ROWLEY, ORVILLE R.

ROWLEY, JEFFRIES

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 8/27/2003 at 22:02:49

Biography reproduced from page 344 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Orville R. Rowley, who for the past five years has been cashier of the State Bank, is one of the promising young business men of Swea City. During the period of his residence here Mr. Rowley has not only manifested fine business ability but high standards of citizenship by the active and helpful interest he evidences in everything pertaining to the community welfare. He was born in Crawford county, Iowa, on the 28th of October, 1882, and is a son of Orville and Mary S. (Jeffries) Rowley. The father, who was born in the state of New York, engaged in farming during his early years, but later withdrew from this occupation and engaged in the grain business at Vail, where he operated an elevator for many years. In 1903 he retired from business and removed to Ames, this state, continuing to make that his home until his death in March, 1911. The mother, who is a native of the city of Des Moines, died June 10, 1912, at Ames, Iowa.

The early boyhood and youth of Orville R. Rowley were passed on the farm where he was born in Crawford county. At the usual age he began his education in the district schools, terminating his studies in the high school at Vail. He subsequently learned telegraphy, and when qualified to assume the responsibilities of a position entered the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, remaining in their employ for two and a half years. At the expiration of that period he accepted a clerkship in the Merchants National Bank at Cedar Rapids. Four years later he severed his connection with this enterprise, and in May, 1907, became cashier of the State Bank, of Swea City, which position he has ever since held.

This bank was originally a private institution and was organized in 1893 by R. M. Richmond, who operated it for five years under the name of the Swea City Bank. It was first located in the office of the Bruer Lumber Company. Eighteen months later, Mr. Richmond removed to the present location, this building having been erected for the purpose, and there he continued operations until 1898, when he sold out to Thomas Sherman, A. D. Clarke, R. N. Bruer, J. B. Johnson, Homer A. Miller, F. L. Barr and C. T. Granger. They reorganized with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and were incorporated under the name of the State Bank of Swea City, their charter having been signed by the auditor under date of February 1, 1898, and by the secretary of state on the 12th of March, 1898. Mr. Clarke was president; Mr. Johnson, vice president; and S. B. Barr, cashier; and these three officers together with Messrs. Sherman, Clarke, Bruer, Miller, J. B. Bengtson and Olaf Pearson formed the board of directors. The officials and the majority of the directors have been changed in the interim, and Joseph J. Sherman is now president; C. T. Chubb, vice president; O. R. Rowley, cashier; and C. W. Pearson, assistant cashier; while the board of directors is comprised of the three first named officials together with J. W. Sullivan, Thomas Sherman, Ole Olson and C. A. Erickson. The development of this institution has been most gratifying during the past five years their business having more than doubled, as their deposits have increased from sixty-eight thousand dollars in 1907 to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in 1912. They do a general banking business and are members of the State Banking Association.

During the period of his connection with the above institution, Mr. Rowley has manifested qualities that stamp him as a young man of unusual ability and efficiency. In addition to his regular duties he is also a notary public, having been granted a license to act as such during the first year of his residence here.

He is senior deacon in the Masonic fraternity and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He accords his political support to the republican party. Mr. Rowley is enterprising and progressive in matters of citizenship and takes an enthusiastic interest in anything pertaining to the public welfare. He is a member of the Swea City Commercial Club and for several years acted as treasurer of that organization, and he is now serving as president of the library association. Any duties that he may assume either in business or public life are discharged with a promptness and precision that is most commendable, and which has won him an enviable reputation for trustworthiness and reliability.