpose of making it strictly a commercial institution devoted to the interests of the people O'f Trenton. It has never de- viated from this policy in the slightest degree. The at- tainment of such splendid results exhibited in the following tabulated statements is without parallel in this city, and it is doubtful whether it can be excelled in any community having the population of Trenton. When it entered the National banking system its growth became steady. Within the past twenty years, under the skillful manage- ment of Governor Stokes and his associates, it has grown by leaps and bounds. The assets have increased more than six fold; its surplus has been more than doubled; the undivided profits have increased more than seven fold ; and the deposits have risen from $1,674,074.57 to $14,- 499,851.18. BANK STATEMENTS DATE ASSETS CAPI- TAI, SUR- PLUS tjNDlVlUED PROFITS DEPOSITS Nov. 5, 1835 Jan. I, 1840 Jan. I, 1845 Jan. I, 1850 Jan. I, 1855 Jan. 2, i860 Jan. 2, 1865 July 2, 1866 $172,489 42 189,898 42 251,596 82 268,224 32 566,522 18 663,179 58 1,373,323 54 1,204,384 91 $50,000 124,080 100,000 100,000 225,000 300,000 350,000 500,000 $42,236 84 ....... $4,357 $4,772 42 11,629 12 9,889 09 24,305 01 34,839 36 65,558 66 50,186 03 23,663 03 53,823 02 49,216 07 109,455 27 105,696 54 321,335 03 226,461 20 •92 THE MECHANICS NATIONAl. BANK. Bank Statements — Continued. CAPI- SUR- UNDIVIDED DATE ASSETS TAL PLUS PROFITS DEPOSITS Jan. 22, 1870 1,390,174 40 500,000 30,000 44,96667 405,614 37 May I. 1875 1,535,712 16 500,000 100,000 46,522 41 502,882 93 June II, 1880 1,582,916 62 500,000 100,000 56,827 12 538,369 67 March 10, i88s 1,696,947 35 500,000 100,000 38,479 17 516,929 OS Feb. 28, 1890 1,900,971 20 500,000 250,000 99,731 52 746,606 63 March 5, 189s 2,609,595 03 500,000 250,000 82,044 56 1,588,067 62 Feb. 13, 1900 2,821,182 70 500,000 250,000 103,704 62 1,674,074 57 Jan. II, 190S 4,781,835 38 500,000 400,000 153,676 86 3,048,231 T] Jan. 31, 1910 6,728,642 41 500,000 500,000 339,312 21 4,899,61s 20 May I, 191S 7,978,592 63 500,000 600,000 503,433 16 5,494,699 23 March 7, 1916 9,203,008 21 500,000 600,000 526,885 52 6,625,597 01 March S, 1917 11,050,957 33 500,000 600,000 614,512 44 8,346,990 08 March 4, 1918 14,938,718 46 500,000 600,000 655,878 68 12,444,124 52 Dec. 31, 1918 16,335,593 22 500,000 600,000 727,175 86 13,218,384 90 May 12, 1919 18,223,515 so 500,000 600,000 880,506 30 14,499,851 18 RESUME Board of Directors The Board of Directors of the Bank under its State charter was always composed of thirteen members, who were elected annually on the second Tuesday in April ; but on its conversion to the National system on July i, 1865, the Board consisted of nine members who were elected on the second Tuesday in January of each year. On Jan- uary 10, 191 1, the Board was increased to eleven mem- bers, and on the 23d of December, 1912, it was further in- creased to twelve members. Since the establishment of the Bank in 1834 the Board meetings have been regularly held on Mondays and Thursdays of each week. The hour of meeting at first was ten o'clock in the morning, but on THE3 MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 9a January 24, 1895 it was chained to eleven o'clock. Sub- sequently it reverted back to ten o'clock. It has con- tinued to meet at eleven o'clock since July 3, 1911. Capital Stock The par value of the capital stock has always re- mained fifty dollars a share. The original issue was 5,000 shares, paid for at various periods down to June i, 1857 in installments of five dollars each. On March 14, 1843 the capital was reduced to $100,000. The issue after April 15, 1859 was sold for its full face value. A new certificate of the stock was ordered to be prepared on April II, 185 1. The following table shows when and how the stock was issued and paid : DATE OF NO. OF PAYMENT SHAKES AMOUNT PAID TOTAL CASH CAPITAL, April 12, 1834 S,ooo $5 00 $25,000 00 Sept. I, 1834 500 50,000 00 Jan. 2, 183s S 00 75,000 00 April II, 1836 5 00 100,000 00 Feb. 4, 1839 5 00 125,000 00 May 15, 1851 S 00 125,000 00 Oct. I, 1852 5 00 150,000 00 August I, i8s3 S 00 175,000 00 Oct. I, i8s3 5 00 200,000 00 May I, 1854 S 00 225,000 00 June I, 1857 S 00 250,000 00 April 15, 1859 Soo SO 00 275,000 00 Oct. IS, 1859 Soo SO 00 300,000 00 April IS, i860 soo SO 00 325,000 00 Oct. IS, i860 500 SO 00 350,000 00 April 10, 1866 3,000 SO 00 500,000 00 94 the mechanics national bank. Gross Earnings and Dividends Since the Bank began business September 25, 1834, down to July i, 1919 the gross earnings have amount- ed to $6,585,842.39, out of which $3,831,680.09 has been paid out in dividends to the stockholders, and $1,182,- 730.00 paid in interest to the depositors since September I, 1908. Nearly two-thirds of the gross earnings have been made within the past twenty years under the regime of Governor Stokes, and nearly half of the total dividends were paid during the same period. The first dividend was paid October 20, 1835. With the exception of the years 1837, 1838, 1840 and 1842, in which only one annual dividend was declared, dividends were paid semi-annually until 1912, since when they have been declared quarterly. An extra dividend was paid in the years 1899 to 1902, 1906 and 1912. In the years 1903, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911 and 1918, two extra dividends were declared annually; and in 1919, to July i, three extra dividends have been made. On July i, 1864 a special divi- dend of 5% was paid out of the undivided profits, and another one of 1% was likewise declared June 25, 1917. The 179th regular dividend was paid on the ist of July, 1919. Thus, on April 14, 1843, first commenced a series of dividends which have been maintained with clockwork regularity to this day. Moreover, their percentage has constantly increased, or else has been upheld, in spite of the severest financial reverses that the nation has under- gone during the years past. The following list shows the dividends paid on the capital stock, including the two special dividends paid in 1864 and 1917, from the undivided profits to July i, 1919: THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 9S RATE RATE YEAR PER CENT. AMOUNT YEAR PER CENT. AMOUNT 1835 3 $1,500 00 1877 10 $50,000 00 1836 1837 6 3,250 00 1878 10 50,000 00 3 3,000 00 1879 9 45,000 00 1838 3 3,000 00 1880 1837 (*)Oct. 29, i8S7. James Rogers Nov. 16, i8S7 (*) Dec. 20, 1868. Joseph H. Hough Dec. 21, 1868 (t) Aug. 22, 1889. Cleveland Hilson Aug. 29, 1889 Oct. 2, 1893. Jacob Cadwallader Slack Oct. 2, 1893 ' Died; t Resigned. TIMOTHY ABBOTT, JR. JOSEPH G. BREARLEY DANIEL P. FORST JOHN MOSES SERING P. DUNHAM WILLIAM M. LANNING SKETCH OF THE DIRECTORS Including their corporate interests while connected with The Mechanics Bank. Residence of each is Trenton unless otherwise stated. DIRECTORS Timothy Abbott, Jr. : Cashier, April 20, 1&40 ; President and Director, April 13, 1852; Director, October 17, 1853 to June 30, 1865; President and Director, January 11, 1870 to November 20, 1882. Director, Trenton Delaware Falls Co., June 2, 1834; Man- ager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, March 7, 1844; Secretary and Manager, May 18, 1847; Manager, July 9, 1847 to November 20, 1882 ; Vice-President and Director, Trenton Water Power Co., 1845 ; Director, 1857 to 1859; Vice-President and Director, Trenton Iron Co., 1857 to 1859. Incorporator, Trenton Oil Cloth Manufacturing Co., March 3, 1855; The National Pottery Co., March 3, 1869, and The New Jersey Trust & Safe Deposit Co., March 26, 1872. Born near Trenton, N. J., June 3, 1809; died at Trenton, N. J., November 20, 1882. ***** James Anderson : Director, August i, 1842 to April 12, 1853. Farmer. Born near Trenton, N. J., March 3, 1798; died at Trenton, N. J., November 17, 1863. ***** Samuei, Titus Atchley: Director, January 14, 1913; present incumbent. (See p. ill.) ***** Stacy Brown Barcsoft: Director, April 8, 1845 to April 10, 1849. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa. Dry Goods Merchant. Direc- tor, Girard National Bank, 1847-1849; 1852-1854; 1858-1859; 1860- 1864; and 1867-1869. Born at Kingwood, N. J., January 29, 1795; died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 19, 1870. ***** liliERceR BeaslEy: Attorney, February 2, 1852; Attorney and Director, April 13, 1852; Attorney, April 14, 1857 to April 20, (117) 118 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. 1857. Ccmnsellor-at-Law. Chief Justice Supreme Court of New Jersey, March 8, 1864 to February 19, 1897. Born at Philadelphia, Pa., March '2:7, 1815 ; died at Trenton, N. J., February 19, 1897. ***** Crispin BlackFan: Director, March 19, 1835 to April 11, 1837. Born in Bucks County, Pa., September 25, 1796; died at Trenton, N. J., July 22, 1848. ***** Ogden Wilkinson Blackfan : Director, June 24, 1867 to January 11, 1870. Coal, Wood & Lumber Merchant. Director, People's Fire Insurance Co., 1865-1868; and President, Board of Trade, 1872. Born in Bucks County, Pa., January 14, 1826; died at Trenton, N. J., March 28, 1873. ***** Joseph Ghxingham Breaelby: Director, April 8, 1845; President and Director, October 17, 1853; Director, January 11, 1870 to April 23, 1874. Hardware Merchant. City Treasurer of Trenton, 1839-1840; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, April 13, 1852 to April 23, 1874; Treasurer, Temperance Hall Association, 1854-1859; Director, The U. S. Casualty Co., February 13, 1866;. Director, Mercer Pottery Co., October 14, 1868 to April 23, 1874; Treasurer, Washington Market Association, February 8, 1870 to April 23, 1874; and Manager, The State Savings Bank, 1870. In- corporator, Union Health Insurance Co., February 22, 1849; The Trenton Arms Co., March 11, 1862; The Trenton Zinc Co., March 19, 1862; The Trenton Car Works, March 18, 1863; Trenton Lock Co., March 9, 1866; The Trenton Hall & Building Association, March 15, 1866; and The New Jersey Trust & Safe Deposit Co., February 8, 1870. Bom near Trenton, N. J., March 15, 1808; died at Trenton, N. J., August 23, 1874. ***** Newton Albert Kendall Bugbee: Director, January 10, 191 1; present incumbent. (See p. no.) John Story Chambers: Director, January 14, 1879; Vice- President and Director, May 23, 1887 to January 8, 1889. Treas- urer and Director, Trenton Gas Light Co., June 23, 1856; General THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 119 Manager and Director, June 8, 1857 to 1898; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 15, 1859; Secretary and Treasurer, March 13, 1866, and resigned August 28, 1869; Manager, September 7, 1869, and resigned January 24, 1871 ; Manager October 21, 1884, to February 23, igoi ; City Commissioner of Trenton Sinking Fund — serving without bond, July 4, 1865, and resigned April 13, 1899; Director, Merchants Transportation Co., February 5, 1883 ; President and Director, December 10, 1884 to 1900; Director, Penn Gas Coal Co., January 27, 1894, and resigned February S, 190a. Born at Trenton, N. J., November 27, 1822; died at Trenton, N. J., Febru- ary 23, 1901. ***** Robert Chambers: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835. Farmer. Born at Trenton, N. J., July 2, 1788; died at New York, N. Y., February 22, 1865. James HervEy Clark: Cashier, November 7, 1870; Cashiw and Director, January 8, 1878; Cashier, January 9, 1883 to April 2, 1883. City Treasurer of Trenton, 1852-1853; and 1859-1862. Born near Pennington, N. J., February 10, 1823; died at Trenton, N. J., June 6, 1882. Samuel Comly: Director, April 14, 1835 to April 11, 1837. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa. Commission Merchant. Born at Philadelphia, Pa., April 15, 1789; died at Brooklyn, N. Y., February IS. 1866. William John Convery: Director, January 14, 1913; present incumbent. (Seep, iii.) Elias Cook : Director, April 14, 1857 to June 30, 1865. Lum- ber Merchant. Died at Trenton, N. J., October i, 1879, aged 62 years. ***** William Grant Cook: Director, April 10, 1838 to April 14, 1840. Lumber Merchant and Real Estate. Born near Princeton, N. J., August 20, 1806; died at Trenton, N. J., June 19, 1875. 120 THE MECHANICS NATIONAl. BANK. Samuei, Meredith Dickinson : Director, January 13, 1891 to January 14, 1902. Paymaster, U. S. Navy, June 17, 1861, and re- signed November i, 1862; Private Secretary to Gov. Joel Parker, 1863-1866; Colonel and Asst. Adjutant General of New Jersey, De- cember 27, 1865 ; Brevet Brigadier General and retired July 5, 1893 ; Deputy State Comptroller, 1865-1871 ; Chief Clerk of Court of Chan- cery, 1871-190S; President, Trenton & Ewing Turnpike Co., 1891- 1893 ; and Director, The Real Estate, Safe Deposit, Trust & Invest- ment Co., April 21, 1890 to April 18, 1892. Born at Trenton, N. J., June 25, 1839; <^ied at Trenton, N. J., January 29, 1905. ***** George Dill: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835; April II, 1837 to April 10, 1838; April 23, 1838, and declined April 30, 1838; April 13, 1841 ; President and Diirector, January 6, 1845, to April 13, 1852. Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, March 7, 1844, and resigned December 3, 1853. Born at Philadelphia, Pa., February 7, 1772 ; died at Trenton, ^N. J., December 31, 1856. ***** John RedingEr Dill : Director, April 10, 1838, and declined April 21, 1838; September 3, 1874 to October 17, 1880. Member of New Jersey Assembly, 1849. Born at Trenton, N. J., October 16, 1804; died at Trenton, N. J., October 17, 1880. ***** Sering Potter Dunham: Director, January 8, 1889; Presi- dent and Director, April 7, 1890 to January 9, 1899. Dry Goods Merchant. Born at Larger Cross Roads, Somerset County, N. J., October 20, 1842; died at Trenton, N. J., November 16, 1913. ***** Alexander Dunn : Director, January 10, 1888 to January 12, 1891. Hardware Merchant. Director, The Real Estate, Safe De- posit, Trust and Investment Co., January 26, 1887, and resigned May 19, 1887; and Director, Broad Street National Bank, 1887- 1891. Died at Trenton, N. J., March 20, 1891, aged 48 years. ***** Samuel I. EmlEy: Director, November 6, 1837 to April 10, 1838. Dry Goods Merchant. Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 30. i860. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 121 Edward Waterman Evans: Director, January ii, 1870 to January 13, 1891. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Princeton, Class i860; Director, Trenton Gas Light Co., 1873-1876; and Treas- urer, City Gas Light Co., 1879-1891. Born at Trenton, N. J., Octo- ber 9, 1837. Samuei. Evans: Director, April 11, 1837 to April g, 1839; April 14, 1840; President and Director, April 16, 184a; President, April 13, 1841 to April 15, 1841. City Treasurer of Trenton, 1837- 1839; 1840-1841; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 1838- 1842; and Treasurer, Trenton Water Works, 1840-1846. Born at Tren- ton, N. J., February 22, 1792; died at Trenton, N. J., January 15, 1881. Isaac Gray FarlEE: Director, April 14, 1835 to April 11, 1837; April 14, 1841 to April 8, 1845. Residence, Flemington, N. J. Merchant. Colonel, ist Regiment Hunterdon County Militia, Feb- ruary 10, 1816; Brigadier-General December 9, 1823, and resigned February 26, 1830; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1818-1819; 1827- 1829; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, November 23, 1822; April I, 1852, to January 12, 1855; Clerk of Hunterdon County, 1830-1840 ; Representative of Congress from New Jersey, 1843-184S ; Member New Jersey Senate, 1847-1849; and President, Hunterdon County Bank, April 15, 1854 to January 12, 1855. Born near White House, N. J., May 18, 1787; died at Flemington, N. J., January 12, 18SS. Jonathan Fisk: Cashier, April 13, 1852; Cashier and Direc- tor, December 12, 1861 ; Vice-President and Director, May 6, 1867, to January 11, 1870. Cashier, banking department New Hope Dela- ware Bridge Co., January I, 1838 to January 6, 1845 ; Treasurer, Trenton Saving Fund Society, June 21, 1847; Secretary and Treas- urer, July 9, 1847; Manager, March 13, 1866 to December 5, 1872; and City Treasurer of Trenton, 1849-1852; and 1853-1858. Incor- porator, The Mercer Pottery Co., March 28, 1866; and The East Trenton Land & Building Co., April 6, 1866. Born at Waitsfield, Vt., May 6, 1809 ; died at Allentown, N. J., December 5, 1872. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 121 Edward Waterman Evans: Director, January ii, 1870 to January 13, i8gi. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Princeton, Class i860; Director, Trenton Gas Light Co., 1873-1876; and Treas- urer, City Gas Light Co., 1879-1891. Born at Trenton, N. J., Octo- ber 9, 1837. Samubi, Evans: Director, April 11, 1837 to April 9, 1839; April 14, 1840; President and Director, April 16, 184a; President, April 13, 1841 to April 15, 1841. City Treasurer of Trenton, 1837- 1839; 1840-1841; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 1838- 1842; and Treasurer, Trenton Water Works, 1840-1846. Born at Tren- ton, N. J., February 22, 1792; died at Trenton, N. J., January 15, 1881. Isaac Gray Fari,EE: Director, April 14, 1835 to April 11, 1837; April 14, 1841 to April 8, 1845. Residence, Flemington, N. J. Merchant. Colonel, ist Regiment Hunterdon County Militia, Feb- ruary ID, 1816; Brigadier-General December 9, 1823, and resigned February 26, 1830; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1818-1819; 1827- 1829; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, November 23, 1822; April I, 1852, to January 12, 1855 ; Clerk of Hunterdon County, 1830-1840 ; Representative of Congress from New Jersey, 1843-184S ; Member New Jersey Senate, 1847-1849; and President, Hunterdon County Bank, April 15, 1854 to January 12, 1853. Born near White House, N. J., May 18, 1787; died at Flemington, N. J., January 12, 1855. Jonathan Fisk : Cashier, April 13, 1852 ; Cashier and Direc- tor, December 12, 1861 ; Vice-President and Director, May 6, 1867, to January 11, 1870. Cashier, banking department New Hope Dela- ware Bridge Co., January i, 1838 to January 6, 1845; Treasurer, Trenton Saving Fund Society, June 21, 1847; Secretary and Treas- urer, July 9, 1847; Manager, March 13, 1866 to December S, 1872; and City Treasurer of Trenton, 1849-1852; and 1853-1858. Incor- porator, The Mercer Pottery Co., March 28, 1866; and The East Trenton Land & Building Cta., April 6, 1866. Born at Waitsfield, Vt., May 6, 1809; died at AUentown, N. J., December s, 1872. 122 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Daniei, Paeey Forst: Director, April 12, 1864; Vice-Presi- dent and Director, November 20, 1882; President and Director, Jan- uary 9, 1883 to May 9, 1887. Wholesale Grocer. Director, Peoples Fire Insurance Co., 1867-1868; President, Board of Trade, 1874; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, February 16, 1883, to May 9, 1887; and Director, The Real Estate, Safe Deposit, Trust & In- vestment Co., January 26, 1887 to May 9, 1887. Incorporator, The Trenton Vise & Tool Co., March s, 1868 ; and The 'New Jersey Trust & Safe Deposit Co., March 26, 1872. Born at New Hope, P'a., April II, 1822; died at Trenton, N. J., May 9, 1887. ***** Ezra Bourne Fuller: Director, April 9, 1861 to January 12, 1869; January 13, 1874 to September 14, 1874. Banker. Graduate of Bowdoin College, Class 1828. Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 17, 1863 to S^tember 14, 1874. Bom at Augusta, Me., February 10, 1807; died at Trenton, N. J., September 14, 1874. ***** William Grant: Director, April 11, 1837; President and Director, April 13, 1837; President, April 14, 1840 to April 16, 1840. State Treasurer of New Jersey, 1832; Incorporator, The Assanpink Manufacturing Co., February 28, 1835 ; and Trenton Gas & Insurance Co., February 26, 1838. Born near Trenton, N. J., August 21, 1791 ; died at Lebanon, Pa., June 21, 1872. ***** Charles Gustavus Green: Director, April 12, 1836 to April 14, 1840. Lumber Merchant. Graduate of Princeton, Class of 1831 ; Incorporator, The Trenton Flax Co., February 4, 1837. Born at Lawrenceville, N. J., May 2, 1812; died at Trenton, N. J., January 7, 1847- ***** Edward Thomas Green : Director, January 10, 1888 ; resigned October 28, 1889. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Princeton, Class 1854; Graduate of Harvard, Class 1858; Major, 3d Battalion, Infan- try, National Guard of New Jersey, June 28, 1869, and resigned March 15, 1872; Director, The Real Estate, Safe Deposit, Trust & Investment Co., January 26, 1887; President and Director, May ig, 1887; President, April 16, 1888, and resigned July 26, 1888; Judge U. S. District Court of New Jersey, 1889-1896; and Trustee of SAMUEL R. HAMILTON HENRY W. GREEN JAMES WILSON SCOTT SCAMMELL STACY G. POTTS MERCER BEASLEY GARRET D. W. VROOM THE MECHANICS NATIONAli BANK. 123 Princeton College, 1891-1896. Bom at Trenton, N. J., June 8, 1837; died at Trenton, N. J., October 10, i8g6. GeoRGE Smith Green: Director, April 9, 1839 to April 14, 1840. Lumber Merchant. Born at Lawrenceville, N. J., June 28, 1798; died at Trenton, N. J., November 17, 1883. ***** Henry Woodhui,!, GreEn : Director, February 19, 1834 to April 12, 1836; May i, 1837, and declined May 11, 1837; June 4, 1838, and declined June 6, 1838; April g, 1839 to April 14, 1840; and Attorney, April 20, 1837 to April 20, 1840. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Princeton, Class 1820; Trustee of Princeton Seminary, 1833- 1876; Chancery Reporter, February 28, 1838 to November 2, 1846; Member of New Jersey Assembly, 1842-1843; Member of New Jersey Constitutional Convention, 1844; Chief Justice Supreme Court of New Jersey, November 2, 1846 ; Chancellor of New Jersey, March 15, i860, and resigned May i, 1866 ; and Trustee of Princeton College, 1850-1876. Born at Lawrenceville, N. J., September 20, 1804; died at Trenton, N. J., December 19, 1876. John Carr Haines : Director, April 13, 1841 to April 8, 184s. Gieneral Store Merchant. Born at Evesham, N. J., in 1806; died at Trenton, N. J., May 19, 1845. ***** George Hai,E: Director, March S, 1863 to January 11, 1870. Pastor of Presbyterian Church at Pennington, N. J. Born at Cats- kill, N. Y., June 8, 1812; died at Philadelphia, Pa., November 11, 1888. ***** Samuel Randolph Hamilton: Director, February 19, 1834 to April II, 1837; Attorney, April 16, 1835 to April 20, 1837. Coun- cellor-at-Law. Brigadier-General and Quartermaster-General of l^ew Jersey, March 3, 1837, and resigned September 18, 1855; and Mayor of Trenton, 1847-1849. Bom at Princeton, N. J., June 7, 1790; died at Trenton, N. J., August 13, 1856. 124 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. WiLtiAM Steti,er HIancock: Director, November 4, 1889 to January 10, 1899. Banker and Capitalist. Director, Trenton Hall & Building Association, 1876 to May 25, 191 5; Director, Ceramic Art Co., 1889 to 1906; Director, The Trenton Potteries Co., November 21, 1892 to May 25, 1915 ; New Jersey State Comptroller, 1894 to 1902 ; and Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 18, 1898 to May 25, 1915. Born at Trenton, N. J., October 10, 1854 ; died at Brown's Mills, N. J., May 25, 1915. Abram Stevens Hewitt: Director, April 14, 1846 to April II, 1848. Manufacturer. Secretary, Trenton Iron Co., February 16, 1847; and Mayor of New York City, N. Y., 1887- 1889. Born at Haverstraw, N. Y., July 21, 1822 ; died at New York, N. Y., January 18, 1903. Churchili, Houston: Director, April 11, 1837 to April 10, 1838; April 9, 1839 to April 14, 1840; April 13, 1841 to April 11, 1843. Woolen Manufacturer at Groveville, N. J. Born at Trenton, N. J., and died at Philadelphia, Pa., January 15, 1845. James Hoy : Director, March 19, 1835 to April 9, 1839 ; April 14, 1840, and declined April 16, 1840; April 13, 1841, and resigned June 14, 1841. Cotton Manufacturer. Director, Trenton Delaware Falls Co., June 2, 1834. Born in Ireland; died at Trenton, N. J., March 29, 1852, aged 68 years. ***** John Howard Ingham: Director, June 30, 1859 to June 30, 1865. Retired. Born near New Hope, Pa., April 16, 1804; died at Philadelphia, Pa., February 16, 1866. ***** Samuel Dblusenna Ingham: Director, April 9, 1850, and resigned June 30, 1859. Retired. Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, September 6, 1851 to June 5, i86a; Member Pennsylvania Assembly, 1805-1807; Secretary of State of Pennsylvania, July 6, 1819 to December 19, 1820; Representative in Congress from Penn- sylvania, March 4, 1813 to July 6, 1818, and from December 2, 1822 to March 3, 1829; and Secretary of the Treasury of the United THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 125. States, March 6, 1829, and resigned June 21, 1831. Born at Great Springs, near New Hope, Pa., September 16, 1779; died at Trenton,, N. J., June 5, i860. * ^ iti * * Matthew C. Jenkins: Director, April 12, 1853 to April io„ 1855. Coal and Lumber Merchant. Died at Philadelphia, Pa., May 12, 1855. * * ^ * * Henry Cooper Kelsey: Director, January 16, 1888; Vice- President and Director, February i, 1894; present incumbent. (See- p. 105.) ***** Jacob Kune: Director, April 13, 1841; President and Direc- tor, April IS, 1841 to November 15, 1844. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1820-1825, and 1830-1831; Colonel, Second Regiment,, Somerset Brigade, New Jersey Militia, March i, 1828, and resigned March 4, 1835; Lieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, Staff Gov. Peter D. Vroom, June 2, 1830 to October 26, 1832, and February 10, 1834 to 1836; State Treasurer of New Jersey, 1836; Incorpora- tor, The Trenton Insurance Co., March 2, 1842; and Manager,. Trenton Saving Fund Society, March 7, 1844 to November 15, 1844. Born near Pluckamin, N. J., April 8, 1783; died at Trenton, N. J., November 15, 1844. ***** Robert Curtis Koi,b: Director, December 10, 1914; present. incumbent. (See p. 112.) ***** Rudolph Victor Kuser: Director, October 12, 1905; present incumbent. (See p. 109.) ***** Anderson Lalor: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14,. 1840. Farmer. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1835-1836. Died' in Nottingham Township, Mercer County, N. J., December 8, 1845. ***** William Mershon Lanning: Director, February 26, 1894;- President and Director, January 12, 1899; Director, April 27, 1899, and resigned . October 9, 1905; Attorney, March 12, 1894, and re- 126 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. signed June 6, 1904. Counsellor-at-Law. Manager, Trenton Sav- ing Fund Society, March 15, 1898 to February 16, 1912; Director, Real Estate Title Co., April 18, 1898 to February 16, 1912; Repre- sentative in Congress from New Jersey, 1903-1904; Judge U. S. District Court of New Jersey, 1904; and Judge U. S. Circuit Court, 1909-1912. Born near Ewing, N. J., January i, 1849; died at Tren- ton, N.^J., February 16, 1912. JosSPH LiPPiNCOTT : Director, April 14, 1840 to April 13, 1841 ; and April 12, 1842 to April 11, 1843. Residence, Cinnaminson, N. J. Farmer. Born near Westfield, N. J., November 11, 1778; died at Cinnaminson (Riverton), N. J., July 12, 1856. ***** JonY Longshore: Director, April 14, 1835 to April 11, 1837. Residence, Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pa. Farmer. Died at Yardley, Pa., August 29, 1868, aged 82 years. Samuel McClurg: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 11, 1837; April 10, 1838 to April 14, 1840; and April 13, 1841 to No- vember 16, 1855. Judge Court of Common Pleas, 1837-1854; and Incorporator, Trenton Gas & Insurance Co., February 26, 1838. Born at Philadelphia, Pa., 1791 ; died at Trenton, N. J., November 16, i8ss. ***** Edward Shippen McIlvaine: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835. Residence, near Ewing, N. J. Farmer. Major, Hunterdon County Squadron, New Jersey Militia, December 20, 1824, and resigned February 15, 1831 ; and Member New Jersey Assembly, 1830-1833. Bom at Philadelphia, Pa., October I, 1787; died near Ewing, N. J., September 13, 1843. ***** John McKELWay: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835. Physician. Director, Trenton Delaware Falls Co., June 2, 1834; and Postmaster of Trenton, June 17, 1842 to July 5, 1843. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, January 7, 1788; died at Trenton, N. J., April 23, 1877. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL, BANK. 127 Archibai,d Middlbton Maddock: Director, April 23, igoo to March 25, 1910. Manufacturer. Co-partner, Thomas Maddock & Sons, January i, 1882; Director and Treasurer, Maddock Pottery Co., November 14, 1892 to March 25, 1910; Director and Treasurer, Thomas Maddock's Sons Co., January 15, 1902 to March 25, 1910; and Director and Treasurer, Jonathan Bartley Crucible Co., March 2, 1908 to March 25, 1910. Bom at Liberty Corner, N. J., April 5, 1856, and died at Trenton, N. J., March 25, 1910. Archibald Middleton Maddock: Director, January 29, 1914; present incumbent. (See p. 112.) ***** Chari,es Smith Maddock: Director, March 31, 1910, and de- clined April 7, 1910. Manufacturer. Born, New York, N. Y., No- vember 22, 1852. ***** Hakry Smith Maddock: Director, April 14, 1910, to January 24, 1914. Manufacturer. Co-partner, Thomas Maddock & Sons, January i, 1887; Director, Maddock Pottery Co., November 14, 1892 to January 24, 1914; Vice-President and Director, Thomas Maddock's Sons Co., January 15, 1902; President and Director, March 30, 1910 to January 24, 1914; and Director, Jonathan Bart- ley Crucible Co., March 2, 1908 to January 24, 1914. Born at Brooklyn, N. Y., July 15, 1861 ; died at Trenton, N. J., January 24, 1914- ***** David L. MHtUER. Director, April 9, 1839 to April 14, 1840; and May 10, 1841 to April 12, 1853. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa. ***** Aaron Moose : Director, April 9, 1839 to April 14, 1840. Residence, near Ewing, , N. J. Parmer. Judge Court of Commton Pleas, January 19, 1838; and Director, Taylorsville Bridge Co., 1840. Born near Ewing, N. J., October 23, 1775 ; died near Ewing, N. J., December 17, 1849. ***** Imi,ah Moore: Director, April 10, 1849, to January 13, 1874. Flour Manufacturer. Vice-President, Lambertville Water Power 128 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL. BANK. Co., 1857; President, Trenton Gas Light Co., 1867-1870; Director, Washington Market Co., 1870; President and Director, 1873-1880; and President, East Trenton Porcelain Co., 1870. Incorporator, People's Fire Insurance Co., February 25, 1861; East Trenton Por- celain Co., February 18, 1864 ; The East Trenton Crockery & Kaoline Co., March 28, 1865 ; The East Trenton Land & Building Co., April 6, 1866; The Mercer Pottery Co., March 28, 1866; and The Con- tinental Saw Co., April i, 1869. Born at Moore's Mills in Hope- well Township, Mercer County, N. J., April 13, 1810; died at Tren- ton, N. J., November 21, 1882. John Moses: Director, January 9, 1883; President and Di- rector, May 16, 1887; Director, March 27, 1890, and resigned April 23, 1900. President, Board of Trade, 1875; Manager, Trenton Sav- ing Fund Society, July 17, 1883, and resigned January 17, 1899; Di- rector, The Real Estate, Safe Deposit, Trust & Investment Co., Jan- uary 26, 1887; Treasurer and Director, April 16, 1888; President, Treasurer and Director, July 30, 1888, and resigned March 25, i8go; President, People's Electric Light Co., 1888-1889; Director, Trenton Watch Co., 1888; and President and Director, 1895 to 1901. In- corporator, Glasgow Pottery Co., March 21, 1873. Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, December 25, 1832; died at Trenton, N. J., Janu- ary 21, 1902. ***** AtPRED Muirheid: Director, April 14, 1863 to June 30, 1865. Residence, near Trenton. Farmer and Brick Manufacturer. Bom at Harborton, N. J., August 6, 1831 ; died near Trenton, N. J., May 25, 1875- ***** WiLWAM W. NoRCROss: Director, April 14, 1840 to April 13, 1841. Grocery Merchant. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1838. Born at Bordentown, N. J., 1798; died at Trenton, N. J., June 16, 1866. ***** Charles Parker: Director, February 19, 1834; Cashier and Director, April 15, 1834; Cashier, April 14, 1835; Cashier and Di- rector, April 12, 1836; President and Director, April 14, 1836; Presi- THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 129 dent, April ii, 1837; Cashier,, April 13, 1837, and resigned April 20, 1840; Director, April 8, 1845 to April 14, 1846. Sheriff, Monmouth County, 1814-1817; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1817-1819; 182 1 ; State Treasurer of New Jersey, 1821-1832, and 1833-1836; State Librarian, 1823-1828; Judge Court Common Pleas, Hunterdon County, 1835; Director, The Trenton City Bridge Co., 1842; and Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, March 7, 1844, and re- signed June 21, 1847. Born near Smithburg, Monmouth County, N. J., April 27, 1787 ; died at Trenton, N. J., October 4, 1862. Lewis William Randolph Phillips : Director, April 14, 1835, and resigned May i, 1837; and April 10, 1838 to April 14, 1840. Residence, Lawrenceville, N. J. Farmer. Graduate of Princeton, Class 1808; Trustee, Princeton Seminary, 1834-1855; Judge Court of Common Pleas, Hunterdon County, January 19, 1838; and Judge Court of Common Pleas, Mercer County, October 28, 1838. Died at Lawrenceville, N. J., January 31, 1855, aged 64 years. ***** Philip Severn Phillips: Director, April 11, 1843 to August 17, i860. Seed Merchant. Incorporator, Union Health Insurance Co., February 22, 1849; and The Crosswicks and Trenton Turnpike Co., March 17, 1854. Born at Trenton, N. J., April 28, 1806 ; died at Trenton, N: J., August 17, i860. ***** Baltes 'Pickel : Director, October 5, 1874 to January 14, 1879. Coal and Lime Merchant. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1867-1868 ; and President, The Peoples Savings Bank, 1870-1877. Incorporator, Hunterdon Railroad Co., March 14, 1867; and Mercer County Bank, March i, 1870. Died at Raritan, N. J., November 24, 1890. ***** Stacy Gardner Potts: Director, February 19, 1834, and re- signed July 10, 1837; and April 13, 1841, and resigned February 9, 1852; Attorney, April 21, 1842 to February 2, 1852. Counsellor-at- Law. Editor of the Trenton Emporium, June 2, 1821 to 1827; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1828-1829; Secretary, Trenton Dela- ware Falls Co., 1831-1834; Clerk of Court of Chancery of New Jersey, 1831-1840; Trustee of Lafayette College, 1843-1846; Manager, 9 130 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Trenton Saving Fund Society, March 7, 1844; President and Mana- ger, June 21, 1847; Manager, February 10, 1852, and resigned April 13, 1852 ; Director of Princeton Seminary, 1849-1861 ; and Associate Justice Supreme Court of New Jersey, February 28, 1852 to April 9, 1865. Born at Harrisburg, Pa., November 23, 1799; died at Tren- ton, N. J., April 9, 1865. ■ * * ' ? * * WnwAM Henry Potts : Director, April 14, 1840 to April 12, 1842. Tanner. Bom at Trenton, N. J., October S, 1815; died at Trenton, N. J., January 25, 1901. ***** Joseph Hankinson Reading: Director, April 14, 1840 to April 13, 1841. Residence, Flemington, N. J. Merchant. Born at Flemington, N. J., August 25, 1814 ; died at Raritan, N. J., October 22, 1857. ***** Joseph Rice: Director, January 13, 1891; Vice-President and Director, August 5, 1909 to July 14, 1913. Retired clothing mer- chant. Director, Trenton Hall & Building Association, 1871-1913; and Director, Ceramic Art Co., 1889-1906. Bom at Riechen, Baden, Germany, June 26, 1834 ; died at Belmar, M. J., July 14, 1913 ***** Augustus Godley Richey: Director, April 8, 1856; Attorney and Director, April 20, 1857; Vice-President, Attorney and Director, January 10, 1889 to January 15, 1894. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Lafayette College, Class 1846. Director, Lambertville Water Power Co., 1857; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 23, 1858; Vice-President and Manager, January 20, 1880 to January 15, 1894; Member New Jersey Senate, 1866-1868; Director, Trenton Gas Light Co., 1867; President and Director, 1873-1874; Director, Penn Gas Coal Co., 1869 to January 15, 1894; Director, Standard Fire Insurance Co., February 6, 1871 to January 15, 1894; Director, Hamilton Rubber Works, 1872; Director, Enterprise Land Co., July I5> 1873; President and Director, November 17, 1891 to January IS, 1894; Director, Delaware & Bound Brook Railroad Co., March 12, 1875; Vice-President and Director, November 9, 1892 to Jan- uary IS, 1894; Director, Keystone Coal Co., May 7, 1883 to Decem- ber II, 1893; Director, East Trenton Railroad Co., April 17, 1884; THE MECHANICS NATIONAli BANK. 131 Vice-President and Director, November lo, 1892 to January 15, 1894. Bom near Asbury, N. J., March 17, 1819; died at Trenton, N. J., January 15, 1894. ***** Isaac Fam,ee Richby : Director, January 10, 1899 ; present in- cumbent. (See p. 108.) ***** Charles Gustavus Roebung: Director, January 9, 1883 to January 14, 1890. Manufacturer. Vice-President and Director, The John A. Roebling's Sons Co., January l, 1876; President and Direc- tor, January 8, 1877 to October 5, 1918 ; President and Director, New Jersey Wire Cloth Co., November i, 1878 to October 5, 1918; and Member New Jersey Assembly, 1893. Bom at Trenton, N. J., December 9, 1849 ; died at Trenton, N. J., October 5, 1918. Ferdinand William Roebling: Director, January 12, 1869, and resigned September 19, 1892 ; and November 28, 1892 to March 16, 1917. Capitalist and Manufacturer. Director, Standard Fire Insurance Co., March 18, 1869; Vice President and Director, March 16, 1870 to March 16, 1917; Director, Trenton Hall & Building As- sociation, 1873 to 1899; Secretary, Treasurer and Director, The John A. Roebling's Sons Co., June i, 1876 to March 16, 1917 ; Treas- urer and Director, New Jersey Wire Cloth Co., November i, 1878 to March 16, 1917; President and Director, Union Mills Paper Manufacturing Co., January 13, 1881 to March 16, 1917; Director, Inter-State Fair Association, June 23, 1888 to March 16, 1917; Director, The Universal Paper Bag Co., July 18, 1889; President and Director, July 6, 1909 to March 16, 1917; Director, Otis Eleva- tor Co;, December s, 1898 to March 16, 1917; Director, The United Power and Transportation Co., May 11, 1899 to March 16, 1917; President and Director, Trenton Brass & Machine Co., October 11, 1899 to March 16, 1917; Director, Inter-State Railways Co., March 2, 1903 to March 16, 1917; Director, Public Service Corporation of New Jersey, June 3, 1903 to March 16, 1917; Director, National Copper Bank, of New York, April 15, 1907 to January 29, 1910; and Director, The Mechanics and Metals Bank, of New York, January 29, 1910 to March 16, 1917. Bom at Saxonburgh, Pa., February 27, 1842; died at Trenton, N. J., March 16, 1917. 132 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Ferdinand William Roebling, Jr.: Director, January lo, 1911; present incumbent. (See p. 109). Kabi, Gustavus Roebling: Director, January 14, 1902 to January 10, 1911; and March 22, 1917; present incumbent. (See p. 113)- ***** Zachariah Rossell: Director, April 11, 1837 to April 9, 1839; and April 14, 1840 to July 21, 1842. Captain, 15th U. S. Infantry, March 12, 18x2; Major, 2Sth Regiment, December 31, 1813; transferred to 15th Regiment April 27, 1814; discharged June IS, 1815; Brigadier-General and Adjutant General of New Jersey, May I, 1816, and resigned July 13, 1842 ; Clerk of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1817 to July 21, 1842 ; and Director, The Trenton City Bridge Co., 1842. Incorporator, The Trenton Manufacturing Co., February 20, 1834; The Trenton Silk Manufacturing Co., March g, 1836; Trenton Gas & Insurance Co., February 26, 1838; and Not- tingham Manufacturing Co., February 27, 1839. Born at Mt. Holly, N. J., November 17, 1788; died at Trenton, N. J., July ei, 1842 John Davison Rue: Director, January 13, 1891 to January 10, 1912. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1878-1879; Member New Jersey Senate, 1887-1892; President, The John I. Smith Fertilizer Co., 1889-1902; and President, Trenton Bone Fertilizer Co., 1902- 1912. Bom at West Windsor, N. J., July 26, 1833 ; died at Trenton, N. J., January 10, 1912. ***** Caleb Sagee: Director, April 10, 1855 to April 12, 1864. Steward, New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum, 1848-1875; and Presi- dent and Director, First National Bank, at Trenton, 1864-1868. Bom at Georgetown, N. J., October 26, 1815 ; died at Vincentown, N. J., July s, 187s. ***** John Sager: Director, April 13, 1841 to March 14 1855. Lumber Merchant. Born near Freehold, N. J., February 6, 1798: died at Trenton, N. J., March 14, 1855. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 133 Scorr ScAMMELi,: Director, January lo, 191 1; Attorney and Director, March 9, 1914; present incumbent. (See p. 109). Jasper Smith Scudder: Director, February 19, 1834; Presi- dent and Director, April 15, 1834; President, April 12, 1836; Cashier, April 14, 1836, to April 13, 1837. General Store Merchant. Born at Scudder Palls, N. J., October 17, 1797; died at Trenton, N. J., October 20, 1877. ***** James Tuttle Sherman : Director, April 8, 1845 to April 10, 1849; and April 11, 1854 to April 13, 1858. Graduate of Yale, Class 1833; Editor of The State Gazette, January I, 1836 to February i, 1853; and Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 7, 1854, to May 20, 1862. Born at Trenton, N. J., December 21, 1814; died at Trenton, N. J., May 20, 1862. Ralph Hart Shreve: Director, April 11, 1837 to April g, 1839. Clerk, New Jersey Assembly, 1837-1838; Clerk of Mercer County, February 28, 1838 to 1853; and Clerk U. S. District Court of New Jersey, 1863. Incorporator, The Trenton Flax Co., February 4, 1837. Bom at Lawrenceville, N. J., January 18, 1805; died at Trenton, N. J., August 20, 1868. William Harry Skirm : Director, January 10, 1888, and de- clined January 16, 1888. Manufacturer. Born at Trenton, N. J., January 17, 1841 ; died at Trenton, N. J., October 7, 1903. ***** Charles Williams Sloan : Director, April 6, 1885 to January 13, 1891. Graduate of Princeton, Class 1869. President, Treasurer and Director, Mercer Rubber Co., January 5, 1874, to 1891. Born at Flemington, N. J., December 3, 1849. Jonathan Steward: Director, April 14, 1840, to April 13, 1841. General Store Merchant. Born near Crosswicks, N. J., May 8, 1809; died at Trenton, N. J., July 22, 1901. 134 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. Edward Caspei^ Stokss: Director, January lo, 1899; Presi- dent and Director, April 27, 1899; present incumbent. (See p. 105). ***** Edward Harris Stokes: Director, January 11, 1881 to Jan- uary ID, 1888. Capitalist. Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, June 24, 1881 to February 17, 1900. Born at Moorestown, N. J., June 22, 1824 ; died at Trenton, N. J., February 17, 1900. ***** Samuei, Davis Stryker: Director, April 8, 1845 to January II, 1863. Residence, Lambertville, N. J. Manager, New Hope Dela- ware Bridge Co., 1840; and President and Director, Lambertville Bank, June 20, i8S7 to January 11, 1863. Incorporator, Lambert- ville and Flemington Plank Road Co., March 19, 1851. Born near Pittstown, N. J., January 27, 1790; died at Lambertville, N. J., Jan- uary II, 1863. ***** Samuel Stanhope Stryker : Director, April 14, 1835 to April 11, 1837; and April 30, 1838, and declined May 21, 1838. Miller. State Treasurer of New Jersey, May 31, 1847. Born at Princeton, N. J., November 2, 1797 ; died at Trenton, N. J., February 9, 1875. ***** Charles Swan: Director, January 10, 1882 to January 10, 1888. Superintendent, The John A. Roebling's Sons Co., 1848 to 1873 ; and Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, June 2, 1870 to January 28, 1897. Born at Breslau, West Prussia, Germany, March 12, i82b2 ; died at Trenton, N. J., January 28, 1897. ***** Benjamin Wesley Titus: Director, April 10, 1849, and re- signed December 12, 1861. Dry Goods Merchant. Incorporator, Union Health Insurance Co., February 22, 1849; and Trenton Oil Cloth Manufacturing Co., March 3, 1855. Died at. Trenton, N. J., February 13, 1881. ***** LiscoMB R. Titus : Director, April 14, 1840 to April 13, 1841. Grain Merchant. Born May 14, 1804 ; died at Trenton, N. J., May 3, 1873. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 135 Joseph Tybkell: Director, April ii, 1837, and resigned Octo- ber 30, 1837. Retired. Born in England; died at Trenton, N. J., December 4, 1864, aged 89 years. ***** Aaron Van Syckei,: Director, April 12, 1842 to April 6, 1845. Residence, Union Township, Hunterdon Co., N. J. Farmer. Director, Trenton Banking Co., 1823; 1835 to 1873. Born in Beth- lehem Township, Hunterdon County,, N. J., May 26, 1793; died in Union Township, Hunterdon County, N. J., January 4, 1874. Peter Dumont Vroom: Director, April 12, 1853 to April 11, 1854; and April 13, 1858 to April 14, 1863. Counsellor-at-Law. Graduate of Columbia College, Class 1808; Judge Advocate, Som- erset Brigade, Third Division, New Jersey Militia, March i, 1813; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1 1826- 1827, and 1829; Governor of New Jersey, November 6, 1829, to October 26, 1832, and October 25, 1833, and resigned November 3, 1836; Representative in Con- gress from New Jersey, March 19, 1840 to March 3, 1841 ; Mem- ber State Constitutional Convention, 1844; Manager, Trenton Sav- ing Fund Society, March 7, 1844; President and Manager, Feb- ruary 10, 1852; Manager, November 29, 1853, and resigned January 7, 1854; U. S. Minister to Prussia, 1853 to 1857; and Commissioner New Jersey State Sinking Fund, 1864-1872. Born at Hillsborough, N. J., December 12, 1791 ; died at Trenton, N. J., November 18, 1873. ***** Edward Waterman: Director, April 11, 1837, and resigned May 4, 1837; June 5, 1837 to April 9, 1839; and April 13,^ 1841, and resigned May 10, 1841. Residence, Holmesburg Pa. Born at Holmesburg, Pa.; died at Holmesburg, Pa., July 31, iSs8. * * $ * * Jacob Waterman : Director, April 14 1840 to April 13, 1841. Residence, Holmesburg, Pa. General Store Merchant. Born at Holmesburg, Pa., in 1777; died at Holmesburg, Pa., August s, 1858. 136 THE MECHANICS NATIONAL, BANK. John A. Weart: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835. Proprietor, "Trenton Livery Stables," and U. S. Mail Con- tractor. Died at Trenton, N. J., March 14, 1854. WiLUAM White: Director, May 4, 1837 to April 14, 1840. Retired. Member New Jersey Assembly, 1846-1847. Born at Law- renceville, N. J., March 20, 1804; died at Trenton, N. J., January 10, 1872. Frederick Redinger Wilkinson : Director, April 30, 1866, and resigned June 24, 1869; and January 11, 1870 to January 8, 1878. Lumber, Coal and Wood Merchant. Graduate of Princeton, Class 1857; Secretary and Treasurer, People's Fire Insurance Co., Janu- ary 20, 1865, to 1868; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, Jan- uary 16, 1872 to January 28, 1878. Incorporator, Capital Insurance Co., April 9, 1867; The People's Saving* Bank, March 17, 1870; West Trenton Horse Railroad Co., March 9, 1871 ; and The New Jersey Trust & Safe Deposit Co., March 26, 1872. Bom at Tren- ton, N. J., June 9, 1837; died at Trenton, N. J., December 30, 1883. ***** Ogden Dungan Wilkinson : Director, July 13, 1837 to April 10, 1838; and April 9, 1839 to August 27, 1866. Lumber and Coal Merchant. Director, Trenton Water Co., 1854. Incorporator, Trenton Cemetery Co., February 24, 1838. Bom at Centerville, Bucks County, Pa. ; died at Trenton, N. J., August 24, 1866. James Wilson: Director, April 16, 1840; Attorney and Di- rector, April 20, 1840; Attorney, April 13, 1841, to April 21, 1842 Counsellor-at-Law. Private Secretary to Governor William Pen- nington, October 27, 1837 to October 26, 1843; Prosecutor of the Pleas for Mercer County, February 28, 1838, and resigned Novem- ber 8, 1842; Member New Jersey Assembly, 1840; and Clerk of the New Jersey Supreme Court, October 28, 1842, to November 2, 1852. Born at Greenbrook (now Plainfield), N. J., August 30, i8o8; died at Trenton, N. J., February 11, 1884. THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK. 137 Joseph B. Whson: Director, April 14, 1840 to April 13, 1841. Residence, Hamilton Township, Mercer County, N. J. Farmer. Removed to the Western Country about 1844. Samuel Kirkbride Wilson: Director, April 8, 1856 to April 6, 1885. Capitalist and Woolen Manufacturer. Director, People's Fire Insurance Co., 1865-1868; President, State Savings Bank, 1869- 187s; Manager, Trenton Saving Fund Society, January 28, 1878, to November 26, 1900; Director, Standard Fire Insurance Co., Feb- ruary 7, 1881, to November 26, 1900; President, Trenton Watch Co., 1887-1895, and Vice-President, 1897-1900. Bom at MuUica Hill, N. J., March 6, 1819; died at Trenton, N. J., November 26, 1900. Joseph Wood: Director, February 19, 1834 to April 14, 1835. Capitalist. Recorder of Trenton, April 12, 1853 to April 14, 1856; and Mayor of Trenton, April 19, 1856 to 1859. Born at Woods- town, N. J. ; died at Trenton, N. J., May 8, i860. AUTHORITIES TO THE HISTORIC SITE * Journals of Congress. 1. N. J. Archives, Vol. XX, pp. 69, 441. Infra, pp. 21, 23. 2. Woodward— Hist, of Burlington & Mercer Counties, p. 708. Raum— Hist, of Trenton, p. 89. 3. Coll. N. J. Hist. Society, Vol. IV, pp. 107, 144. Lee— Hist, of Trenton, p. 23. 4. Baum— Hist, of Trenton, p. 89. 5. Hall— Hist, of Presbyterian ChuroJi (2d Bd.), p. 314. 6. N. J. Archives, Vol. XX, p. 441. 7. Stryker— Trenton One Hundred Tears Ago, pp. 11, 7. S. N. J. Gazette, May 17, 1780. Hall— Hist, of Presbyterian Church (2d Bd.), p. 1S6. 9. N. J. Gazette, May 17, 1780. 10. Infra, p. 23. 11. Trenton Federalist, Nov. 12, 1827. 12. N. J. Gazette, July 12, 1780. 13. Minutes of Joint Meeting, State Library. 14. N. J. Archives (2d Ser.), Vol. V, p. 446. 15. N. J. Gazette, Feb. 21, 1781. 16. N. J. Gazette, Oct. 31, 1781. 17. Assembly Journal, May 20, 1782. 18. Hall— Hist, of Presbyterian Church (2d Bd.), p. 171. 19. N. J. Gazette, March 12, 1783. 20. N. J. Gazette, April 16, 1783. Hall— Hist, of Presbyterian Church (2d Bd.), p. 174. 21. N. J. Gazette, April 9, 1783. 22. The Royal Gazette, Oct. 22, 1783. 23. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 46, p. 79. N. J. Gazette, July 16, 1783. 24. Pap. Cont. Con^., Vol. 46, p. S3. N. J. Gazette, July 16, 1783. 25. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 46, p. 87. 26. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 68, p. 613. 27. Journals of Congress, July 2, 1783. 28. Letters of President of Cong., No. 16, p. 206. 29. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 46, pp. 35, 39. 30. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 46, pp. 43, 49. 31. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 78, Vol. XXH, pp. 283-286. 32. Pap. Cont. Cong., Vol. 23, p. 1B7. 33. Hall— Hist, of Presbyterian Church (2d Ed.), p. 178. 34. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 78, Vol. 8, pp. 51, 65. 35. In temi>orary i>ossesslon of Dr. C. B. Godfrey. 36. Ballagh— The Letters of Richard H. Lee, Vol. II, pp. 296, 321. (139) 140 AUTHORITIES TO THE HISTORIC SITE. S7. N. J. Gazette, Dec. 6, 1784. 38. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 19, Vol. 2, p. 253. 30. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 19, Vol. 2, p. 249. 40. Cont. Cong., Committee Book, No. 186, p. 172. 41. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 19, Vol. 2, p. 259. 42. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 19, Vol. 2, p. 263. 43. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 16, p. 315. 44. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 16, p. 315. 46. Pap. Cont. Cong., No. 19, Vol. 2, p. 257. 46. Pap. Cont. Cong., No, 16, pp. 316, 317. 47. Sparks— Writings of Washington, Vol. IX, pp. 95, 96. 48. In possession of Mr. C. L. Traver, Trenton, in 1908. 49. N. J. Gazette, Jan. 23, 1782. 60. N. J. Gazette, June 19, 1782. 51. Trenton Sunday Advertiser, April 19, 1908. 52. Mss. Minutes, Dec. 20, 1787, State Library. 53. Mss. Minutes, State Library. N. J. Journal, Jan. 2, 1788. 54. Trenton Sunday Advertiser, Dec. 29, 1912. 55. Baker— Itinerary of Washington, Vol. 2, p. 194. 66. Trenton Federalist, Aug. 23, 1824. 67. Trenton Federalist, Sept. 27, 1824. 68. Trenton Federalist, July 18, 1825. 69. Trenton Federalist, Dec. 10, 1804, and Jan. 14, 1805. 60. Trenton Federalist, Jan. 13, 1817. 61. Trenton Federalist, Nov. 29, 1824. 62. Trenton Federalist, Oct. 24, 1826. 63. Trenton Federalist, April 17, 1826. 64. Trenton Federalist, Dec. 31, 1327. 65. N. J. State Gazette, Oct. 10, 1829. 66. N. J. State Gazette, Dec. 22, 1832. 67. True American, Jan. 11, 1834. 68. N. J. State Gazette, Feb. 21, 1835. 69. N. J. State Gazette, April IS, 1835. 70. N. J. State Gazette, Feb. 26 and March 4, 1836. 71. N. J. State Gazette, Sept. 23, 1836. 72. Raum— Hist, of Trenton, p. 270. N. J. State Gazette, June 28, 1842; July 19, 1843. 73. Trenton Weekly Mercury, Aug. 26, 1788. N. J. State Gazette, June 28, 1793. 74. N. J. Gazette, May 29, 1782. INDEX A PAGE. Abbott, Amy A 67 Ann E 67 Catherine M 67 GSORGE B 67 Susan C 67 Timothy, Jr 56, S7. s8, 64, 65, 67, 76, ^^, 115, 117 Addoms, Aisach 19 AtexANDER 19 Aitkin, James S 67 American Bankers Association 102 American Flag eirst hoisted in Trenton 11, 41 American Red Cross Soclety 100, 103 American Revolution, cessation of hostilities proclaimed 12-13 Anderson, Charles C 67 Enoch 18 George 19 Hezekiah a 67 James 67, 117 Jeremiah 18 John A 67 John H (ty Appleton, Josiah 19 William 19 Armstrong, James F 67 Sarah 68 Susan 68 Ashmore, Robert 18 Thomas 19 AssANPiNK Bridge, Ode sang at 35 Atablie, Paul 21, 22 Atchley, Samuel T iii, 117 B Baker, Daniel 68 John C 68 (141) 142 INDEJX. PAGE. BaidErston, Edward 68 John B 68 Bank of CJommerce, N. Y 63 Banks, Consideration for Charters of 44, 45 Demoralized Condition of 45 Barnes, IMary 21 Barracks 11 Barry, Hugh R loi Barton, John R. 68 Beasley, Mercer 68, 106, 116, 117 Beatty, Catherine L. 68 John 27 John J 68 Mary E 68 Bedford, Gunning 27 Bell, John 21 BelvillE, Mary E. R 68 Benjamin, William A 46 Benson, Alexander 68 Bergen, Jacob G. 8, g, 13, 20, 22, 24, 25 Bird, Colonel 23 Bispham, Joseph M 36 Blackfan, Crispin 49, 118 Joseph H 68 Ogden W. 68, 118 Blazing Star — Formerly the French Arms 33 Kept by Francis Witt 35 Legislature meets in the 33, 42 Name of, changed to City Tavern 35 Officers of Presbyterian Church met in the 33 U. S. Constitution ratified in the 33, 34 Bock, Thomas 19 Bonaparte, Joseph 37 BouDiNOT, Elias 13, 14, IS, 16, 34 Bowers, John 19 Brady, Charles 25 Brearley, David 15 Maj. Joseph 10 INDEX. 143 PAGE. BEEARtEY, Joseph G 57, 58, 60, 66, 68, 75. 76, "5. "8 Britton, Charity 21 Broadhurst, Joseph 35, 36 Bronze Tablet 89 Brown, George 18 John 31 Richard 18 Stacy 68 Brunner, Oscar loi Bryant, Jonathan 18 Buchanan, James 76 Bucks County Contributionship 68 BuGBEE, Newton A. K 100, no, 118 Burton & Bihiton 85 Butler Safe Co 78 Buttolph, Horace A 68 c Cauco Printing Miixs .' — 40 Cahis, Ann 68 William 68 Cape, John 10, 11, 13 Carle, Capt. Israel 10 Carlisle, Aaron 75 Cakriel, Henry F 68 Mary C 68 Chamberlain, Lt. Col. William 10 Chambers, Alexander .20, 22 John S 68, 115, 118 Robert 47, 119 Zebulon 19 Chehill, James 19 City Tavern — Formerly the Blazing Star : Celebrations held in the 37 Demolished in 1837 40, 52 Formerly the Blazing Star 35 Inn-Keepers of 36 Lafayette entertained at the 36, 37 Long Room in the 37 144 INDEX. PAGE. City Tatorn — ^Foemekcy the Blazing Star— Continued: New Jersey Legislature met in the 32, 42 New Jersey State Bar Association met in the 39 Officials of Presbyterian Church met in the 33, 37 Owners of the 51, 52 Public Dinners at the 38 Public Meetings held in the 36, 38, 39, 40, 44 Social and Miscellaneous Business in the. .38, 39, 40, 41, 42 Site Sold to the Mechanics Bank 50-53 Trenton Banking Company organized in the 37, 38 Washington entertained in the 35 Clapp, William R 68 Clark, Abraham 23 James H 115, 119 Clinton, Gov. De Witt 38 Clunn, John 19, 32, 33 Coalman, William 19 CoLGET, Nicholas 18 Collins, Arthur 68 Isaac 21 Comport, John S 68 CoMLY, Samuel 49, "9 Commercial Bank op Penna 49 Comptroller of the Currency 67, 79, 85, 99 CoNARD, Sarah E 68 Connor, Edmund 18 Constitution of United States, Ratification of 33, 34 Continental Congress — Accommodations for Members of the 15, 20-22 Adjourned from Trenton 30 Committee of the 27 Insult offered to the 13-1S Invited to meet in Trenton 15, 20-22 Lafayette's Reception by 28-29 Lease of French Arms for the 24-25 Long Room furnished for the 25 Meets at Annapolis 23 Meets at Princeton 16 Meets at Trenton 24-26 INDEX. 145 CoNTiNSNTAi, Congress — Continued — page. Proclamation o:f the ■ 13 Resolutions sent to 14-15, 16, 17 Resolves op the 11, 16, 17, 27, 28, 30 CoNvERY, Nancy 68 WiLUAM J Ill, 119 Cook, D. Clinton iii Elias 68, 119 Joseph P 27 WiLWAM G iig Cooper, John, Jr 68 Lehman A 68 Cornish, John 19 John, Jr 19 CoRYEi,!,, Hannah 68 CowELL, Dr. David 23 Cox, John 13, 15, 16, 18 Cramer, John 18 Crolius, Peter 21, 41 Crossland, Edward 68 Crozer, Esther H 68 CuBBERLEY, David ig Cummins, Richard 19 CUSTIS, Ei,EANOR P 35 George W. P 35 D Dagworthy House 7, 8 Dagworthy, John ' 7, 8 Davis, George 23 James M 68 Deats, Hiram 69 DeKlyn, Barnt 19 Delaware Falls Co 40 Delaware & Raritan Canal 38 Depuy, Robert R 69 D'OrifpierE, Mr 12 Dexter, Charles H 69 DicKERSON, Gov. Mahlon 38 Gov. Philemon 54 146 INDEX. PAGE. Dickinson, Gen. Philemon 12, is, 30 Gen. Samuel M 120 Dili,, Elizabeth R 69 George 47. 52, 57. 69, nS. 120 John R 69, 120 Dixon, John 21 Dobbins, John 49 DoLON, Harriet C 69 Donnelly, Frederick W 89 Douglass, Alexander 18 William 18 Doyle, Silvester 18 Drake, Henry 35 Drummond, Jane 69 Dunham, Sering P 80, 82, 115, 120 Dunn, Alexander 120 Dunton, Jacob 69 Mary 69 E Ely, George 20, 22 Richard E 69 Ellery, William 23, 27 Emerson, M. L 70 EmlEy, Hannah S 69 Samuel 1 120 English, Joshua 48 Evans, Edward W 69, 121 Samuel S6, 69, 115, 121 EwiNG, Charles 39 James 22, 24, 25, 32, 69 ExTON, Joseph 69 F Farlee, Gen. Isaac G 49, 108, 121 Fenton, Daniel 39 Fester, Philip 18 FicK, David 21, 22 Fish, Benjamin 69 FisK, Jonathan 57, 62, 63, 64, 69, 74, 115, 121 INDEX. 147 PAGE. FiTzpATRicK, John . ., 6g Force, William M 6g Ford, Wiliam 19 FoRST, Daniel F 69, 7T, 79, 115, 122 FoRST-RicHEY Building 41 Foster, Abiel 27 France — Birth oe a Dauphin to King of 11 Letters to King of 27, 29 Franklin, Benjamin 29 Freese, Jacob R 69 Frelinghuysen, Theodore 39 French Arms — American Flag raised on the 11, 41 Celebrations at the 11, 13 Continental Congress meets in the 26-30 Dancing School at the 12 Formerly the Thirteen Stars 10 Kept by Jacob G. Bergen 13-25 Kept by John Cape 10-13 Leased for Continental Congress 24-25 Leased to Francis Witt 31-32 Legislature meets in the 12', 42 Long Room in the 11, 25-26 Long Room for use of the Legislature 31-32 Mass Meetings held in 13-1S, 16, 20 Name changed to Blazing Star 33 Fuller, Ezra B 69, 122 FuRMAN, Moore 15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 32 G Gerry, Elbridge 19, 23, 27, 31 Gill, Bennington 69 Mary E. 69 Grant, William 47, 51, 52, 115, 122 Grayson, William 31 Green, Armitage 48 Caleb S 69 Charles G 122 Edward T 122 148 INDEIX. PAGE. GreeNj Prances 36 George S 123 Henry W 39, 46, 47, 54, 69, 116, 123 James 18 H Haines, John C. 123 Nathan 6g Reuben 69 WiLUAM 69 Hale, George 1 69, 123 Mary L 69 HaIiL, Rebecca 69 Halsted, Wiluam 39, 46, 54 Hamii,!,, Samuel M 69 Hamilton, Gen. Samuel R 46, 47, 49, 116, 123 Hamilton Township 97 Hancock, William S 81, 124 Hankinson, Peter 21 Hanlon, Capt. Bernard 34 Hardy, Samuel 27, 31 Harris, Ephraim 17 Hate, E. R. 70 Henry House — Enlargement of 8 Leased for a Tavern 8, 13 Named — The Thirteen Stars 9 Henry, Samuel 8 William 27 Herbert, Jacob 36 Herring, Hall, Marvin Co 81 Hewitt, Abisam S 124 Hewlings, Edith E 69 HiGBEE, Joseph 18, 21 Hill, Samuel 19 Smith ig HiLSON, Cleveland 116 Hoagland, Lt. Col. Oakey 10 HoGGSON Bros 88 INDEX. 149 PAGE. Holmes, Emuy C 69 Hooper, James 18 Robert 1,., Jr 19 HooTEN, Elisabeth 21 Hough, Joseph H 69, 116 Houston, CHxniCHn,L 124 James 19 Robert 19 William C 15, 21, 22 HousTouN, William 27 How, Micajah 21, 2S Howe, Roswell 76 Willlam 76, 115,116 Howell, Elvira 69 EsiCK 69 Hoy, James 49, 51, 124 Hunt, Abraham 18 Eliza J 70 Capt. John 10 Hutchins, Thomas 23 Hutchinson, Barton B 89 John 19 John P 70 Jonathan 19 Letitia 70 Mahlon 70 Robert C 70 Thomas 19 I Ingham, Dr. John H 64, 70, 124 Jonathan 70 Samuel D S8, 64, 124 William A 70 Ireland, Alphonso C 70 J Jackson, President Andrew 64 Maj. William 3S Janney, A 21 150 INDEX PAGE. Jannby, Thomas i8 James, John i8, 21 Margaret P 80 Jay, John 27, 28 Jenkins, Matthew C 70, 125 Johnson, Anna 70 Johnston, Davto 39 Johnstone, Barney 19 Johnstown Fwod 102 Jones, Clemens ! 70 Samuei, 19 K Kafer, Charles W 85 Kelly, Patrick 70 Kelsey, Henry C 81, 84, 85, 86, 100, 102, 105, 115, 125 Kerwood, William 70 KiNNAN, William 19 Kinsman, Elizabeth 70 Kirkbride, Stacy 36 Kitchenson, Jacob 19 Kline, Col. Jacob 56, 57, 70, 115, 125 Lydia 70 KoLB, John G 112 Robert C 112, 125 KoTTs, Conrad 21, 24, 25, 32 KusER, Rosalie P 109 Rudolph '. 109 Rudolph V 109, 125 L Lafayette, George W., in Trenton 36 Generait— Arrival in Trenton — 1784 26, 27 Arrival in Trenton — 1824 36-37 Departs for New York — 1784 29 Entertained at the Trenton House— 1824 37 Entertained by the Society of the Cincinnati — 1824 37 Farewell to the Continental Congress 27-30 Guest at the City Tavern— 1825 37 INDEX. 151 Lafayette, Generai, — Continued — page. Guest of the City of Trenton — 1824 36-37 Guest of President of Continental Congress 28 Letter from, to President of Congress 26 Letter to, from Continental Congress 27, 29 Lalor, Anderson 47, 49, 125 Lanning, Benjamin 18 Isaac W. 70 WiEUAM M 83, 115, 116, 125 Lawrie, Gilbert S 70 Leavitt, Harry D 87, 106, 115, 116 Dr. Lyman 106 Martha 106 Lee, Francis B., history of 81 Richard Henry 25, 26, 27, 29, 31 Letts, James H 33 Le Vasseur, Augusts 36 Lincoln, President Abraham 66 LiPPiNCoTT, Asa 70 Lydia 70 Joseph 126 Livingston, Gov. William 10, 11, 12, 15, 40, 41 Longshore, Jolly 49, 126 M Maddock, Archibald M 86, 127 Archibald M 112, 127 Charles S 127 Harry S. 88, 127 Thomas 112 Margerum, Joseph 18 Martin, Col. Ephraim 41 Maynard, Eliza M , 7° McAdoo, William G 98 McCauly, Mary 70 McClurg, Samuel 47, 49. 126 McGibney, David 19 McGloughlin, George A. . .' loi McIlvaine, Edward S 43, 46, 126 McKelway, Dr. John 40, 47, 51, 52, 126 152 INDEX. PAGE. McKiNiiEY, President WitWAM 84 McNeely, Robert 39 Mechanics Bank, The — The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank — The Mechanics National Bank — Administration of — Timothy Abbott, Jr 7(>-77 Joseph G. Brearley 57-76 George Dili, 57 Sering p. Dunham 80-83 Samuel Evans 56 Daniel P. Forst 77-79 William Grant 52-56 Jacob Kline 56-57 William M. Lanning 83 John Moses 79-8o Charles Parker 50-52 Jasper S. Scudder 48-50 Edward C. Stokes 83-104 Affiliations 100, 102-103 Annual Meetings 47, 92 Banking House — First 48 Second 52-53 Improvements to 58, 77-78 Third 81-82 Improvements to 85, 88-89 Banking Houses, Temporary 81, 89 Board of Directors — Activity in War Periods 96-97, 100 Increase of Members 92 Meetings of 92-93 Capital Stock — Authorized 47, 57, 61, 73-74 Certificates of, new 93 Issued 48, 91-92, 93 Increase of 58-61, 73-74, 93 Installments 49, 93 Majority held by Philadelphians 49 Market value of 114 INDEX. 153 PAGE. Mechanics Bank, The — The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank — The Mechanics National Bank — Continued — Capital Stock — Continued — Paid in 50 Par value of 47, 93 114 Reduction of 57 Subscription to 47, 48, 49, 93 Cash Depository 49 Charitable Contributions 101-102 Charter — Amendments to 57, 61 Applications for 43, 67 Extension of 57, 79, 85 Granted 46, 73 Legislative Proceedings 43-44, 46, S9-6i City Tavern site purchased 50-53 Clubs — Vacation and Holiday 87 War Bond 98-99 Commencement of Business 49 Conversion from State to National System 67-73 Defository — U. S. Alien Property Custodian go Bankrupt Estates 83 Postal Savings 87 Directors — Death of 86, 88, 89-90 Election of 47, 49, 92 Qualifications •. 47 Dividends 94-95 Earnings 94 Employes — Charitable Contributions by 102 First salaries paid to 49-SO Gratuity to 103 Patriotism of, in German-American War loo-ioi Roll of Honor loi Failure of — ^a rumor 56 Federal Reserve Bank 88 154 INDKX. PAGE. Mechanics Bank, The — The Mechanics and Manupactukeks Bank — The Mechanics Nationai, Bank — Continued — Financial Statements, early 50, 55 Tables 86, 87, 91-92, 93^ 95 Holidays, Special 66, 84, loi Hoodoo Day 74-75 Illumination of 66 Incorporation of 46 Interest paid Depositors 85-86 Liberty Bonds 98-100 Night Banking 86 Objects of 91, 103, 104 Officers : — Death of 57. 76. 77. 79, 80, 87, 115-116 Election of.. 48, 50, 52, 56, 57, 66, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 87, 11S-116 Resignation of 57, 74, 80, 82, 83, 84, 115-116 Offices Created — Assistant Cashier 65-66 Assistant to President 87 Vice-Presidents 74, 86 Panics — 1837-1841 53-56 1857 62-64 i860 6s Patriotism of 96-101 Policies of 56-57, 80, 84 Property acquired for site of 76, 80, 84, 90 Safe first purchased by 58 Safe Deposit Vaults of 78, 82 Sites of 48, 51-53 Specie Payments — Suspension of 53, 56, 63, 65 Resumption of 56, 64, 65 Stockholders — Consent of 67 List of, in 1865 67-72 Meetings of 57, 61 Trust Department go-91 INDEX. 155 PAGE. Mechanics Bank, The— The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank — The Mechanics National Bank — Continued — Vaui,t, rEmcatwn of 78 Vauws, new 48, 52, 78, 81 Safe Deposit 78, 82 War Activities 96-101 Mercer County, Loans to in Civn, War 97 Mercer, John F 27 Mershon, John 39 MiDDi,ETON, Hannah 70 Miller, David L 127 MiLNOR, Joseph ai Mitchell, John 19 Randle 19 Moore, Aaron 127 Charles 70 Imlah 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 70, 127 J.Hampton 89 Job 21 Sarah 70 Morgan, Richard 19 William O 110 Morris Canal 38 Morris, Gov. Lewis 7 Robert 30 Moses, John 79, 80, 81, 115, 128 Mott, Capt. John 10 Mount, Richard 19 MuiRHEH), Alfred 70, 128 Muller, Nicholas 18 N Napton, John 70 National Association op Owners of Railroad Securities 103 National Capitol, at Trenton 17, 20, 23, 30-31, 34-35 Mass-meeting relative to 17-19 Opposed by Gen. Washington 31 Neilson, James 38 Nelson, Robert 19 Thomas 35 156 INDEX. PAGE. Kew Brunswick, tornado at 102 Newei,!,, Mary C 70 Gov. WltLIAM A 60 New Hope Delaware Bridge Co 56 New Jersey Gazette 8, 10, 12, 13, 23, 35 New Jersey Herald 106 New Jersey Legislature — Attitude towards Banks 44-46, 54-55, 59-60 Cession 6p land for National Capitol 17, 34 Commissioners op 24, 25, 31 Council of, met in the Blazing Star 42 House of, met in the City Tavern 42 met in the Blazing Star 33 met in the French Arms 12, 42 met in the Thirteen Stars 9 Joint Meeting of 9, 12, 35 Public Functions of 10, 11, 12 Resolutions 17-19, 24, 33, 34 Sessions of 42 Use of Long Room in French Arms 31-32 New Jersey Society for Colonizing the Free People of Color 38 op Pennsylvania 89 New Jersey State Bankers Association 102 Bar Association 39 Temperance Society 39 Noble, Herbert no NoECROSs, William W 128 o Ohio Life Insltrance & Trust Co 61 Old Court House 12-13, 34 Olden, Gov. Charles S 96, 97 Owens, William J 70 P Packer, Samuel R 70 Palmer, A. Mitchell 90 Panic 1837-1842 53-56 1857 61-64 INDEX. 15T PAGE. Panic i860 65, 1873 n Parker, Charges 46, 47-48, 49, 50, 52, 56, 115, 128 Gov. JoEi, SO, 66 Paul, Hei/En T. F 71 Paxson, Stacy A 47, 49- Pearson, Prances M 71 Robert 19. Robert, Jr ig Pennsylvania Line, mutiny in ij Peters Richard , 23 Phares, Robert ig Philadelphia American 56 Ledger 56 Phillips, Col. Joseph 10. Lewis W. R 49, 129 Capt. Philip lo* Philip S 129 Phoenix Bank, N. Y So PiCKEL, Baltes 129 Pierce, William A 71 PiNCKNEY, Charles 31 Poland, William A 81 Post Oefice, on site Forst-Richey Building 41 The Mechanics Bank 40. Pott's House, residence of President of Continental Congress.. 25 Site of St. Mary's Cathedral 25. Potts, Joseph C ii6., Stacy 15, 20, 22 Stacy G 39, 47> 49, Si, 52, 116, 129 William 46, 51 William H , 71, 130 Powers, Philetus S 71 Presbyterian Church 10, 33, 37 President oe Continental Congress 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 Proclamations by Governor of New Jersey 66 BY President of United States 66. Purdy, John H iol 158 INDEX. Q PAGE. QuiGLEY, Robert i8, 21 R Randolph, Joseph F. 71 Raum House 40, 76 John O 76, n Read, Jacob 23, 27 John M 71 Reading, Joseph H 130 Mary E 71 Sarah A 71 Reeder, Daniel 18 Lewis A 71 Reid, James A 71 Reynold, Evan 19 Rhodes, James 18 William 18 Rice, Joseph 71, 81, 86, 87, 115, 130 Rickey, Augustus G 60, 61, 62, 71, 80, 81, 108, 115, 116, 130 Isaac P 89, 100, 108, 131 Richmond, Jonathan 18 Ridgway, John J 71 Rising Sun Tavern 43 Riston, Elizabeth V 71 John A 71 RiTTER, Stanley L loi Roberts, Edmund ^ 71 Elizabeth 71 Lydia 71 Nathaniel H 71 Samuel 71 Susan 71 Robinson, Anthony 33 RoEBiLiNG, Charles G 131 Ferdinand W. 81, 89, 90, 131 Ferdinand W., Jr 109, 132 John A 71, go Karl G 113, 132 INDEX. 159 PAGE. Rogers, James ii6 Rose, Ebenezer P 47 RossELL, Jacob 19 N. Beaks 71 Gen. Zachariah 132 RowuEY, John 18 Rue, John D 132 RuNYAN, Evan 18 Hugh 18, 21 Rush, Martha 71 s Sx. Mary's Cathedral 25 St. Michael's Church 25 Sager, Caleb 58, 60, 71, 132 John 132 Mary J 71 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire 102 ScAMMELL, Col. Scott 109, 116, 133 Schuyler, Philip 30, 31 Schwarzwailder, W. & Co 81 Scott, Job 18 ScuDDER, Henderson G. 71 Jasper S 47, 48, 49, SO, nS, i33 Morgan 71 Col. William 10 ScuDDER & Dunham 81 Secretary op the Treasury 79, 98 Shaw, David 71 Sherman, George 39 James T. 58, 60, 61, 62, 133 Olivia 71 William P 116 Shiroy, James 19 Shore, Marvel 71 S'hreve, Eliza 71 ■Phebe a 71 Ralph H 59, 133 Col. William 10 160 INDEX. PAGE. Sinclair, Georgb 19 SiNNiCKSON, Rbbecca K 71 Skirm, Anthony A 102 Gen. William H 133 Slack, Abraham K 107 J. Cadwallader 107, 116 Samuel 18 Sarah C 107 Sloan, Charles W 133 William S 44 Smith, Benjamin 15, 21, 22 John K 71 Joseph 19 Julia A. 71 Snook, Emmaline M 84 Snowden, William 18 Society op the Cincinnati 37 South, Benjamin 36 Southard, Samuel L 38, 39 Specie Payments, Suspension of S3-S6 Spencer, Rev. Elihu 11, 18 S'pROLS, William 18 Stackhouse, Thomas H loi State Capitol 35, 39 State Commissioners to Lease Property for the Continental Congress 24, 25, 31-32 State Gazette 55. S8, 62-63, 65, 66, 73, g6, 97 State of New Jersey, Loans to in Civil War 96-97 S'teamboat Line 39 StellE, William W 84, 115, 116 Sterling, Thomas C " 39 Stevens, John, Jr 18 Stevenson, Adelaide R 71 Steward, Jonathan 133 Stockton, Samuel W 15, 34 Stokes, Edward A 8 Gov. Edward C 5, 83-84, 87, 88, 89, 91, 94, 98, 99, 105, "5, 134 Edward H 72, 134 INDEX. 161 PAGE. Stout, R. M, 74 Strong, John M 19 Strykbr, Ambi,ia P 72 Elizabeth O 72 Jamss D 72 SAMuei/ D 134 Samus S 46, 49, 134 GSN. WlIAIAM S 35 Stuckert, Charlbs 89 Swan, Charles 72, 134 Sweeny, Joseph R 84, 107, iis, 116 Mary F 107 Capt. Thomas 107 T Taber, Mary 72 Tablet on Mechanics Bank, dedication of 89 Tate, Caroline M 72 Taverns — AlExander-the-GrEat 32 Alhambra 33 Blazing Star 13, 33 Bunch of Grapes, in Philadelphia 13 College in Princeton 8 Confederation in Princeton 8 Hull's, in New York 13 Indian King 33 Royal Oak 13 Washington Hotel 48 See — Blazing Star, City Tavern, French Arms, Thirteen Stars. Taylor, John 18 Lt. Col. John 10 Thirteen Stars — Formerly the Henry House ; Subsequently THE French Arms — A Tavern 9 Celebrations at the 9, 11 Courtmartial in the 10 Formerly the Henry House 8 162 INDEX. PAGE. Thirteen Stars— Formerly the Henry House; Subsequently THE French Arms — Continued — House of Assembly meets in the 9 Joint Meeting of the Legislature in the 9 Kept by Jacob G. Bergen 9 Kept by John Cape lo Long Room in the 8 Name changed to French Arms lo Thomas, William S 72 Thompson, Joseph 1 36 Thorp, Paul 19 Titus, Benjamin W 58, 72, 134 Elizabeth 72 LiscoMB R 52, 134 Capt. Timothy 10 Trenton- American Flag first hoisted in 41, 11 Celebration in 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 34, 35, 36, 37 Celebrations in, in War periods 66, loi Continental Congress in session in 24-30 Illumination of houses in 11, 13, 66 Lafayette guest of the city of 36, 37 Loans to the city of, in Civil War 97 National Capitol established at 17-20, 23, 30-38 PoSTOPFICE IN 40, 41 Public meetings in 14-1S, 17-19, 20-22, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44 Spanish Influenza epidemic in 99 State Arsenal 66 Union League in 66 Washington's Reception by the people of 35 Trenton Academy 13 Trenton Bankers Association 85, 102 Trenton Banking Company 49, 62 Organized in City Tavern 37-38 Warning against — a rumor 56 Trenton Chamber of Commerce 103 Trenton Clearing House ice Trenton Federalist 41 Trenton House, Lafayette entertained at 37 INDEX. 163 PAGE. Trenton Iron Co 76 Trenton Manufacturing Co 39 Trenton Weeki,y Mercury 33 True Tmerican 37, 44, 46, 56, Ti Tucker, Samuei, iS, 21 Capt. Wiuiam 10 Tyrrei,i<, Joseph 135 U United States Gazette 57 United War Workers 100 V ' Van Berckel, P^ter John 26 Vancleve, Joseph W 36 Van Emburgh, Maj. John 10 Van Syckel, Aaron 72, 13S VooRHEES, John 36 Maria L 72 Vroom, Garrett D. W. 116 John P 72 Gov. Peter D 72, 135 W Wai,ker, Thomas iii Wall, Gen. Garrett D 38 Waln, Joseph 72 Washington, Gen. George 31, 35 President George 35 Washington Hotel 48 Waterman, Edward i3S Jacob , 13S Watkins, Emily H. E. 72 Watson, John 19 Joseph 19 William 19 & Son 75 Weart, John A 47, 136 Western Bank, Philadelphia 56 164 INDEX. PAGE. Whitaker, Robert ^2 White, Wiluam 72, 136 Whitehead, Charges 66, 72, 116 WttDES, Hannah 43 WttGus, WauAM 19 Wilkinson, Frederick R 72, 136 Ogden D s8, 72, 136 WiLLCOCKS, WHWAM lO WiLUAMS, Rensselaer 13 Williamson, Hugh 27 John L loi Wilson, Col 23 Albert C. D go James 116, 136 John 39 Joseph B 137 Samuel K 72, 137 Sarah W. 72 Wimer, Godfrey 18 Witherup, David 52 Joseph 51, 52 Witt, Francis 31, 32, 33, 35 WoGLUM, Abram 19 Wood, Joseph 47, 137 Wrightson, Charles M 87 Y Yard, Daniel 25 Isaiah 21 Joseph A 46 Lewis 18 Thomas 18 YoRKTowN, celebration oe capture oe lO-II