"Jim" Robson, as he was familiarly known, came from Illinois, where his brothers Jack and Dick were well known about the Rio country as breeders of fine cattle and heavy feeders of hogs and cattle, as well as men of the happiest and most cheerful dispositions. In 1890 the Commercial Bank had a capital of $20,000. J. L. Robson was president ; Frank McAuliff, vice-president ; arid Eugene Fish, cashier. It was the pioneer bank of Chapped and did much toward the early development of the town and Deuel county, which was much in need of banking facilities for the farmers and homesteaders who were coming to this locality to settle.

In May, 1889, E. F. Clayton and E. D. Hamilton organized the Deuel County State Bank at Chapped. Early in the nineties they bought the Commercial Bank and merged the two; eventually, with the prosperity of the passing years, this bank developed into the First National Bank, the leading institution in the county. The substantial and leading citizens of the country and of Chapped became interested in this bank, bought its stock and for years it was rated as one of the most substantial and sound banks in all Nebraska. For something like thirty years H. I. Babcock has served the bank in varied capacities, first as clerk under Mr. Hamilton, later advancing to more important positions, and for many years now has been the guiding spirit. The capital of the First National Bank is $25,000, with a surplus of $45.- 000. Its officers are: J. R. Wertz, president, T. M. Johnson, vice-president; H. I. Babcock, cashier ; H. D. Betts and F. A. Burling, assistant cashiers. Frozen loans and low prices for wheat, together with the policy of the Federal Reserve Banks at this time, January, 1921, have caused this institution to temporarily suspend.