"The pioneer banking institution first established by [Captain James] Garitty and [Joseph] Huey was formed as the private banking house of Garitty, Huey and Co., opening for business in Corsicana in Sept of 1871. Garitty immediately began to form a strong banking house, ruling with an iron hand following his election as president and serving in that capacity until his death 53 years later. Huey continued to assist the Captain as vicepresident, but devoted most of his time to his hardware business. The six other original stockholders were W. R. Bright, Louis Cerf, Edmund Raphael, Charles H. Allyn, Alexander Fox and S. A. Pace. Corsicana's "Big Four" of the era were Garitty, Huey, Allyn, and J. E. Whiteselle, who later became a large stock-holder and a director. He was a son-in-law of Huey. The four, life-long friends, had a vision of a million dollar institution. The dream did not become a reality, but too late for the banker's organizers to see its capital reach a million on Tuesday, January 14, 1930. The First National Bank nationalized on July 1, 1886, becoming the first bank in Corsicana to be chartered as a national bank. The bank had a capital stock of $100,000 which was increased the following year to $125,000 and a surplus of $75.000 ... As business flourished in Corsicana the First national Band [sic] did likewise. To date it has outgrown four locations. When first established by Adams and Leonard, the bank was located in a boxed house known as the Fundt Building on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Beaton Street. Later it was moved further south and across Beaton Street, relocating in 1915 on the corner of Beaton Street and Sixth Avenue. Its final move was in 1956 to its modern and larger banking facility on the corner of North Main and West Collin. The present structure was enlarged and remodeled in 1969. The bank became the first in Corsicana to own it[s] own property. The loss of Captain Garitty was keenly felt in the bank organization, but with the election of Joseph Napoleon Edens as the second president of the First National Bank, it continued to grow and prosper and increase in strength. When Edens joined the bank's organization, he was better known as "Pole", a nickname taken from his middle name, Napoleon. One of the best known stockmen and farmers in Texas, he was closely associated with the First National Bank before Garitty died, serving as director under Garitty. The Captain had hand-picked Edens on his ability and as a man with a vision. Edens spent much time in the bank from 1920 to 1925 because of the failing health of Garitty. This was Garitty's way of giving Edens insight into the affairs of the banking institution."(http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txnavarr/business/ first_national_bank_corsicana/index.htm)

Garitty's signature appears on the 1902 Red Seals and on some 1902 notes.

J. N. Edens signed the remaining 1902 notes & the 1929s as President.

Signing as Cashier have been

E. H. Church

R. L. Hamilton

J. N. Garitty

&

See J. H. Roberts.

The bank building.

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