Aurelius C, Root 1886-1957

ROOT, WILBURG, FALLON

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 11/25/2005 at 17:59:43

The Clinton Herald Saturday December 21, 1957 p. 9 A.C. Root, 71, veteran Clinton insurance man and a member of the pioneer family which founded the county's first bank, died late Friday afternoon in Jane Lamb hospital where he had been a patient for the last three days. The body reposes in the Snell funeral home where friends may call after 7:30 p.m. today. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Snell funeral home with Rev. Harold Putney, pastor of the First Congregational church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery. He was born May 5, 1886, the son of Charles L. and Thora Wilburg Root. The Root family played an important role in the early history of the old town of Lyons. The deceased's grandfather founded the first bank in the county, which was located at Grant St. and 23rd Ave. N.; and his uncle organized the first local telephone exchange and the Woodmen of the World Fraternal Insurance order. In succeeding years the family enlarged its interests to include the land and insurance business. The A.C. Root agency was organized in 1845 and until recently Mr. Root had taken an active role in the operations of the firm. Mr. Root held controlling interest in the Clinton Daily Advertisor at the time it was sold to The Herald in 1929. During World War I he was secretary of the Clinton County National Defense. He maintained memberships in a number of local organizations, both fraternal and welfare, including the Elks and Rotary club. He was a past field director of the Lincoln Highway association and a former officer of the National Association of Insurance agents. He attended Northwestern University, where he was affiliated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He married Jean Fallon Aug. 28, 1912. Surviving are his widow and one son, John H. Root. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.