"Bank of Florence" "Wildcat Currency"

Located at 8502 N. 30th (30th & Willit) ()

Nebraska was not to become a state for another decade so the bank issued its own money called "wildcat currency" in denominations of $1, $2, $3, and $5.  The bank funds were secured by loans, which worked fine until the Financial Panic of 1857.  The bank made it for a while longer but finally had to close its doors somewhere between 1858 and 1860 at which time its owners returned to Iowa.  Mr. Parker also ran a 600 acre farm just south of town in the area of Miller Park.  When he returned to Iowa, his son stayed in Florence to manage the farm.

The term "wildcat currency" was coined because the banks that issued money in this fashion were often way off the beaten path, so much that one person frustrated in how difficult it was to redeem the printed bill for silver or gold, quoted that it was easier for a wildcat to get access to the banks than it was for humans.  At least that is how the legend goes.