20715. Miners & Manufacturers Bank (Knoxville, TN)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
August 1, 1855*
Location
Knoxville, Tennessee (35.961, -83.921)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
94768b03

Response Measures

Full suspension

Description

Out-of-town holders/brokers (from Philadelphia/Pennsylvania) presented large quantities of the bank's notes (about $12,000 first day), prompting heavy withdrawals and the bank to suspend (card dated Aug 14, 1855). Officers later announced ability to redeem in coin and the bank resumed specie payments by October 1855. Classified as run→suspension→reopening.

Events (3)

1. August 1, 1855* Run
Cause Details
Out-of-town holders and Philadelphia brokers presented large quantities of the bank's notes for redemption (reported $12,000 first day), triggering heavy withdrawals.
Measures
Cashier declined to redeem more of these issues to protect home depositors; officers shut doors (suspended payments).
Newspaper Excerpt
a run was made on the institution, which compelled its officers to shut down the gate and close doors.
Source
newspapers
2. August 14, 1855 Suspension
Cause Details
Suspension caused by the heavy withdrawals/redemptions by out-of-town holders/brokers which exhausted available specie; officers closed the bank to protect depositors and redeem later when funds arranged (stockholders/bondsmen involvement mentioned).
Newspaper Excerpt
Unexpected circumstances having forced this Bank into suspension ... we have now the pleasure of announcing their ability, and readiness to redeem in Coin at the counter the entire circulation of the Bank.
Source
newspapers
3. October 12, 1855 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
have now the pleasure of announcing their ability, and readiness to redeem in Coin at the counter the entire circulation of the Bank. ... The Miners' and Manufacturers' bank of Knoxville ... has resumed payment, and is now prepared to redeem its notes in specie, as fast as they can be presented.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (9)

Article from The Athens Post, August 17, 1855

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Article Text

BANK SUSPENSION. It is our duty this week to announce that the Miners' and Manufacturers' Bank of Tennessee, at Knoxville, has suspended, as we are informed by letter from that place. We do not believe there is a very large amount of the paper floating about in this direction, most of its circulation being in Pennsylvania, from whence a run was made on the institution, which compelled its officers to shut down the gate and close doors. The charter for the Miners' and Manufacturers' Bank was obtained from the Legislature of 1853-4, without that wise and august body knowing they were conferring banking privileges, the members believing that it was simply for a mining and manufacturing concern, ns is now alleged. As another General Assembly will shortly convene, we respectfully suggest that it is the duty of the legislators to look into bills that come before them for consideration before passing them into laws, as hasty and thoughtless action on such occasions is frequently productive of much injury to the public-a fact which seems never to occur to some gentlemen who stumble into legislative bodies. There are most too many one-horse banking institutions in our State, and the result of which is, that the best Tennessee money is below par outside our own geographical limits-the bogus concerns throwing a shade of suspicion around those which are really solvent and reliable. We think that legislation in this State in regard to banking privileges might be profitably retraced, to some extent, by going back and wiping out a considerable number of the shin plaster concerns; we believe such a step is demanded by the public interests, and that the public good and convenience would be greatly subserved and promoted by the passage of a law prohibiting the issue of bills of a less denomination than five dollars.— We intend to press this subject upon the attention of the member elect from this county, and upon that of our Senator, and shall expect much from their efforts to carry some measure through the Legislature that will remedy the evil complained of. There will be no exciting elections to absorb the attention of the next General Assembly, and the members will have plenty of time to attend to the more legitimate duties of their position. In fact, if our public men, and the pub. lic press, were to bestow more of their time and talents npon matters of State policy, and less upon Federal politics, they would more largely promote the true interests of the country. But to return. We regret the suspension of the Miners' and Manufacturers' Bank, aside from the injury inflicted on the community, as there are men connected with it as e officers in whose honesty and integrity we n have always had unbounded confidence, and o who we are certain would never have attachn ed themselves to an institution which they m did not believe was entirely solvent. We m trust the failure is not a total one, but that the institution will be able to redeem its is It sues and wind up in a manner honorable to the parties most deeply interested. at


Article from Daily American Organ, August 21, 1855

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Article Text

SUSPENDED.-The Miners' and Manufacturers' Bank, of Knoxville, Tennessee, has suspended payment. A card from the President and Cashier states that no loss will probably accrue to the billholders.


Article from The Daily Nashville True Whig, August 24, 1855

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Article Text

Miners and Manufacturer's Bank. The Knoxville Whig in publishing the card of the President and Cashier of this Bank says: We have stated that the President and Cashier were honest and correct men, above suspicion, and that their management of the Bank would be correct, and we say so still. Messrs. Doolittle & Co., of Philadelphia, large Stockholders, in the Bank, took with them a quantity of the bills, which they entered into Bonds to either return an equivalent for, or honor the drafts of the Bank to an equal extent. Instead of doing this, they suffered the issues to pass into the hands of Brokers, who came here with them for redemption, and drew some $12,000 the first day. The Cashier very properly declined to redeem more of these issues, and resolved on protecting home Depositors. This is brefly the whole state of the case, as we understand it, for we have had no conversation with any of the officers of the Bank. Col. McClung was opposed, as we understand it, to letting these issues go to Philadelphia, but overruled by the officers of the Bank. It was a smilar affair that caused the run upon the Bank of East Tennessee, two years ago. Our banks ought to be owned by home people, and not those distant and outside tricksters. This has always been our doctrine. We have no promises to make touching the future of the Bank, other than what will be found in this card. For old debts due us in this office, we will take this money at par provided it is sent to us within the next three mouths to come, the Publisher, Mr Kinsloe, will receive it at par.


Article from The Athens Post, August 24, 1855

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Article Text

MINERS' AND MANUFACTURERS' BANK. TO THE PUBLIC. KNOXVILLE, TENN., Aug. 14, 1855. Unexpected eireumstances having forced this Bank into suspension, the undersigned, its officers, promise the public that they will labor diligently to redeem its issues, and pay all liabilities at an early day; and they respectfully state that they hope to accomplish this desirable object without loss to any one, and for the present they urge that no one shall make sacriflees on its issues. A further and detailed statement will be made so soon as more satisfactory information is obtained as to the suspended assets which caused the necessity of closing our doors. Jos. L. KING, Pres't. HUGH L. McCLUNG, Cash'r.


Article from The Athens Post, August 24, 1855

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Article Text

MINERS' AND MANUFACTURERS' BANK. TO THE PUBLIC. KNOXVILLE, TENN., Aug. 14, 1855. Unexpected circumstances having forced this Bank into suspension, the undersigned, its officers, promise the public that they will labor diligently to redeem its issues, and pay all liabilities at an early day; and they respectfully state that they hope to accomplish this desirable object without loss to any one, and for the present they urge that no one shall make sacriflees on its issues. A further and detailed statement will be made so soon as more satisfactory information is obtained as to the suspended assets which caused the necessity of closing our doors. Jos. L. KING, Pres's HUGH L. McCLUNG, Cash'r.


Article from The Athens Post, October 12, 1855

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Article Text

MINERS AND MANUFACTURES BANK, KNOXVILLE.-We find the following Card in the late Knoxville papers, and hasten to give it to our readers: Miners and Manufactures Bank.-The undersigned in redemption of their promise, made immediately upon the suspension of this Bank a few weeks since, have now the pleasure of announcing their ability, and readiness to redeem in Coin at the counter the entire circulation of the Bank. JOS. L. KING, Pres't. Hu L. M'CLUNG, Cashier.


Article from The Athens Post, October 12, 1855

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Article Text

MINERS AND MANUFACTURES BANK, KnoxVILLE.-We find the following Card in the late Knoxville papers, and hasten to give it to our readers: Miners and Manufactures Bank.-The undersigned in redemption of their promise, made immediately upon the suspension of this Bank a few weeks since, have now the pleasure of announcing their ability, and readiness to redeem in Coin at the counter the entire circulation of the Bank. JOS. L. KING, Pres't. Hu L. M'CLUNG, Cashier.


Article from The Daily Gate City, October 16, 1855

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Article Text

J. L. King and Hugh McClung, of Knoxville, Tenn., give notice that they are prepared to redeem the issues of the Miners' and Manufacturers' Bank, at that place, which recently suspended specie payment.The business of the Bank is to be continued.


Article from The South-Western, October 31, 1855

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Article Text

The Miners' and Manufacturers' bank of Knoxville, Tennessee, has resumed payment, and is now prepared to redeem its notes in specie, as fast as they can be presented. This is good news for the brokers, who have realised fortunes by the temporary suspension.