D. Fred Scribner

SCRIBNER, BELL, ITEN

Posted By: Debbie Gerischer (email)
Date: 4/10/2009 at 18:39:47

A Narrative History
of
The People of Iowa
with
SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN
EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS, ETC.
by
EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.
Curator of the
Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa
Volume IV
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
Chicago and New York
1931

D. FRED SCRIBNER, of Davenport, was officially identified for a number of
years with one of the outstanding manufacturing establishments of the City of
Clinton, the Iten Biscuit Company. He is well known over Iowa. Mr. Scribner
has been prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and at the beginning of 1927
the Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine reelected him illustrious potentate for a
fourth year, this being the first time in the fifty years since the temple
was established that a member has been paid the tribute of four successive
terms as potentate.

Mr. Scribner was born at Osakis, Minnesota, January 7, 1873. He is a son of
E. E. and Sarah (Bell) Scribner, his mother a native of Canada and his father
of the State of Maine. His father is of Mayflower New England stock, and of
the same branch of the Scribner family to which the famous publisher Charles
Scribner belonged, The Scribners came to the Northwest when Minnesota was
on the frontier and the settlements exposed to Indian uprisings. From
Minnesota they moved to Clinton, Iowa, when D. Fred Scribner was three years old.
The latter grew up at Clinton, attending grade and high school there, and in
boyhood took up railroad work, which he followed for seven years.

He left the railroad to join the Iten Biscuit Company in Clinton, at first
as branch manager, and subsequently became a large stockholder in this
enterprise and continued actively with the organization until several years ago it
was taken over by the National Biscuit Company.

Mr. Scribner married in 1895 Miss Sadie Iten, who was born at Davenport.
Her father, Louis Iten, was a native of Switzerland, came to Davenport many
years ago and as an expert baker was made foreman in the Eagle Steam Bakery. He
drew out of that organization to establish a business of his own, known as
the Iten Cracker Company, at Clinton, and developed an industry which is one
of the largest plants in Clinton and whose products, a special high grade of
crackers and biscuits, have practically a worldwide distribution and sale.
Mr. and Mrs. Scribner have one son, Frederick Francis, a graduate of the
Davenport High School and Lake Forest Academy, now attending Stanford University.

Mr. Scribner has been the recipient of many honors in the Masonic
fraternity, including the thirty-third, supreme honorary degree in Scottish Rite. He
is a Past Master of Western Star Lodge No. 100, A. F. and A. M., at Clinton;
member of DAvenport Chapter No. 16, Royal Arch Masons; St. Simon of Cyrene
Commandery, Knights Templar, and is past wise master of De Molay Consistory at
Clinton. He is a member of the Davenport Country Club and Outing Club.
During the World war he was enrolled for a year and a half with the war council of
the Y. M. C. A., and went overseas and was attached to the Italian army, in
charge of physical recreation work, having charge of a district of 200 men.
He was given citations from Rome and was decorated by the Italian government.