State; MIsc: Iowa Century Businesses, Iowa ***************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ****************************************************************************** Submitted to the Archives 02/2003 by Sharyl Ferrall ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa Century Business More than 180 Iowa businesses were honored by the Iowa Department of Economic Development in December 9, 2002. The companies were founded in or before 1902 and have continued in operation since that time. Copyright © 2002 Iowa Department of Economic Development, State of Iowa. Printed in the Iowa GenWeb Archives with permisson of State Historic Society Records Library, Des Moines & Iowa Department of Economic Development, State of Iowa. Adair Co. -- 'Adair County Democrat', est. 1889 by John S. Sidey in Greenfield. The paper is now owned by John’s g-grandson and is called the 'Adair County Free Press'. -- Adair County Mutual Insurance Association, organized in 1888 in Greenfield to protect county farmers. -- Howard & Hisky clothing store opened in Greenfield in September 1888. It was purchased by an employee, A.D. Crooks in 1906, and the name changed to Howard and Crooks, and later to Crooks Clothing. This store is considered to be the oldest continuously run men’s clothing store in Iowa. -- Adair County Bank in Greenfield was built by Pennsylvanian Daniel Heaton in 1875. The bank is now known as the First National Bank. Adams Co. -- A.B. Turner & Son, est. 1868 by Austin Beecher Turner in Corning. The general merchandise store is in it’s 5th generation of ownership. -- 'Adams County Free Press', Corning; est. in 1883 by Ed C. Russell. A.L. Gauthier started as the publisher in 1927, succeeded by his son Paul in 1949. -- The Farmers Mutual Insurance Association of Adams County and Adjoining Townships, organized at the Center School house in Mercer twp on Jan. 26, 1884. The first policy-holder was C.J. Anderson of Lenox, who insured his dwelling house, barn and livestock. The company is now the Adams Mutual Insurance Association. Allamakee Co. -- ‘Hall Roberts’ was established in Postville in 1864, by Hall Roberts. The store sold general merchandise and grain. He passed away in 1916, and his son took over the business, naming it Hall Roberts’ Son. Appanoose Co. -- Owl Drug Store was opened by R.A. McKee in 1893 in Centerville. Audubon Co. -- Southwest Iowa Real Estate Company was established in Audubon in 1878. Benton Co. -- The Watkins Savings Bank was founded in Watkins in 1892. Bremer Co. -- The German Savings Bank, Tripoli; organized in 1899 with an investment of $10,000. During WWI the name was changed to American Savings Bank. -- Colorfx in Waverly dates back to 1878 when the Waverly 'Democrat 'newspaper expanded and began publishing several agricultural magazines. In 1999, Waverly Publishing changed its name to Colorfx. -- CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Co. got its start in Waverly in 1879. -- The First National Bank of Waverly was incorporated in 1864 by Emmons Johnson and J.H. Leavitt. -- State Bank of Waverly was established in 1889. -- Kaiser’s Funeral Home was first opened in Monona by George J. Kaiser in 1901. Kaiser was born in Clay co. and attended a 2-day course at the Hohenschuh-Carpenter School of Embalming in Chicago. The business is now known as Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, Inc. and is located in Waverly. George Kaiser’s g-grandson now owns the company. Buena Vista Co. -- Dahl Machine Shop, est. in 1873 by Danish immigrant Neils Dahl. Four generations of Dahl’s have owned the shop in Alta. Butler Co. -- The first issue of the ‘Parkersburg Eclipse’ was published in Parkersburg in 1872 by C.D. Awyer and S.T. Edwards. In 1930, ‘The Eclipse’ purchased the ‘New Hartford Review’ and in 1962, the ‘Aplington News’ became ‘The Eclipse-News-Review’. Clarke Co. -- Osceola Drug Company was started by Lou London in Osceola. -- Banta Abstract Company, est. 1869 in Osceola by J.V. Banta. -- Boyt Harness Company was est. in Des Moines in 1901. It moved to Osceola in 1996. -- 'Osceola Sentinel-Tribune', the oldest paper published in Clarke co. was est. July 30, 1859 by G.L. Pike and T.R. Oldham, under the name the 'Courier'. In 1863 the paper’s name was changed to the 'Union Sentinel' in honor of the Union troops fighting the Civil War. Carroll Co. -- Anderson Shoe Store, est. in Carroll in 1876 by Louis T. Anderson, a Norwegian immigrant. The store was originally a harness and sundry shop, but today it sells shoes and handbags. -- German Bank of Carroll County, est. in Carroll in 1870. The name change to Carroll County State Bank at the start of WWI. -- The ‘Western Herald’ was started in 1868 by William Gilley. The paper is now known as the ‘Daily Times Herald’. The Wilson family has owned the paper since 1929. It is located in Carroll Cedar Co. -- Bridge Community Bank in Mechanicsville, founded in 1903. Cerro Gordo Co. -- Olson & Hansen general store was opened in 1899 in Clear Lake by Oluf Hansen and Matt Olson. Today the store is owned by Oluf’s daughter and is known as Oluf T. Hansen & Company. -- In 1869 Truman Woodford started a lumber business. Today, the Woodford-Wheeler Lumber Company is the oldest business in Clear Lake. -- Woodford-Wheeler Lumber Co., est. 1869 by Truman Woodford, one year before the railroad came to Clear Lake. -- Clear Lake Independent Telephone Exchange - est. 1895 by a group of Clear Lake men. -- Oluf T. Hansen & Company, est. 1899 in Clear Lake by Oluf Hansen and Matt Olson, the business was first named Olson & Hanson.  In 1950, Mrs. Fern Hansen Boyle,Oluf's daughter and present owner took over operation of the store. -- Richard’s Packing House, was bought on July 4, 1889 by Jacob E. Decker, and he started a meat-processing business in Mason City. The plant was bought by Armour in 1937, and today is owned by Con Agra Foods. Clayton Co. -- Glesne Bros., general merchandise, est. 1891 in Elkader by Riley and John Glesne. Riley’s son Melvin made Clesne’s one of the first Coast-to-Coast stores. -- Franklin Furniture was est. in 1860 in Strawberry Point by Charles Roberts Sr. The business made & sold furniture & caskets and offered funeral services. Today the business is known as Franklin Furniture and Roberson Funeral Home, and operates from the original business location. -- The Franklin Hotel was constructed in 1854 by W.H. Stern in Strawberry Point. He operated it as a trading post. A year later Alex Blake bought the property and turned it into a hotel. -- Wilke’s was opened in Elkader by Fred Wilke, a local tailor, in 1867. Wilke’s is the oldest family-owned grocery store in Iowa and has been run by 5 generations of the Wilke family. -- William E. Witt, a German immigrant, built caskets and picture frames in Elkader ... thus giving start in 1889 to Witt’s Custom Framing & Gallery. -- Roberson Funeral Home, est. 1880 by Charles Roberts Sr., it was a combination furniture store and undertaking establishment in Strawberry Point. -- George E. Delevan & E.H. Hoag started publication of the ‘Free Press’ on May 18, 1876 in Strawberry Point. This paper has run continuously ever since, under various names. It is now known as the ‘Press-Journal’. Clinton Co. -- Collis Pattern Works, est. 1901 in Clinton by O.D. Collis. The company manufactured tool holder products, ornamental iron and gaslight fixtures. In 1912 the name changed to Collis Tool Company and now is called Collis Inc. -- Iowa Mutual Insurance Company, of De Witt was formed in 1900. Des Moines Co. -- The Mediapolis Telephone Company was incorporated in 1902 in Mediapolis. -- Cabinetmaker Isaac Prugh started his walnut furniture manufacturing company in 1852 in Burlington. Today Prugh Funeral Service, Inc. is run by his gg-grandson. -- Murray Iron Works was incorporated in 1870. Today the Des Moines firm is known as Tuthill Energy Systems/Murray Turbines. -- Mutual Fire & Storm Insurance Company was started in Burlington, in 1889 by a group of businessmen serving on the governing boards of three German Evangelical churches. -- The 'Mediapolis Enterprise' was started in 1874 by a printer named Newton. In 1881 the name was changed to New Era by J.W. Merrill. Today the company is known as New Era Printing, Inc. -- Aspelmeier, Fisch, Power, Engberg & Helling law firm, est. in 1877 by John Joseph Seerly in Burlington. Dubuque Co. -- Davenport Iron & Metal, bought by Harry and Morris Alter around 1900 and later ran by Morris’ son Frank. The company was moved to Dubuque and the name changed to Alter Scrap Processing and is now one of the largest scrap processors in the US. -- Breitbach’s Country Dining in Balltown is one of Iowa’s oldest bars & restaurants. It was established in 1852 by the gg-grandfather of the present owner, Mike Breitbach and first operated as a bar, general store and stagecoach stop. -- The ‘Dyersville Commercial’ was started in Dyersville in 1873 by Jerome Rose. Dyersville is located mostly in Dubuque co. & partially in Delaware co. -- Geisler Brothers Company was est. in 1892 by Joseph Geisler and James Lally in Dubuque. Geisler manufactured sheet metal products and Lally sold them in his store. Four generations of the Geisler family have now owned the business. -- Prussian immigrant Jacob Kerper started his store in New Vienna in 1870. Today is is run under the name Kerper’s Country Store & Decoys. -- Kintzinger Law Firm, in Dubuque, was opened by John W. Kintzinger in 1897. -- In the early 1880’s, Paul Lippert opened a funeral service & casket business in Dyerville. His son, Henry “Local” Lippert, took over the business later. Today, Paul’s gg-grandson operates the business that is known as Kramer Funeral Home. -- New Vienna Association of Fire Insurance was established after a fire destroyed the farm hosting the Forkenbrock/Fangmann wedding reception in 1863, when Rev. J. Orth passed a hat for the newly married couple. The company is now known as New Vienna Mutual Insurance Assoc. -- In 1895, an Irish immigrant hawked newspapers in Dubuque. Today, Norton News Agency, Inc. delivers newspapers & magazines to retailers in IA, IL & WI. -- The Palace Saloon was built in Dyersville by John Hittenmiller in 1883. -- Union Printing Company was founded by William Steuek in 1894, in Dubuque. The company is now called Union Hoermann Press. Grundy Co. -- Stark Brothers general store in Conrad started in 1894. Today the business, under the name Conrad General store, operates out of the same building with the original wood flooring, oak counters and many of the original fixtures. Guthrie Co. -- The 'Adair News', est March 17, 1882, in Adair. The paper has been owned by William E. Littler Sr. & William E. Littler Jr. and William E. Littler III, respectively, since 1937. Hardin Co. -- J.B. Mulford started a hardware provisions store in New Providence in 1861. His brother joined him and the store was named S.S. Mulford & Brother in 1865. The company is now called New Providence Hardware, Inc. -- Boeke Funeral Home was established in 1892 by Henry Simon Boeke who left Germany at the age of 16 and went to work in his uncle’s furniture & undertaking business in Hubbard. Henry Co. -- E.G. Staats, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin started a felt pennant company in 1898. Shortly after, he moved the business to Mount Pleasant. Today the company is known as Staats Custom Awards. Howard Co. -- Cresco Union Savings Bank, est. in 1888 by the Thompson family. Ida Co. -- Blaine Center Fire & Lighting Insurance Association was formed in 1887 by 12 Ida county pioneers, meeting on the Edwin Benedict Ranch in Blaine twp. The name was changed to Ida Mutual Insurance Association later. It is located in Ida Grove. Jasper Co. -- The Maytag Corporation was started in Newton in 1893 as a farm implement manufacturing business by F.L. Maytag. He introduced a wooden-tub washing machine in 1907. -- In 1902 Dallas Center native F.L. Vernon established the Economy Farm Record Company in Newton. In 1910 the business became Advertising Novelty Company and today is known as The Vernon Company. Jefferson Co. -- The 'Tribunette' was started in Fairfield in 1847. The company has been owned by 3 generations of the Walker family since 1918 & it is now known as the Tribune Printing Company. -- Van Buren Co. Marble Works was founded in 1873 by Mark Whitney. Today Whitney Monument Works, located in Fairfield, is still run by the Whitney family. -- The Dexter Company was originally a horse buggy manufacturer in Dexter, Iowa, established in 1894. It moved to Fairfield (the present location) and started making wringer washers in addition to the foundry operations. Today the Dexter Company produces ductile iron castings & coin-operated washers and dryers. -- Harper Brush Works was established in 1900 by A.K. Harper in Fairfield. Four generations of Harpers have owned this company. -- First National Bank in Fairfield was est. in 1865 when 16 stockholders signed an Article of Association. The bank’s first president was James F. Wilson. Johnson Co. -- McGregor’s Furniture was started by James R. McGregor in Coralville in 1896 as a furniture & casket provider. It is now the largest family-owned furniture business in Iowa. -- Brosh Furniture & Undertaking, est. in 1885 by Czech immigrant Frank J. Brosh in Solon. Now named the Brosh Chapel, this business is the oldest family-owned business in Johnson co. Jones Co. -- A.C. Barnhill opened a hardware store in Monticello in 1883. It is now owned by the McNeill family and is known as McNeill Hardware. Kossuth Co. -- Hanna & Bliss Corner Store, est. in LuVerne in 1881. The present name is The Corner Store. Lee Co. -- The 'Keokuk Register' began publication on May 26, 1847, publisher Robert B. Ogden. Today the paper is called the 'Daily Gate City'. -- Decker Manufacturing, est. 1878 in Bushnell, Illinois by “Captain” A.C. Decker, originally manufactured barbed wire. The company was moved to Keokuk and switched to manufacturing agricultural products. -- Pythian Printing, est. 1877 by Hyempsel Williams Dodd in Fort Madison. Today the company, named Dodd Printing & Stationery, Inc. is run by Hyempsel Dodd’s gg-grandson, Neal Dodd. -- The Donnellson Elevator was built in 1870 and has done business as the Lee Co. Flour Mills and Ideal Feed Mill, and finally in 1986, as the Donnellson Elevator. -- Keokuk Loan and Building Association was established in Keokuk in 1872. The present day name is First Community Bank. -- Fort Madison Bank & Trust is the state’s oldest banking institution, dating back to 1854. -- Hopkirk Insurance co. in Fort Madison, was started in 1893 by William Hopkirk. The company merged with the Feightner Agency in 1960 and is now known as Hopkirk & Feightner Insurance Agency. -- ‘Fort Madison Daily Democrat’ est. 1869, was a political counterpart to the local Republican paper ‘The Plain Dealer’. The Brehm family bought the paper in 1919 and still own it today. -- Keokuk Savings Bank, est. January 1868 by Edward Johnstone. Today, his g-grandson is the president of the establishment – Keokuk Savings Bank & Trust Co. -- Lee County Savings Bank was organized in 1888 in Fort Madison. It is now called Lee County Bank & Trust N.A. -- J.C. Hubinger founded a milling facility to produce cornstarch for pressing clothes in 1881. Today, the company is named Roquette America, Inc. Located in Keokuk. --The West Point Lumber Co. was founded in West Point by J.A. Harmeyer in 1901 as an unloading spot for lumber being delivered to West Point by railcar. Linn Co. -- Cedar Rapids Electric Light and Power Company, est. 1882, by the Dows family. The company now operates under the name Alliant Energy. -- Boyson Jewelry Company est. in 1900, as a drugstore, soda fountain & jewelry shop by a Grundy co. native Adolph Boyson. 4 generations of Boyson’s have operated the shop in Cedar Rapids. -- New Process Laundry, est. in Cedar Rapids in 1891 by Joseph Erwin. Now named Citywide Cleaners. -- Coe College, Cedar Rapids, est. 1851. -- George T. Hedges Real Estate, est. in 1887 by George T. Hedges. It continues to operate in Cedar Rapids under the name Coldwell Banker-Hedges Realty. -- John B. Turner started a furniture & undertaking business in Cedar Rapids in 1888. The company today is known as Turner East Funeral Home and Crematory. -- Merchants National Bank opened in 1881 in Cedar Rapids. Today, the name is U.S. Bank. -- Shive-Hattery was started by Thomas R. Warriner in 1895 in Cedar Rapids. Phillip Shive bought the engineering & surveying company in 1954, and Phillip’s son & Don Hattery bought the company in the 1960’s. -- In 1853 Judge N.M. Hubbard founded the law firm in Cedar Rapids that would become Shuttleworth & Ingersoll. -- Ludy & Taylor jewelry store opened in Cedar Rapids 1889. In 1911, Mr. Siebke, a watchmaker bought the business and change the name to Siebke & Taylor. In 1946 Joseph Hoyt joined the business, today known as Siebke & Hoyt. -- Anthony Tschirgi started a print shop in his Cedar Rapids home in 1889. In 1908 he purchased E.G. Russell’s railroad guide company and started printing Russell’s Railroad Guides. Today the company is known as Russell’s Printing & Publishing. -- Charles Hubbard opened an ice dealership in Cedar Rapids in 1870. Today the company is known as Hubbard Cold Storage. -- Iowa Title Company, est. in Cedar Rapids in 1864 by C.M. Hollis. Tract indices from the company date back to U.S. government deeds for the land that formed Linn county. -- Ilten & Taege, established 1892 in Cedar Rapids, by Henry Ilten and William Taege, sold and installed oil, coal and gas furnaces. The fourth generation of Ilten’s now operate the family heating and cooling business, Ilten’s, Inc. -- Mercy Hospital was started in Cedar Rapids by the Sisters of Mercy in 1900. -- St. Luke’s Hospital was established in 1884 by Reverend Ringgold in Cedar Rapids. -- In 1872, Christopher Fuhrmeister started a sawmill in Ely. His son Andrew opened Fuhrmeister & Woitisek Lumber in the 1870’s. Today the company is known as Vavra Lumber Company. -- People’s Savings Bank of Cedar Rapids was founded in 1900. It is now known as Wells Fargo. -- Western Bohemian Life Association was started in Cedar Rapids to support the needs of Czech immigrants in 1897. Today it is known as Western Fraternal Life Association. -- A.D. Kramer – Cabinet Maker and Coffin Maker is the oldest Linn county business. Four generations of the Murdoch family have run the business, now known as Murdoch Funeral Homes/Cremation Services in Marion. -- Iowa Mill and Elevator Co. was started by Cedar Rapids brothers George B. and Walter D. Douglas in 1894. Today the company is known as Penford Corporation. -- Smulekoff’s Furniture was opened by Russian immigrant Henry Smulekoff in Cedar Rapids in 1889. The business is now run by his g-granddaughter. -- Quaker Oats Company started in Cedar Rapids in 1901 when 2 Ohio companies merged with Cedar Rapids Milling. In 1986 PepsiCo merged with the company and it is now known as Quaker Foods and Beverages, A Division of PepsiCo. -- Theodore Stark Construction Company was founded by two brothers in 1880. The company was bought by one of their employees, R.W. Rinderknecht, in 1941, and is now known as Rinderknecht Associates, Inc. -- Ohsman & Effron furriers was started in Cedar Rapids by Max Ohsman in 1891. Five generations of Ohsmans have owned the company, now known as Ohsman & Sons Co., Inc. -- MacDermid Graphic Arts - The Kilborn Facility in Cedar Rapids got its start when Frank Kilborn was a pioneer of early photography in 1865. Kilborn produced photographic papers that prompted Eastman Kodak to purchase the business & processes. -- Perpetual Building Association, est. 1887 in Cedar Rapids. Today the company is named the Commercial Federal Bank. -- Cornell College, Mount Vernon, began in 1853 as the Iowa Conference Male and Female Seminary. Cornell was the first college west of the Mississippi to grant women the same rights and privileges as men and first college in Iowa to confer a baccalaureate degree on a woman (in 1858). -- Dows Companies were founded when Sutherland Cook Dows brought electricity and telephone service to Cedar Rapids in 1894. -- J.G. Cherry Company was started in Cedar Rapids by John G. Cherry in 1880. He provided egg cases and creamery dairy products. Today the company is called Evergreen Packaging Equipment and provides beverage packaging and aseptic cartons. -- In 1902 Fred H. Hall and Charles Ekfelt opened a retail home furnishing store, Hall Ekfelt, in Ottumwa. Ten years later, Hall opened another store in Cedar Rapids. The company in Cedar Rapids is called Hall Home Furnishings. -- The ‘Cedar Rapids Gazette’ was started in 1883 by two men from Illinois, L.H. Post & E.L. Otis. -- King’s Crown Plaster was founded in 1882 by William King, the son of David King who was an early Cedar Rapids settler. The company is now known as King’s Material, Inc. -- Krebs Flower Shop was established in 1874 by Swiss immigrant brothers, Charles & Arthur Krebs, as a flower & vegetable business on a 40 acre farm. In 1924 it was moved into Cedar Rapids & is now run by the great-grandson of one of the brothers. -- The 'Central City News-Letter' was started in 1888 by A.W. McCormack. It is now being published as the 'Linn News-Letter' & serves the communities of Central City, Coggon, Prairieburg, Walker, Center Point & Alburnett. -- The Cedar Rapids Cornice Works was opened in 1866 by Vacslav Maresh, an immigrant from Bohemia. The business, now called Maresh Sheet Metal, has been in the Maresh family for 4 generations. --Klinger Paints was opened in 1900 by Wesley Klinger in Cedar Rapids. Great- grandson’s Bob & Doug Klinger now own the business. Marshall Co. -- Dave Lennox opened a machine shop in Marshalltown in 1896, and built a furnace factory. The company is now known as Lennox Manufacturing Inc. -- The 'Enterprise' was established in 1871 by David A. Lacey. Today is is published in State Center and is known as 'Mid Iowa Enterprise'. It serves the communities of State Center, Melbourne, Clemons, Rhodes, St. Anthony, Colo, Zearing & McCallsburg. -- Midwest Milling, Inc. in State Center, was opened in 1890 as a livestock feed provider. -- Marshalltown Trowel Company was started when Dave Lennox was approached by John Stine, a local stone mason about making a better trowel. Lennox, turned the trowel- making operation to two of his apprentices, E.L. and J.C. Williams and the new business was born. -- Central State Bank, began in 1869 with the establishment of J.W. Dobbin & Co. in State Center. In 1901 it became the Central State Bank. -- In 1884 Edwin Zeno Mack & his brother Perry started a plumbing business. E.Z. was just 13 yrs. old when the boys set up shop in the basement of Forney’s Music Hall on Main street in Marshalltown. Today, E.F. Mack Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Company is still going strong and is still in the Mack family. -- Hellberg’s Jewelers was established in Marshalltown by William Hellberg, a Swedish watchmaker, in 1898. Four generations of Hellberg’s have owned the business. -- The Fisher Governor Company was established by William Fisher in Marshalltown in 1880. Today the company is known as Fisher Controls International, LLC. Mills Co. -- The Glenwood State Bank was est. in 1899. Mitchell Co. -- Standard Lumber Company was started in 1897, the same year the railroad came to Stacyville. The company, now known as Northern Country Co-op – Lumber Division, still operates from the original building. -- The 'St. Ansgar Enterprise' started publication in 1880 by Martin Moe who had come to the town in 1869. Today, it is published under the name 'St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal'. -- In 1856, St. Ansgar settlers Helfritz and Klindt built a wheat flour mill on the Cedar River. It eventually was sold to Otto Boening, who traded it to Sherwin Kleinwort in exchange for his farm. The mill has now been operated by 3 generations of the Kleinwort family and is known as St. Ansgar Mills, Inc. -- Spensley & Sons Creamery was started in 1899 by James Spensley. In 1916 local farmers purchased the business and it is now known as the Stacyville Co-op Creamery Association. -- Fox River Mills was started in Appleton, WI in 1900. Today it operates out of Osage. -- In 1899, ten area businessmen formed the Home Trust & Savings Bank in Osage. W.L. Eaton, an attorney and speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives was a stockholder. Since then, 5 generations of Eaton’s have served the bank as stockholders. Monona Co. -- The 'Onawa Democrat' has been published since 1890, founded by William H. Wonder. Six generations of the Wonder family have owned & run the paper. Monroe Co. -- Cargill Incorporated, in Eddyville, was established in 1865 when W.W. Cargill purchased a grain flat house in Conover Iowa Osceola Co. -- The United Community Bank of Ocheyedan was chartered in April 1892. Today it is known as United Community Bank. -- Bank of Ashton, est 1884. The name was changed to Ashton State Bank in 1913 and is still independently owned and operated. Page Co. -- C.A. Lisle founded a company to build horse-powered water well equipment in 1903. The company started manufacturing automotive products in the mid-1920’s and is known today as the Lisle Corporation and is located in Clarinda. -- George Jay built George Jay Drug Company on Shenandoah’s Sheridan street in 1888. The store still operates from the original location Poweshiek Co. -- The Montezuma Republican was founded in 1856 by John Cassidy on a printing press hauled from Keokuk by a team of oxen. -- The 'Brooklyn Chronicle', founded in 1875 by W.M. McFarland. Plymouth Co. -- Akron Lumber, est. by Ed Zieglar in 1892. Located in Akron, the lumberyard is presently at the same location as when the company was founded. Present name is Akron Lumber Company, Inc., Akron, Iowa. --The 'Akron Register', founded in 1886, publisher B.F. Rounds. The 'Tribune', founded in 1896 by J.A. Smith. The papers merged and have been published as 'The Akron Register-Tribune' since 1901. -- German State Bank, Le Mars, was started in 1891. In 1903, it became the Le Mars Savings Bank and in 2002 Primebank. --Gus Pech Manufacturing. Gus Pech, a German emigrant, established a drill rig manufacturing plant in LeMars in 1879. Polk Co. --Successful Farming magazine was first published by Edwin Thomas Meredith in 1902. Meredith Corporation in Des Moines now publishes 17 subscription magazines. --Banker’s Life Association was opened in 1879 by Edward Temple. The name was changed to The Principal Financial Group in 1985. -- Des Moines Edison Light and Power was founded in 1885. The company is now known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. -- Charles H. Weitz established a carpentry shop in Des Moines in 1855. The Weitz Company has been owned by 4 generations of the Weitz family. -- Solomon Joseph started a watch business in Des Moines in 1871. The family-owned business is known as S. Joseph & Sons, Inc. -- Central Life Assurance Society of Iowa, est. 1896, in Des Moines by George Breckenridge Peak. The company is now known as the AmerUs Group. -- Burget Mill, est. by George Burget in 1894, was a mule-driven stone grinding mill. Today the Altoona mill produces horse feeds and is run by George’s g-grandson. -- The ‘Iowa Star’ was first published from a log cabin near the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. The original publisher was Barlow Granger and the year was 1849. The paper was “decidedly and radically democratic .. responsible to no party, sect, creed or clique”. In 1915 the paper was renamed “The Des Moines Register”. -- W.A. Rutledge founded the Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Association with a small collective of Iowa farmers in 1893. The Des Moines company is now called Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Comany of Iowa. -- First Bank, est. in 1901, by Joseph W. Mullane in Valley Junction. The bank is now located in West Des Moines. -- Jester Insurance was founded in 1897 by Joshua Jester, a legistator hailing from Greene co. The company is located on the corner of Locust and East Fifth Street in Des Moines and is currently owned and managed by the 4th generation of Jester’s. Ringgold Co. -- Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association was organized by a group of area farmers in 1887. The Mount Ayr company is now known as Ringgold Mutual Insurance Association. Scott Co. -- William F. Ross established an insurance office in DAvenport in 1862. The company was purchased by John H. Ruhl in 1899. The company is now known as Ruhl & Ruhl Commercial Company. -- American Automobile Association was founded in Bettendorf in 1902 -- Boyler’s Ornamental Iron had it’s beginning in Davenport in 1902 when Frank W. Boyler hung his shingle as a General Blacksmith. Later the business moved to Bettendorf and was run by Frank’s son Richard Boyler. Shelby Co. -- The Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company was organized in December 1902 & incorporated the following February. Sioux Co. -- Baumann Brothers Bank was est. in 1879 in Pattersonville. The bank is now known as the Iowa State Bank. Pattersonville is now known as Hull. -- Pember Drug was founded by Hale Harvey Pember in Rock Valley in 1896 and has been owned by 4 generations of the Pember family. Taylor Co. -- Tyler Pharmacy was established in Lenox in 1880 by O.D. Tyler. Three generations of the Tyler family have owned the business. Washington Co. -- Reifs Family Center was founded in Kalona in 1883 as a general merchandise store. Six generations of the Reif family have operated the business. Webster Co. -- Engquist Lumber was founded by Olaf Engquist in Harcourt in 1890. The company is still owned by Olaf’s g-grandson. Winneshiek Co. -- The Fort Atkinson Nursery was started in 1901 by a Czech immigrant, Joe Sindelar. His son Stanley took over in 1932. The nursery is now run by Joe’s grandson and Stanley’s son Steve Sindelar. -- Decorah Cement Sidewalk Co. was started in 1900. It now operates under the name Fred Carlson Company. Woodbury Co. -- Palmer Candy was opened by E.C. Palmer in Sioux City in 1878. The store has been family-owned and run for 5 generations. Wright Co. -- 'The Belmond Independent' started as the 'Belmond Herald' in 1872.