Perhaps more surprising than the fact that Bradley once had at least one automobile dealership (see post of 11/27/07) is the fact that Walnut Hill once had a bank.
Here is an image of a counter check from the Walnut Hill Bank.
Some of the history of the Walnut Hill Bank can be reconstructed from public records.
The Articles of Agreement And Incorporation of the Walnut Hill Bank were executed on December 11, 1907, and are recorded in Record Book N-3, at page 330 in the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s office. The incorporators, i.e., the persons who formed the corporation were: J. B. Herndon, J. F. McKnight, R. H. Duty, J. C. Smith, G. M. McKnight, Ida Baker, W. H. Baker, T. H. Dismukes, T. J. Dooley, G. M. Lee, P. M. Allen, R. B. Duty, and W. S. Collins. The purpose of the corporation was “… General Banking and to buy and sell Real Estate.”
The incorporators held their initial meeting in the office of J. B. Herndon at 2:00 P.M. on December 11, 1907. The incorporators elected J. B. Herndon as President, J. F. McKnight as Vice President, and R. H. Duty as Secretary-Treasurer. The other two directors elected were W. H. Baker and T. H. Dismukes.
The capital stock of the corporation was set at the amount of $20,000.00, divided into shares of $25.00 each. However, only $5000.00 of the stock was originally paid in by the incorporators. The stock was originally issued as follows: 100 shares each—J. B. Herndon & J. F. McKnight; 80 shares—R. H. Duty; 40 shares—J. O. Smith; 20 shares each—G. M. McKnight & T. H. Dismukes; 10 shares each T. J. Dooley & W. S. Collins; 8 shares—R. B. Duty; 4 shares each—Ida Baker & P. M. Allen; 2 shares each—W. H. Baker & W. S. Collins. The total number of shares was 400.
About two months later, the Walnut Hill Bank recorded in Record Book N-3, at page 396, a Power of Attorney to “G. M. McKnight of Lewisville…” as its attorney in fact “… to acknowledge payment and to enter satisfaction … of all mortgages now held by us or that we may hereafter have recorded ….” This appointment was undoubtedly because of the fact that G. M. McKnight lived in Lewisville, in close proximity to the Lafayette County Courthouse.
In an Annual Statement of the corporation as of January 1, 1910 (about 2 years later), recorded in Record Book S-3, at page 470, the number of shares owned by each stockholder is identical, except that the shares owned by J. O. Smith have grown from 40 to 50 shares. The “Resources” of the corporation at that time totaled $34, 810.12 and are listed as: Cash due from banks, 22,193.57; Cash on hand 2,234.43; Due from receivers 1,366.78; Judgment in our favor 1,000.00; Loans & Discounts 6,313.34; Fixts. Sta. & Bldg 1,658.54; and Overdrafts 43.46. The “Liabilities” of the corporation also totaled $34,810.12 and are listed as: Capital stock 5,000.00; Surplus 274.63; Profits 194.82; Deposits 22,280.67; and Reserved for taxes 60.00. This Annual Statement was sworn to by J. B. Herndon, President, and by R. H. Duty, as Cashier.
Another Annual Statement as of January 1, 1911, recorded in Record Book T-3, at page 558, shows total “Resources” and “Liabilities” of $31,681.51, approximately a ten percent decrease from the previous year. The amount of “Overdrafts” had also decreased, to 41 cents. The number of shares of stock owned by each shareholder had changed considerably, however, as follows: 50 shares—J. F. McKnight; 41 shares—R. H. Duty; 25 shares each—J. B. Herndon, R. L. Searcy, & O. D. Hinshaw; 10 shares each—G. M. McKnight & T. H. Dismukes; 5 shares—T. J. Dooley; 4 shares—R. B. Duty; 2 shares each—Ida Baker & P. M. Allen; 1 share—W. H. Baker. The total number of shares had shrunk to 200. The names of R. L. Searcy and O. D. Hinshaw appear for the first time as shareholders, replacing W. S. Collins and J. O. Smith. This statement is sworn to by J. F. McKnight, President, and by R. H. Duty, Cashier.
The last Annual Statement of the Walnut Hill Bank states its financial condition and ownership as of January 1, 1913. It is recorded in Record Book W-3, at page 416. The number of shares as of that date was still 200, and the ownership of those shares had not changed from the 1/1/11 statement. The assets have declined precipitously and are listed as follows: Amount of capital actually paid in—$5,000.00; Cash value of its real estate—None; Cash Value of its personal estate—$5,470.55; Cash value of its credits—(left blank); Amount of its debts—None.
A future post will examine the questions of (1) Where was the Walnut Hill Bank located? and (2) What became of it?
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