HARRY O. PEASE.

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         The beauty and attractiveness of a city is due, perhaps, to no other class in so large a measure as to the builder and architect, and thus the labors of Harry O. Pease, the leading contractor of Wapello, have played an important part in the development and improvement of the community. Wapello is proud to number him among her native sons, his birth occurring here on the 14th of April, 1866. His parents, Henry S. and Fernanda (Jackson) Pease, natives of Maine and Pennsylvania, respectively, came to Louisa county, Iowa, at an early day and still continue to make their home here. In their family were the following children: Harry O.; Eugene H., a resident of this city; and Henrietta, the wife of W. B. Kemp, of Washington, Iowa.

         At the usual age Harry O. Pease was sent as a pupil to the public schools, which he attended through consecutive grades to his graduation from high school, and later he had the benefit of a course in architecture. Thus well equipped for life’s responsible and onerous duties, he left home at the age of nineteen years and made his way to Kansas, where for two years he was engaged at the carpenter’s trade. Returning to Wapello, he has since continued to make this the scene of his activities, carrying on business as a contractor, builder and architect. He has displayed much skill in his chosen profession, and evidences of his ability are seen on every hand, many of the finest and most substantial structures of the city being specimens of his handiwork. He is recognized as the leading contractor of this locality and in this capacity is accorded a large and distinctively representative patronage.

         On the 24th of September, 1902, Mr. Pease was united in marriage to Miss Clara Archibald, who was born in Louisa county, a daughter of Rufus and Martha Archibald, both of whom are still living. In their family were seven . . .

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. . . children, and by her marriage to Mr. Pease their daughter Clara became the mother of two children, Sharon A. and Lola M.

         Mrs. Pease is a member of the Christian church, in which she is an active and helpful worker, while her husband is well known in fraternal circles, being identified with Wapello Lodge, No. 5, A.F. & A.M., of Wapello, and also with the Order of the Eastern Star. His political support is given to the republican party and he is active as a party leader in his community, having served as alderman of his ward for twelve years, in which capacity he has ever stood for all that is honorable in citizenship. For fourteen years he was chief of the fire department and thus in various phases of community life he has played an important and responsible part. In private life, in his public capacity and in the line of his profession his efforts have ever been for the development and betterment of the city, and few citizens are better known or held in higher esteem than he whose name introduces this review.