First Bank in Hinesville (1911)

The first meeting of “Citizens and Subscribers to Stock for a Bank of Hinesville” was called to order by Thomas S. Layton on November 11, 1911. Joseph B. Way was elected chairman of the meeting, while S.B. Brewton was elected secretary.

The meeting took place in the first home of the Hinesville Bank on the first floor of a two-story building just construct­ed by Way on courthouse square in Hinesville. Offices of the Flemington, Hinesville & Western Railroad, which Way owned and operated, were on the second floor of the building.

Two hundred and fifty shares of stock were represented, and nine directors were elected. The first meeting of the directors was held on the same day as the organizational meeting. At that time, J.R. (“Bob”) Ryon was elected presi­dent, Joseph B. Way was elected vice president, E.C. Miller was elected secretary, and S.B. Brewton, an attorney, was named the bank lawyer.

First depositors in the Hinesville Bank were James R. Bag­ley, Roland H. Brewton, S.B. Brewton , James Floyd, Donald Fraser, Joseph B. Fraser Sr., C.B. Jones and Company, Inez Martin Perry, J.G. Ryon, and J.R. (“Bob”) Ryon. Total deposits at the close of business on November 15, 1911, amounted to $1,907.44.

The second home of the Hinesville Bank was on the first floor of a two-story brick building it constructed on the courthouse square in Hinesville in 1921. It rented the second floor to Hinesville Lodge No. 271, Free and Accepted Masons, in 1922. One of the first employees of the Hinesville Bank in its new home was Corrie McDowell Martin. Her husband, Donald F. Martin Sr., became president of the Hinesville Bank in 1922.

The first home of the Hinesville Bank was later used as a silent motion picture theater, and then as a general store operated by J.C. Wilcox. The latter was a relative by marriage of the Bradwells, and relocated in Hinesville from Jackson­ville, Georgia.