ARLEN, Charles A.

ARLEN, FISHER, AUERLE, HEINRICH, HORNBERGER, STOESSINGER, GODSKESEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 19:59:22

CHARLES A. ARLEN. 

Charles A. Arlen, the well-known and popular county treasurer, was born in Clinton on the 25h of November, 1872, and is a son of Edward A. and Eliaz A. (Fisher) Arlen. His paternal grandfather was Charles Arlen, who assumed that name on coming to this country, his real name being Conrad Auerle. He was born in Germany April 1, 1822, a son of Michael and Anna Marie (Heinrich) Auerle, and at the age of fifteen came to America. In 1865 he took up his residence in Clinton, Iowa, where he worked at the shoemaker’s trade for three years, and then conducted a boarding house until 1871, when he embarked in the bottling business. In partnership with the father of our subject he carried on that business for many years and met with most excellent success. He married in Buffalo, New York, to Magdaline Hornberger, a native of Alsace, Germany, and to them were born two sons and three daughters, namely: Frank w., of Oxford Junction, Iowa; Magdalina, wife of J. T. Stoessinger of Eureka, California; Edward A., father of our subject, who was born in Wisconsin; and Margaret and Caroline, both deceased. Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of seven children, the other being Carrie, deceased; Francis and Edith L., both at home; Edward F., who is employed in his father’s office; Arthur H.; and Walter, deceased.

Edward A. Arlen spent his early life in his native state of Wisconsin, coming to Clinton county in his youth. Having learned the cigarmaker’s trade, on coming to Clinton he first engaged in business as a cigar dealer. With his father, he later started the bottling business under the firm name of Arlen & Son. The business was commenced on a small scale, but grew rapidly. He was the active man in the business and the charge of it. After the death of his father the firm was changed to Arlen & Ingwersen, and they are now the leading bottlers in this section of the country. He is the owner of a great deal of real estate in Clinton, and is of the successful business men of the city. He has been an active politican, but never an aspirant for office.

During his boyhood and youth Charles A. Arlen was given good educational advantages. He attended the public and high schools of Clinton, and also St. Ambrose College at Davenport and the Clinton Business College. He gained his first knowledge of business methods with his father in the bottling works, and later learned the plumber’s trade, at which he worked in Milwaukee for a time. He was also employed in a wholesale grocery store, and was a passenger brakeman on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway for six months. In 1892 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, in which capacity he served for four terms, and was elected county treasurer in 1899, assuming the duties of that office on the lst of January, 1900. He has proved a most competent and trustworthy official and his public service has been most exemplary.

On the 22d of August, 1895, Mr. Arlen was united in marriage with Miss Annie M. Godskesen, who was born in Lyons, and is a daughter of Senius and Barbara Godskesen. Her father died in 1883, but her mother is still living and makes her home in Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Arlen have one child, Walter Edward. They have a pleasant home at 128 Seventh avenue, Clinton.

In his political affiliations Mr. Arlen is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in political affairs. In his social relations he is a member of America Lodge, No. 527, I. O. O. F.; Lafayette Lodge, No. 44, K. P.; and Lodge No. 199, B. P. O. E. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him, and is preeminently public-spirited, and progressive. He is pleasant and genial in manner, and is very popular, having a most extensive circle of friends and acquaintances.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.