History of Providence, KY
Part 8
by Frances Bassett Price

Tobacco Industry

From 1840 until the late 80's Providence was one of the best known towns in the United States to Europeans for it was the third largest stemming market in America. It is in the heart of the "Black Patch" and raises that tobacco to perfection. One of the most intesting periods of the town was when the great factories of this time were operating full force. James Johnson, Chas. Beeson, John H. Parker, T. B. Payne, T. K. Givens, John Montgomery, Thos. Montgomery, and Kearney G. Rice operated large stemmeries. The force was mostly negroes, both men and women working. From early morning until late afternoon the matchless rhythm of their weird threnodies and spirituals ran over the hamlet as they steadily stripped the stems from the dark brown leaves.

Later Henry P. Barrett, Thomas Gallaher, Joseph Barber, and the Imperial Tobacco Company built large factories.

Providence's greatest industry, coal mining, has been purposely omitted as it has a separate and especial write-up.

Early Banks

The first financial institution in Webster county was the Providence Banking Company. It was organized as a private bank in 1885 with Thomas Kerr Givens as president, L. A. Dorris, Cashier. It was made a state bank in 1903. The handsome brick building erected in 1885 adjoining the brick store of T. K. Givens and Son was razed in 1914 and replaced with a building of Bowling Green building stone, fireproof with all modern equipment for comfort and safety.

The second bank to be organized in Providence was the Citizens Bank incorporated in August 1902 and opened for business Nov. 24 of the same year. D. B. Baker, prominent lawyer and business man was a leader in the enterprise and the first cashier. T. B. Payne was present and John D. Wynns vice present. In August 1905 D. B. Baker resigned as cashier of the bank and was succeeded by T. T. Morris.

In 1920 the Citizens Bank and the Providence Banking Company consolidated as the Providence Citizens Bank & Trust Company.

The Union National Bank was incorporated and opened for business in 1910. The first officers were A. E. Orr, president; Ab McMullin, vice president; Press Ford, cashier. Through the years it has forged ahead until it is now one of the strongest banks in Western Kentucky.