Omstead, James N.

OMSTEAD, EVANS, TATHAM, NEESE

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/2/2011 at 15:15:07

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol.II, 1912, p. 165.

James N. Omstead, vice president of the state bank of Woolstock, Iowa, holds a high place in the financial circles of the city and has achieved success by reason of his upright methods, his conservative but thoroughly liberal views and his policy of gradual expansion. He is a native of Iowa, having been born in Webster City, in October, 1858. His father. Nelson G. Omstead was one of the earliest settlers of Hamilton county, coming to that section in 1854. A more extended mention of his life appears on another page in this book. Mr. Omstead's mother was Sarah (Evans) Omstead, who settled in Iowa with her husband in the early times.

James N. Omstead acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and followed the usual course of studies until he laid aside his books. In 1876 he engaged in farming in the northern part of Hamilton county and was active in this occupation until 1881. He joined his father in that year in the operation of a grain and live stock shipping business at Woolstock, afterward running the concern independently. He was successful in the conduct of this enterprise until 1892 and his identification with it was continuous with the exception of two years which he spent upon his farm. Mr. Omstead early in his career felt that agricultural and purely commercial walks of life did not offer him a sufficient scope for his activities. He had a constructive and original mind and possessed a power of initiative and control which would have made him successful in any line of commercial or professional activity. His organizing talents found vent in the foundation in August, 1892, of the state bank of Woolstock and he has been a dominating and influential force in its development since that time. The first office which he held in the new institution was that of cashier and he retained that position until January 1, 1912, when he was elected vice president, his son, Nelson C. Omstead, succeeding to his former position of cashier. Mr. Omstead is well known as a conservative, sagacious financier, who is always eager to further the interests of his patrons and who keeps his mind always open to every new development in banking methods. He has brought the institution of which he is at the head to an influential and prominent place in the business world of Woolstock and the policy of broad minded and intelligent activity upon which he founded it he has followed continuously since that time.

On March 5, 1884, Mr. Omstead was united in marriage to Miss Mary B. Tatham, the daughter of William and Mary Tatham of Webster City, and they became the parents of four children : William H., of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work ; Nelson C, of Woolstock, Iowa, who married Miss Velva Neese and has one son, Lament Elston; Mary Bell; and Edna E., both of whom are living with their parents.

Although James Omstead carries on his business activities in Woolstock, Iowa, he maintains his residence in Webster City where he has a comfortable and commodious home at No. 608 Bank street. In banking circles he is looked upon as a sagacious, honorable and high minded man whose constructive work along lines of organization and progress has been one of the great individual forces in financial upbuilding.