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Percival Simpson
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1 A HISTORY OF THE FARMERS' BANK OF FINCASTLE and THE BANK OF FINCASTLE t -. 1)«Suthtcrjs; -V /W «'' v,^ "^; T ' * *"**f i" fl/'' 'V '.**, JttnrrJi^y 18V. / BY ROBERT D. STONER Authorized by the Board of Directors of The Bank of Fincastle, September, 1975.

2 Virginia...and all existing banks were forced out of business, and records indicate that none of the banks attempted to reorganized after the War." Royall also noted the slowness of the growth of the state banking system after hostilities ended, there being only fifty-two state banks in Virginia in 1885, twenty years after the end of the war, and they with total resources of only about $12,000, Of the fifty-two state banks operating in Virginia in 1885 was The Bank of Pincastle, organized ten years earlier; which probably started its operations in the one-story brick building on Main Street between the present post office and the "Stoner's Store" building, which was later known as the "Haden Law office". This building should be on the Landmarks Commission list, since (1) it was occupied by Wm. A. Glasgow, who was once an outstanding lawyer of the United States, recommended for the office of Attorney General; and was Pierre dupont's attorney when the three dupont brothers decided to divide the dupont properties; (2) that it was also occupied by B.M. Allen, Clerk of the Circuit Court and by B.M Allen, his descendant who was head of the English Department of the University of Chicago, and later became President of one of the prominent eastern Universities; and (3) it was later the office of Benjamin fladen, Jr., Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial District of Virginia. This property was purchased by The Bank of Fincastle from B.M. Allen and W A. Glasgow and wife, and conveyed to the bank by deed dated December 3, 1875; and the bank occupied that site until it moved into its present building. The present site of the Bank of Fincastle was conveyed to it by C II. Redman and wife by deed dated June 18, 1906; and the building erected by R A. Figgat pursuant to his contract dated May 18, 1908, at a cost of $ (2)

3 The additions to and remodelings of this building have been done with an effort to preserve its outside lines so far as possible, while adding modern facilities, including a drive-in window. In 1969 the services of The Bank of Fincastle were enlarged by the erection of a branch bank in Daleville. On September 20, 1875, J.H.H. Figgat and others petitioned the Circuit Court of Botetourt County to obtain a charter in accordance with the provisions of law, to establish "THE BANK OF FINCASTLE" at Fincastle, Virginia, a bank of discount and deposit and for carrying on the general banking business. On September 22, 1875, the Honorable Henry E. Blair, Judge of the 14th Circuit of Virginia, granted the charter. THE CHARTER OF THE BANK OF FINCASTLE The undersigned J.H.H. Figgat, W.A. Glasgow, Thomas G. Godwin, Wm. K. McDowell, B.M. Allen, Louis Housman, Jr., George W. Carper desiring to arrange a joint stock Company for the purpose hereinafter specified and to obtain therefore a charter of incorporation, do in accordance with the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of Virginia in such case made and provided make this certificate to the Circuit Court of Botetourt County. 1st. The name of the Company shall be "The Bank of Fincastle" and it is formed for the purpose of establishing at Fincastle, in the County of Botetourt, a Bank of Discount and Deposit and of carrying on a general Banking business and business of exchange; but not to issue any bank note or bill of credit or to conduct the business of a bank of circulation. 2nd. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than ten, nor more than two hundred thousand dollars, to be subscribed in shares of one hundred dollars each; and the,original subscribers to the stock of said company at the time of its organization and their successors shall be at liberty to reject or accept any subscription to said stock. 3rd. The said company may hold a lot in the Town of Fincastle, on which their banking house shall be situtated and may acquire such other real estate as may be necessary for the protection of the interest of the company not exceeding one thousand acres at any one time. (3)

4 4th. The principal office of said company shall be kept in the said Town of Fincastle and its chief business shall be transacted there. 5th. The subscribers, J.H.H. Figgat, W.A. Glasgow, Thomas G. Godwin, Win. K. McDowell, Brown M. Allen, Louis Housman, Jr., and George W. Carper, of the Town of Fincastle, County of Botetourt, Virginia, shall be directors of said company. 6th. At least five per centum of the stock subscribed by any person to the capital stock of said company shall be paid within thirty days after such subscription and the organization of the company shall be made and the residue at such time or times and in such amounts as the company shall by its by-laws provide. We hereby respectfully apply to the Circuit Court of Botetourt County to grant us a charter of incorporation upon the above terms, and for the purposes herein before specified. J.H.H. Figgat Thos. G. Godwin Louis Housman, Jr. George W. Carper W.A. Glasgow Wm. K. McDowell B.M. Allen Virginia, Botetourt County to wit: I, Thomas J. Godwin, a notary public in and for the county aforesaid hereby certify that J.H.H. Figg at, W.A. Glasgow, Thomas G. Godwin, Wm. K. McDowell, Louis Housman, Jr., B.M. Allen, George W. Carper, whose names are subscribed to the above writing, have severally signed and acknowledged the said writing before me in my county aforesaid. Given under my hand this 20th day of September In vacation at Salem, September 22nd, Thos. J. Godwin, N.P. The above certificate signed by J.H.H. Figgat, W.A. Glasgow, Thomas G. Godwin, Wm. K. McDowell, Louis Housman, Jr., B.M. Allen, and George W. Carper being this day presented to me. It is therefore ordered that the said J.H.H. Figgat, W.A. Glasgow, Thomas G. Godwin, Wm. K. McDowell, Louis Housman, Jr., B.M. Allen, and George W. Carper, together with such other persons as may hereafter be associated with them, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the name and style of "The Bank of Fincastle" upon the terms set forth in the above certificate. Henry E. Blair Clerk's Office of Botetourt County Court, September 24, This certificate of J.H.H, Figgat and made to the Circuit Court of this county for the incorporation of a Bank of Discounts and Deposit under the name and style of "The Bank of Fincastle" in the county of Botetourt, Virginia, together with the certificate of a notary public, and the order of the Hon. H.E. Blair, Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Virginia, incorporating and constituting the said J.H.H. Figgat et als a body politic and corporate under the name and s.tyle of "The Bank of Fincastle", was this day presented (4)

5 to me in said office and by me recorded in the "Charter Book" kept in said office all of which is certified to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for record. Teste: B M. Allen, c. Certificate for Amendment to the Charter of The Bank of Fincastle The Bank of Fincastle, a corporation duly created by an order of the Circuit Court of the County of Botetourt, entered on the twenty first day of August, 1875, desiring to have its charter amended in the respects hereinafter set out, executes this certificate as required by law through its president and under its corporate seal, attested by its cashier, who performs the duties appertaining to the office of Secretary, and sets out: (1) That on the 13th day of September 1904, there was held in the Town of Fincastle, Virginia, after due notice to all of the directors, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the said Bank at which meeting the Board of Directors passed a resolution declaring that it was advisable to amend the charter of this Bank so that its authorized maximum capital stock should be reduced from two hundred thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dollars; and to effect these purposes that the second section of the charter should be amended so as to read as follows: "The Capital Stock of said company shall not be less than ten, nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars, to be subscribed in shares of one hundred dollars each; and the original subscribers to the stock of said company, at the time of its organization and their successors shall be at liberty to reject or accept any subscription to said stock." And the said Board of Directors therefore ordered a meeting of the stockholders to be called on the 29th day of October, 1904, according to law, to take action upon the foregoing proposed amendment to the charter of the corporation. (2) That on the 29th day of October 1904, there was held at the banking house and office of the said Bank of Fincastle in the Town of Fincastle a meeting of its stockholders after ten days notice to all stockholders, either served in person or by mailing the same as required by law and after publishing the same for four successive weeks in the Fincastle Herald, a newspaper published in the place where its principal office is located, such notice stating the time and place and object of the meeting. That at the said meeting there was represented in person and by proxy over over two thirds of the stockholders of the said corporation having voting power. That the foregoing resolution adopted by the Board of Directors proposing to amend Section two of the charter of this company in the manner hereinbefore set forth, was in terms laid before the said stockholders meeting and adopted by a unanimous vote in favor thereof, said vote being more than two-thirds of the entire stock of the corporation.

6 (3) That the proceedings of the said meeting were duly entered on the minutes of the said meeting. Therefore this certificate is now signed by Turner McDowell, President of The Bank of Fincastle, aforesaid, with its corporate seal thereto affixed, attested by James Godwin, its Cashier, who performs the duties appertaining to the office of secretary, at the Town of Fincastle, in the County of Botetourt, State of Virginia, this 12th day of December Seal of Bank of Fincastle Turner McDowell, President Attest. James Godwin Cashier State of Virginia, County of Botetourt, to-wit; I, Cary Breckinridge, a notary public for the County and State aforesaid, do certify that Turner McDowell, President and James Godwin, Cashier of The Bank of Fincastle, Virginia, whose names as such are signed to the foregoing writing bearing date on the 12th day of December, 1904, have each acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid, and being duly sworn, the said Turner McDowell and James Godwin each declare that the statements in the foregoing certificate are true and correct. Given under my hand this 12th day of December, My term of office expires September 28, Cary Breckinridge, N.P. The Bank of Fincastle was duly organized with the petitioners mentioned in the charter as directors of the corporation; and J.H.H. Figgat was elected its President and Thomas G. Godwin its cashier. During its one hundred years, the bank has successfully weathered several depressions, panics and national financial adversities. It has increased, its capital funds from $10, to $494, at the present time; and has during this time paid to its stockholders 177 dividends on its common stock. The Bank of Fincastle has been designated, and is, a depository for the State of Virginia, the County of Botetourt and the Town of Fincastle. (6)

7 It is a State bank, having received its charter under the laws of the State of Virginia, and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures every deposit in the bank up to and including $40, It is under the supervision and regular examination of the Virginia State Banking Department and the Federal Insurance Corporation. At the present time the bank has deposits of $6,095, and total resources of over $6,744, The officers and directors of the Bank of Fincastle from 1875, and their terms of service, are: Presidents: J.H.H. Figgat Turner McDowell E.E. Mayhew F.H. Booze R.D. Stoner H.M. Williamson,Jr Vice-Presidents: (Office created 1913) Cashiers: Directors: ( ) S.B. Smith E.E. Mayhew F.H. Booze P.A. F ir ebaugh R.E. Layman Thomas G. Godwin James Godwin R.B. Jarratt C.H. Givins R.B. Jarratt A.R. Bolton H.M. Williamson, Jr William K. McDowell B.M. Allen Thomas A. Godwin G.W. Carper W.A. Glasgow J.H.H. Figgat Louis Housman, Jr Original Directors (V)

8 Directors (continued) M.W. Camper Thomas G. Glasgow J.N. Slicer George Swann W.A. Glasgow, Jr. James Godwin T.D. Karrffelt Benjamin Haden E.J. Brugh M.S. Gaboon C.M. Lunsford J.F. Gardner Turner McDowell R.S. Whitten W.R. Allen A.T. Howell S.B. Smith J.D. Hilton C.M. Firebaugh R.B. Jarratt J.E. Hannah F.H. Booze, Sr. E.E. Mayhew C.H. Givins S.B. Carter P.A. Firebaugh R.D. Stoner A.R. Bolton J.W. Austin C.H. Sprinkle R.E. Layman H.M. Williamson, Jr. G.E. Holt, Jr. C. Ray Sprinkle W.W. Burch unknown unknown Mr. Turner McDowell was President of The Bank of Fincastle from 1897 until his death, faithfully serving for more than forty-two years - a longer term of service in this capacity than any other person. The Board of Directors of The Bank of Fincastle announced after its board meeting held on April 23, 1975, the promotion of two be r:k officials. Mr. R.D. Stoner was elected Chairman of the Board and H.M. Williamson, Jr. was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of the bank. (8)

9 Mr. Stoner was elected to the Board of Directors of the bank on January 11, He was elected Vice-President on February 17, 1949, and named President on March 16, 1950, a position he held until his present elevation to Chairman of the Board. He has served a total of 35 years on the bank board, and twenty-five of those as President. In addition he is widely known for his historical literature contribution, and is the author of "Seed-Bed of the Republic". Mr. Williamson was elected to the Board of Directors on April 21, He was employed as assistant cashier by the bank on September 1, 1965, and promoted to cashier on January 1, 1968, which position he held until his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer. The writer especially wishes to express his appreciation of the patience of the building committee, G.E. Holt, Jr., Robert E. Layman and H.M. Williamson, Jr., with him in his efforts to preserve the original appearance of the outside of the bank building by minimizing the outer changes necessitated by inside additions and alterations to comply with the necessity for modern business improvements. My special thanks also to C.H. Givens for the use of his information on the history of this bank; as well as for his highly efficient services as cashier during his ten year tenure as such. I am seventy-seven years old, a native of Fincastle, and for most of my life the Bank of Fincastle WAS Mr. Turner McDowell, Mr. S.B. Smith and Mr. R.B. Jarratt - Mr. McDowell having served in his official capacity longer than anyone else. His many contacts by reason of being Clerk of Botetourt County; his knowledge of its citizens and their problems, an'd their confidence in him made him particularly valuable to the bank. Mr. Smith, whose quiet (9)

10 dignified manner concealed a deep interest in his fellow citizen (his diaries included everything, even births and deaths, and were accepted as proof of events which were not otherwise recorded) was active in behalf of the bank, and his interest and business acumen were also invaluable assets to the bank. Mr. Jarratt was in the bank during the time when a dollar was worth one hundred cents, and when a national emergency caused the only closing of the bank. The writer was in the bank with him on that proud day when they could tell the anxious citizens that while President Roosevelt had ordered the closing of all banks, the assets of the depositors of The Bank of Fincastle were safe, and would be available when the national moratorium was lifted. Mr. Jarratt's ability as a banker was demonstrated in this bank, and in other, much larger banks which have profited by his services. All three were capable, honorable, industrious, and gave selflessly of their time and talents to the bank, and their unquestionable integrity justified the confidence of their clients and the resulting promotion of the interests of the bank. No history of the Bank of Fincastle would be complete without mentioning the services of A.R. Bolton, who was cashier for twenty years, and J.W. Austin who was a very active and valuable director for seventeen years - both of whom rendered outstanding service to the bank, as did E.E. Mayhew, who was President of the bank for seven years, and F.H. Booze who served in that capacity only one year before his removal by death; and last, but not least, H.-M. Williamson, whose continuing services are of great value to the bank and its customers. While the Daleville Branch of the Bank of Fincastle has been in existence only a few years, the officers of the parent organization have been ably assisted by the knowledge and advice of Vice-President Robert E. Layman, who is a citizen of the Daleville area, and we wish to express our thanks to him, (10)

11 as well as to the ladies of "Historic Fincastle" who freely gave their time and talents in the inside decoration of the bank. They were Mrs. Eleanor McDowell, Mrs. Phyllis A. Burch, Mrs. Dorothy Layman, Mrs. Hellen C. Caldwell, Mrs. Dorothy C. Blanton and Mrs. June Rutherfoord. The writer can not close this short history without adding his personal thanks in addition to that of the Bank to Stuart B. Carter,* legal counselor during most of his term as President of the Bank, not only for his legal advice but for his business acumen upon which he heavily leaned always and to Mrs. B. M. Allen who has rendered valuable aid in this short writing as in past undertaking. (ID

12 THE BANK OP FINCASTLE OFFICERS: R.D. Stoner, Chairman of the Board of Directors H.M. Williamson, dr., President and Executive Officer R E. Layman, Vice-President Helen S. Cronise,Assistant Cashier John W. Crowder, Assistant Cashier DIRECTORS; R.D. Stoner H.M. Williamson R.E. Layman G.E. Holt, Jr. C. Ray Sprinkle W.W. Burch EMPLOYEES: Jean R. Craft, Head Bookkeeper Judith C. Barnett, Teller Nancy Milliron, Teller Martha Caldwell, Bookkeeper Corrine G. Wood, Bookkeeper Gail B. Guffey, Teller

Sara Copeland, AICP, Community Development Director. Vacating Right-of-Way in the Armour Road Redevelopment Area

MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Mayor and City Council City Administrator Sara Copeland, AICP, Community Development Director DATE: April 4, 2017 RE: Vacating Right-of-Way in the Armour Road Redevelopment Area As