SPURBECK, WALTER

SPURBECK, WHITE, INGERSOLL

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/23/2003 at 18:54:10

Biography reproduced from page 36 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Walter Spurbeck is president of the Spurbeck Lambert Company, manufacturers of creamery supplies and creamery equipment. Well formulated plans and careful management of its business has developed it along growing lines until it is now the largest industrial concern of Kossuth county and the most important of the kind in the state. Guiding its destiny with firm hand, recognizing and meeting the demands of the trade and giving at all times value received, the house has maintained an unassailable reputation and Walter Spurbeck deserves to be classed with the representative business men of Algona. He was born in Belvedere, Illinois, in 1863, a son of Hiram and Andelusia (White) Spurbeck. The father was born in the state of New York and in early manhood became a resident of Illinois, whence he afterward removed to Bremer county, Iowa, where he resided to the time of his death.

In the public schools of Waverly, Bremer county, Walter Spurbeck pursued his education and when twenty-one years of age began farming on his own account in that district, giving his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he established the business in which he is now engaged, organizing the firm of Spurbeck & Lambert, that, after a ten years’ continuous and successful existence, was incorporated in 1902 as the Spurbeck Lambert Company, manufacturers of and dealers in creamery supplies and equipment. Of this company Mr. Spurbeck is the president and treasurer, C. L. Ingersoll the vice president, and J. T. Hanna, secretary. This is the principal manufacturing enterprise of Kossuth county, furnishing employment throughout the entire year to from thirty-five to forty men. It is supplied with the latest modern machinery for turning out a large amount of work. One of the most important features of their output is the white ash butter tub, their sales of this article alone amounting to two hundred thousand tubs each year. They also sell a large amount of other creamery equipment and growth of the business has resulted in the establishment of a branch house for sales at Estherville, Iowa. Their trade extends over a wide area and the territory of northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota is covered by their two traveling representatives, J. T. Hanna and Harry Dalziel. The business of the house has steadily grown since its establishment and this business as the foremost productive industry of Algona establishes Mr. Spurbeck and his associates as valuable assets in the business circles of the community.

On the 16th of December, 1885, Mr. Spurback was married to Miss Eunice L. Ingersoll, a daughter of W. B. Ingersoll, of Waverly, Iowa, who was one of the early settlers of Bremer county and a farmer by occupation. A notable factor in the success of their business is Mrs. Spurback. For twenty years she has been associated with the active management of affairs as bookkeeper. Mr. and Mrs. Spurbeck hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, are interested in its upbuilding, active in its work and generous in its support. There have been no spectacular phases in all the life record of Mr. Spurbeck. His course, however, has been characterized by fidelity to duty and persistent, earnest labor. Each day he has done the task closest at hand and has thereby fitted himself for the labors of the ensuing day. Quietly and persistently he has forged ahead, always following constructive and straightforward methods, so that his place has been assured as one of the honored and valued citizens of the community.