Paper Money : Postcards : Collectibles
John L. Thorne was born in Winkleigh, Devonshire, England on May 18th, 1814. When twelve years old, he began working in a dry goods store and continued in that line until coming to America in 1834. For 23 years, he resided at Batavia, New York, and was a leading merchant there. He came to Hastings in 1856.
He joined L. S. Follett in banking from 1857 to 1861.
He was mayor of the city in 1860 and 1863-64. Miss Josephine Chapman, of Mattawan, New Jersey, became his wife in 1863. In late 1862, he issued small denomination scrip as a change substitute. The scrip circulated widely in Saint Paul.
John L. Thorne of Hastings filed to organize Thorne’s Bank on September 1, 1863 with a capital of $27,500. Thorne was president and Sidney Mills, Jr. was cashier. American Bank Note Company engraved a 1-1-2-5 plate. A total of 4,100 sheets amounting to $36,900 in notes was issued. There was $622 in notes left unredeemed in 1869. The bank was succeeded by the Merchants National Bank of Hastings, Charter 1538, which continued to redeem the state bank notes.
We want to buy paper money like you see here. If you have a note to sell, let us know.