Henry Bank

BANK, GALMACHT

Posted By: Chuck Helling (email)
Date: 8/20/2003 at 13:46:41

Judge Henry Bank, a resident of Keokuk, was the first Judge to
preside over the Superior Court which was organized in 1883. In April
of the same year he was elected Judge of that court, and at once
assumed the duties of his office, and is now serving his fourth year.
Encomiums upon the ability of Judge Bank are not necessary, his
record as a Judge during the past four years being all that is needed
to show the high order of ability he possesses.

Henry Bank was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, Oct. 23,
1843, and came to the United States with his parents when he was but
six years old. He was educated in early manhood in the German and
English languages. In 1849 the parents of our subject, Henry and
Julia (Galmacht) Bank, settled on a farm in Van Buren Township, this
county, where they are still living. There were seven children in
the parental family, Henry being the third in order of birth. He
remained on the old homestead with his parents until maturity, when
he became engaged in a sawmill, and was occupied in that business and
the lumber trade from 1868 until 1874.

During the latter-named year our subject was elected Recorder of
Deeds for Lee County, which position he filled from 1875-1877. After
he entered the law office of Sprague and Gibbon, and read law until
1878, when he was admitted to the bar. He continued to remain with
his preceptors until the removal of Mr. Gibbon to Chicago, and then
practiced with Mr. Sprauge until the spring of 1881. During that
year he was elected Police Magistrate of the city os Keokuk, and
after its abolishment and the establishment of the Superior Court, in
1883, he was elected Judge of the same, which position he now so
acceptably fills.

The marriage of Judge Bank was celebrated in 1869. Mrs. B. is a
native of Bavaria, and has borne our subject two sons and four
daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are members of the Lutheran Church and
socially the judge holds fellowship with Lodge No. 116. I.O.O.F.

Source:

Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa

Author: Anonymous
City of Publication: Chicago
Publisher: Chapman Bros.
Date: 1887
Page Count: 648 p.: ill., ports