Peter Cassel

CASSEL

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 11:05:03

Although Peter Cassel now lives practically retied he still holds a foremost place in the banking world of Madrid as vice president of the Madrid State Bank. For twenty years he was successfully engaged in the drug business in that town and by his honorable methods and high qualities of character he won many friends in his community.
Mr Cassel is a native of Madrid, born July 9, 1859. There he grew to manhood and he has since remained a resident of his native city. He is a son of Charles John and Ulrike (Dalander) Cassel, both of whom passed away in Madrid, the former in 1902 and the latter in 1894. The father was born in 1821. The mother arrived in Douglas township in 1846 and was here one of the earliest families in Boone county. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Peter Cassel, after coming to this country settled near Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa and was one of the sturdy frontiersmen of this state. Mr and Mrs J Cassel had nine children, of whom eight are living. The one deceased is Mrs Matilda Oakleaf. The living ones are: Mrs Olive Anderson, residing in Nebraska, Mrs Mary Peterson of Geneseo, Illinois, Manda, of Madrid, John also of Madrid, C W of the same city, and Peter of this review, who is the second son in the family. All were born and reared in Madrid and attended its common schools.
Peter Cassel was reared on his father’s farm and attended the more primitive schools of early days in the neighborhood. Upon leaving he homestead he began this independent career as a clerk in a general store in Madrid changing his position subsequently to one in a drug store, in which connection he remained for several years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the business. At the end of that time he established himself in the drug business and for twenty years conducted one of the most successful establishments in the city. His store was modern and up to date and he always saw that particular attention was given to the prescription department. He carried the usual sundries and derived a gratifying income from the various departments of the establishment. His success was entirely due to his business ability, his fair methods and the particular attention which he paid to his customers. In 1908 Mr Cassel retired form active commercial pursuits in the enjoyment of a competence more than sufficient to meet his expenditures. He now gives almost his entire attention to finance, being one of the largest stockholders of the Madrid State Bank, of which he is vice president. He was one of the incorporators of this institution and has been an official of the same since its organization. Mr Cassel is also vice president of the Peoples’ Telephone Company.
On September 3, 1890, Mr Cassel married Anna Elizabeth Hopkins, who was born in Douglas township, June 17, 1862. She has always been a resident of her native township, where she attended school and grew to womanhood. Her parents, John F and Lydia (Bates) Hopkins, came to Boone county in 1854 and both resided her until their death. The father was born in Marion county, Ohio, October 4, 1821, and passed away on his homestead near Madrid, April 19, 1909. He enjoyed a wide reputation as one of the most successful breeders of pure blooded stock in Boone county. Mrs Hopkins was born in the same county as her husband, January 10, 1835, and died on the home farm near Madrid, August 10, 1901. Their marriage occurred in Marion county, Ohio, April 22, 1852, ad of their five children four are living: Mrs Eva J Aldrich, born in Marion county, Ohio December 23, 1853, who is now residing in Bison, South Dakota, Mrs Elsie Nance born January 1, 1859, a resident of Madrid, Mrs Anna Elizabeth Cassel and Mrs N H Yearnshaw born April 22, 1865, residing in Madrid. Robert John Hopkins, the only son, who was born April 26, 1856, died December 6, 1893. Except the eldest daughter, all these children were born in Madrid and were reared and married here. Robert John Hopkins was graduated of the Iowa Agricultural School at Ames with the class of 1881. He was elected clerk of the courts of Boone county for two terms. ON November 28, 1886, he married Miss Abbie M Frater, of Clarence, Iowa who died in Madrid on the old Hopkins farm, July 11, 1892. By her he had two children: Helen Lydia born November 12, 1889, a teacher of science in Sigourney, Iowa, and Robert Frater, who died at the age of two weeks and three days.
Mr Cassel is a stanch republican. For a number of years he was a member of the city council of Madrid, and aided in futhering a number of valuable measures. He and his wife attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and are devoted to its work. He is a member of Star Lodge, No 115 A F & A M of Madrid, and Tuscan Chapter of the Commandery at Boone, as well as Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Besides a handsome home, Mr Cassel owns other personal property. Success has come to him in answer to ambition and his career is proof of the fact that industry and energy will win recognition. Madrid is the better for his activities and he has borne his share in the growth and up building of that city.

1914 Boone County History Book