Then Joe Armstrong with the Farmers and Merchants bank, and then M. P. Musser & Company.

The evolution of banking has wrought many changes in the finances of the people of the county. The potato enterprise for instance has such a firm foundation that crop loans for a moderate amount upon the growing potato crop is not considered hazardous, wihile in the early days that character of a loan would have been for a bank, outside the question.

Rushville now has two banks. The Stockman's National, which was established in 1898, has a capital of thirty-five thousand dollars, and a surplus of over forty thousand. During the stress brought on by the ill-advised action of the federal reserve, this bank had a cash reserve of over twenty-two per cent, an extraordinarilly strong situation. The officers are A. M. Modisett, president; H. C. Dale, vice president; Geo. B. Wilson, cashier; and Ella Barth, assistant cashier.

The Union (State) Bank was chartered in 1908. It has a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, and a surplus of nearly sixty thousand dollars. The cash reserve of this bank is high also, about twenty-eight per cent during the stress of money matters in the spring of 1921. Lewis Oberwetter is president; W. F. Stratheide, vice president ; G. E. Ellsworth, cashier ; and M. M. Wahlford, assistant cashier.

Gordon is the only town in Sheridan county with a population of over one thousand, according to the census of 1920. While still under village organization, it is able to qualify as a city of the second class, if its citizens so desire. Gordon has three banks.