Brandrup, Peter J.

BRANDRUP, NELSON, EAMES, ELLINGSON, MATHRE, BOHNING, BALDWIN

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/19/2009 at 12:54:01

History of Hamilton County Iowa, Vol. II, p. 38

PETER J. BRANDRUP

Peter J. Brandrup is the treasurer and manager of the Northwestern Felt Shoe Manufacturing Company and has thus reached a prominent position in the business circles of Webster City. He has gradually worked his way upward since starting out in the business world on his own account, his energy and enterprise overcoming various obstacles. He has never regarded any position as final but rather as the starting point for still other achievements and while advancing his individual interests, he has at the same time promoted public prosperity. He was born in Germany in 1871, a son of Claus and Marie (Nelson) Brandrup. The parents came from the fatherland to the United States in 1872 and settled in Webster City, where the father engaged in contracting in stone and bridge work until about 1877. He was then made sexton of the Webster City cemetery and still fills that position, although now seventy-two years of age. His wife is also living and is about sixty-three years of age.

Brought to Iowa in his infancy, Peter J. Brandrup has practically spent his entire life in Webster City. He attended the public schools and in 1886, when a youth of fifteen years, went to Story City, Iowa, where he occupied the position of assistant postmaster until 1888. Realizing the necessity and value of a business education, he then entered the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, and was graduated therefrom in 1889. Thus well trained for the responsibilities of a commercial career, he returned to Webster City and secured the position of bookkeeper in the grocery store of H. A. Eames. About a year later he became connected with Ellingson, Mathre & Company, wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and poultry. A year was spent with that firm as bookkeeper and in 1891 he went to Kamrar, where he became a partner in the firm of Bohning & Brandrup, general merchants. The following year, however, he disposed of his interest to his partner and returned to his old home. Here he again entered the employ of Ellingson, Mathre & Company, taking charge of their office. He remained with the firm for four years and then went upon the road, selling groceries for the Webster City Wholesale Grocery Company, which he represented until they discontinued business in 1897. He then became a traveling representative of the Fort Dodge Wholesale Grocery Company, with whom he continued until elected to the office of county treasurer in 1903. He entered upon the duties of that position on the 1st of January, 1904, and was custodian of the public funds through four years, making a creditable record in the office. He was financially interested in the Northwestern Felt Shoe Company before his retirement from the position of county treasurer and after his term had expired he became actively connected with the company as treasurer and manager. He has since bent his energies to organization, constructive effort and executive control and his sound business judgment and unfaltering application have constituted valuable elements in the success of the business. He was also one of the organizers of the Webster City Gas Company and from its inception served as a director and treasurer until October, 1910. He was also one of the organizers of the Security Title & Loan Company and is still a director and its treasurer. He is furthermore connected with financial interests as a director of the Webster City Savings Bank. Alert and enterprising, possessing what for want of a better term has been called commercial sense, he has assisted in the development of many of the different manufactories and industrial enterprises of Hamilton County and has labored for the welfare of the business interests at large as a director of the Webster City Commercial League since its organization in 1909. He was also its first president and succeeded in placing the association upon a good working basis, its organized efforts being productive of most desirable results.

In November, 1901. Mr. Brandrup was married to Miss Ida Baldwin, a daughter of William Baldwin, of Chariton, Iowa, who follows the occupation of carpentering. Our subject and his wife have two children, namely: Richard R., who was born on the 10th of January, 1903; and Carol Frances, whose natal day was March 16, 1907. The family residence is at No. 908 First street and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Brandrup hold membership in the Universalist church and he also a prominent Mason, belonging to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M.; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M.; and Triune Commandery, No. 41, K. T., of which he is a past eminent commander. He is likewise a charter member of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines, having previous to its organization been made a Shriner in El Kahir Temple of Cedar Rapids. Both he and his wife are identified with Sharon Chapter, No. 148, O. E. S., and he belongs likewise to the Elks lodge, No. 302; and Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A., of which he has been banker for the past ten years and is still holding that office. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias for a number of years or until it was disbanded, about fifteen years ago. He is well known and popular in these different organizations and is ever most loyal to their teachings and purposes. At the same time he is ever mindful of business duties and responsibilities and of his obligations of citizenship. His carefully systematized efforts leave him time for all these different activities and for those social pleasures which constitute a well adjusted balance to the more serious affairs of life.