Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....True, Henry G. 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 5:09 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher HENRY G. TRUE. So prominent has Henry G. True been in Eddyville that his life activity has become an integral part of the history of his city. He was for many years engaged in commercial pursuits and is now a prominent figure in banking circles as one of the organizers of the Eddyville Savings Bank, of which he is now the president. Another notable fact of his career is that he was a valiant and valorous soldier during the Civil war, and he has every reason to be awarded the proud American title of a self-made man. Ohio claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Tuscarawas county, November 6, 1843. His parents were John D. and Jane (Dalby) True, natives of Maryland and of Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in Carroll county, Ohio, and for a time resided in Tuscarawas county, where the father followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1853 he came to the west, settling in Monroe county, Iowa, and the following year he removed to Wapello county, where he remained until his death. He always carried on carpentering and was closely identified with building operations in this section until his life's labors were ended. Henry G. True was a young lad of about nine years when he accompanied his parents to Iowa and in the public schools of this county he pursued his education. After his text-books were put aside he worked with his father at the carpenter's trade and was also employed at farm labor. He had no special advantages at the outset of his career, but has worked his way steadily upward and persistency, energy and honesty have been salient features in his record. In 1854 he became a resident of Eddyville, where he has now made his home for sixty years save for the period which he spent at the front during the Civil war. In July, 1862, he enlisted as one of the boys in blue, becoming a member of Company D, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. He was mustered in at Keokuk and thence went to St. Louis and on to Helena, Arkansas. He participated in the battle of Helena on the 4th of July, 1863, and also took part in the siege of Vicksburg. He then returned to Helena and went with Steele to Little Rock and on to Camden and to Pine Bluff, taking part in all the military movements of that campaign. He served with the rank of corporal and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, when hostilities between the two sections of the country ceased. When the war was over Mr. True returned home and turned his attention to commercial pursuits, embarking in the grocery business at Eddyville, conducting the store for forty years. In 1906 he retired, and in 1909 he assisted in organizing the Eddyville Savings Bank, of which he was one of the board of directors. Two years later he was elected president and is still at the head of the institution, which is one of the strong financial concerns of the state of Iowa. Mr. True ably directs its policy and controls its activities. He possesses excellent executive ability, and his sound business judgment is the basis of his growing success. On the 1st of November, 1866, Mr. True was united in marriage to Miss Susan McWilliams, who died in 1873. In 1876 he married Jeannette Lafferty, who passed away in 1887. There were three children of that marriage: Helen, the wife of Theodore Inskeep of Ottumwa, Iowa, by whom she has two children, Betenia and Rosemary; Clara, the wife of Arthur H. Lattimer of Eldora, Iowa, by whom she has two children, Gayle and George A.; and Jeannette, the wife of C. S. Foster of Guthrie Center, Iowa, by whom she has two children, John W. and Cedric T. Having lost his second wife, Mr. True was married in 1890 to Miss Linnie Weber, who died in December, 1898, leaving a son, Marion G., who was graduated from the Eddyville high school with the class of 1914. The family attend the Congregational church. Mr. True gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a strong believer in its principles, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has served in some local positions, however, to which he has been called by his fellow townsmen who have high appreciation of his worth and ability. He has been a member of the city council and for more than a quarter of a century was a member of the school board, serving for ten years of that time as its president. He is a gentleman of the old school. The attainment of wealth has in no way warped his kindly nature, and he judges his fellowmen by genuine character worth. His home is a haven of hospitality and he and his family rank very high socially. What he has accomplished places him among the leading and honored citizens of his county, and he is recognized as one who has wielded a potent influence in shaping the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/bios/true842gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb