KYLER, W. E.

KYLER, BUCK, BELLMAN, JENSEN, NIVER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/27/2004 at 13:13:16

Biography reproduced from page 615 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

W. E. Kyler is the trusted and efficient cashier of the Luverne State Bank, and has resided in Luverne since 1898. He was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, ten miles north of Waterloo, December 18, 1872, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Buck) Kyler. The father, who is of German parentage, is a native of Pennsylvania and removed from Clearfield county, that state, to Iowa in 1854. He later preempted government land, upon which he continued to live during the remaining years of his life, which closed in 1897, the place of his burial being at Janesville, Iowa. While a resident of Pennsylvania he was engaged as a lumberman and also in general farming. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted at the first call in 1861, and continued in the service of the government as a soldier until 1865. He also has the distinction of having been one of the volunteer soldiers in the frontier Indian wars at an early date in the history of Iowa and for many years was a member of the school board of the district in which he lived. At the time of his death he left an estate consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of highly developed agricultural land. The mother was also a native of Pennsylvania but was reared and educated in the state of Ohio, where as a young woman she celebrated her wedding. She is still living and maintains her home in Janesville, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Kyler five children were born: W. E., of this review; Clara, who is the wife of A. F. Bellman, of Cosmopolis, Washington; Charles E., who resides on the home place; E. G., who makes his home at Snohomish, Washington; and Bertha E., who is the wife of T. Jensen, of Waterloo, Iowa.

W. E. Kyler was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools. He later pursued a course of study at the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1897. Immediately following his graduation he was engaged as the principal of the schools at Plainfield, Iowa, for one year and then was principal of the schools at Luverne for three years. He settled in Kossuth county in 1898 and on the expiration of his last term as principal of the Luverne public schools he accepted the position of cashier of the German Bank of Luverne. The bank was established in 1895 by Messrs. Hill and Peck and on August 1, 1901, Messrs. Hill and Kyler reorganized the bank. This partnership continued for ten years or until July 1, 1911. During this time Mr. Kyler had full control of the bank which was known as the German Bank and built up one of the best country banking businesses in Kossuth county. On July 1, 1911, Mr. Kyler reorganized the bank into what is now known as the Luverne State Bank, associating with him in this some of the best known and strongest financiers in this part of the state. He is also largely interested in valuable real-estate interests, owning a number of farms in Kossuth and Humboldt counties, and also is the owner of excellent farm lands located in the states of Texas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and British Columbia.

In 1902 Mr. Kyler was united in marriage to Miss Nella Niver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Niver, formerly of Luverne, Iowa, now of Maitland, Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Kyler are the parents of one child, Dorothy, who is six years of age. Mr. Kyler is affiliated with the progressive wing of the republican party, and belongs to the Masonic lodge of Livermore and is also a thirty-second degree mason, being a member of the Des Moines consistory. The father, Jacob Kyler, was a man of pronounced political convictions, affiliated with the original abolitionist party in the early days of the anti-slavery movement in this country. He later was identified with the republican party and was an uncompromising enemy of the saloon and liquor business. W. E. Kyler is one of the highly respected and influential citizens of Kossuth county. As cashier and largest stockholder of the Luverne State Bank he is one of the widely known men in his portion of the state and is always to be relied upon for efficient help in the promotion of every business of a public nature intended to improve the condition of the people of his county and state.