First National Bank
Bonham, Fannin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Oldest bank in Fannin County. Chartered December 12, 1883. At that time, county had 25,000 people; farming and industry prospered; a new railroad was being built; seven schools and colleges and three newspapers were in operation. Growth of the bank has paralleled and contributed to Bonham's growth. Many descendants of the 24 original stockholders remain affiliated with its interests. Presidents have been: W. A. Nunnelee, 1883-1897; S. B. Allen, 1897-1902; A. B. Scarborough, 1902-1921/1925-1944; D. W. Sweeney, 1921-1925; Dick Saunders, 1944- RTHL - 1966
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Chartered on December 12, 1883, the First National Bank was the oldest bank in Fannin County, founded when the county held some 25,000 people amid prospering farms, a new railroad, and a lively press. Its 24 original stockholders launched an institution whose growth tracked Bonham's own, and their descendants long remained tied to it. A steady line of presidents guided it across the following decades.
Why it matters
The bank charts the financial coming-of-age of a North Texas farming town, showing how local capital and enterprise underwrote community growth in the Gilded Age.
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Related people
- · W. A. Nunnelee
- · S. B. Allen
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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