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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Walter J . Elling

Walter J. Elling, secretary and treasurer of the Dana Mutual Co-operative Creamery Company, one of the leading productive industries of Greene county, is a native of Denmark. He was born in 1869 and spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his nativity, acquiring his education in the public schools. When twenty years of age he sought a home and fortune in America, hoping to enjoy better business opportlmities in the land where competition is not so great and where advancement is more quickly secured.

From the age of twelve years he has been engaged in making cheese and has been in various places in this line of business. Since 1898 he has been secretary and treasurer of the Dana Mutual Co-operative Creamery Company, manufacturers of full cream cheese and dealers in feed. The plant has a large capacity, enabling them to. care for twenty thousand pounds of milk at a time and the manufactured output amounts to between twenty-five and thirty-six thousand pounds of cheese per year. The milk is supplied by about seventy patrons in the surrounding country and the output is of such a quality that it is disposed of at the highest market price. Mr. Elling employs two men a part of the time and his long experience in the manufacture of cheese well qualifies him for the conduct of this extensive enterprise. This company was organized in 1898, with Thomas Calvert as president; E. W. Jones as vice president; and W. J . Elling as secretary and treasurer, while the board of directors is composed of Thomas Calvert, E. W. Jones, J . A. Rowles, S. R. Kershner and E. S. Hillman.

In 1897 Mr. Elling was united in marriage to Miss Irene Calvert, a daughter of Thomas Calvert, one of the prominent citizens of Dana, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elling have been born four children. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Elling is connected with the Odd Fellows society and the Yeomen. He has gained a wide acquaintance in this part of the state and has made many friends by reason of good traits of character which everywhere command confidence and regard.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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