THE JACKSONVILLE OBSERVER, "Headstone: William Boyd Barnett (1824 - 1903)", by Joseph E. Miller on July 26, 2009
In Evergreen Cemetery, under a canopy of moss-covered giant old growth oak trees, stands a tremendous two ton granite boulder with the name BARNETT carved in high relief on its side. This is all that remains of the Barnett Bank dynasty which dominated the state of Florida for nearly 125 years. Positioned on the ground directly in front of this boulder is a 1 ft. by 2 ft. headstone marking the final resting place of bank founder, William Boyd Barnett. His two sons, heirs and banking giants in their own right, Bion and William, rest nearby.
Born in Nicholas County, West Virginia on September 2, 1824, William was the son of William Barnett, Sr., of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. William Barnett, Sr., served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania regiment during the War of 1812. Prior to the war, he was recognized as a pioneer of West Virginia and Ohio.
William Boyd Barnett moved from Ohio to Indiana where he met and married Leesburg, Indiana, native Sarah Jane Blue on November 9, 1848. Sarah's father, Dr. Elijah Blue, was a successful Leesburg physician.
Their first child, a son, William D. Barnett (Will), was born April 3, 1852, in Leesburg. The family then moved to the "Far West", which in those days was known as Kansas. Two daughters were born in Kansas but sadly died shortly after birth. It was in Hiawatha, Kansas, that William B. Barnett (already a wealthy man) partnered with former Kansas Governor E.N. Morrill and Vermont Banker Lorenzo Janes to form the Barnett, Morrill and Janes Bank. It was located in a second floor room in the stone corner drug store. The initial investment was $1500 and which was funded solely by Mr. Morrill. Morrill had recently received a windfall from selling land to the railroad.
Morrill and Janes Bank are still in business today. In fact, its tall office bank building is constructed on property Janes purchased 153 years ago for his home.
Mrs. Barnett gave birth to Bion Hall Barnett on October 7, 1857. It was after this birth that her health began to deteriorate. Young Will Barnett moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1874 to start a furniture business. His father William and his mother Sarah visited from Kansas the following year. During this visit, Sarah's health improved and they decided to settle in Jacksonville.
William sold his business interests in Hiawatha, Kansas, and moved his wife and 19 year old son Bion to Jacksonville, March of 1877. That year, the nation's economy took a serious downturn and young Jacksonville lacked the improvements of larger cities. It had poor roads, little electricity, no city water and a poor sewage system. It was written that the city's poor sanitation led to the two major outbreaks of Yellow Fever.
With a population of just over 10,000, local citizens considered it a folly when the Barnett family opened a bank to compete with the three well-established local banks. William B. Barnett was not deterred and established the Bank of Jacksonville. Since William was using $43,000 of his own money to start this venture, even seasoned bankers calculated that this business would not last long.
The bank was small and employed only three employees, William Boyd Barnett, his son Bion, and a teller. Times were tough and only $11,000 was deposited into the bank that first year.
A single conversation changed the outcome of the Barnett family and their bank. Bion learned that Henry L'Engle, current Duval County Tax Collector, was not happy with his banking arrangements with a competing bank. This competitor was charging a $6.25 fee to L'Engle's account for transfers between banks in Jacksonville and those in New York. Bion offered to waive the fee if Henry transferred the tax funds to the Bank of Jacksonville. L'Engle accepted his offer immediately.
As luck should have it, the following year Henry L'Engle was appointed Florida State Treasurer. The Bank of Jacksonville profited from its relationship established by Bion and the state depository accounts were moved to its bank. Sadly, the September 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic claimed the life of the Honorable Henry A. L'Engle.
When its capital reached $150,000, William Barnett applied for a national charter and renamed the bank The National Bank of Jacksonville. By 1893, The National Bank of Jacksonville announced deposits had reached the $1 million mark.
In 1895, the entire state citrus crop was destroyed by a hard freeze. This stressed the banking system but the Barnett family bank survived. Jacksonville's "Great Fire of 1901" destroyed over half the local businesses but miraculously the National Bank of Jacksonville was the only bank spared by the fire.
Sadly, William Boyd Barnett died September 2, 1903. His son, Bion, was appointed Vice-President and took control of the business renaming it Barnett Bank to honor his father, the bank founder.
Will and Bion successfully ran Barnett Bank long into the 20th Century. When Bion reach 92 (he lived to 101), his son, William Barnett, became the final Barnett to administer the family's control. According to published reports, Barnett Bank officials did not anticipate the power and wealth of newly formed regional banks. It is suggested that due to this misstep Barnett Bank was sold in 1998, abruptly ending its 100 plus year dominance of Florida banking.
Its towering bank building in Jacksonville (once the tallest building in Florida) still stands proudly overshadowing and dwarfing the city's downtown skyline. Built only two blocks from the original 1877 bank William founded, it is all that reminds us of the family that once controlled banking in the city and positively enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of local citizens for over a century.
∼Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
Name: W E Barnett
Death Date: 1903
County of Death: Duval
State of Death: Florida
Race: White
Gender: Male
In Evergreen Cemetery, under a canopy of moss-covered giant old growth oak trees, stands a tremendous two ton granite boulder with the name BARNETT carved in high relief on its side. This is all that remains of the Barnett Bank dynasty which dominated the state of Florida for nearly 125 years. Positioned on the ground directly in front of this boulder is a 1 ft. by 2 ft. headstone marking the final resting place of bank founder, William Boyd Barnett. His two sons, heirs and banking giants in their own right, Bion and William, rest nearby.
Born in Nicholas County, West Virginia on September 2, 1824, William was the son of William Barnett, Sr., of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. William Barnett, Sr., served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania regiment during the War of 1812. Prior to the war, he was recognized as a pioneer of West Virginia and Ohio.
William Boyd Barnett moved from Ohio to Indiana where he met and married Leesburg, Indiana, native Sarah Jane Blue on November 9, 1848. Sarah's father, Dr. Elijah Blue, was a successful Leesburg physician.
Their first child, a son, William D. Barnett (Will), was born April 3, 1852, in Leesburg. The family then moved to the "Far West", which in those days was known as Kansas. Two daughters were born in Kansas but sadly died shortly after birth. It was in Hiawatha, Kansas, that William B. Barnett (already a wealthy man) partnered with former Kansas Governor E.N. Morrill and Vermont Banker Lorenzo Janes to form the Barnett, Morrill and Janes Bank. It was located in a second floor room in the stone corner drug store. The initial investment was $1500 and which was funded solely by Mr. Morrill. Morrill had recently received a windfall from selling land to the railroad.
Morrill and Janes Bank are still in business today. In fact, its tall office bank building is constructed on property Janes purchased 153 years ago for his home.
Mrs. Barnett gave birth to Bion Hall Barnett on October 7, 1857. It was after this birth that her health began to deteriorate. Young Will Barnett moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1874 to start a furniture business. His father William and his mother Sarah visited from Kansas the following year. During this visit, Sarah's health improved and they decided to settle in Jacksonville.
William sold his business interests in Hiawatha, Kansas, and moved his wife and 19 year old son Bion to Jacksonville, March of 1877. That year, the nation's economy took a serious downturn and young Jacksonville lacked the improvements of larger cities. It had poor roads, little electricity, no city water and a poor sewage system. It was written that the city's poor sanitation led to the two major outbreaks of Yellow Fever.
With a population of just over 10,000, local citizens considered it a folly when the Barnett family opened a bank to compete with the three well-established local banks. William B. Barnett was not deterred and established the Bank of Jacksonville. Since William was using $43,000 of his own money to start this venture, even seasoned bankers calculated that this business would not last long.
The bank was small and employed only three employees, William Boyd Barnett, his son Bion, and a teller. Times were tough and only $11,000 was deposited into the bank that first year.
A single conversation changed the outcome of the Barnett family and their bank. Bion learned that Henry L'Engle, current Duval County Tax Collector, was not happy with his banking arrangements with a competing bank. This competitor was charging a $6.25 fee to L'Engle's account for transfers between banks in Jacksonville and those in New York. Bion offered to waive the fee if Henry transferred the tax funds to the Bank of Jacksonville. L'Engle accepted his offer immediately.
As luck should have it, the following year Henry L'Engle was appointed Florida State Treasurer. The Bank of Jacksonville profited from its relationship established by Bion and the state depository accounts were moved to its bank. Sadly, the September 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic claimed the life of the Honorable Henry A. L'Engle.
When its capital reached $150,000, William Barnett applied for a national charter and renamed the bank The National Bank of Jacksonville. By 1893, The National Bank of Jacksonville announced deposits had reached the $1 million mark.
In 1895, the entire state citrus crop was destroyed by a hard freeze. This stressed the banking system but the Barnett family bank survived. Jacksonville's "Great Fire of 1901" destroyed over half the local businesses but miraculously the National Bank of Jacksonville was the only bank spared by the fire.
Sadly, William Boyd Barnett died September 2, 1903. His son, Bion, was appointed Vice-President and took control of the business renaming it Barnett Bank to honor his father, the bank founder.
Will and Bion successfully ran Barnett Bank long into the 20th Century. When Bion reach 92 (he lived to 101), his son, William Barnett, became the final Barnett to administer the family's control. According to published reports, Barnett Bank officials did not anticipate the power and wealth of newly formed regional banks. It is suggested that due to this misstep Barnett Bank was sold in 1998, abruptly ending its 100 plus year dominance of Florida banking.
Its towering bank building in Jacksonville (once the tallest building in Florida) still stands proudly overshadowing and dwarfing the city's downtown skyline. Built only two blocks from the original 1877 bank William founded, it is all that reminds us of the family that once controlled banking in the city and positively enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of local citizens for over a century.
∼Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
Name: W E Barnett
Death Date: 1903
County of Death: Duval
State of Death: Florida
Race: White
Gender: Male
THE JACKSONVILLE OBSERVER, "Headstone: William Boyd Barnett (1824 - 1903)", by Joseph E. Miller on July 26, 2009
In Evergreen Cemetery, under a canopy of moss-covered giant old growth oak trees, stands a tremendous two ton granite boulder with the name BARNETT carved in high relief on its side. This is all that remains of the Barnett Bank dynasty which dominated the state of Florida for nearly 125 years. Positioned on the ground directly in front of this boulder is a 1 ft. by 2 ft. headstone marking the final resting place of bank founder, William Boyd Barnett. His two sons, heirs and banking giants in their own right, Bion and William, rest nearby.
Born in Nicholas County, West Virginia on September 2, 1824, William was the son of William Barnett, Sr., of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. William Barnett, Sr., served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania regiment during the War of 1812. Prior to the war, he was recognized as a pioneer of West Virginia and Ohio.
William Boyd Barnett moved from Ohio to Indiana where he met and married Leesburg, Indiana, native Sarah Jane Blue on November 9, 1848. Sarah's father, Dr. Elijah Blue, was a successful Leesburg physician.
Their first child, a son, William D. Barnett (Will), was born April 3, 1852, in Leesburg. The family then moved to the "Far West", which in those days was known as Kansas. Two daughters were born in Kansas but sadly died shortly after birth. It was in Hiawatha, Kansas, that William B. Barnett (already a wealthy man) partnered with former Kansas Governor E.N. Morrill and Vermont Banker Lorenzo Janes to form the Barnett, Morrill and Janes Bank. It was located in a second floor room in the stone corner drug store. The initial investment was $1500 and which was funded solely by Mr. Morrill. Morrill had recently received a windfall from selling land to the railroad.
Morrill and Janes Bank are still in business today. In fact, its tall office bank building is constructed on property Janes purchased 153 years ago for his home.
Mrs. Barnett gave birth to Bion Hall Barnett on October 7, 1857. It was after this birth that her health began to deteriorate. Young Will Barnett moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1874 to start a furniture business. His father William and his mother Sarah visited from Kansas the following year. During this visit, Sarah's health improved and they decided to settle in Jacksonville.
William sold his business interests in Hiawatha, Kansas, and moved his wife and 19 year old son Bion to Jacksonville, March of 1877. That year, the nation's economy took a serious downturn and young Jacksonville lacked the improvements of larger cities. It had poor roads, little electricity, no city water and a poor sewage system. It was written that the city's poor sanitation led to the two major outbreaks of Yellow Fever.
With a population of just over 10,000, local citizens considered it a folly when the Barnett family opened a bank to compete with the three well-established local banks. William B. Barnett was not deterred and established the Bank of Jacksonville. Since William was using $43,000 of his own money to start this venture, even seasoned bankers calculated that this business would not last long.
The bank was small and employed only three employees, William Boyd Barnett, his son Bion, and a teller. Times were tough and only $11,000 was deposited into the bank that first year.
A single conversation changed the outcome of the Barnett family and their bank. Bion learned that Henry L'Engle, current Duval County Tax Collector, was not happy with his banking arrangements with a competing bank. This competitor was charging a $6.25 fee to L'Engle's account for transfers between banks in Jacksonville and those in New York. Bion offered to waive the fee if Henry transferred the tax funds to the Bank of Jacksonville. L'Engle accepted his offer immediately.
As luck should have it, the following year Henry L'Engle was appointed Florida State Treasurer. The Bank of Jacksonville profited from its relationship established by Bion and the state depository accounts were moved to its bank. Sadly, the September 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic claimed the life of the Honorable Henry A. L'Engle.
When its capital reached $150,000, William Barnett applied for a national charter and renamed the bank The National Bank of Jacksonville. By 1893, The National Bank of Jacksonville announced deposits had reached the $1 million mark.
In 1895, the entire state citrus crop was destroyed by a hard freeze. This stressed the banking system but the Barnett family bank survived. Jacksonville's "Great Fire of 1901" destroyed over half the local businesses but miraculously the National Bank of Jacksonville was the only bank spared by the fire.
Sadly, William Boyd Barnett died September 2, 1903. His son, Bion, was appointed Vice-President and took control of the business renaming it Barnett Bank to honor his father, the bank founder.
Will and Bion successfully ran Barnett Bank long into the 20th Century. When Bion reach 92 (he lived to 101), his son, William Barnett, became the final Barnett to administer the family's control. According to published reports, Barnett Bank officials did not anticipate the power and wealth of newly formed regional banks. It is suggested that due to this misstep Barnett Bank was sold in 1998, abruptly ending its 100 plus year dominance of Florida banking.
Its towering bank building in Jacksonville (once the tallest building in Florida) still stands proudly overshadowing and dwarfing the city's downtown skyline. Built only two blocks from the original 1877 bank William founded, it is all that reminds us of the family that once controlled banking in the city and positively enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of local citizens for over a century.
∼Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
Name: W E Barnett
Death Date: 1903
County of Death: Duval
State of Death: Florida
Race: White
Gender: Male
In Evergreen Cemetery, under a canopy of moss-covered giant old growth oak trees, stands a tremendous two ton granite boulder with the name BARNETT carved in high relief on its side. This is all that remains of the Barnett Bank dynasty which dominated the state of Florida for nearly 125 years. Positioned on the ground directly in front of this boulder is a 1 ft. by 2 ft. headstone marking the final resting place of bank founder, William Boyd Barnett. His two sons, heirs and banking giants in their own right, Bion and William, rest nearby.
Born in Nicholas County, West Virginia on September 2, 1824, William was the son of William Barnett, Sr., of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. William Barnett, Sr., served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania regiment during the War of 1812. Prior to the war, he was recognized as a pioneer of West Virginia and Ohio.
William Boyd Barnett moved from Ohio to Indiana where he met and married Leesburg, Indiana, native Sarah Jane Blue on November 9, 1848. Sarah's father, Dr. Elijah Blue, was a successful Leesburg physician.
Their first child, a son, William D. Barnett (Will), was born April 3, 1852, in Leesburg. The family then moved to the "Far West", which in those days was known as Kansas. Two daughters were born in Kansas but sadly died shortly after birth. It was in Hiawatha, Kansas, that William B. Barnett (already a wealthy man) partnered with former Kansas Governor E.N. Morrill and Vermont Banker Lorenzo Janes to form the Barnett, Morrill and Janes Bank. It was located in a second floor room in the stone corner drug store. The initial investment was $1500 and which was funded solely by Mr. Morrill. Morrill had recently received a windfall from selling land to the railroad.
Morrill and Janes Bank are still in business today. In fact, its tall office bank building is constructed on property Janes purchased 153 years ago for his home.
Mrs. Barnett gave birth to Bion Hall Barnett on October 7, 1857. It was after this birth that her health began to deteriorate. Young Will Barnett moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1874 to start a furniture business. His father William and his mother Sarah visited from Kansas the following year. During this visit, Sarah's health improved and they decided to settle in Jacksonville.
William sold his business interests in Hiawatha, Kansas, and moved his wife and 19 year old son Bion to Jacksonville, March of 1877. That year, the nation's economy took a serious downturn and young Jacksonville lacked the improvements of larger cities. It had poor roads, little electricity, no city water and a poor sewage system. It was written that the city's poor sanitation led to the two major outbreaks of Yellow Fever.
With a population of just over 10,000, local citizens considered it a folly when the Barnett family opened a bank to compete with the three well-established local banks. William B. Barnett was not deterred and established the Bank of Jacksonville. Since William was using $43,000 of his own money to start this venture, even seasoned bankers calculated that this business would not last long.
The bank was small and employed only three employees, William Boyd Barnett, his son Bion, and a teller. Times were tough and only $11,000 was deposited into the bank that first year.
A single conversation changed the outcome of the Barnett family and their bank. Bion learned that Henry L'Engle, current Duval County Tax Collector, was not happy with his banking arrangements with a competing bank. This competitor was charging a $6.25 fee to L'Engle's account for transfers between banks in Jacksonville and those in New York. Bion offered to waive the fee if Henry transferred the tax funds to the Bank of Jacksonville. L'Engle accepted his offer immediately.
As luck should have it, the following year Henry L'Engle was appointed Florida State Treasurer. The Bank of Jacksonville profited from its relationship established by Bion and the state depository accounts were moved to its bank. Sadly, the September 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic claimed the life of the Honorable Henry A. L'Engle.
When its capital reached $150,000, William Barnett applied for a national charter and renamed the bank The National Bank of Jacksonville. By 1893, The National Bank of Jacksonville announced deposits had reached the $1 million mark.
In 1895, the entire state citrus crop was destroyed by a hard freeze. This stressed the banking system but the Barnett family bank survived. Jacksonville's "Great Fire of 1901" destroyed over half the local businesses but miraculously the National Bank of Jacksonville was the only bank spared by the fire.
Sadly, William Boyd Barnett died September 2, 1903. His son, Bion, was appointed Vice-President and took control of the business renaming it Barnett Bank to honor his father, the bank founder.
Will and Bion successfully ran Barnett Bank long into the 20th Century. When Bion reach 92 (he lived to 101), his son, William Barnett, became the final Barnett to administer the family's control. According to published reports, Barnett Bank officials did not anticipate the power and wealth of newly formed regional banks. It is suggested that due to this misstep Barnett Bank was sold in 1998, abruptly ending its 100 plus year dominance of Florida banking.
Its towering bank building in Jacksonville (once the tallest building in Florida) still stands proudly overshadowing and dwarfing the city's downtown skyline. Built only two blocks from the original 1877 bank William founded, it is all that reminds us of the family that once controlled banking in the city and positively enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of local citizens for over a century.
∼Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
Name: W E Barnett
Death Date: 1903
County of Death: Duval
State of Death: Florida
Race: White
Gender: Male
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
