The origins of J. M. Hocker & Company can be traced through several banking partnerships. The first partnership was Tilford & Barclay, which was started in 1855, by John B. Tilford and John L. Barclay. They advertised, "interest allowed on money deposited.” During May of 1860, the firm was dissolved after the death of Mr. Barclay. Mr. Tilford reestablished the business as J. B. Tilford & Company and operated successfully during the Civil War.
Around 1866, Mr. Tilford formed a partnership with James M. Hocker and J. W. Proctor, and continued in the private banking business. Mr. Hocker was a prominent banker and the founder of Hocker College, which later merged into Transylvania University.
The bank's offices were located on the southwest corner of North Upper and Short Street. This firm was known as Tilford, Proctor & Hocker Bankers.
The next year Mr. Tilford's interest was acquired and the firm continued under the name Hocker & Proctor. Mr. Tilford moved to New York City and established J. B. Tilford & Company, another private bank. Mr. Tilford maintained his extensive contacts with the Bluegrass and served as the New York City correspondent bank for Hocker & Proctor and later J. M. Hocker & Company.
In 1868, Mr. Proctor's interest was purchased by Joseph S. Woolfolk and Horace G. Craig. Mr. Proctor left the firm to take the Presidency of the Central National Bank in Danville, Kentucky. Messrs. Woolfolk and Craig were partners in a commission merchant business, dealing in coal, grains and distilled spirits. The banking business continued under the firm name of J. M. Hocker & Company, until being nationalized in 1870 as the Fayette National Bank.
