STOCK, ALBERT H.

STOCK, RAE, ANDRIDGE, MAY, SLAGLE, FLEMING, POWELL

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/20/2003 at 18:06:18

Biography reproduced from page 618 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Albert H. Stock is agent at Algona for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and a man of varied business experience. He owns valuable property in Sargent county, North Dakota, as well as this city. He was born in Somersetshire, England, February 22, 1872. His parents, William and Phoebe Ann (Rae) Stock, both natives of the British isle, crossed the Atlantic with their family in 1880 and settled in Sac county, Iowa. Later they removed to Storm Lake, Iowa, where they now reside. The father was a stockman and worked in the mother country for a lord importing horses from Ireland. He later went into business there on his own account. After settling in the new world he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed with success until 1900, when he retired. To William and Phoebe Ann Stock were born twelve children, namely: Emily, who is the wife of C. W. Andridge and resides in South Dakota; L. W., living in St. Paul, Minnesota; W. G., who is a resident of Storm Lake, Iowa; Oliver, of Colorado; Anna, who is the wife of D. C. May, of Lake Park, Iowa; Albert H., of this review; Bessie, the wife of Luther Slagle, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Sarah, at home; Clifford, who makes his home at Storm Lake, Iowa; May, the wife of Lee Fleming, of Spirit Lake, this state; and Walter and Sidney, both of whom are deceased.

Albert H. Stock is a self-educated, self-reliant and self-made man and the prominent position which he now holds was not gained by accident or luck. He worked with his brain as well as with his hands, otherwise he could never have attained to and held his present business station. Remaining at home until fifteen years of age, Mr. Stock became a butcher’s boy, his first steps toward learning the trade being taken at Storm Lake, Iowa, where he worked for five or six years. He later worked at the same business at Sibley and Emmetsburg, Iowa, for a short time and then, going to Sanborn, Iowa, went into the meat market business on his own account in association with George McCullough, a railroad conductor. After thirteen months he purchased the business of Joseph Cordingly in Algona, which he conducted for a year, when he was obliged to sell out on account of failing health. The following nine months were spent in recuperating at Whittemore, Iowa, and upon regaining his health he again entered his former business in Whittemore, there remaining for seventeen months longer. After disposing of his interests there he was engaged in the meat business at Clear Lake, Iowa, for eleven months, after which he embarked in the real-estate business in that place. After one year’s experience in his new work he returned to Algona, repurchasing his old meat market, which he conducted for two and a half years. He then sold out and engaged in the live-stock business, taking up fraternal insurance as a side line. In May, 1910, for the third time, he bought the meat market at Algona, this time at a sheriff’s sale. He conducted it until the following January, when he again disposed of it and began to write old-line life insurance for the Equitable Assurance Society of the United States. His success was pronounced and it was not long until he became the special agent for this company and now has charge of thirteen Iowa counties. He is a man of some means, possessing real estate in Sargent count, North Dakota, and a farm in Kossuth county besides his own comfortable and well appointed home in Algona.

In 1896 Mr. Stock was married to Miss Cora M. Powell and to them three children have been born, namely: Leon Leroy, whose natal day was September 27, 1897; Albert Kenneth, whose birth occurred on the 7th of October, 1901; and Bernice, who was born January 3, 1908.

Politically Mr. Stock supports the democratic party. His church affiliations are with the Congregational denomination and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and Modern Woodmen of America, his membership being with the local branches of those organizations. Mr. Stock is one of the many public-spirited citizens which Algona boasts, is a liberal man in his dealings, affable by nature and pleasant in his intercourse with his clients, friends and neighbors.