S. R. Raymond

RAYMOND, REA, HYDE, BECKMAN, LEAVITT, KING, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/13/2011 at 10:02:00

S. R. RAYMOND is one of the most prominent and enterprising business men of Grundy Centre, Iowa. He is President of the Grundy County National Bank, one of the solid financial institutions of this part of the state. It is conducted on a safe and conservative basis and has the confidence of its many patrons. The success of his business career Mr. Raymond has achieved through careful attention to all details and through industry and untiring effort. A native of Illinois, our subject was born in Boone County, April 21, 1851, and is a son of William Raymond, one of the earliest settlers of Boone County, where he entered land from the Government and developed a farm. His death occurred in 1859, during the boyhood of his son. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Rea, and was a native of Pennsylvania. Three brothers and five sisters of the family are yet living. Two are living in this county, Mrs. J. M. Rea and Mrs. A. J. Hyde, both of Grundy Centre. The mother is still living, and now makes her home in Wisconsin.

S. R. Raymond was reared in Boone County until eighteen years of age, and in the district schools acquired his education. It was in 1869 that he left his boyhood home and came to Grundy Centre, Iowa, and engaged in clerking for the County Recorder and County Treasurer, E. H. Beckman. He continued to serve as clerk and deputy for about five years, when, in 1874, he was elected County Recorder, which office he filed until 1880, or for a period of six years. He proved a capable official, and his prompt and faithful performance of duty won his re-election and the high commendation of all concerned. Even his political opponents acknowledged that the office was filled by a trustworthy and capable man. On retiring from public life he entered the real-estate and loan business for a time, and was also employed as a clerk in the bank owned by C. Beckman. On the 1st of October, 1885, the Grundy County National Bank was organized by John H. Leavitt, of Waterloo, and S. R. Raymond. Our subject has been President ever since the organization, and the other officers at this writing are J. S. King, Vice-President; and H. S. Beckman, cashier. They do a general banking business, have a capital stock of $50,000 and a surplus of $25,000. The bank is furnished with the latest improved Diebold automatic safe and other fine bank furniture. In fact, it is complete in all its appointments.

In April, 1875, Mr. Raymond was united in marriage with Miss Abbie L. Williams, daughter of W. C. Williams, of Grundy Centre, one of the early settlers of the county. The lady is a native of McHenry County, Ill. Unto them have been born two children, Florence and William. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are faithful and active workers in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Raymond is serving as one of the church Trustees and also takes a prominent part in the work of the Sunday-school. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, and in his political views is a Republican.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894