First National Bank

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of the First National Bank of Fannin County. Picture December 12, 1883. Bonham is humming.

Fannin County has twenty-five thousand people living and working in it, farming and industry both prospering, a brand new railroad going up, seven schools and colleges running, three newspapers printing. That is a county on the move, and somebody decided the moment called for a bank. Twenty-four original stockholders put their names on the charter, and just like that, the First National Bank of Fannin County was born.

Oldest bank in the county, and it earned that title on day one. Now, a bank is only as steady as the people who run it, and this one has had a handful of presidents worth naming. W.

A. Nunnelee held the chair from 1883 to 1897. Then S.

B. Allen took it from 1897 to 1902. A.

B. Scarborough stepped in for 1902 to 1921, then came back again for 1925 to 1944. In between those two runs of Scarborough's, D.

W. Sweeney held things together from 1921 to 1925. And then Dick Saunders took the chair in 1944.

Through all of it, the marker says the bank's growth has paralleled and contributed to Bonham's own growth. Those are two things that rose together. And here is the detail that sticks with you: many descendants of those original twenty-four stockholders remain affiliated with the bank's interests to this day.

Twenty-four families planted something in 1883, and it kept growing right alongside the town they called home.

What the marker says

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