The City Bank stock certificate 1856 (Biddeford Maine)  signed by Congressman D. E. Somes

Rare early Maine banking collectible. Signed by DE Somes who later was elected to Congress. Nice vignette of a classical female figure in from of maritime (steamship) and railroad scenes. Issued and cancelled. Dated 1856. Certificate #30. Measures approximately 9.5 x 6 inches.

In February 1856, Mr. Thompson from the Committee on Banks and Banking reported an act to incorporate the City Bank of Biddeford and also an act to incorporate the Village Bank, Bowdoinham, both read and assigned. The act to incorporate the Village Bank, Bowdoinham came up on its passage to be engrossed. Mr. Thompson replied, explaining the action of the committee. The bill to incorporate the City Bank, Biddeford was then put on its passage to be engrossed. [Portland Pres Herald (1856)]

[Maine Bank Commissioner report:]
CITY BANK AT BIDDEFORD. Incorporated February 14, 1856.
Daniel Eton Somes, President. SA Boothby, Cashier.
Directors-Charles C. Sawyer, Thomas H. Cole, Marshall Pierce, Luke Hill,
S. W. Luques, James Anderson, E. H. Banks, all of Biddeford.
Capital, $75,000. Par value of shares, $100. Number of stockholders, 140.
Largest amount of stock owned by any one person or corporation, 54 shares.
Amount of stock owned out of the State, 206 shares.

(May 20, 1815 — February 13, 1888) Daniel Eton Somes, a Representative from Maine; born in Meredith (now Laconia), N.H., May 20, 1815; received an academic education; moved to Biddeford, Maine, in 1846; established the Eastern Journal, later known as the Union and Journal; engaged in the manufacture of loom harnesses, reed twine, and varnishes; mayor of Biddeford 1855-1857; president of the City Bank of Biddeford 1856-1858; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; engaged in the practice of patent law in Washington, D.C., until his death in that city on February 13, 1888; interment in Rock Creek Cemetery.

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