The First National Bank in Center Point

“Early in June 1908, application was made to the Comptroller of the Currency for permission to organize a Banking Association to be known as The First National Bank, located in Centerpoint, Clay County, Indiana.  This organization was to have a Capital Stock of $25,000. They asked that they be given sixty days to do so.  In pursuance to the granting of this request by the Comptroller, they proceeded with the organization of the bank, by selling the required amount of stock to the following persons, who became the original stockholders of the Bank.”

            “They were George WIEDERODER, Sylvester E. BROWN, L. C. KENNEDY, Mrs. A. E. RUNDELL, Mrs. Sarah M. KENNEDY, S. W. HENDERSON, P. L. LANCET, George RENTSCHLER, Gottlieb RENTSCHLER, Henry RENTSCHLER, S. C. BENFER, James BURROUGHS, George ROSECHLEIN, Benjamin RHODES, W. A. EASLEY, Gus SHARP, Eugene WARDLAW, C. O. RENTSCHLER, Brenton A. RENTSCHLER, B. O. JAMES, John SCHAFER, Henry KEISER, Vincent LOWDERMILK, O. A. LANCET, R. L. KENNEDY, Hardy HICKS, John STEARLEY, N. D. SWALLEY, William M. FRUMP, E Q. MOSS, E. R. WITTENBERG, D. C. WITTY, and Samuel C. ADAMS.

            The Charter was granted on October 6, 1908, and The First National Bank was opened for business Wednesday October 7, 1908, with the following officers through 1910, L. C. KENNEDY, President; C. O. RENTSCHLER, Vice-President; and S. W. HENDERSON, Cashier.  Through 1911 George WIEDERODER was president; C. O. RENTSCHLER, Vice-President; Sumner HENDERSON, Cashier; S. W. HENDERSON having resigned July 13, 1911, to go to the Davis Trust Company at Brazil, Indiana.  The officers remained the same until Nov. 27, 1917, when Sumner HENDERSON resigned and was succeeded by M. A. PERRY.  He resigned Nov. 15, 1920.

            William O. GRAESER was elected as Cashier, beginning November 15, 1920.  The officers then were C.O. RENTSCHLER, President; W. H. ROESCHLEIN, Vice-President; and William O. GRAESER, Cashier.  In 1923 Vincent LOWDERMILK was made Vice-President, but he passed away in September 1923, and Herman C. KOEHLER became Vice-President and remains until the present time.

            At the passing of C.O. RENTSCHLER in 1934, William O. GRAESER became President and continues until the present time.  John H. RANDOLPH, who had been Assistant Cashier since April 16, 1928, now becomes Cashier, and has remained as such until the present time; with the exception of three years spent in the service of his country, when Floy W. GRAESER served in his place.  During these three years William O. GRAESER and Floy GRAESER operated the institution alone, much of the time working almost day and night.   Rosemary GRAESER EDER has been in the bookkeeping department for as many as twenty years.  Others who have assisted with bookkeeping were Olga COATS McCULLOUGH in 1918, Veneta WRIGHT SHULTS in 1919, Nannie LEWIS in 1920, Edna HOLLY STOELTING in 1920 to 1928, Floy W. GRAESER 1934 to 1945, when she became Assistant Cashier, Marguerite LEACHMAN, 1954 to 1956, and presently Peggy Sue BOYCE.”

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