William H. Annett

ANNETT, RICHARDSON, BENDER

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/4/2010 at 05:16:48

WILLIAM H. ANNETT

William II. Annett, owner and editor of the Buffalo Center Tribune, has devoted his entire career to newspaper work and his long and varied experience in that field is evidenced in the efficiency which he displays in the management of his present paper. That he has time to devote to other interests than his private business affairs is fortunate for his community, for he possesses sound judgment and the ability to secure hearty cooperation from his associates in any undertaking, and as mayor of Buffalo Center he has done much to forward the interests of the municipality. He was born in Galena, Illinois, July 29, 1871, and is of English descent. His parents, John B. and Harriet (Richardson) Annett, removed there after coming to America many years ago. The father was a shoemaker by trade, but after locating in Galena, became connected with the police department there and for several years held the office of chief. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in Company C, Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the period of hostilities with the rank of first lieutenant. After the restoration of peace he went to Spencer, Iowa, and took up a homestead in that locality, but as the grasshopper plague caused him to suffer heavy financial loss he returned to Galena, Illinois, where he lived until 1877. In that year he again became a resident of Spencer, Iowa, and served as the first city marshal. Moreover, the Grand Army post there is named in his honor. He passed away in July, 1880, deeply mourned by his many friends. Our subject's grandmother, Mary Richardson, was the custodian of General Grant's home at Galena and there John B. "Annett was married to Miss Harriet Richardson, who survives him and makes her home in Idaho.

William H. Annett was only a child at the time of his father's death, but as he was the oldest son he had to go to work and help support the family. He left school when twelve years old and entered a printing office, there learning the trade. He has ever since been identified with newspaper offices and has made gratifying progress in his chosen work. For nine years he was foreman of the Clay County News, in which he bought an interest in 1895, but three years later he disposed of his holdings therein and became part owner of the Spencer Reporter, with which he severed his connection, however, in 1904. He then went to Idaho and for six years was foreman of a large publishing house in that state, but returned to Iowa on account of his wife's health. For a year he was employed in Sioux City and in 1912 came to Buffalo Center, Towa, and purchased the Buffalo Center Tribune, which he has since owned and edited. His plant is well equipped and in addition to publishing the Tribune he does a large job business. He has won an enviable reputation for enterprise, high class work and honorable dealing and has been markedly successful both as a newspaper publisher and as a job printer.

Mr. Annett was married June 2, 1897, to Miss Jessie Bender and they have had two children: Marguerite, who was born in May, 1898, and died in 1901; and Pauline, born in September, 1904. Mr. Annett is a republican in his political belief and since 1916 has been mayor of Buffalo Center. His work as a newspaper man has naturally kept him in close touch with public affairs and this knowledge of matters pertaining to local government has been of great value to him in the discharge of his duties as mayor, enabling him to work efficiently for the town's good. His public service has also included his incumbency of the office of secretary of the Winnebago-Kossuth Institute and Short Course for two years and he still takes a most lively interest in plans for giving farmers the benefit of the scientific investigation that is constantly being made along agricultural lines. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Congregational church and is a member of the male quartette there and his wife is choir leader. His varied interests make such heavy demands upon his time and energy as would tax the powers of a less enterprising man, but he is never so busy that he cannot find time to give to his friends, of whom there are many.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. p. 288-289.