Ellsworth Secor

SECOR, VAN CUREN, HARMON, GILBERTSON, THOMPSON, GARDNER, KELLEY

Posted By: Shary Ferrall
Date: 12/4/2006 at 20:27:20

Secor, Ellsworth E., cashier and resident manager of the Buffalo Center State bank at Buffalo Center, and a nephew of Eugene Secor, of Forest City, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, is one of the most prominent and progressive young business men in northern Iowa.

He was born January 2, 1864, at Forest City, Iowa. His father is the Hon. David Secor, now president of the Faribault County bank of Winnebago City, Minn., also president of the bank of Amboy, Amboy, Minn., the Delevan bank, Delevan, Minn. He is also director of the First National bank, of Forest City, Iowa, his former home. He was a representative from his district in the house of representatives in the Iowa legislature for two terms during the years 1872-1874, and was twice elected register of the Iowa state land office. He was one of the early settlers of Winnebago county, coming there in 1858. He was county treasurer two terms during the sixties, occupying that position during the war, but hiring a substitute for his office, he joined the union army and was in Sherman's march to the sea.

Mrs. Secor's maiden name was Samantha Van Curen. She died when Ellsworth E. was but 7 years old.

Mr. Secor, in early life attended the public schools of Forest City, and in 1881 entered the Iowa Agricultural college at Ames, but before completing the freshman year was taken sick and did not complete his course. His father was identified with the building of the chicago, Iowa & Dakota railway, known as the "Slippery Elm" road, so the ambitious young man concluded to fit himself for future life in the railway service. He put in four years as freight brakeman, mostly on the Winona & St. Peter division of the Chicago & Northwestern railway, and later on the What Cheer branch of the same railway, out of Belle Plaine. Near that place, in the winter of 1886-87, he nearly lost his life one frosty morning just before daylight, by stumbling between the tender and the first car, striking on the draw bar and cutting through his heavy clothing and through the flesh of one leg, to the bone. He realized his perilous position and managed somehow to climb to the top of the car, where he fainted, but was brought to his senses by the cold air; this experience caused him to change his occupation.

His father was preparing to remove to Minnesota and wanted him to go to Forest City, and, in a measure, take his place in the firm of Secor Brothers & Law. This he accordingly did, leaving Belle Plaine, his former headquarters, January 25, 1887, to take charge of the conveyance and abstract work of his father's firm, remaining with them until July, 1892, when he took charge of the Iowa Investment company's business at Buffalo Center. The company soon began to do an exchange and banking business, Mr. Secor occupying the responsible position of secretary and resident manager of the company's business. The banking feature of the business grew so rapidly that a separate institution for that purpose was organized, and the Buffalo Center Savings bank was launched forth January 16, 1893, with Mr. Secor as its cashier. In February, 1894, the two institutions were merged into one, and thus the Buffalo Center State bank was organized and commenced business February 12, 1894, with a capital of $25,000. It is still the principal bank of the town with the following named officers: G.S. Gilbertson, president; C.J. Thompson, vice-president, and E.E. Secor, cashier. The bank has built up a fine business, has a surplus fund of $8,000, pays 15 per cent dividents to its stockholders and has deposits amounting to over $55,000. On January 1, 1899, Mr. Secor, in connection with H.G. Gardner, G.S. Gilbertson, C.J. Thompson, F.W. Thompson, and F.L. Kelley, all prominent bankers of northern Iowa, formed a limited partnership, and are now operating a bank at Titonka, Kossuth county, under the firm name and style of Secor & Gardner, of which Mr. Secor is president.

Mr. Secor has always been a staunch republican, filled the office of city clerk of Forest City; was the first mayor of Buffalo Center, refusing re-election, but in 1896, he was chosen by the citizens' caucus and elected without any opponent. Re-elected in 1897 and resigned mayorship July 1, 1897, on appointment by President McKinley as postmaster at Buffalo Center. He was also nominated as a candidate for school director and received every vote cast, and re-elected in 1898. He is a member of Truth Lodge No. 213, A.F. & A.M. at Forest City; Camp No. 2659 Modern Woodmen of America; Bison Lodge No. 379, and Buffalo Center Lodge No. 596, I.O.O.F., all of Buffalo Center. He was married April 27, 1887, to Emma J. Harmon, of Jewell, Hamilton county, Iowa, at Webster City. They have four children, Ethel Jozella, born March 24, 1888, Russell Harold, born September 20, 1889, Beryl Joy, born June 8, 1894, and Raymond, born November 22, 1898.

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-source: Biographies and Portraits of The Progressive Men of Iowa; Des Moines:
Conaway & Shaw, 1899; pg 253-254

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