---

National Bank Notes > North Dakota

---

---

Mandan, First NB, 2585
Fr. 1801-1 $10 1929T1
Grade: PMG VF 30    

---

This note is new to the census of seven small notes reported and it may well be the best of the bunch. A lovely, evenly circulated example with printed signatures of Joseph Paul Hess, President and J.F. Travis, Cashier. Joseph Paul Hess was born August 23, 1875 in Cleveland, Ohio. When he was ten years of age the family settled at Glen Ullin, Morton county, when there was no other sign of human habitation there than a settler s shack. The Hess family became prominent among the pioneers of Morton county. Joseph Paul Hess went as a lad from the family home to Mandan and entered the First National Bank as messenger in 1891. He won his way through the various grades up to the place of cashier and director of the bank. He was city treasurer; treasurer of the Mandan School District; treasurer of the Mandan Telephone Company, and treasurer of the First Loan and Security Company. He was involved in the organization in association with H.R. Lyon, of Minneapolis, and C.L. Timmerman, of Mandan of the following banks: Leipzig State Bank, Gwyther State Bank, Carson State Bank, Flasher State Bank and Sanger State Bank. He also had financial interests in the Bank of Oliver County, Center First State Bank of Almont, Hebron State Bank of Hebron, and the Richardton State Bank of Richardton. Mandan, in the Bismarck metro area, is the county seat of Morton County. The population was 18,331 at the 2010 census, making Mandan the sixth largest city in the state. Mandan was founded in 1879 and became the county seat in 1881, the same year it was organized as a village. The first permanent settlers were here in 1872, and it was known as Morton and Lincoln before officially becoming Mandan, for the Indian tribe of that name, on December 14, 1878. Mandan is derived from Mantahni, or 'people of the river bank'. Postmaster Arthur Linn adopted the new name March 3, 1879, but on March 11, 1879 new Postmaster Andre Thompson changed the name to Cushman. The Mandan name was restored September 26, 1879 by popular demand. It is a major railroad center, and is the home of the State Industrial School. Nearby Fort Clark was founded as an American Fur Company trading post in 1831. Located on the west bank of the Missouri River and north of present-day Mandan, the post was named to honor General William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark Expedition).

---