In the Beginning

The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC) was organized June 27, 1904 and incorporated in 1906. A group of 28 farmers and merchants realized the need for a telephone system for rural Okolona. The purpose of creating this company was “to put up equipment, maintain, and operate a system of telephone lines with central exchange for the benefit of its members.”

With this thought in mind, they purchased a one hundred drop switchboard fully wired with 15 drops installed. Poles were placed, wire was strung, phones were installed and an operator was hired. A membership fee of $1.00 per month was assessed and was used to pay for the equipment required to activate this communications system. With a common goal and the concentrated efforts of the members, The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company was created.