The Farmers and Merchant Bank of Ridge Spring building was built in 1918. Jerrold Josiah Watson was the president of the Farmers and Merchant Bank. Watson died in a car accident with a train and his wife, Rena Jones Watson, became the President of the bank. Rena is believed to be the first woman to become a president of a bank in South Carolina. The bank closed in 1927. The bank was sold to Ridge Banking Company in 1934 and it merged with Banker’s Trust in 1969.

Location: Ridge Spring, South Carolina