Albert L. ACKERLEY, one of the most prominent figures in the financial circles of Decatur county, is president of the Exchange National Bank of Leon and president of the First National Bank of Grand River, this [Decatur] county. His birth occurred in Fayette township on the 8th of March, 1872, and he is a son of Samuel and Charlotte (WEST) ACKERLEY, both natives of England, the former born in Manchester and the latter near London. As a young man the father emigrated to America and was married in Philadelphia to Miss WEST, who had cross the ocean to the United States on the same ship. He followed railroading for some time, being in the freight department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, but after coming to Decatur county in 1871 he gave his attention to farming one hundred and twenty acres of land in Fayette township, which he owned, until he removed to Lamoni. He passed away there when seventy-five years of age, but his widow is still living at the age of eighty-three years and makes her home with our subject at Leon. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel ACKERLEY were the parents of the following children aside from our subject: J. E., of Grand River, this county; E. W. of Kidder, Missouri; Mrs. John HEROLD, of Shenandoah, Iowa; and Mrs. J. W. PETERSON, of Alberta, Canada.

Albert L. ACKERLEY was reared upon the home farm in Fayette township and attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. When but seventeen years of age he started out on his own account and for two years farmed and worked at the printing trade. He then turned his attention to real estate and in 1895 started a private bank at Beaconsfield, Ringgold county, which he sold out four years later, purchasing the bank at Grand River. In 1900 he organized the State Savings Bank, which has now become the First National Bank of Grand River, and since 1913 he has served as president of that institution. In September, 1908, he and E. G. MONROE, then county treasurer, purchased a controlling interest in the Exchange National Bank of Leon. Mr. ACKERLEY was for some time treasurer of the institution, was later made vice president and for the past three years has served as president, while Mr. MONROE has been cashier. Mr. ACKERLEY understands the banking business thoroughly both as to routine work and as to the great principles of finance that underlie successful banking and the Exchange National Bank of Leon and the First National Bank of Grand River have prospered to a marked degree since he has directed their policies. He is also interested in a bank at Keokuk and in connection with W. H. SHIELDS laid out an addition to that city. They have handled a number of large tracts of land are excellent real-estate men.

On his twenty-first birthday Mr. ACKERLEY was united in marriage at Lamoni to Miss Lois WALKER, who was born in Nevada but was taken by her parents to Illinois when but two years of age, while the following year the family located in Decatur county, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. She is a graduate of the Lamoni high school and was at one time assistant postmaster of that place. Her father, who was a well known farmer, passed away a number of years ago, but her mother, Mrs. M. WALKER, is still residing in Lamoni. She has one sister, a widow, Mrs. Frances DAVIS, who is teaching in the Lamoni high school. Mr. and Mrs. ACKERLEY have four children: Delos, twenty-one years of age, who is now a sophomore in the State University of Iowa at Iowa City; Leland G., eighteen years of age, who is a freshman in that institution; Lois Alberta, who is a student in the Leon high school; and Homer M., attending the common schools.

Mr. ACKERLEY is a republican and is not only stalwart in his support of the party at the polls, but is also an energetic worker in the ranks. At one time he was his party’s candidate for county treasurer. Fraternally he holds membership in the Masonic order. He possesses much astuteness and is able to readily determine the value of a proposition, which faculty has been of great value to him in his work as a banker, as it has enabled him to at once promote the legitimate business expansion of his community and at the same time to safeguard the interests of the depositors and stockholders in the banks with which he is connected in an official capacity. He is respected not only for his ability but also for his unquestioned integrity and uprightness.

SOURCES:
HOWELL, J. M. & CONOMAN, Heman. History of Decatur County, Iowa, and Its People Vol. II. Pp. 152-53. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1915.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2009