The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-26
WELLS N. Irwin
HAS PASSED AWAY
one Of the Most Prominent Citizens
Of keokuk, Identified with
many of the Important
Affairs Of City.
HAD A HOST OF FRIENDS
Lived Here All His Life and Was En-
erqetic in every Movement for
the Betterment Of
keokuk.

keokuk.
Wells NJ. Irwin died at / o'clock
/ this morning.
! He had lived here nearly all his
life, and for nearly half a century
The was one of the most prominent
citizens of Keokuk. always energetic
in every movement for the good of
the city. and connected with nearly
all the organizations formed here
during over forty years to do things
In Keokuk.
came here with his parents from But
Ter county, Ohio, where he was born
June 12, 1852. His father, Stephen
Irwin, came here to establish what
has become one of the largest job
bing houses in the middle west at
the head of which was Wells NJ
Irwin for the last fifteen years.
| The boy was only four years old
when they came to Keokuk. He
grew up here. went to the public
schools and to he Latin school of
w. w. Jameson, anG from that went
| to Miami university, .. Oxford, Ohio,
the alma mater of SO many famous
men Of the last generation. After a
iyear there he went to Dartmouth to
complete his college education. Then
he began his active participation In
lKeokuk affairs.
He Developed In keokuk.
During his college days he was
much interested in sports and ath-
Iletics, and had much to do with the
oldtime regattas on the river here
which were of national importance
In those days. He was also inter
ested In baseball and all sorts OF
clean sports.
But serious affairs occupied him
after he left college, and he at once
entered the house of 1rwin-Phillips
company, already one of the leading
wholesale drygoods houses in the
middle west. He learned that bust-
ness so thoroughly that it was said
! of later years that he could do the
work of every employe well, and
could tell at glance into any de-
partment how things were going.
He became q general in the bust
ness, and with rare foresight and re-
markable memory guided 1t through
financial panics and fair and foul
weather in the mercantile world with
out his house ever feeling any stress.
Had Rare Business Aeumen.
He held several positions in the
company, until 1908. when he be-
came its president. His service there
in all capacities was over forty-hve
years, and since he became its head
its business has trebled.
This means that he was immersed
in that business; but he was SO busy
and willing to help outside his own
counting room, with all sorts of Keo-
kuk affairs, that his jobbing business
was far from monopolizing his acttvi-
ties.
He was one of the capable presi-
dents of the old Commercial club, the
name here for what is called the
chamber of commerce in most cities.
He was a director and treasurer of
the Iowa State Insurance company.
He was vice-president OF the State
Central Savings bank. He served on
numberiess special commissions and
committees of citizens appointed by
Keokuk to take charge of something
in the interest of the city. In this
work he travelled and worked at
home with the same energy and
care as though it were his personal
business. Few things have been done
here in a large way for many years
that have not had the name Of Wells
NJ. Irwin connected with them in
some way.
Was Always on the Job.
He never held public Office. He
had much to do with the selection of
officers, mayors, aldermen, county
officers, congressman and state off,
GERS, for years, and always was
consistent working member of the
republican party. But he never would
allow his name to be used as a can
didate. Some years ago there was
decided movement to have the
dominant party of the first Iowa dis
trict nominate him for congress, but
he declined the honor
'If you have come into the store
almost any day in the last forty-five
years, you have found him on the
job" said member OF Irwin Phillips
company today.
He was always on the Job in all
the important affairs of Keokuk, 1t
might have been added. For many
years, there probably was not a
single public meeting to consider
affairs here that ne did not attend.
Sometimes he made a speech at these
meetings that settled things for good
and all
Always keokuk optimlst.
Sterling integrity was the domi-
nant note in his character Genuine
friendship for all his fellows was
also strong point in his life. His
remarkable business acumen was ap-
piled to all the public affairs in