F. H. HESSE.

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         Few men are more widely known in business circles of this locality than F. H. Hesse who, as senior partner of the firm of Hesse & Patterson, is connected with one of the most important enterprises of Wapello and the largest concern of its kind in Louisa county. He is one of Iowa’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Butler county on the 1st of November, 1873. His parents, Frank and Lucy (Hill) Hesse, born in Germany and Wisconsin respectively, are now residents of Eugene, Oregon. Their family of five children include the following: F. H., of this review; George F., of Eugene, Oregon; John L., of Clarksville, Iowa; Clyde R., residing at Des Moines; and Cora E., who died in infancy.

         The period of his boyhood and youth was passed by F. H. Hesse in the acquirement of an education, attending the public schools of his native county and passing through consecutive grades until his graduation from high school. Later he had the benefit of a commercial course which he pursued in the Cedar Rapids Business College, after which he entered the business world, his initial step being in connection with the hardware business in Clarksville in partnership with his father. He was then twenty-one years of age and these relations between father and son continued until 1907, when the latter came to Wapello and with F. L. Patterson purchased the business of the Otto Hard- . . .

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. . . ware Company. They are now conducting this enterprise under the firm style of Hesse & Patterson, and under their direction the business is constantly increasing in size and importance. Something of the scope of their trade is indicated by the fact that today theirs is the largest enterprise of this kind in the county, their cash sales for 1910 amounting to eighteen thousand dollars. Their store and warehouse is a fine structure, twenty-six by one hundred and fifty feet, and they also conduct a tin shop in connection with their general hardware trade. They carry an excellent line of stoves including the Round Oak, Quick Meals, Fuller-Warren, Cutler-Proctor, Coles Hot Blast, Majestic, Keen-Kutler, Diamond Edge, O.V. B. and Pritzloff, and in fact all of their stock is of standard make, the store purchasing its goods from leading manufacturers. The safe, conservative policy which the partners have inaugurated commends itself to the judgment of all and has secured to the company a patronage which makes the volume of trade of great importance and magnitude. The prosperity of the company is due, in large measure, to the executive ability and business capacity of its senior member, who has been watchful of all the details of the business and of all indications pointing toward prosperity, and is numbered among the progressive business men of Wapello.

         In Clarksville, Iowa, Mr. Hesse was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Dale Patterson, the second in order of birth in a family of three children born unto Francis and Mary (Wamsley) Patterson. The others are: Edward, of Greene, Iowa; and Francis Lloyd, the junior partner of the firm of Hesse & Patterson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hesse have been born two children: Dorothy, eleven years of age; and Robert Francis, who is four years old.

         The religious faith of Mr. Hesse is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, while his fraternal relations are with the Masons. He gives his political support to the republican party, although he has never had any desire for public office. He has been careful in business affairs, earnest in his work, loyal to his friends and true to his convictions, and he now occupies a prominent place among the most substantial and representative citizens of Louisa county.