Thatcher Brothers Banking Co. (Utah)

The Thatcher Brothers Banking Company was founded in Logan, Utah in 1883; Cache County's first bank. In 1928 the First Security Corporation acquired ownership of the Thatcher Brothers Banking Company. In 1933 the Thatcher Brothers Banking Company changed its name to the First Security Bank of Logan.

Eugene Santschi, Jr. was born in Alton, Illinois, on January 15, 1883. At some point in his youth, his family moved to the coal-mining region of Utah. Thereafter, according to a Utah Since Statehood biographical sketch of Santschi, he enlisted in the United States Army and spent two years overseas on active duty, and was involved in both the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) and the Boxer Rebellion in China (1900-1901). In 1903 Santschi returned to the United States and enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated with the class of 1907. From 1907 to 1914 Santschi was stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah. Although Santschi was stationed at Fort Douglas during this time period, the military sent him on numerous trips to Japan, the Philippines, and China where he spent time studying military tactics and touring the battlefields of the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. From 1914 to 1917, Santschi lived in Logan, Utah to serve as a ROTC instructor at the Agricultural College of Utah. With the war in Europe taking place Santschi was recalled to the Tactical Department at West Point, where he remained until 1919. In 1919 Santschi went to Europe and served in the army of occupation in Germany, as Chief of Staff of the 2nd Brigade, until 1922. Thereafter, Santschi's career allowed him to serve in many positions and his military rank progressively advanced. In 1943 Santschi retired from the military, but because of World War II, he was recalled to active duty until 1946. In 1945 he was awarded a Legion of Merit, and the Order of the British Empire. After the war, Santschi officially retired and moved to California where he died on January 19, 1959 in Palo Alto.