Harlan, Millard F.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Millard F. Harlan. In considering the banking facilities and privileges that modern life demands and progressive cities like St. Francisville enjoy, where the Bank of Commerce has been established since September, 1915, it is interesting to speculate how the first bank in the United States may have been conducted and if laws and regulations, its stockholders and officials in any adequate degree satisfied the demands of business or, as at the present day, thoroughly safeguarded the interests confided to its care. The passing years have brought marvelous changes in every direction, and possibly nothing has been more continuously improved than the country's banking system. Since May 1, 1923, the cashier and active head of the Bank of Commerce of St. Francisville has been Millard F. Harlan, who is fully informed as to banking methods and regulations as they exist at this time.

Mr. Harlan was born at Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, April 29, 1887, and is a son of Henry C. and Justin (Chauvin) Harlan. He belongs to a family which, originating in England, immigrated to Virginia in Colonial times. Mr. Harlan's grandfather, John C. Harlan, was born in Harlan County, Kentucky, and as a young man migrated to Houma, Louisiana, where he became an extensive sugar Planter and followed that line of endeavor until his death in 1894. Henry C. Harlan, father of Millard F., was born December 24, 185o, at Houma, where ht has spent his entire life. For years he has been recognized as one of the substantial citizens and prosperous sugar planters of his community. In politics he is a democrat, and his religious connection is with the Episcopal Church. Mr. Harlan married Justin Chauvin, who was born in 1862, at Houma, and to them there have been born the following children: Clifford, superintendent of cultivation for the Haitian-American Sugar Company at Port au Prince, Haiti; Clara, who died at Houma January 8, 1916, as the wife of Howard F. Belanger, an electrician of Houma; Millard F.; Joseph C., a bookkeeper of Houma and veteran of the World war, who was in France twenty-four months with the Seventy-third Company, Sixth Regiment, United States Marines, Second Division, and was severely wounded in the Chateau Thierry offensive; and Julia, the wife of Dr. Conrad L. O'Neil, a dental practitioner of Franklin, Louisiana.

After attending public and private schools at Houma Millard F. Harlan pursued a course at the Soulé Business College, New Orleans, in 1909, and on leaving that school entered the Calcasieu National Bank of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He began as an office assistant and worked his way up through the various departments to become discount clerk, in which capacity, in April, 1917, he became associated with the Federal Reserve Bank of New Orleans. He continued to win steady advancement until he was assistant cashier, a position which he was holding when, May 1, 1923, he severed his connections to become cashier of the Bank of Commerce of St. Francisville. He has continued in this capacity to the present time, winning confidence and friendships on every hand. The Bank of Commerce, of which Mr. Harlan is now the active head, was opened for business in September, 1915, and has shown a healthy and prosperous growth, at present having a capital of $15,000, surplus and undivided profits of $5,O00, and deposits of $143,000. The officers of the bank are: President. E. G. Davis, Covington, Louisiana; vice president, L. W. Rogers, St. Francisville; cashier, M. F. Harlan; and directors: E. G. Davis; L. W. Rogers; Max Dampf, Laurel Hill; George L. Plettinger, St. Francisville; James Kilbourne, St. Francisville; Dr. R. E. Lewis Bains; and M. F. Harland. Mr. Harlan is a democrat in politics and his fraternal affiliation is with Louisiana Lodge No. 102, A. F. and A. M., New Orleans.

On June 22, 1912, at Houma, Mr. Harlan was united in marriage with Miss Nina Bascle, daughter of Felix A. and Ada (Lester) Bascle, residents of Houma, where Mr. Bascle is a retired merchant. Mrs. Harlan attended the Southwestern Industrial University of Lafayette, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Harlan there have come two children: Edwin Mark, born January 9, 1916; and Sybil, born July 7, 1918.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 93, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.