Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory

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National Bank Notes > Wyoming

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Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, First NB, 1800
Fr. 434 $20 1875
Grade: VF    

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This note is one of only six 1875 Series Territorials known. It's a problem free VF + and serial #350. The pedigree is spotless having been in the Amon Carter Collection and before that it was one of only two Wyoming Territorials in the Harley L. Freeman Collection. This piece was last offered by Hickman-Oakes in 1986. There are only six $20 1875 Series Territorials from any territory - First NB of Boise City, First NB of Omaha, First NB of Albuquerque (2), Second NB of New Mexico at Santa Fe and First NB of Cheyenne. There are only five Original Series $20 First Charter Territorials - two First NB of Denver and three Colorado NB of Denver. There are only 15 Wyoming Territorial known to exist. Eight are from Wyoming NB of Laramie City, three from Stock Growers NB of Cheyenne, one $10 Brown Back from First NB of Rawlins and a $5 Brown Back from the First NB of Douglas. The First National Bank of Cheyenne was chartered on March 7, 1871. Not surprisingly this was the earliest national bank chartered in the state. This bank originally printed 800 sheets of Original Series $10-10-10-20 and 2,500 sheets of $5s. Then when the 1875 issues were printed there were 685 more sheets of $5s and 1,656 sheets of $10-10-10-20. At this time only two Territorials are reported from this bank, with the other a low grade $10. Signed by H.R. Converse, President who came to Cheyenne in November 1867, and purchasing from J. H. Hall the adobe building at the corner of 16th and Hill Streets, he engaged in the furniture and crockery business. After a very successful business career of five years, he formed a co-partnership with Mr. F. E. Warren, the business being carried on under the firm name of Converse and Warren. In March 1871, Mr. Converse, H. J. Rogers, and others organized the First National Bank of Cheyenne, and Mr. Converse was chosen president, which position he held until his death. Retiring from the firm of Converse and Warren, he devoted his whole time thereafter to the banking business, in which has been more prosperous. He also invested largely of his means in cattle and ranches in this county, and today the Converse Cattle Company, of which he was president, is one of the wealthiest and most successful corporations in the territory. He was one of the first Laramie County commissioners elected after the organization of the WY Territory, and from 1876 to 1880 was Territorial Treasurer. He was one of the most public-spirited citizens of Wyoming and assisted materially in building up Cheyenne. Converse amassed a fortune through his residence in Cheyenne, WY during its early founding period. In 1870, he had assets of over $40,000 just in the crockery business alone.

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