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George Lafayette Lovell
Born March 20, 1856 |
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Few positions in the world of affairs and business demand a greater executive capacity, a keener acumen in commercial matters and a healthy union of conservatism and progress than does that of president of a banking institution. These are the qualities possessed in high degree by George Lafayette Lovell, who, for more than three decades, has been connected with the financial interests of Monticello and for more than a third of that time has been the president of the Lovell State Bank.
He was born in Climax, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, March 20, 1856, and is a son of Dr. Lafayette W. and Catharine (Eldred) Lovell, who as children had gone to Michigan in the second quarter of the past century. The father was a native of Windham county, Vermont, and was descended from English and Welsh ancestors who were early settlers of New England, some of them being prominent in the affairs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their descendants have in turn followed the course of the history of this country, each playing his part in the life about him. In 1835, Dr. Lafayette W. Lovell came west with his parents, who located in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he grew to manhood and established himself as a physician. Besides achieving distinction in his profession he became prominent in county and state affairs, in which his influence was felt until his death, in 1896. His wife, Miss Catharine Eldred in her maidenhood, was a native of Otsego county, New York and a daughter of Judge Caleb Eldred, who had gone to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1832. The young people were united in marriage in 1848, together passing down life's highway until 1892, when Mrs. Lovell was called to her final rest.
George Lafayette Lovell was reared under the parental roof, obtaining his early education in the village schools of Climax, Michigan. Their course of instruction completed, he was enrolled as a student in Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan, and after spending two years there he went to Cornell University,, Ithaca, New York, at which he remained from 1873 to 1875. The winter of 1875-76 he devoted to study at Parsons Business College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, completing the prescribed course. He came to Monticello, Iowa, in March, 1876, and for the next few months acted as bookkeeper in the bank here and that in Strawberry Point. Early in 1878 he entered into partnership with G. W. Lovell, an uncle, under the firm name of G. W. & G. L. Lovell, and the two conducted a profitable banking business here for nineteen years, until 1897, when the death of the older man compelled a reorganization of the concern. It was then incorporated under the state laws as the Lovell State Bank and Mr. Lovell has since acted as its president. The sound financial policy which has characterized its existence, the stability of the investments in which its funds have been placed and its general safety as a repository for the moneys of others, these and many other things have won for it the confidence of the citizens and for its owner the highest respect.
On the 19th of December, 1878, in Olivet, Michigan, Mr. Lovell was joined in wedlock to Miss Fredrika M. Green, a native of Lancaster. Erie county, New York. Three children were born of the union: Grace, who is the wife of George L. Schoonover, of Anamosa, Iowa,; Lafayette W., who married Miss Lisle M. Richardson; and Catharine E. One of the pioneer bankers of the town, Mr. Lovell has added to that distinction the fact that his career has ever been marked by a high conception of honor and integrity.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 216. |
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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