[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    FARMERS AND MERCHANTS UNION BANK

 Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, today I recognize the 150th 
anniversary of Wisconsin's own Farmers and Merchants Union Bank. I am 
honored to have the opportunity to celebrate this extraordinary 
milestone.
  The year 1861 will forever mark the beginning of one of the most 
trying times in American history. With the onset of the Civil War, 
financial and banking institutions suffered as a result of the division 
of our Nation. Inspired by the courage and determination of President 
Abraham Lincoln, businessman John Wheeler chose that year to open two 
banks in the town of Columbus, WI. On September 5, John Wheeler became 
the first president of the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank of 
Columbus.
  Wheeler's passion and commitment to customer service continued in 
those who followed him as bank leaders. His grandson J. Russell Wheeler 
was committed to honoring the legacy his grandfather left behind and 
expanding the bank's profile, reach and influence. He commissioned 
renowned architect Louis Sullivan who has often been called the 
``father of the skyscraper,'' to design and oversee the construction of 
the new Farmers and Merchants Union Bank building. Sullivan acted as a 
mentor to architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was diligent in making sure 
every detail lived up to the standards on which the institution was 
founded. The product of Sullivan's work has become one of Wisconsin's 
prized architectural attractions. On October 18, 1972, the bank was 
entered on the National Register of Historic Places, and later 
designated a national historic landmark.
  Today, Farmers and Merchants Union Bank strives to provide the best 
in modern banking to customers in Columbus, Fall River, Friesland, 
Juneau, and the areas that surround those Wisconsin communities. Their 
mission endures as ``an independent bank known for maintaining a 
reputation for integrity and fair dealing and promoting growth and 
stability in the communities they serve.''
  I have great admiration for independent banks that are focused on 
building communities in both the good and hard times. For 150 years, 
Farmers and Merchants Union Bank has done just that; continued to 
represent the importance of local ties and their critical role in the 
health and vitality of the Wisconsin communities they serve.
  So for their commitment to providing every customer with the highest 
quality banking service and to reaching out to the community--a 
dedication that has helped sustain this institution for a century and a 
half--I am proud to celebrate this historic occasion and the 150 years 
of service that the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank has provided to 
the people of the State of Wisconsin.

                          ____________________