LEWIS DEKLOTZ,
a prominent banker of Newhall, Iowa, was born in Cedar county, Iowa,
March 19, 1862, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Fetter) Deklotz,
who are mentioned at length elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Deklotz received his early education in the public schools of
Benton county, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm. He later
attended Tilford Academy at Vinton five terms and taught school four
winters, two in St. Clair township and two in Florence township,
spending the summers in farming for himself. The year 1885-6 he spent
in Pocahontas county, Iowa, where he owned a piece of land which he
afterward sold, and, returning to Benton county, carried on his
father's farm. In the fall of 1888 Mr. Deklotz bought one hundred and
sixty acres of land in Eldorado township, which he cultivated until
May, 1904, at which time he accepted the position of cashier of the
Newhall Savings Bank, which position he still fills, residing on his
farm. He has proven himself a good business manager and banker, and in
1905 he purchased an additional eighty acres of land, which he looks
after in addition to his other duties. The bank was organized in 1894,
with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars, and fifteen years later had
acquired a surplus of fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Deklotz has been a
director in the bank since its organization. This institution has won
the confidence and patronage of the most prosperous men of the
community, and does a constantly increasing business. Mr. Deklotz is a
stockholder in the Atlas Insurance Company, of Des Moines, Iowa. In
politics he is a strong adherent of the Democratic party, and though he
has never aspired to office he served six years as township clerk and
twelve years as secretary of the school board. He was reared in the
German Catholic faith, but has recently not been very active in the
church, owing to the absence of opportunity in his vicinity. However,
he gives freely to religious, charitable and educational causes.
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, St. Valentine
Lodge No. 67, of Newhall, of which he has served as master of exchequer
since its organization. Mr. Deklotz is a patriotic and useful citizen,
and is an enterprising, hustling man of business. He is a great lover
of home and family, and takes great pride in his children.
On May 22, 1888, Mr. Deklotz married Lena, daughter of Henry and Louisa
Davis, farmers of Benton county. Her father, given mention at length
elsewhere in this volume, located in Benton county, in 1862. Mrs.
Deklotz received her education in the district schools. They became the
parents of children as follows: Mabel, Edward J., Ralph R., Gilbert G.,
Roy and Merrill. Mabel is the wife of John Seeman, of Benton county.
The two elder sons are farmers living in Benton county, and the
remainder of the children are at home.
Picture of Lewis Deklotz
