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The Donley County State Bank recently celebrated its first 100 years of service to citizens and customers of Clarendon and Donley County. Since opening in 1906, the bank has had active ownership from the forebearers of the current bank owner, chairman of the board and CEO, Walter Knorpp.
Donley County State Bank is located in the county seat of Clarendon. With backing from an English firm, the town was founded in 1878 by a Methodist minister named Lewis Henry Carhart. There is still a question as to whether the town was named for Carhart's wife Clara or for the English backers who were from Clarendon, England.
Nearby Mobeetie, whose state bank also recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, was considered one of the roughest places on the Western frontier. Clarendon, founded by a minister, was known as a "Christian Colony," which was on the other end of the spectrum. Clarendon became a haven...