Edwin Cleophas

Edwin Cleophas has been a resident of Kensett since 1874, although he has been away from the city between that year and 1907. He began his active career in the mercantile business and continued along that line in Kensett for some time, but from 1892 to 1901 was in Salt Lake City, whence he went to Chicago, where he remained until 1907, when he returned to Kensett. Here he became connected with banking interests and since 1913 has occupied the position of cashier of the Bank of Kensett. He is a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, born June 23, 1849, a son of Cleophas Halvorsen and Carrie Cleophas, both of whom were natives of Hallingdal, Norway, where they were reared, educated and married. The father was a boatman, engaged in carrying passengers and merchandise. He came to the United States in 1843 on one of the old-time sailing vessels, which was eight weeks in making the voyage to New York. He proceeded westward by way of the canal to Buffalo and on the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and during the succeeding winter he was located at Lake Koshkonong, in Dane county. He then traveled by wagon to Rock county and took up his abode in Newark township, where he secured government land. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with characteristic energy he began its development, at first erecting a log house, in order to have shelter for his family. Upon that place he remained until his death, and his labors converted the tract of wild land into a valuable and productive farm. He died in 1901 at the age of eighty-eight and a half years, having survived his wife, who had departed this life in 1894. They were both consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Cleophas gave his political support to the republican party.

Edwin Cleophas spent his boyhood days in Rock county, Wisconsin, and, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools, continued his education in Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin. At a subsequent date he and his brother, Cleophas Cleophas, removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, taking up their abode on Highland prairie, where they cultivated land for two years, and later they spent one year in Minnehaha county, South Dakota. . In the fall of 1874 they arrived at Kensett, Worth county, Iowa, where Edwin Cleophas engaged in the conduct of a general mercantile store until 1892. He then sold the business and removed to Salt Lake City, where he remained until 1901. In that year he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he continued until 1907, when he returned to Kensett and in 1913 accepted the position of cashier of the Kensett Bank, in which capacity he has since served. He and his brother established this bank in 1888, and the brother, Knute Cleophas, was the controlling spirit in the bank when it was first started and remained at the head of the institution until his death, which occurred in 1911. The present officers of the bank are: G. N. Haugen, president; C. Cleophas, vice president; Edwin Cleophas, cashier; and George C. Cleophas, assistant cashier. Mr. Haugen is a resident of Northwood, while the Cleophas brothers make their home in Kensett.

In 1882 Edwin Cleophas was united in marriage to Miss Kirsti Nerby, a daughter of Bryjulf Nerby, who was a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Cleophas were married on her father's farm, south of Kensett, and they have become the parents of two children, Gertrude C. and Cornelia B. Gertrude Cleophas is a pianist of extraordinary temperament and power, and an artist of rare musical intelligence. She is not only widely known in Iowa but in various parts of America. Not only is her playing characterized by virtuosity, tonal refinement, and variety, but by unusual poetic insight as well. Miss Cleophas received her artistic training from Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler, the eminent pianist, and the late Theodore Leschetizky, the world famous pedagogue, both of whom predicted for her a brilliant career. During her five years under Leschetizky, she appeared very successfully in concerts, gaining the highest praise. The Berliner Morgenpost said of her: "A clever and well schooled pianist is Gertrude Cleophas, who also possesses the musical insight which gives to her hearers the true inward significance of the composition she essays." The British and American Post, Vienna, wrote: "At the last Leschetizky class, the MacDowell concerto was splendidly played by Miss Cleophas when the Master Leschetizky sat back and gave expression to his satisfaction by nods of the head and a loud 'Bravo' at the close." Caryl E. Storrs in the Minneapolis Tribune wrote: " * * * In response to the widely varied demands of this program, Miss Cleophas proved herself an artist of rarely inclusive appreciation as well as a past mistress of virtuosic technic. Her Mozart reading was as simple, true and clear as the best interpretation of this ingenuous composer requires. Her Chopin, though forceful and scholarly, was supremely poetic. Her Brahms was deeply beautiful as well as redolent of true sentiment. Her Leschetizky showed the intelligent devotion of a pupil to her teacher." Mr. Kreis in the St. Paul Volkszeitung says: " * * * The artist, free from all mannerisms and virtuosity-tricks, had her hearers with her immediately from the opening number. * * * The young lady has at her disposal an unusual technic, her touch is accurate, the fine shading, from the most delicate pianissimo to the most powerful forte, show excellent understanding and deepest feeling." The. Chicago Music News says: "Miss Cleophas possesses that technical mastery which contributes to the authoritative style of her playing, Brilliancy and fine tonal effects characterize her playing, which was made impressive by her fine musical insight." Miss Cleophas makes her headquarters at Minneapolis.

Cornelia B., the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Cleophas, married Ignatius Bjorlee, of New York, who was born in Northwood, Iowa, and is a professor in the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. His wife, like her sister, is a highly talented artist, being a master on the violin. She has often appeared before the public and has universally received the greatest homage and admiration. She was a pupil of Sercek, the world famous violin pedagogue of Vienna, Austria.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cleophas are consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an active and helpful interest in its work. As evidence of the patriotic spirit of the family, it may be cited that Mrs. Cleophas was the first lady in Kensett to invest in liberty bonds, thereby demonstrating her full accord with the course our government has rightfully taken. Mr. Cleophas is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Northwood, while his political support is given to the republican party. He is held in high esteem by all who know him and he has long been a prominent factor in the business development and substantial growth of his section of the state, where he first took up his abode in the fall of 1874, and save for the period spent in Salt Lake City and in Chicago, has resided continuously since. He is deeply interested in the welfare and progress of his community and his cooperation can ever be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 262-265

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 5, 2006

Edwin Cleophas and Family