GLASSEL, E. M.

GLASSEL, URBATSCH, HASSE, GRAPER

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/17/2006 at 09:43:38

E. M. Glassel, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Farmers Creamery of Graf ton, was born at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, on the 13th of December, 1866, a son of John and Julia (Urbatsch) Glassel, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to the United States in childhood with their respective parents, who settled in Wisconsin, where the young people were reared and married. About 1870 or 1871 a removal was made to Mitchell county, Iowa, where John Glassel engaged in farming until the time of his retirement from active business life. He then took up his abode in West Mitchell, where he now makes his home. His wife, however, passed away about three years after their arrival in Iowa.

E. M. Glassel was educated in the district schools and in the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, thus receiving liberal opportunities to acquire an education that well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. When he reached the age of twenty-three years he began farming on his own account and his previous experience in assisting his father now proved of great value to him. For two years he farmed as a renter in Mitchell county and in 1891 he came to Worth county, buying one hundred and twenty acres of farm land in Union township, on which he resided for twenty-seven years. As time passed on he carefully continued the cultivation of his fields, which he converted into a very rich and productive tract of land, annually gathering there from abundant harvests. In 1917 he became one of the dominant factors in the organization of the Farmers Creamery Company at Grafton and in the building of the plant. This is one of the finest and most modern creameries in Worth county. Upon the organization of the company Mr. Glassel was made secretary, treasurer and. manager and has since been active in control of the business. The work of operating the creamery was formally instituted in September, 1917, and through the intervening months a successful business has been built up that is constantly growing. For twelve years Mr. Glassel has also been connected with the Farmers Incorporated Cooperative Society, which operates a grain elevator and deals in live stock, coal, lime, cement, drain tile, posts, etc. Of this concern he is the secretary.

In 1889 Mr. Glassel was united in marriage to Miss Emma Hasse, of Mitchell county, by whom he has three children, namely: George, who follow farming in Mitchell county; Alice, the wife of Wesley Graper, who is an agriculturist residing in Union township, Worth county; and Roy, who operate his father's farm.

In politics Mr. Glassel is a democrat and has served as township assessor for ten years and for several years as a director of the school board. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and contribute generously to its support. They are much interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community and its substantial upbuilding and Mr. Glassel has for a long period been identified with its agricultural and commercial interests, his business affairs being wisely, carefully and successfully conducted.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 623.