ANNIS, Jere Wright
ANNIS, EATON, TRUE, HITCHCOCK, MCCABE
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/27/2009 at 20:59:17
For more than a half century Jere Wright Annis has been identified with the interests of Osage, where he became a pioneer merchant; He was long connected with commercial interests and then became a factor in banking circles, entering the Osage National Bank in 1885. Since that period he has been well known as a representative of financial activities in Osage and is now president of the Home Savings & Trust Bank.
He was born in Vermont in 1844, a son of Dr. A. W. Annis, whose birth occurred in the Green Mountain state in 1816. He there spent his entire life, prepared for the practice of medicine and followed his profession at Westfield, Vermont. He spent a few months at different times in Osage but always returned to New England, and passed away there in 1876. His interest centered entirely in the practice of medicine and surgery, and he was a physician of the old school, holding to the highest standards of professional ethics. He married Laura Hodgkin, who was born in Vermont in 1824, and spent her entire life in that state, passing away in 1867. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. Laura R. Eaton, who is living in Osage; Mrs. Hattie M. True, of Los Angeles, California ; one who died in infancy; and Jere W.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof Jere Wright Annis attended the public schools of Vermont and also attended the seminary at West-field, from which he was graduated in 1862. Two years afterward he was united in marriage to Lucia S. Hitchcock, of Vermont birth, her natal year being 1846. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Hitchcock, Mr. Hitchcock being a brother of Judge Hitchcock, of Osage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Annis have been born two sons and a daughter: Frank W., who was born in 1865 and is vice president and manager of the James A. Smith Lumber Company; Mrs. Laura A. McCabe, who was born in 1873 and is living in Osage; and Dr. H. B. Annis, who was born in 1882 and is practicing his profession in Minneapolis.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Annis brought his wife to Iowa, establishing his home in Osage in 1865. He cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers, becoming one of the early merchants of the city through the establishment of a general store on Seventh and Main streets, where he remained in business until 1868. Later, in connection with J. H. Johnson, he engaged in the hardware trade under the style of Johnson & Annis, which partnership existed for fifteen years. In 1885 he turned his attention from commercial to financial activities by entering the Osage National Bank of Osage, in the capacity of cashier, in which position he has since continued. Throughout all the intervening period, covering a third of a century, he has been active in the management of the bank, assisting in directing its policy and promoting its business connections. He is the president of the Home Savings & Trust Company of Osage, to which position he was elected in 1907, and thus he is most active in all that has to do with the business development and enterprise of his city. He has likewise extended his efforts into other fields, being vice president of the Saint Ansgar Bank, which is capitalized for thirty thousand dollars; a partner in the Stacyville Bank, which is capitalized at ten thousand dollars, and stockholder in various other banks. He has been a close and discriminating student of the problems which confront the banker and for many of these has found ready and correct solution.
In his political views Mr. Annis has long been a supporter of the republican party but has never sought office. However, his fellow townsmen have called him to positions of public trust and for three terms he filled the office of mayor, giving to the city a beneficial and businesslike administration. He is well known in Masonic circles and has recently received a certificate attesting the payment of his dues without interruption for fifty years.
He belongs to the chapter and commandery of Osage, and to El Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids. He has filled many offices in the different Masonic bodies and has ever been a most faithful exemplar of the craft. His moral obligations have never been neglected and church interests have found in him a stalwart champion. In 1872 he joined the Methodist church and has since been an earnest and active worker therein, teaching for forty years in the Sunday school and also serving as superintendent for a period of fifteen years.
He is a member of the board of trustees of the church and has always been a generous contributor to its support. In a word his has been a well spent life, honorable and upright. He has recognized his duties and obligations in every particular and has guided his activities by the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
[Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, vol. II, pages 74-76.]
Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen