BUELL, HARDY O.

BUELL, HARDY, BEDFORD, LACY

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/20/2004 at 15:44:33

Biography reproduced from page 59 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Hardy O. Buell is cashier and manager of the First National Bank of Burt, Iowa, and by his sound and conservative financial methods and the enterprising and progressive system by which he is carrying out the policy of the board of directors, he is bringing that institution to a high degree of efficiency. Mr. Buell has been a resident of Iowa and of Kossuth county since 1881, and has been identified with the banking business for thirteen years. He was born in Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, August 16, 1868. His father, Dumont Buell, was a native of New York state, where his birth occurred on April 29, 1840. He was a son of Oliver H. Buell, who left New York for Illinois and settled in La Salle county with his family in 1853. Here the father of our subject grew to manhood and engaged in the manufacture of farm implements. He also carried on an independent agricultural enterprise and was successful in this line of work. He married Miss Emma C. Hardy, a native of Vermont, who was reared and educated in Illinois. The elder Mr. Buell came to Iowa in 1881 and located in Kossuth county where he purchased three thousand acres of land and for many years operated his extensive holdings with much success. He later abandoned agriculture and moved to Algona where he resided for a number of years, taking an active part in business and political life. He served on the town council and was also a member of the board of supervisors. He located in Burt, Iowa, in 1890, and remained in that city until 1892. In that year he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the real-estate business until his death, which occurred in 1902. He is buried at Ottawa, Illinois, beside his wife, who passed away in 1877. Dumont Buell was a prominent Mason, holding membership in Prudence Lodge, No. 205, and in the Algona chapter. He was a representative and progressive citizen, and his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him.

Hardy O. Buell is one of a family of two children born to his parents. His sister is Mrs. F. W. Bedford of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was reared in Kossuth county and received his primary education in the Algona public schools. He later attended the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and in 1890 came to Burt where he bought out a general merchandise business, which he operated with much success until 1897. For two years he was in business in Algona but returned to Burt in 1899. In that year he became identified with the banking business as assistant cashier in the Burt National Bank, and he continued in this connection for ten years. He learned by personal experience the various details of sound and conservative finance, and laid the foundation of his present success. He then accepted the position of manager and cashier of the First National Bank of Burt, and this position he is now filling with unusual ability and constantly increasing success.

On June 3, 1891, Mr. Buell was united in marriage in Algona, to Miss Rena Lacy, a native of Albany, Wisconsin, where she remained until she was twelve years of age. At that time her family removed to Iowa and Mrs. Buell was educated in the public schools of Algona. She fitted herself for teaching and followed that occupation in Kossuth county until her marriage.

Mr. Buell is identified with the republican party, and is consistently progressive in his political ideas. He has never sought public office, preferring to devote his attention to his extensive business interests. He has built two residences in the city of Burt and lives in one of them. He is well known in fraternal circles and is a member of Kossuth Lodge, No. 540, F. & A. M. He has served through all the chairs of this organization and is now past master. He is a man of varied interests, all of which are constructive and helpful in the growth of the community. He has built up a sound banking enterprise carefully and conservatively and has aided in the business and municipal growth of Burt.