May 14, 1872 fell on a Tuesday, and the promise of warm weather greeted James McMurray when he awoke to greet the day. He rose easily, eagerly awaiting the events to come. This was the day he would finally open his new bank.

McMurray mentally reviewed his checklist. He had secured rooms in the building next to Wynant’s Drugstore weeks ago, and he had hired John Lewis to serve as cashier. William Funk, well known to the citizens of Kosciusko County as a respected businessman, would fill the role of collector and bookkeeper. The counter had long been installed and finally, finally his fireproof, burglar-proof safe had arrived yesterday.

Assets of $60,000 would anchor the bank’s business, and McMurray felt certain that would be adequate. It more than met Indiana’s capital requirements, but banking these days could be so volatile. At least the so-called wildcat banks were pretty much gone—the National Bank Act of 1863 had taken care of that. McMurray determined that his bank would operate with integrity.

Everything had fallen into place at last. He glanced around the bank with his critical eye and found everything in order. With a nod to his coworkers and a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, James McMurray, President, opened the door of Lake City Bank for the very first time.