NEWEL, JOHN F.

NEWEL, WEISHBROD

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/8/2003 at 15:14:46

Biography reproduced from page 627 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

In order to receive public recognition and indorsement a man must be able to stamp his individuality upon his community, becoming thereby an influencing force in its commercial and political life. John F. Newel possesses this ability to a great extent and it has made him prosperous in business and honored in politics. Active and progressive, he is now engaged in an extensive hardware enterprise and is serving as mayor of the city.

He is a native son of Iowa, having been born in Alamakee county, on August 4, 1869. His father, John Newel, is a prominent and widely respected citizen of this district and his brothers, Frank, Henry, Lewis and George, are worthy representatives of the name. More extensive mention of Mr. Newel’s father is made elsewhere in this work.

The subject of this sketch came to Kossuth county when he was a child of four years and was reared upon his father’s farm in Fenton township and educated in the district schools. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and early gained a practical working knowledge of the details of agriculture. When he started active life for himself he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining his father’s property and began its improvement and cultivation. It was in an undeveloped state and the soil had never been broken. Mr. Newel plowed his land, divided it into fields by rail fences, erected suitable barns and outbuildings and made it one of the model properties in Kossuth county. After twelve years of successful agricultural labor he rented his holdings and moved into the town of Fenton where he purchased an interest in a flourishing hardware concern. With this enterprise he is at present identified and under his management the business has made a healthy growth each year and has branched out in various directions, an important department being a farm implement business, which he has recently sold. He carries on an extensive furniture department and carries a large stock of shelf hardware. He is a licensed embalmer, having taken a course in that business in Des Moines, Iowa, and has added undertaking to his many lines of activity. He also deals in automobiles and is successful in this branch of his activities. Always taking an active part in the advancement of commercial interests in his city his name has become well known in business circles. He erected his home which is one of the most comfortable and commodious dwellings in the city. He is also part owner with his brothers of a productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres near the town of Fenton which property they purchased in 1911.

Mr. Newel was married in Fenton township to Miss Tena Weishbrod, a daughter of Peter Weishbrod, who was one of the pioneers in the agricultural development of Kossuth county and was for many years a prominent farmer in Fenton township. Mr. and Mrs. Newel have two children, Irene and Fred P.

In his political affiliations Mr. Newel is a democrat with progressive tendencies. He takes an active and intelligent interest in the affairs of his township and village and is now serving his second term as mayor of Fenton. He is interested in all lines of municipal advancement and as promoter of the waterworks has done efficient work along lines of improvement. He has been instrumental as mayor of the town in improving its streets and walks and has done much to make the community, which he serves, one of the beautiful and rapidly growing cities in Iowa. Mr. Newel is active and progressive, and has by his possession of these qualities influenced agricultural, business and political development. He has many warm friends in the city in which he resides who delight in calling him familiarly by the name of “John.” He does not count his commercial achievements as his greatest asset, valuing the position he has attained in the hearts and esteem of the people above mere material success.