Anton T. Nierling
Anton T. Nierling
Signal ability, energy and steadfast purpose have formed the
watchwords in the life of Anton T. Nierling, who stands as a
central figure in financial circles of Allamakee county through
his connection with many important banking in the business world,
being today cashier of the First National Bank of Waukon and
identified also with various other financial and commercial
concerns.
He was born in French Creek township, February 8, 1872, and is a
son of Anton Nierling, born in Germany on the river Rhine in
1826. The father came to America when he was a young man after
having served three years in the German army and after his
arrival came immediately to Iowa, locating in Lansing about 1849,
where he lived for three years, after which he settled on Lansing
Ridge, coming two years later to French Creek township. He was a
miller by trade and followed that occupation in his native
country for several years, but he abandoned it after settling in
Iowa, giving all of his attention to the clearing and improving
of his two hundred and sixty acres of wild land. He married in
Lansing Miss Mary Buck, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and they
became the parents of a large family of children. The father
never left the homestead, which he developed, dying upon his farm
in 1888, when he was sixty-two years of age. His wife survived
him for a number of years, passing away in 1902.
Anton T. Nierling was reared upon the home farm and from his
early childhood assisted in carrying on the work of the
homestead. He acquired his primary education in the district
schools and later completed his studies at the Breckinridge
School at Decorah. After laying aside his books he engaged in
teaching in Allamakee county but after two years entered the
Bayless Business College at Dubuque, from which he graduated,
receiving a thorough business training. When he had completed it
he formed a partnership with Otto J. Hager and aided in the
organization of the First National Bank of Waukon, an institution
founded with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, which has
recently been increased to one hundred thousand dollars. Mr.
Nierling first took the position of bookkeeper and assistant
cashier, but for the past ten years has been cashier, serving
ably and efficiently in the discharge of his duties. In this
connection his excellent business and executive ability have been
called forth and the success of the institution is in large
measure due to him. As the years have passed Mr. Nierling has
extended the field of his activities and is now connected with a
great many important financial concerns, being president of the
New Albin Savings Bank, a director in the Waterville Savings Bank
and in the Dorchester Savings Bank. From the time of its
organization in 1903 to January 1913, he was a director and
manager of the Farmers Stock & Produce Company, which he
aided in organizing and promoting and of which he served as
treasurer. The object of the organization is purely for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining a good stock market for
Waukon, which object it accomplished during the time of his ten
years' management, to January 1, 1913. In Waukon he is known as a
man of resourceful and discriminating business ability, basing a
distinct success in the world of finance upon an exhaustive
knowledge of his business and upon the aggressiveness, energy and
enterprise which makes this knowledge effective in financial
circles.
Mr. Nierling married, February 3, 1896, Miss Winifred Taylor, who
was born and reared in Waukon, a daughter of G. W. Taylor, a
pioneer in the settlement of Allamakee county and a veteran of
the Civil war, now a well known resident of Waukon, where he is
living retired in the eightieth year of his age. Mr. And Mrs.
Nierling became the parents of three children, Gertrude, Shirley
and Paul A.
Since casting his first vote Mr. Nierling has been a member of
the republican party but has never aspired to public office,
although he served in a creditable and able manner as city
treasurer and also as school treasurer. He has also the honor of
serving as trustee of Upper Iowa University. He is a member of
the Masonic order, holding membership in the Waukon blue lodge,
in the chapter and in Decorah commandery. In both the lodge and
chapter he has served in a number of official positions and he is
also well known in the affairs of the Knights of Pythias, of
which he is now vice chancellor. He and his wife are members of
the Rathbone Sisters Lodge, O.E.S. Mr. Nierling is undoubtedly
one of Waukon's most representative and successful men and his
citizenship is of that loyal and public-spirited kind which
evidences itself in far-sighted and constructive work in the
public service. No movement which has for its object the
betterment of municipal conditions or improvement of the city
along any line lacks his cooperation and hearty support and he is
especially interested in the work of the committee on public
improvements and paving, of which he is now acting as chairman. A
man of broad and modern views and high ideals, he is leaving the
impress of his work and personality upon the city both along
lines of material welfare and upbuilding and in standards of
citizenship, and his name is respected and esteemed wherever it
is known.
-transcribed by Jan Miller