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National Bank Notes > North Dakota

Casselton, First NB, 2792
Fr. 1800-1 $5 1929T1
Grade: PMG AU 53 EPQ    

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This note is new to the census and it's certainly the best of the 11 known. The bank printed 2,139 Type 1 sheets, including $5s, $10s and $20s. This note looks UNC in the holder. Signed by M.J. Ford, President and William F. Strehlow, Cashier. The Strehlows operated a large farm equipment dealership (Wm. G. Strehlow & Co., for many years, starting in the 1880s. William Strehlow was born in Germany, April 30, 1844. In October, 1861, at the age of 17, William enlisted as a Union scout for service in the Civil War. After his discharge in 1865 William worked as a clerk in a farm implement store in Minnesota before arriving in Dakota Territory in 1877. He was the first white settler in Addision Township, Cass County and filed the first homestead and tree claim along the Maple River. He moved to Casselton in 1879 where he pioneered William Strehlow & Company, a successful farm implement business, and was a director, stockholder and vice president of the First National Bank. William served as postmaster from 1913 to 1923, one term as mayor of Casselton, and twice as Cass County commissioner. Casselton, in Cass County, is in the Fargo metro area. The population was 2,329 at the 2010 census. Casselton had its origin in 1873 when the Northern Pacific Railway sent Mike Smith to plant cottonwood and willow trees in the area to serve as windbreaks along the right-of-way. Over the years, Casselton was known by many names including The Nursery, Goose Creek and Swan Creek (for a stream that meandered through the area). In 1876, the railroad established a station called Casstown, after George Cass, the railroad president. When the post office was established on August 8, 1876, the name Casselton was designated. Casselton is the hometown of five North Dakota governors including: Andrew Horace Burke, North Dakota s second governor; William Langer, 17th governor from 1933 to 1934 and 21st governor from 1937 to 1939; William Lewis Guy, 26th governor; George Albert Sinner 29th governor; and John Jack Dalrymple who became North Dakota s 32nd governor on Nov. 4, 2010. Casselton is home to the world's largest can pile. This tourist attraction was created in 1933 by Max Taubert when a Sinclair gas station occupied the lot. It is approximately 45 feet (14 m) tall, and is made of thousands of oil cans.

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