History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

154 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
banking business is conducted. The bank building was erected^
twenty-four by eighty feet, of stone and brick. It is two stories in
height, the upper floor being used for offices. Three per cent
interest is paid on tune deposits and the established rate upon
savings. The capital still remains as at the beginning, but there is
today a surplus of fifteen thousand dollars. There has been no
change in the officers save that Harry L. Fordham succeeded ]Mr.
Moore as cashier of the bank in 1911. Beside the officers C. H.
Noble, E. J. Countryman, C. H. Stiteley and C. H. McKenney con-
stitute the board of directors. The bank is now in a most flourishing
condition, its total resources amounting to three hvmdred and
seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy dollars and
seventy-seven cents. Its loan department is an important paying
branch of the business, its entire loans amounting to two hundred
and eighty-two thousand, nine hundred and forty-seven dollars and
seventy-nine cents. Keen business discrimination and sound judgment
on the part of the bank officials result in the judicious placing
of these loans, which thereby furnish a gratifying annual revenue
to the bank. In fact, the entire business of the institution is in a
flourishing condition and the policy followed is one which commends
the bank to a liberal patronage. The interests of depositors
are most carefully safeguarded and in this is found one of the
features of the success of the institution.
W. F. DEGNER.
During the entire period of his active life W. F. Degner has
been associated with farming and stock-raising interests of Lee
county and his success is evident today in his ownership of one of
the finest farms in Bradford township. He was born in Lee county,
OctolK'r 23, 1873, and is a son of Fredrick and Sophia (Hotzel)
Degner, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Lee
countv. The record of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick Degner is found
elsewhere in this work.
W. P. Degner was reared at home and acquired his education in
the district schools of Lee county. In his childhood he aided in the
operation of the homestead and when he began his independent
career turned his attention to farming, renting a tract of land upon
which he resided for six years. At the end of that time he bought
the farm which he now occupies. He has one hundred and twenty