Cowles, George W.
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Cowles, George W.
| Celia Davis (View posts) | Posted: 22 May 2000 12:00PM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Surnames: Cowles, Howe, Spalding
from reprint of Clarke Co. History, Lewis Pub., Chicago, 1886. p. 18
GEORGE H. COWLES, one of the oldest bankers in Clarke County, and a respected and influential citizen of Osceola, is a native of the State of Iowa, born in Van Buren County, February 20, 1848. He is the only son of Chester W. and Martha W. (Howe) Cowles, his father a native of Amherst, and his mother of Enfield, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1838 his father came to Iowa and located in Bentonport, Van Buren County, where he still lives, aged seventy-eight years, his wife being sixty-two years old. George H. Cowles was reared and educated in his native county. After leaving school he was employed in the store of H.F. Grief & Bro., four years.
In 1869 he removed to Osceola and began business for himself, and soon after became associated with AHH. Burrows in a private banking business. Four years later Mr. Cowles purchased his partners interest and continued the business alone thirteen years. February 8, 1886, he was one of the organizers of the Osceola Bank, of which he is a director, and was chosen its vice-president. In addition to his banking interests he owns and superintends a farm of 1,240 acres in Jackson Township, Lucas County. He has 125 head of horses, having a number of high-grade imported Normans. Mr. Cowles was married in 1871 to Miss Alice Spalding, of Osceola. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity.
GEORGE H. COWLES, one of the oldest bankers in Clarke County, and a respected and influential citizen of Osceola, is a native of the State of Iowa, born in Van Buren County, February 20, 1848. He is the only son of Chester W. and Martha W. (Howe) Cowles, his father a native of Amherst, and his mother of Enfield, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1838 his father came to Iowa and located in Bentonport, Van Buren County, where he still lives, aged seventy-eight years, his wife being sixty-two years old. George H. Cowles was reared and educated in his native county. After leaving school he was employed in the store of H.F. Grief & Bro., four years.
In 1869 he removed to Osceola and began business for himself, and soon after became associated with AHH. Burrows in a private banking business. Four years later Mr. Cowles purchased his partners interest and continued the business alone thirteen years. February 8, 1886, he was one of the organizers of the Osceola Bank, of which he is a director, and was chosen its vice-president. In addition to his banking interests he owns and superintends a farm of 1,240 acres in Jackson Township, Lucas County. He has 125 head of horses, having a number of high-grade imported Normans. Mr. Cowles was married in 1871 to Miss Alice Spalding, of Osceola. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity.