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SIDNEY HERBERT BEVINS

The subject of this sketch, who is president of the First State Bank of Hawkeye and for many years a leading business man and public spirited citizen, is a native of Fayette county, Iowa, born in Eden township, December 19, 1857. Nathan Bevins, his father, was born May 22, 1824, at Warren, New York, and his mother, whose family name was Rebecca Caswell, first saw the light of day at Fort Ticonderoga, that state, on November 3, 1831. In an early day these parents emigrated to Wisconsin and from there, in 1854, moved with an ox team to Fayette county, Iowa, locating in Eden township, where they resided until the death of the husband and father in August, 1896, from which time to the end of her life Mrs. Bevins made her home at Hawkeye, dying there on the 17th day of April, 1909. Nathan and Rebecca Bevins had one daughter and four sons, the former, Martha Jane, dying in 1872, at the age of twenty-three years. Charles died when twenty-two years old, Horace at the age of eight and Orson N. lives at Hawkeye.

The early life of Sidney Herbert Bevins was characterized by no incident or experience outside the ordinary, having been spent under wholesome influences and in attendance at the public school of Waucoma until at an age to make his own way in the world. After devoting several years to teaching, he learned telegraphy, which he followed for some time and then turned his attention to the grain and lumber business, which he carried on with reasonable success for several years. Later he dealt quite extensively in real estate at Hawkeye, where he located in August, 1883, and it was there that he also embarked upon his career as a banker and financier, becoming cashier of the Bank of Hawkeye in 1889 and holding the position until 1894. Since the latter year he has been president of the First State Bank at Hawkeye, one of the most popular and successful institutions of the kind in Fayette county, and as a business man and financier he easily ranks among the leading bankers, in the northeastern part of the state.

Mr. Bevins’ career has been signally successful and in addition to furthering his own interests he has contributed largely to the material advancement of his town and county and used his influence in behalf of every worthy enterprise for the good of his fellow men. He keeps abreast of the times on all matters of public moment, is a friend and patron of the school, stands for the strict enforcement of the law and in his own life and conduct has always tried to realize the highest ideals of manhood and citizenship. Politically, he wields an influence for the Democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office, being content with the more satisfactory career of a business man and making every other consideration secondary thereto. Financially, his success has been in keeping with the interest he has ever manifested in his various enterprises, owning valuable farm lands in Eden, Bethel and Windsor townships, also good farm property, to say nothing of large personal holdings which swell the fortune in his possession to considerable magnitude and make him one of the substantial and well-to-do men of the community in which he resides.

Mr. Bevins was married at Hawkeye, November 6, 1884, to Clara L. Sible and he is the father of three children: Nathan S., born August 19, 1886; Myrtle R., born September 25, 1893, and Beckey B., whose birth occurred on May 5, 1908.

Mr. Bevins has no church affiliations, but respects religion very highly and believes it to be a corrective for the evils to which society and humanity at large are addicted. Fraternally, he belongs to the ancient and honorable order of Masonry, holding membership with Standard Lodge No. 351, in which from time to time he has been honored with important office positions.

Diligent in business, prompt in response to every call of duty, prominent in the affairs of his town and respected in the social circle, he has made the world better by his influence and is today numbered among the enterprising men of his day and generation in the county of Fayette.

~Transcribed for Fayette County IAGenWeb Project by Ann Borden