Louis C. Iten 1865-1943

ITEN, ZIEGLER, SCRIBNER, MAGEE, NIELSON, BURRELL

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 12/31/2002 at 09:50:58

The Clinton Herald Friday August 13, 1943 p. 8 Louis C. Iten, 819 North Second street, aged 78 years and since 1892 a prominent Clinton business man, died at 3:10 o'clock this morning in Jane Lamb hospital, where he had been a patient since Tuesday afternoon. Funeral services are to be held in Scottish Rite Masonic temple at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon followed by burial in Springdale cemetery. The body will repose in the Snell funeral home until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, when it will be removed to the Scottish Rite temple to lie in state until the hour of the funeral. Rose Croix services will be conducted under the auspices of Delphic chapter, Knights Rose Croix, of Demolay consistory, A.A.S.R. Masons, and the Rev. H.E. Harned also will officiate at religious rites. A retired biscuit manufacturer, Mr. Iten, both while active in business and since retirement, had been prominent in various benevolent, charitable and civic enterprises. With his brother, Frank J. Iten, he inaugurated the children's playground movement in Clinton, for many years was one of the operators of the Iten playgrounds in the Ringwood section of the city and later gave the grounds to the Clinton independent school district. He also, with his brother, donated the stadium in the Clinton High school athletic field to the school system and the structure was named the Iten Stadium in their honor. among other beneficiaries of Mr. Iten's philanthropies were Jane Lamb hospital and other public institutions. He was an ardent baseball fan and supporter and took a keen interest in organized baseball and other sports. Mr. Iten was born in Davenport, April 17, 1865, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Iten, and was christened Louis Conrad Iten. His father was a native of Switzerland and his mother, nee Theresa Ziegler, a native of Bavaria. They came to America before the absorption of Bavaria by the German empire. While he was attending school in Davenport, Mr. Iten assisted his father in the baking business in that city and prior to 1892 was superintendent of the Reimers & Fernald candy and cracker factory in Davenport. Coming to Clinton in 1892, he engaged with his father and his brothers, John J. Iten, now deceased, and Frank J. Iten, in the baking business under the firm name of L. Iten & Sons. In 1906, after the father's death, the brothers formed the Iten Biscuit Co., and until 1928 operated plants in Clinton, Omaha, Nebr., Oklahoma City, Okla., and Memphis, Tenn. In 1928 the Iten Biscuit Co., merged with the National Biscuit Co., and since that time Mr. Iten and his brother, Frank J. Iten, had been engaged in managing their personal interests under the firm name of Iten Bros. Co. Mr. Iten was a member of Western Star lodge, 100, A.F. & A.M. Masons, Kaaba shrine, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Clinton Country club and a charter member of America lodge of The Odd Fellows. In addition to his brother, Frank of Clinton, he leaves a sister, Mrs. Sadie I. Scribner of Los Angeles, and two nieces, Mrs. Sadie Magee, Clinton, and Mrs. Arthur Nielson of Los Angeles. In addition to his brother, John J. Iten, he was preceded in death by another brother, William Iten and a sister, Mrs. Lizzie I. Burrell.