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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Wahl Brothers

The firm of Wahl Brothers is one of the most prominent and best known, not only in Paton but in Greene county. They own and control a general mercantile enterprise and the extent and importance of their business would make their establishment a credit to a city of much larger size. The business was established about 1874 by Griflin & Thompson in the first store building erected in Paton, and after clerking in the store for a time W. H. Wahl purchased an interest in the business. The next change in the ownership led to the establishment of the firm of Wahl Brothers, the partners being Otto and W. H. Wahl. Another change and O. A. Wahl became proprietor, but later he sold out to W. H. Wahl and subsequently the present firm of Wahl Brothers was formed, with W. H. and George F. Wahl as partners. Under the control of the Wahl Brothers the business has fully merited the liberal patronge it has been accorded, for they have ever followed the most honorable methods, have put forth earnest effort to please their customers and have carried a large and attractive line of goods.

George F. Wahl was born on the 18th of October, 1878, in Paton, acquired a good common school education and eventually secured a clerkship in the store in which he now owns a half interest. He has since been connected with the business and in its control displays a spirit of enterprise and progress which is most commendable and which insures success. The firm handles dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, butter, poultry, eggs and cream, and their business has been developed along substantial lines, bringing to them a good financial return annually.

George F. Wahl has never married and makes his home with his parents. In politics he is a republican, but without aspiration for public oflice, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs.

William H. Wahl was born in Muscatine, Iowa, December 19, 1867, a son of Christian Wahl, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. During the period of his boyhood and youth he attended the common schools, wherein he acquired a good English education. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Paton, where he has since made his home. At the age of thirteen years he began clerking in a store and upon attaining his majority he engaged in business in connection with his brother Otto, who later sold his interest to his brother, George F. Wahl, so that through more than a quarter of a century Mr. Wahl has been identified with the mercantile interests of Iowa, and during this time has attained to a high degree of prosperity.

In 1900 William H. Wahl was united in marriage to Miss Ella Iang, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa. Their marriage has been blessed with an interesting little son, Harold. The parents are members of the German Evangelical church, while Mr. Wahl has served as mayor of Paton and as a member of the village council, while for the past eighteen years he has filled the oflice of township clerk, discharging the duties of these various oflicial positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. There is no citizen of Paton who is held in higher regard and esteem than William H. Wahl.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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