Who's Who in Iowa, 1940
Allamakee co. Biographies
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The Iowa Press Association's Who's Who in Iowa, a Biographical Record of Iowa's Leaders in Business, Professional and Public Life; Pub. by Iowa Press Association, Des Moines, Iowa; 1940Notes:
Unless another county is indicated, the biographies are from the Allamakee county section pgs 42-50. The others are the biographies of persons who were born or lived in Allamakee co., but in 1940 were living in other counties.
The biographies were transcribed by Diana Henry Diedrich & S. Ferrall
~*~*~Ralston, Samuel A.: Durggist; born Waukon, Iowa Dec 16, 1858; son of John Ralston & Isabella Archibald; educated rural schs; married Grace N. Myers May 20, 1897 at Lacona; son: Furman Paul; 1872-81 farmer with father, Allamakee Co.; 1881-89 owner opr photographic studio, Sioux Falls S.D., Albia, Prairie Du Chien Wis; 1889-93 in drug business, Indianola; 1893- owner & opr drug store, Lacona; past treas board of education several years; Iowa St. Retail Druggists Assn; Methodist Ch; Republican; hobby: photography; off & res Lacona. (Warren co., pg 1221)
Reher, E. Paul; Superintendent of Schools; born Langdon, N.D. June 6, 1915; son of Fred J. Reher & Mary A. Graber; educated Langdon N.D. HS 1932; State Teachers College, Valley City, N.D., BA 1937; U of N.D.; married Margaret I. Kvilvang June 6, 1938 Valley City, N.D.; 1934-35 school teacher, near Munich N.D; 1937-39 teacher, coach, band leader & supt. of schools, Absaraka, N.D.; 1939-40 supt. of schools & coach, Chaffee, N.D.; 1940- supt of schools, Waterville; past director County School League; member N.D. Teachers Assn; Iowa State Teachers Assoc. (ISTA); past member Chaffee N.D. Community Center; past scoutmaster Boy Scouts of American (BSA) troops & past scout 8 years, Valley City, N.D.; Methodist Church, Valley City, N.D.; Independent; hobbies: hunting, fishing, modeling woodwork; office School; residence Waterville.
Rellihan, John J.; Railroad Station Agent; born Lansing, Ia. Jan. 4, 1880; son of Michael Rellihan & Kathryn Brophy; educated Lansing 1896; married Minnie Lape Feb. 17, 1903 Lansing; son: Walter J.; daughter: Genevieve M. (Mrs M.B. Harshberger); 1896 employed in office of Allamakee Journal, Lansing; 1900 telegraph operator & relief agent CMStP&P RR, 1902 agent, Harpers Ferry, 1938- station agent, New Albin; Order of Railway Telegraphers (ORT); Veteran employees Assn; Modern Woodmen of America (MWA); Knights of Columbus (KC); St. Joseph Catholic Church; Republican; hobby: travel; office & residence New Albin.
Rethwisch, Peter E.; Owner & operator Lumber Co; b. Guttenberg, Ia. Apr. 13, 1881; son of William Rethwisch & Henriette Seippel; educated Guttenberg HS 1900; married Josephine Elskemp Sept. 14, 1904 Postosi, Wi; sons: Phillip W. & Bernard P.; daughters: Esther A. (Mrs. Herbert Stirn), Dorothy M. (Mrs. William Spinner) & Eleanor J. (Mrs. H.H. Terry); 1900-02 bookkeeper for Seippel Brothers Lumber Co., Glenhaven, Wi., 1902-21 manager, Potosi, Wi; 1921- owner & operator P.E. Rethwisch Lumber Co., Lansing; 1936- owner & operator lumber yard partner of 2 sons, Harpers Ferry; past member city council; Iowa Retail Lumbermen’s assn. of Des Moines; Allamakee Co. Lumberman’s Assn. of Minneapolis, Mn; Kiwanis, charter member, 1st president at Lansing; AF&AM #144; Federated Church; Republican; hobby: woodworking; office & residence Lansing.
Richter, George Belvel; Attorney; born Des Moines, Ia. July 5, 1899; son of George W. Richter & Margaret Belvel; educated Des Moines HS, 1917; U of Iowa, BA 1921, LLB 1923; Sigma Chi; Phi Delta Phi; Beta Gamma Sigma; married Lacy L. Bell Aug. 14, 1934 Cedar Rapids; son: George Bell; by previous marriage daughter Jean Belvel; 1923- practiced law, Waukon; attorney for CM&StP&P RR; 1929-32 Allamakee Co. attorney; member Waukon School Board; during World War enlisted July 1918 Fort Sheridan Camp Perry, Ohio, commissoned 2nd Lieut., discharged Jan 1919; American Legion post #62; Iowa State, District & Allamakee Co. Bar Assns; Waukon Golf club, charter member; Knights of Pythias (KP); AF&AM; Republican, delegate to convention in Philadelphia 1940; hobbies: travel & golf; office & residence Waukon.
Rickansrud, Torlief M.; Superintendent of Schools; born Waukon, Ia. Feb. 26, 1899; son of Engebret T. Rickansrud & Clara M. Anderson; educated Allamakee Co.; Luther College Prep. Dept, Decorah; Luther College, BA 1922; Iowa St. College, MSc; married Martha C. Bidne Nov. 15, 1922 Decorah; sons: Eugene B. & David A.; 1922-23 HS prin. Munich N.D. & dir community choir; 1923-25 supt. of schools, director city band & baseball coach, Omemee, N.D.; 1925-29 supt of schools, Rolla, N.D. 1929- supt. of schools & director school band, Lansing; during World War member Student Army Training Corps (SATC) at Luther college; American Legion post #50; Allamakee co. Schoolmasters Assn, past president; Iowa St. College Alumni Assn., Allamakee co. chairman, National Education Assoc. (NEA); Kiwanis; AF&AM #144; Lutheran Church; Republican; office & residence Lansing.
Riser, Frank A.; Attorney; born Lansing, Ia. Sept. 14, 1905; son of Charles C. Riser & Sena Larson; educated Allamakee Co.; U of Iowa, LLB 1929; Delta Theta Phi; married Cornelia M. Hurn May 16, 1932 Freeport, Il; daughters: Florence I. & Sena E.; 1929-31 practiced law, Waukon. 1931- Lansing; 1937- mayor Lansing; 1937 city attorney, Lansing; chairman Mount Hosmier Memorial park board; AF&AM #144; Republican; hobbies: farming & dogs; office & residence Lansing.
Roberts, Harvey E.; Grain & Seed Dealer; born Postville, Ia. Dec. 2, 1871; son of Hall Roberts & Maria Easton; educated Postville HS; Grinnell College 1893; married Florence Marston Jan. 3, 1924 Waterloo; sons: Hall & :Frank; daughter Nancy; 1894-1916 partner of father in Hall Roberts Elevator, Postville, 1916- owner & operator; Commercial. Club, past president; Comm. Presby church, SS teacher & trustee; Republican; hobbies: home & children, reading; office & residence Postville.
Roe, Ove T.; Farmer & Dairyman; born Allamakee Co., Ia Sept. 4, 1887; son of Tolet Roe & Anna Tronson; educated Allamakee Co.; Upper Iowa U. Fayette; married Emma Kolsrud – Paint Creek twp; sons: Thomas S., Melvin I., Kenneth A. & Willard G; daughter: Doris V.; 1908-11 farmer; 1911-19 partner of brother A.H. on father's farm; 1911- partner of brother A.H. in general merchandise store, Elon, -- owner; 1919 - farmer & dairyman, near Waukon; president Paint Creek Twp Farmers' Tele. Co.; director Waukon Creamery; past chairman, past president & past director school board; past director Allamakee co. Fair Board; member House of Representatives in 44th, 45th, 45th Extra, 46th, 46th Extra & 47th general assemblies, one of legislators who chart course of tax bills in house, while in debate in house keeps weekl articles in local papers; one of 1st strip farming experimenters under Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA); member, Widllife Assn. of Allamakee Co., past committee membr; Allamakee CCo. Farm Bureau, past treasurer; Lutheran church board member; Democrat, 1940 delegate to state convention, Des Moines, named presidential elector from 4th congressional district; hobbies: fishing, travel, wildlife, strip farming; wife is daughter of Solve Kolsrud & Christina Ekkedahl; educated aterville, clerk in store prior to marriage, treas. school board, member Lutheran church ladies aid, hobbies: family, gardening; residence Waukon.
Roggensack, Edward J.; Monument Dealer; b. Lansing, Iowa Dec 12, 1873; son of Martin Roggensack & Mary Hartong; educated Lansing; m. Alma M. Simmon*, 1893 Lansing; sons: Delbert D., Norbert E., Keith A., Rolland R. & Horace K.; daughter: Delinda M.; 1891-93 marble cutter, Lansing; 1893-95 granite cutter, Wis.; 1895-1921 owner & operator Marble Works, Lansing; 1921- owner & operator Roggensack Marble Works, Waukon; past member school board, Waukon; past member city council, National & Iowa State Monument Associations; past member Modern Woodmen of America (MWA); AF&AM; Presbyterian church; Republican; hobbies: travel, reading; office & residence Waukon.
Roggensack, Herman Frederick.: Monument Dealer; born Lansing, Iowa Apr 23, 1877; son of Martin Theodore Roggensack & Mary Hartong; educated rural schs 1896; married Edith Gee Mar 31, 1904 Lansing; 1898-1909 learned marble trade, Lansing; 1908- monument dir, West Union; 1926-34 mbr city council, alderman; West Union Citizens Club; Presby Ch; Republican; hobby: travel; off & res West Union. (Fayette co., pg 443)
Roggensack, Horace Kenneth: Attorney; born Lansing, Iowa June 11, 1910; son of Edward John Roggensack & Alma Simon*; educated Waukon HS 1928; Waukon Jr Coll 1930; U of Iowa, BA 1932, JD 1934; Pi Kappa Alpha, past steward; married Helen Florence Lenth June 30, 1936 Elkader; 1934- prac law, Elkader; 1938- Clayton Co atty; Clayton Co & Iowa St Bar Assns; Comml Club, past secy; AF&AM 72, master; Evangelical Ch, bd mbr, choir mbr, SS tchr; Republican, 1936 chmn Clayton Co Rep vols; hobbies: fishing & gardening; off & res Elkader. (Clayton co., pg 299)
Roggensack, Norbert E.; Monument Dealer; b. Lansing, Iowa Nov. 14, 1900; son of Edward J. Roggensack & Alma M. Simmons*; educated Lansing HS; Iowa State College 2 years; Bliss Monument School, Rockford, Ill; Pi Kappa Alpha; m. Veral Keiser Nov 17, 1928 Waukon; son: Richard J.; 1923- monument dealer Waukon; city engineer; asst. Allamakee Co. engineer; ast pres. Drum Corps of Waukon; Kiwanis, past director; charter member Waukon Golf Club; AF&AM; Scot Rite 32º; Presbyterian church; Republican; hobbies: hunting, baseball, tennis; office & residence Waukon.
*Note re: Roggensack biographies: The maiden name of Alma, w/o Edward and mother of Horace & Norbert, was typed exactly as in the book. Researchers should independently verify if her maiden name is Simmon, Simon or Simmons.
Rominger, Clark Rudolph: Physician & Surgeon; born Waukon, Iowa Feb 6, 1912; son of Dr. Clark Wilson Rominger & Florence Long; educated Waukon HS 1928; Waukon Jr Coll 1928-30; U of Rochester 1930-31; U of Iowa, MD 1936; Phi Beta Pi; married Alice Henretta Jensen Dec 30, 1938 Valley Neb.; daughter: Judith Ann; 1936-37 interne Neb Meth Hosp, Omaha Neb; 1937- prac med with Drs George Kessel & W.A. Bockhoven, Crescop 1940 city health ofcr; Howard Co & Iowa St Med Socs; Amerian Medical Assoc.; Kiwanis; AF&AM, Waukon; Congregational Ch; Republican; hobby: gardening; off 204½ N. Elm; res 320 8th Ave W, Cresco. (Howard co., pg 571)
Rominger, Clark Wilson; Physician; b. West Salem, Ill. Oct 19, 1880; son of Rudolph F. Rominger & Clara M. Schaefer; educated West Salem, Ill. HS; prep college Dixon, Ill Business College; Valparaiso Medical School, Chicago, Ill, MD 1907; Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery; grad work Chicago Eye & Ear Dispensary; 1912 grad work Chicago Lying In Hosp.; Phi Delta; Theta Kappa Psi; 1907-08 interne Frances Willard National Temperance Hosp.; 1909-12 worked in health dept. Chicago, Ill., school of inspection & quarantine work; 1921- pract. medicine, Waukon, 1st with Dr. Svebakken, now with Dr. Jeffries in Rominger & Jeffries Hosp., Waukon; surgeon of CM & StP RR; farmer; past director school board, Waukon; during World War on medical reserve, now examiner for war veterans; Allamakee Co. & Iowa State Medical Societies; Allamakee co. Farm Bureau; Kiwanis, past president and charter member; AF&AM; Scot Rite 32º; York Rite, Dubuque; past Shrine; Presbyterian church, elder; Independent; hobby: farming; office 2 Clinton, residence 202 Lincoln, Waukon.