NEWEL, GEORGE W.

NEWEL, REIBER, OLSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/9/2003 at 15:31:15

Biography reproduced from page 628 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

George W. Newel is numbered among the worthy and representative citizens of Fenton, Iowa, where he has been a vital and dominating force in financial circles for the past ten years. He is engaged in the banking business and is one of the organizers of the Fenton State Bank. Mr. Newel has acted as cashier and manager of this institution for over ten years, and his character as an upright and conscientious man has stamped its mark upon the policy of the institution of which he is an official.

Mr. Newel is a native son of Iowa, having been born in Clayton county, February 22, 1867. He came to Kossuth county with is father, John Newel, and spent his early life upon the home farm in Fenton township. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority and was active in assisting his father in the work incident to the cultivation of the soil. When he had grown to maturity he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near the old homestead, broke the soil, fenced his fields and improved his property along progressive and scientific lines for several years. He added to his holdings by the purchase of eighty acres of adjoining land and owns two hundred and forty acres of fertile and productive land upon which he built a fine residence and suitable barns and outbuildings. He also owns other farm lands. In 1899 he abandoned active agriculture and rented his farm. He then moved into the village of Fenton where he engaged in the buying of grain for three years. Upon the organization of the Fenton State Bank he accepted the position of cashier and manager, and in this capacity he is now serving with conspicuous ability. He, however, does not allow his financial occupations to engross his entire attention. There is hardly a line of business activity in the city which does not receive his hearty cooperation. He was one of the promoters of the Fenton Creamery Company and is a stockholder therein. He also helped in the organization of the present waterworks system and has added to his income by extensively dealing in real estate, buying and selling Iowa land and improved farms. His business career is distinguished by constructive skill in organization and by the thorough honesty which is the basis of his success.

On November 2, 1893, Mr. Newel was united in marriage in Fenton, to Miss Barbara Reiber, who was born near Peoria, Illinois, and came to Iowa with an aunt, and later returned to Illinois. She died September 13, 1909, and is buried in the Fenton Methodist Episcopal cemetery. Two daughters were born to this union: Esther, who is a student in the Des Moines College at Highland Park; and Genevieve, who is a student in the Fenton high school. In 1911 Mr. Newel was again married. His second wife is Miss Henrietta Olson, who was born in Nebraska but who spent her early life in Iowa.

Mr. Newel belongs to Kossuth Lodge No. 540, F. & A. M., and is prominent in the affairs of the Masonic fraternity. He has served with ability and efficiency as a member of the town council, giving his influence to the cause of constructive legislation. He has been identified with the growth and development of business interests of the village of Fenton for ten years and is numbered among the progressive citizens of that community. He has that peculiar type of mind which enables him to give forceful and energetic attention to various lines of activity. He has never concentrated upon one line of business exclusively but has engaged in different enterprises and has achieved success in all. His financial, political and agricultural departures have been of great influence in the advancement of Kossuth county and the village of Fenton.