Adolph Priester Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. Surnames: Priester, Beuthien, Schlapp, Mixter. Various business interests have felt the stimulus of the cooperation and sound judgment of Adolph Priester, who through many years has been closely connected with commercial and financial interests in Davenport. Difficulties have seemed but to arouse in him renewed energy and determination and with progress as his watchword he has pushed steadily forward, making for himself an honorable and enviable position among Davenport's chief business representatives. He was born June 30, 1848, in Holstein, Germany, and came to this country in August, 1857, when a youth of nine years, in company with his parents, Carl and Elise (Beuthien) Preister. The father was the founder of the family in the new world. He had followed farming in Germany and after crossing the Atlantic to the United States he made his way into the interior of the country and invested in land in Scott county. With characteristic energy he then began the development of a farm and soon brought his fields under a high ! state of cultivation. Adolph Priester began his education in the schools of the fatherland and completed his course in the public schools of this country. He was reared to the occupation of farming and became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, but, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he turned his attention to merchandising, becoming active in the management of a dry-goods store in this city. He was afterward associated with a crockery company and later entered the Citizens National Bank, with which he was connected for twenty-eight years as teller and assistant cashier. While still engaged in the banking business he established an office for the conduct of an insurance business, representing the Germania Life Company, and following his retirement from the field of banking he was appointed state manager for the company, which he has thus represented to the present time. In this regard he controls an extensive insurance business annually, ca! refully devising plans for the furtherance of the interest of the company in this state. He is likewise a director of the Davenport Brewing Company and is a well known business man. On the 1st of December 1888, Mr. Priester was married to Miss Ida Koehler, a daughter of Henry and Ottilie (Schlapp) Koehler. Three children grace this marriage: Henry C., who has completed school and is now a private secretary to Mr. Mixter, superintendent of the Deere Plow Company; and Walter and Oscar C., who are yet students. Mr. Priester is well known in fraternal circles and in Masonry has attained the Knight Templar degree. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and his membership relations extend to the Turner Society and to the Commercial Club. He manifests in his life many of the strong and sterling characteristics of his German ancestry. Patriotism and progress might well be termed the keynote of his character, for these qualities have been manifest in every relation of his life, making him one of the valued citizens of Davenport as well as one of its representative business men. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES