Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Browne, Andrew R. The enterprising little city of Alta finds a worthy and progressive representative in A. R. Browne, who for twenty-one years has been connected with the First National Bank and is now its cashier and manager. His business integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career and he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen and all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. He was born in Buena Vista county, August 8, 1871. His father, Frederic B. Browne, was a native of Canada, born March 25, 1843, and was a son of Frederic B. Browne, Sr., a native of England, who in early life crossed the Atlantic to Canada. He later removed to Buffalo, New York, and afterward to Wisconsin, settling near Oconomowoc, where he spent his last years. His son and namesake was reared to manhood in that state and was married to Miss Hannah Russell, a native of Vermont and of Scotch lineage. After the outbreak of the Civil war Frederic B. Browne, Jr., enlisted for service in the Union army and joined the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. On the expiration of the first term he veteranized and remained at the front throughout the entire period of hostilities, covering four years. He was prooted from the ranks and commissioned second lieutenant in recognition of his meritorious conduct on the field of battle. After the war he was honorably discharged and returned home with a creditable military record, continuing his residence in Wisconsin until 1869, when he removed to Buena Vista county, Iowa. This section of the state was then largely unsettled and unimproved, and from the government he entered a homestead claim in Coon township. He then broke the sod, planted his crops and in the course of time opened up a good farm which he continued to cultivate for several years. He afterward removed to Sioux Rapids and in 1877 became a resident of Storm Lake, in which year the county seat was located there. In 1881 he came to Alta and for a number of years was cashier of the bank here, continuing thys in active connection with the financial interests of the town until his death. He was a well known business man and his enterprise and energy led him to success.

A. R. Browne was largely reared and educated in Alta and when but sixteen years of age took a position in the bank, where he served in various capacities, winning successive promotions as he demonstrated his ability and thorough knowledge of the duties entrusted to him. His identification with the bank covers a period of twenty-one years, and since 1896 he has been its cashier. On a reorganization of the bank, under the name of the First National Bank of Alta, in 1904, he became one of its stockholders and directors and continued his duties as cashier and manager. The institution now is practically under his control and the community recognizes in him a save conservative banker, whose business methods are reliable and who recognizes fully the obligations that devolve upon him as the custodian of the funds of others.

Mr. Browne was married in Alta, December 4, 1893, to Miss Dora Johannessen who was born in Iowa, and was reared in Alta. There are two daughters of this marriage, Florence B. and Mildred. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Browne is serving as one of its trustees and its treasurer. They are both interested in the church work and are associated with many of the church activities.

Mr. Browne is a Master Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He has been a supporter of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he is now serving as a member of the city council and acting as chairman of the heat and light plant. He is a broad-minded man, whose breadth of view recognizes, not only possibilities for his own advancement, but for the city's development as well, and his patriotism prompts him to utilize the latter as quickly and as effectively as the former.