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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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George W. Newton Perhaps, for his age, no man in Jasper County has accomplished more for the city of Newton than George W. Newton, a man whose sterling characteristics would bring him success in any walk of life, for nature seems to have combined in him those attributes of head and heart which, when properly controlled and directed, as they have evidently been done in his case, never fail of large results. Although young in years, Mr. Newton is widely known as the head of one of the best and most rapidly growing manufacturing institutions in the City of Newton. Mr. George W. Newton is the scion of a sterling ancestry, his birth having occurred on May 5, 1873 in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, and he is the son of Wallace and Laura J. (Shealds) Newton, both natives of Ohio and both now deceased. The father was by occupation a carpenter, coming from a long line of mechanics and artisans. George W. Newton is one of a family of three children, all living: Ambrosia married Oliver Sparks, the present mayor of Galena, Kansas, and the owner of the largest and best zinc mine in the country; Julia married Everett Wilkins, a farmer living near Fairview, Illinois; George W. is the eldest of the three. Mr. Newton began working for himself soon after the death of his mother. Coming to Livermore, Iowa, he took charge of a photograph gallery for a short time. Later, in response to an advertisement asking for a window trimmer, he came to Newton and entered the employment of the Iowa Mercantile Company, with which he remained one year, at the end of which time he entered the manufacturing business in a small way, turning out advertising specialties. At first he formed a partnership and the firm name was the Newton Manufacturing Company. This concern began, with little capital, to manufacture a number of small wood, metal and cardboard specialties, in a little back room, but having a good line and the tact to handle it properly, they were successful almost from the very beginning, and from time to time they were compelled to move into larger quarters. On January l, 1910, they incorporated for twenty-five thousand dollars and purchased their own building. Since then they have rented and now occupy another large building near their own building. They are manufacturing the largest and fastest selling advertising novelty in the United States, the Safety Magazine Match Safe, which little article is the direct outcome of the inventive genius of George W. Newton, of this review. He has also invented and designed a number of special machines for its accurate and rapid manufacture, in fact, it is to the pluck and energy of Mr. Newton that the company owes much of its phenomenal success and its widespread popularity, for he is by nature an organizer and promoter and is able to foresee with remarkable accuracy the future outcome of a present transaction, and he has made few mistakes as a business man. On June 20, 1902, Mr. Newton was married to Anna Grace Van Winegarden, daughter of William and Jacob Winegarden, natives of Holland, from which country they came to America in early life, and here Mrs. Newton was born. She received a good education and is a lady of many fine personal qualities, which makes her a favorite in the best social circles of her city. She is a member of a family of nine children, all of whom live within twenty miles of Newton; they are, Jennie married Scott Byers, a farmer near Sully; Anna Grace, wife of Mr. Newton; Mrs. Miller, wife of Fred Miller, a farmer of this county; John is farming near Galesburg; Eva lives with her parents near Sully; Carry married Walter Blackwood, a farmer near Newton; Walter, Emma and Rudolph are living at home. To Mr. and Mrs. Newton two children have been born, George Maxwell and Jacoba Lorene. Both Mr. and Mrs. Newton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Newton, and, fraternally, he belongs to the Yeomen. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a man of the highest standing in the community having the confidence and respect of all classes. Past and Present of Jasper
County Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company,
Indianapolis, IN, 1912, p. 441. |
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