Person:George Call (5)

From 1904 memoirs written by George and his brothers. George C. Call, the third son of Asa C. Call and Sarah Call, was born September 24th, 1860, at Algona. He entered active business life when he took charge of a stock of goods for his father, at Swan Lake, in Emmet County, in 1877. In 1882 he entered the real estate business in Algona, which he conducted many years, and in 1898 was the second heaviest resident land owner in the county. For several years he had been urging the Iowa Central officials to extend their Belmond branch to Algona, and in 1898, after an interview with the president and board of directors of the road, he obtained their agreement to build the extension provided certain subsidies were granted along the line. The fall of 1898 was put in in working up these subsidies, and on February 14th, 1899, the board set aside the money to build the line, which was completed to Algona the fall of that year. Mr. Call in return for his services was allowed to locate the towns of St. Benedict and Kanawha, which he platted in that year. In banking circles Mr. Call obtained a prominent position in the county, and when he sold out his interest preparatory to leaving Algona, he was president of the County Savings Bank of Algona, President of the Peoples' Savings Bank of St. Benedict, vice-president of the First National Bank of Swea City, and a director in the First National Bank of Burt, being a charter member in all these institutions and one of the leading spirits in their organizations. Besides this he was a stockholder in the Farmers' and Traders' bank of Bancroft, the First National Bank of Wesley, and the State Savings Bank of Kanawha. In 1901 he founded the Algona Advance, erecting the brick building which is its present home. In politics Mr. Call has always been a republican, and has taken an active part. In 1889 he was elected mayor of Algona, being the youngest man who has filled that chair. In 1896 he was a delegate to the national convention in St. Louis which nominated McKinley for his first term, and was secretary of the Iowa delegation. In 1894 he married Alice E. Spear of Algona and the family is blest with two children, George R. born May 22nd, 1898, and Helen E., born March 19th, 1903. Mr. call removed to Sioux City in 1902, where he is engaged along the same lines of work that kept him active in his old home. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of that city, which is one of the large banks of the state, and is occupied in caring for his varied interests.

1. ↑ John R. Call. Call Family Tree.
2. ↑ John R. Call. Call Family Tree.