The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
A. F. ANDERSEN.
A. F. Andersen is the cashier of the Commercial State Bank, at Mediapolis, and is well established as one of the progressive and representative business men of the town. With the exception of the first ten years of his life, he has always been a resident of Iowa. He was born in Denmark, in 1878, and in 1888 arrived in Avoca. He crossed the Atlantic and made the journey from New York to Iowa, where he joined an uncle. He afterward attended school, and later had the benefit of instruction in a commercial college at Des Moines, thus qualifying for the duties and responsibilities of business life.
In 1903 Mr. /\ndersen aided in organizing the Bentley Savings Bank at Bentley, Iowa, of which he was made cashier, and was prac- tically the manager of the bank during the early years of its existence. In 1907 he came to Mediapolis to accept the position of assistant cashier of the Citizens' State Bank, in which capacity he continued for two years. He then went to Adams, Nebraska, where he was cashier of the Farmers' State Bank for more than a year. Upon the organization of the Commercial State Bank of Mediapolis, he returned to become cashier in the new institution. He is also presi- dent of the Sperry Savings Bank, which was organized about the same time as the Commercial State Bank. The two banks are owned by the same stockholders, numbering about one hundred and fifty men, all of whom are farmers and business men living in this imme- diate vicinity. The combined deposits of the two banks are over three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The two institutions were organized in 191 1 and have enjoyed a profitable existence since that time. The growth of the business is indicated in the fact that the deposits have increased more than forty thousand dollars in the last year. The capital stock of the Commercial State Bank is fifty thousand dollars, its surplus three thousand dollars and its deposits two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The capital stock of the Sperry Savings Bank is twelve thousand dollars and its deposits amount to ninety thousand dollars. In addition to his other inter- ests, Mr. Andersen has a good farm in Yellow Springs township.
He acted as the first postmaster at Bentley, Iowa, and also engaged in the mercantile and banking business there.
In 1908 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Andersen and Miss Laura Rudiger, a native of Pottawattamie county, Iowa, who was assistant in the bank at one time. To them have been born three children, Eugene, Paul Arthur and Dorothy Lucille.
In his political views Mr. Andersen is a republican, but has never sought nor desired political office. He has served, however, as school treasurer and is interested in all plans and measures for the upbuilding and benefit of the community in which he makes his home. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, and the Woodmen, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. His life has ever been guided by prin- ciples that everywhere command respect. There is no esoteric phase in his entire career. He has worked his way steadily upward by determined purpose and indefatigable energy, prompted by laudable ambition, and to those who know him his name has become a syno- nym for business integrity, as well as progressiveness.
Source: History of Des Moines County, Iowa, vol 2. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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