Banker, John M.

BANKER, SMITH, NASAL, SCHULZ, DUELL, HOLLY, NEW

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 20:53:43

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

JOHN M. BANKER

John M. Banker, foreman of the glazing department of the Curtis manufacturing Company, is one of Clinton’s native sons, born December 14, 1864. His father, John Banker, was born in Germany, and on his emigration to this country in 1858 located near Chicago, Illinois, in which state he wedded Miss Mary Smith, who was also born in Germany in 1834, and was a child of seven years when she came to America. In 1864 they removed to Clinton, Iowa, where the father worked at his trade of a shoemaker for a time, and later engaged in the restaurant business. He died in 1871, but his wife is still living, and continues to make her home in Clinton. In their family were six children, namely: Ella, wife of Martin Nasal, a stone-mason of Clinton and leader of the Clinton band; George, who went to San Francisco, California, at the age of sixteen years and is now engaged in the cigar business there; Kate, wife of Herman Schulz, a cigar dealer of Clinton; Susan, wife of Dick Duell, of Chicago; John M., the subject of this sketch; and Mary, wife of Frank Holly, of Evanston, Indiana. The children were all educated in the Clinton public schools.

John M. Banker, of this review, also took a complete business course in the Clinton Business College. For a time he was in the employ of the Clinton Barb Wire Works and the Lyons Paper Company, but in 1879, at the age of fifteen years, commenced work for Curtis Brothers in their factory department. On the 14th of April, 1880, he was transferred to the glazing department, where he started at the bottom as a common hand, and by close attention to business and hard work steadily worked his way upward until he was promoted to the position of foreman April 17, 1889, having mastered every detail of the business in that department. There are now on an average of twenty-five men under his supervision. Owing to his ability and close application, he was rapidly advanced over older men in the employe of the company, and he always capably and conscientiously performed any duty which devolved upon him.

On the 19th of March, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Banker and Miss Josephine New, who was also born in Clinton, in 1866. Her parents, John and Josephine New, still make their home in this county. The father was formerly a watchman on the bridge, but is now living a retired life. In the New family were five children, two who died in infancy; Catherine, who is at home with her parents; Annie, who died aged twenty-four years. Mrs. Banker was reared and educated in her native city. By her marriage to our subject she has become the mother of six children: Frank, Anna, Rosalia, Bernedetta, Leona and Clarence. The older ones are now attending St. Mary’s school.

In 1885 Mr. Banker purchased property, which he improved, and he has also improved three other places, and has dealt some in real estate with good success. He started out to make his own way in the world empty-handed, and while at home assisted in the support of the family, but he has made the most of his opportunities in life and has acquired a good property besides the responsible and paying position which he now so acceptably fills. He and his wife are both members of the Catholic church in which he has served as treasurer for a number of years, and in his political affiliations he is a Republican. He is a member of Camp No. 31, M. W. A., and the Mutual Catholic Insurance Company of Clinton, and is a director of the Union Building Association.