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National Bank Notes > North Dakota

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Rolla, First NB, W6157
Fr. 624 $10 1902PB
Grade: PMG VF 20    

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This bank has four large notes reported and three are listed here; all four are quite similar. This example has excellent penned signatures of F.A. Foley, Vice President and Robert Fraser, Cashier. Robert Fraser, cashier of the First National Bank of Rolla, was born in Scotland on the 9th of March, 1863. After attending the high school of Forres, Scotland, Robert Fraser continued his education in the University of Edinburgh, where he pursued a course in law, but did not nish it. He went to Australia, where he received his initial training in the banking business as a bookkeeper in the London Chartered Bank of Melbourne, with which institution he was identi ed for ve years. In 1890 he returned home on a visit and subsequently crossed the Atlantic to Canada, after which he took up the occupation of farming in the province of Manitoba. In 1894 Mr. Fraser crossed the border into the United States and took up his abode in Rolla, North Dakota, where for eight years he occupied the position of deputy in the office of county register of deeds. In 1902 he entered the First National Bank of Rolla as assistant cashier, and about 1906 was advanced to the position of cashier. Rolla is the county seat of Rolette County. Rolette County is located along the Canadian border in north-central North Dakota. The Turtle Mountain (Chippewa) Indian Reservation is located in the northern part of the county. The population of Rolla was 1,280 at the 2010 census; it reached a peak population of 1,486 in 1980. This Great Northern Railroad station was founded in 1888. Some say it was named by Dr. Richard D. Cowan, a pioneer physician, as a variation of the county name. Others say it was named for Rolla Noyes, a lawyer in Grand Forks who was associated with the Great Northern Railroad. Still others say it was named for Rolla, Missouri, which likewise has many explanations for its name. The post office was established November 9, 1888 with David C. Boyd as Postmaster, who operated the facility from his building in the old townsite of Boydton one mile to the northwest. In October 1893 new Postmaster Andrew Smith moved the post office to the Rolla townsite. In 1890, Rolla was made the new county seat, replacing Saint John. Rolla incorporated as a village in 1891, and became a city in 1907. Notable residents of Rolla include Allen I. Olson, 28th Governor of North Dakota.

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