RUNNINGS, William H. - 1914

RUNNINGS, MCLEAN, VANBOSKIRK, WIXON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 16:15:08

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

WILLIAM H. RUNNINGS.

William H. Runnings has been successfully engaged in business as a stock buyer for the past seven years and is a member of the firm of Runnings & Wixoni Brothers, of Meriden. His birth occurred in Marquette, Michigan, on the 28th of April, 1868, his parents being James and Mary (McLean) Runnings, natives, of New York. The father removed to Michigan in an early day and was there engaged in business as a contractor until 1871, when he came to Cherokee county, Iowa. Two years later he brought his family here and located at Marcus when there were only two buildings in the place. Here he followed contracting for about twenty years, building most of the schoolhouses in this part of the county. . Subsequently he took up his abode on a farm which he owned in Amherst township, improving and operating the place until 1899, when he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Canada, where he has since lived in honorable retirement. The demise of his wife occurred in 1904.

William H. Runnings was a little lad of five years when the family home. was established in Marcus and consequently his education was acquired here. After putting aside his textbooks he went to San Francisco, California, and subsequently to Centralia, Washington, where he spent two years as a postoffice employe. Returning to Marcus, Iowa, he was there engaged in the harness business for one year and then removed to Meriden, where he continued in the same business for two years. On the expiration of that period he took the management of an elevator and remained in charge for nine years, also buying stock at the same time. On resigning his position at the elevator he embarked in business as a stock buyer on his own account, organizing a company in association with his brothersinlaw under the style of Runnings & Wixon Brothers. In the spring and fall months he devotes most of his time to the buying of stock at Sioux City, and in the conduct of his business interests he has won a measure of success that entitles him to recognition among the substantial and representative citizens of Meriden.

On the 27th of June, 1895, Mr. Runnings was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Wixon, her parents being Ward and Euphemia (Van Boskirk) Wixon, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Lincoln Wixon, brother of Mrs. Runnings. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, as follows: Myrna, Hazel, Russell, Ward, Chrystal, Harvey, George and Reva. The last named passed away in 1903.

Mr. Runnings is a stanch republican in politics and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust. He has ably served as mayor of Meriden for three terms, is a member of the town council at the present time and has also acted in the capacity of town assessor. He has likewise served on the school board for twelve years and is now its president. He was postmaster from 1908 to 1909. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Steadfast, industrious and determined, his close attention to business has constituted the basis of his success, and his public-spirited citizenship is the root of his political preferment. He is a man of genuine personal worth and his sterling traits of character have established him on a high plane in public regard.