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N.E. Isaacs

ISAACS, OLSON, JACOBSON, THOMPSON, GILBERTSON, KELLY

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 7/15/2009 at 07:26:52

N. E. Isaacs, who has made a highly creditable record as president of the First National Bank of Thompson, Iowa, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, July 23, 1872, a son of John and Carrie (Olson) Isaacs, natives of Norway. The father came to America when fifteen years old on a sailing vessel that required fifteen weeks to make the trip. He engaged in farming in Wisconsin for several years and then entered the drug business, but at the time of the Civil War he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and for three years and two months was at the front. In 1881 he removed to Forest City, Winnebago county, Iowa, and there conducted a general store for a long period. For two terms he served as county auditor and gave to the discharge of his public duties the same careful attention that he always devoted to his business interests. He is now living retired at Forest City at the age of seventy-seven years and his wife also survives. She was brought by her parents to the United States when a child of two years.

N. E. Isaacs was reared and educated in Winnebago county and after graduating from the Forest City schools went to Dixon, Illinois, where he took a commercial course. On his return to Forest City he worked for six months in the county auditor's office and then taught school for two terms in Norway township, after which he was for six months clerk in a department store in Madison, Minnesota. In 1894 he came to Thompson, Iowa, and accepted the position of bookkeeper in a private bank here conducted by Thompson Brothers. He remained there for three years, during which time he was promoted to assistant cashier. On the 2d of January, 1897, however, he joined with F. W. Thompson, Hon. G. S. Gilbertson, Hon. C. H. Kelly and others in the organization of the First National Bank of Thompson and became the assistant cashier of the institution. In a short time he was made cashier, later became vice president and for a number of years has been president of the bank, which is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, has a surplus of twenty-five thousand dollars and deposits of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The bank is housed in its own building, a fine modern structure on Main street. At the time of its organization the First National bought out the Farmers Savings Bank, which had a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. Having been connected with the First National in an official capacity during its entire existence, Mr. Isaacs has played an important part in the formulation of its policy and in its development and there is no phase of its business with which he is not familiar. He keeps in close touch with the financial and commercial conditions in the bank's territory and seeks to make it of the utmost possible service to its patrons, while at the same time safeguarding the funds entrusted to it. He owns valuable farm lands in Winnebago county and is also a stockholder and treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company and the Farmers Creamery Company and a stockholder in the Opera House Association.

Mr. Isaacs was married in September, 1897, to Miss Josie Jacobson, a daughter of Hon. Jacob and Josie Jacobson, both of whom were born in Iowa. They are now, however, residents of Minnesota, where the father was a pioneer settler and where he has long been recognized as a leader in public affairs. For sixteen years he served as a member of the state legislature and at one time was the nominee of the republican party for governor, but was defeated by Hon. John S. Johnson, the democratic candidate. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs have been born seven children, namely: Carol, eighteen years of age; Kuth, fourteen years old; Roy, ten; Carmen, seven; Margaret, four; Milton, who was killed in an automobile accident when five years old; and Fern, who met an accidental death when a year old.

Mr. Isaacs is a stanch advocate of republican principles and loyally supports the candidates of that party at the polls. For twelve years he has served upon the town council and in that connection has worked constantly for the public interest. He is a member of the Congregational church and can always be depended upon to support measures seeking to advance the moral welfare of his community. As a banker and as a public-spirited citizen he has done much to further the advancement of Thompson and is deservedly held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

~History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, pg 60-63


 

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