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LAFLAR, Gordon Warren, of Manning, was born near Lewis, Cass county, Iowa, August 10, 1855. His father, William C. Laflar, was born at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, October 19, 1831, and removed with his parents when a boy to Lake county, Ind., where he lived for a number of years. When about 21 he came to Iowa, and August 27, 1854, was married at Des Moines to Margaret Powers. They removed to a farm southwest of Lewis, Cass county, where they resided for many years. In 1878 Mr. Laflar removed to Kansas but returned to Iowa in 1880, and in 1882 located in Manning, where he remained until 1891, when he removed to Hamilton, Wash., residing there until his death, February 17, 1899. Margaret Powers Laflar, the mother of Gordon W., was born at Mahon, Cape Breton Island, N. S., April 7, 1835, and removed to Lake county, Ind., when a child. There she remained during her early life and until nearly the time of her marriage to Mr. Laflar, when she came to Des Moines. She had two brothers in the war of the rebellion. The eldest, Thomas Powers, died after being in service for two years. The other, James K. Powers, was shot in the right arm at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, and lost his arm. After returning from the war, J. K. Powers became prominent in political circles and filled many responsible positions in Iowa. He was county clerk of Cass county for six years, from 1868 to 1874. He was appointed, by Gov. C. C. Carpenter, as a member of the state board of immigration. He was elected register of the state land office and served from 1878 to 1882. He was also chief clerk of the house of representatives during the Twenty-first General Assembly.

Gordon W. Laflar received his early education in the public schools of Cass county and remained upon the farm until 1882 when he moved to Manning and engaged in the insurance business. After four years' experience he entered the employ of the law, loan, real estate and insurance firm of Salinger & Brigham, with whom he remained for three years. He then formed a partnership with C. C. Coe and established the Free Press newspaper at Manning July 1, 1889. After one year's experience Mr. Coe retired from the firm and in September, 1890, Mr. Laflar sold the office and business to Martin Bros., of Webster City. Soon after this he bought the loan, real estate and insurance business of the firm of Lindsay, Salinger & Company. In March, 1891, he formed a partnership with J. H. Rockfellow, who bought an interest in the business, and the firm became Laflar & Rockfellow. In January, 1893, they purchased a general store at Orillia, Iowa, where Mr. Rockfellow resides.

In politics Mr. Laflar is a republican and has been an active worker for the cause. He was elected mayor of Manning in 1892. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the I. O. O. P., K. of P., and the Northwestern Legion of Honor. October 13, 1876, he was married to Miss Melessa H. Armstrong. They have had three children: Ida May, Alma Ethel, Artie E. Of these only the son is living.


From Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa, Leaders in Business, Politics and the Professions, Together with an Original and Authentic History of the State, by Ex-Lieutenant-Governor B. F. Gue. Des Moines: Conway & Shaw Publishers, 1899, pp. 233-234.