One of the most active and enterprising business men of Cedar Valley is M. Y. Bealer, superintendent of the Cedar Valley Stone quarry, an extensive and most important industrial enterprise, constituting a factor in the prosperity and business activity of the community as well as a source of individual profit to the owner. Prompt, energetic and notably reliable, Mr. Bealer has established himself in a high position in public regard both as a business man and citizen.
He was born in North Liberty, Johnson county, Iowa, in 1874, a son of E. J. C. and Molly C. (Stephens) Bealer. The former was born in Switzerland in 1841, and when two years of age was brought to the United States by his parents, Elmer J. and Mary A. Bealer, who settled in Ohio, but in 1854 came to Iowa, establishing their home in Johnson county, where Mrs. Bealer passed away. He moved to Nebraska and died in that state. Reared under the parental roof, E. J. C. Bealer eventually became a bridge contractor and continued in that line of business until he turned his attention to quarrying in 1884. While contracting he had quarried stone at the Iowa state quarry in Johnson county. He now owns a large quarry, maintaining his office and residence at Cedar Rapids. His interests in Cedar county are among the most extensive and important of this character in eastern Iowa. At the time of the Civil war E. J. C. Bealer responded to the country’s call for troops and served for two years and three months as a member of Company A, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, enlisting from Iowa City. After the war he located at North Liberty and was married in 1867. He then followed contracting until 1884, when, as previously stated, he removed to Cedar Rapids, from which point he has managed his quarrying interests. At the same time he has extended his efforts into other fields which have profited by his cooperation and keen business discernment. He is now the president of the Cedar Rapids Construction Company and of the Cedar Rapids Canning Company, is interested in various banking enterprises and in the Montrose Hotel, the foundation for which he built. In all things he displays an aptitude for successful management and has won for himself a prominent place in business circles. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a recognized leader in its ranks. For three terms he represented Linn county in the state legislature and left the impress of his individuality upon the work enacted during those sessions. He takes a broad and comprehensive view of political questions and keeps thoroughly informed concerning all the vital issues of the day. Mrs. Bealer arrived in Iowa in 1855. She had been previously married and had lost her husband. There was one child of that union, L. L. Erb, now a resident of Brookings, South Dakota. By her second marriage she had three children: Mrs. Orpha D. M. Grimm, of Cedar Rapids; M. Y. of this review; and J. G., who is also living in Cedar Rapids.
M. Y. Bealer spent the first ten years of his life upon the home farm in Johnson county, where he was born, and then went with his parents to Cedar Rapids, where he remained until 1894, save that he had previously served for a brief period as an assayer in Arizona. In the latter year he took charge of his father’s quarrying interests at Cedar Valley and has since remained in charge of the active operation. He displays the qualities of a strong and successful business man who recognizes and utilizes his opportunities, who keeps in touch with the trade and knows when, where and how to put forth his efforts to produce the best results. Aside from his quarrying interests Mr. Bealer is the owner of a quarter section of land in Cass township, which he rents. His father is sole owner of the quarry, in which connection he has six hundred acres of land. The quarry was first opened in 1884 and has now been operated continuously for twenty-six years with an output of one hundred thousand carloads of stone during that time. The output includes limestone, sandstone and magnesia stone, which is used for heavy bridge masonry, building and road purposes. When working to their full capacity one hundred and twenty-five men are employed. Twelve steam derricks are utilized in the conduct of the business with a crushing plant of two hundred yards capacity. The stone is taken exclusively out of a pit to a depth of ninety feet below the surface of the Cedar river. In addition to the buildings and machinery which constitute the main plant there is a large machine shop and hotel upon the grounds. At one time there was also a lime kiln that had a capacity of four carloads per day, but owing to the use of cement this has been abandoned. In 1884, when the business was established, there was not even a wagon road here. The district was an unbroken wilderness to which only a cattle path led. But through the efforts of Mr. Bealer the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad built a branch line of four miles to the quarry, the railroad company owning the rolling stock, while E. J. C. Bealer still owns the right of way. In the upbuilding of the village which necessarily had to be established to accommodate the workmen and their families, Mr. Bealer has moved thirty-six buildings to this place for dwelling purposes, also ten barns and a ware house. A large bridge has been built across the river and much has been done not only to facilitate the interests of the business but also to promote the welfare and comfort of the workmen here employed. The plant altogether has a splendid equipment not only for quarrying stone but also for handling it and placing it upon the market, and the business today is the most important and extensive in Cedar county outside of agricultural lines. All of the land owned in connection with the quarry is used for grazing purposes except about twenty acres.
In 1897 was celebrated the marriage of M. Y. Bealer and Miss M. A. Emrich, who was born in Cass township in 1874 and is a daughter of Henry Emrich. Their home has been blessed with three children: Errol J., Lois A. and Irving M. Mr. and Mrs. Bealer have a wide acquaintance in Cedar county and an extensive circle of friends. While entering upon a business already established, many a man of less resolute spirit would have failed in enlarging its scope and controlling its interests. With an aptitude for successful management, he has closely watched all of the details of the business and every indication pointing toward success. Systematic and methodical, he has learned the secret of prosperity—the attainment of maximum results with minimum effort, and at all times has coordinated forces so as to produce a harmonious whole.
