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National Bank Notes > North Dakota

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Valley City, First NB, W2548
Fr. 490 $10 1882BB
Grade: PMG Fine 12    

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There are only 24 state Brown Backs in the census and this one is an addition to that number. The note is one of three large notes reported on this bank and it's the only $10, there is also a $20. Pleasing and evenly circulated with excellent pen signatures of Herman Winterer, President and John Tracy, Cashier. Herman Winterer was born on January 1, 1857 in Philadelphia, Pa. He graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in the spring of 1883. In the same year, he moved to Valley City, Dakota Territory and entered a practice with Judge Seth Mills. Herman served two terms as the State Attorney and was president of the First National Bank and chairman of the Board of Directors of the same. In 1898, Herman was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. Herman also was the vice president of the Middle West Fire Insurance Company. John Tracy was born at Hartford, Conn., February 10, 1869. He moved to North Dakota in 1881, where he resided at Valley City. On September 12, 1892, he was married to Miss Jessie Batchelder of Valley City. In 1896, Mr. Tracy became cashier of the First National Bank. Valley City is the county seat of Barnes County; the population was 6,585 at the 2010 census, a peak population of 7,843 was recorded in 1970. Founded by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1872, this place was called Second Crossing of the Sheyenne, Fifth Siding, and Wahpeton before the year was over. In 1874 it was named Worthington, but confusion with Worthington, Minnesota resulted in another name change to Valley City, descriptive of its location in the Sheyenne River valley. Valley City was incorporated as a village in 1881, and became a city in 1883 with C. A. Benson as mayor. The city is known for its many bridges over the Sheyenne River including the Hi-Line Railroad Bridge. These bridges have earned it the distinction of being called the "City of Bridges". The city is also the home of Valley City State University, established here in 1890. Frank White, 8th Governor of North Dakota and Treasurer of the United States, and George Mason, founder of the American Motors Corporation, were natives of Valley City.

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