Fred Albin 1873-1957

ALBIN, PENNOCK, PILKINGTON, DUWELL

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/12/2019 at 06:56:44

28 February 1957 - The Tipton Conservative

Funeral services for Fred Albin, 83, a classmate of former President Herbert Hoover, were held Saturday at the First Methodist church in West Branch, with the Rev. L. E. Bauman officiating. Burial was in the West Branch cemetery.

Albin died Thursday afternoon of a heart ailment. He was a prominent businessman and auctioneer in West Branch.

Born Aug. 5, 1873, at West Branch, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Albin.

Mr. Albin's friendship with former President Hoover began in their school days at West Branch. He and the 31st president rode horses together when 10 years of age. Mr. Albin remembered Mr. Hoover as a "chunky" good-looking boy, but "he wasn't very unusual then."

Their friendship spanned the years and on Mr. Hoover's infrequent visits to West Branch, Mr. Albin was one of those on whom he was sure to call.

It was Mr. Albin who, at the request of Hoover's sons, bought the original Hoover birthplace property and held it for the sons.

Mr. Albin was the first president of the Hoover Birthplace Society, which was organized in 1939. He held that post until 1947.

Married to Alice Pennock on Nov. 28, 1894, Mr. Albin began the operation of the Albin market and grocery in West Branch in 1924. In later years he operated the store with his son, Oliver, who died five months ago.

For more than 50 years, Mr. Albin was a livestock auctioneer. Many of those years were in partnership with T. N. Gibson of West Liberty.

Mr. Albin was active in community affairs and he and his son were avid sports fans. Every year the Albins gave a banquet for high school athletes at West Branch.

Survivors include his widow; a daughter, Mrs. C. A. Pilkington, of West Branch; a granddaughter, Mrs. Ernest Duwell, of St. Paul, Minn.; two great granddaughters; a sister, Anna Albin of West Branch, and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ethel Albin, also of West Branch.