F&C Bank To Mark 145th Anniversary Tuesday, March 17

Farmers & Commercial Bank commenced operation on March 17, 1881, in downtown Holden, Missouri at the corner of Second and Market Streets. William Steele, a Canadian immigrant founded the bank with a group of local investors. The original officers were W.M. Steele, president, George S. Young, vice- president and Z. T. Miller, cashier. Mr. Steele was a merchant and banker, served 36 years on the Holden School Board and traveled to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate. He died in 1915 at the age of 69, leaving 2 children, Ernest K Steele and Mary Mabel (Steele) Jetmore Hallar.

In the years to come, several served as bank president; I.G. Farnsworth, James Hallar (second husband of Mary Mabel Jetmore Hallar), and Paul Binkley. In 1947, the Steele descendants sold controlling interest in the bank to R.S. and Sylvia Mickey. Mr. Mickey served as President until 1957 when his son, R. E. Mickey Sr assumed the role. Under R. E. Mickey’s leadership, Farmers & Commercial Bank expanded into Kingsville in 1974. According to the Johnson County Historical Society, Kingsville, Missouri had been without a banking facility since the late 1930’s. The original bank in Kingsville was located where the Stahl Specialty Personnel Office stands today.

The Holden Progress newspaper shows pictures of groundbreaking for the new Farmers & Commercial Kingsville facility…

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