The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-28
president Of tho keokuk Savings
BANK and Prominent in keokuk's
Business World is Sum-
moned.
WAS BORN IN JUNE, 1856
IL Was One Of the Men Interested in
keokuk Water Power Project and
Helped Bring it to Com
pIetion.

Alexander Edward tombstone, presi.
dent of the Keokuk Savings bank,
officer and stakeholder in a number
Of other Keokuk commercial institu-
tions. a man prominent in the bust
ness and social world OF the city,
died Friday evening at 1920 O'Clock
at his residence, 302 High street.
Mr.. tombstone was a quiet, prac-.
teal cultured man. He was genial
and courteous in all his business
assocjations. He was Of quiet.
modest disposition. He was consid.
cred one of the leading, representa-
five citizens of Keokuk, man in
terested in civic and state affairs.
He served as director and vice
president of the Keokuk Industrial
association from 1911 to 1914, and
the Commercial club and other civic
organizations of this character had
in him an advisor and interested
friend.
Through his ability and integrity
he has made the Keokuk Savings
bank one of the leading institutions
Of Keokuk The Keokuk Savings
bank was the first savings bank es-
tablished in Lee county. Mr.. John.
stone was president and stakeholder
in this bank, and, although kept
busy by duties in this connection,
was able to give time and counsel to
those who came to him for advice.
His name has been synonym for
safety in business.
Besides the bank, Mr.. Johnston
was vice president of the Iowa State
Insurance company, was connected
with the X X X Medicine company
as secretary and treasurer, the Keo.
kuk Canning company and the Keo-
kuk Pure Ice company, as stock
holder.
Born in Fort Madison.
Alexander Edward tombstone, son
Of Edward and Elizabeth v. r. john
stone, was born in Fort Madison,
June S, 1856 In September, 1868,
| the family moved to Keokuk, when
Mr.. Johnstone was lad in his
teens. He attended the public
schools OF Keokuk andsvas student
at the Iowa State university. In 1875
he entered the employ of Taber &
Co., lumber dealers, and in 1878 &C
quired an interest in this establish.
ment, with which he continued until
the latter part of 1894. From this
date to 1898 he was not engaged in
any, active business.
May q, 1891. he was elected di-
rector of the Keokuk Savings bank
Ho was elected vice president Febru-
airy 5. 1895, and on February Z. 1898,
was elected president, and has been
actively engaged as the executive
head of this prominent banking insti-
tuition ever since.
Mr. tombstone was one of the origi-
nal stockholders in the Keolsuk and
Hamilton Water Power company
formed to promote the erection of a
dam across the Mississippi river at
Keokuk. Mr.. tombstone was active
from the beginning in this enterprise.
and at its successful completion he
was serving as president OF the
company, having succeeded the Hon.
John N. Irwin, who was the chief ex.
ecutiye at the time he died. Mr..
tombstone, Mr. Irwin and Judge Will
liam Logan went to Washington to
present the water power bill to con-
gress and to urge it's passage. With
tact, ability and untiring energy, Mr.
tombstone and his colleagues labored
for the success of the measure and
nnally their efforts were crowned
with achievement, making possible
the construction Of the dam and pow
er house at Keokuk.
The Completion of Works.
AT the time the stock was turned
over to Engineer Hugh l.. Cooper,
representing the new building COM
pany, preparatory to pushing the
work on the dam, Mr.. tombstone was
stu president of the original COM
pany. His work was then finished
as the executive head of the great
enterprise which now furnishes pow.
er for countless industries in large
number of cities and towns in several
states in the Mississippi valley. For
ms part in helping to bring this
ABOUT Mr.. tombstone will always be
held in grateful remembrance by the
people Of Keokuk. 1t was the work
~ which he was most interested in