JOHN U. GITZY

GITZY, WEIVAL, BROWN

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 16:44:11

"John U. Gitzy, owner and editor of the Independent, published at Orient, has throughout his entire life been engaged in the printing business. He was born at Arena, Wisconsin, on the 16th of August, 1866, a son of Ulrich and Julia (Weival) Gitzy, natives of Switzerland and Germany, respectively. The family removed to Iowa during the boyhood of John U. Gitzy, who attended the country schools of Chickasaw county, Iowa. He afterward began learning the printer’s trade and has since worked along that line. He first published a paper in Minnesota and then returned to Iowa and published the Manilla Journal. He afterward removed to Minburn, Iowa, where for eleven years he published the Star. At the end of that time he went to St. Charles, where he engaged in the publication of the Hawkeye for two years and later he came to Orient, this county, where in April, 1915, he purchased the Independent, of which he is now editor and proprietor.

On the 3d of March, 1894, in Manilla, Iowa, Mr. Gitzy was united in marriage to Miss Arza Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. Brown, of Des Moines. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Gitzy successfully engaged in teaching school. They have two children, La Verne B. and Fay E., both at home. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and guide their lives according to its teachings. Mr. Gitzy is a republican I his political views but publishes his paper in the interests of no one party. He is making the Independent a most readable and attractive journal and its circulation is growing, while its advertising patronage is also increasing."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.