PETER G. GAASS

Was born in Zwolle, Netherlands, in 1850. In I860, when a boy of ten years, he
came to America with his parents and settled in Pella. In 1869, when a young man
of nineteen years, he decided that the mercantile business should be his future
vocation. In 1876 he went to Keokuk, where he took charge of the business of Wm.
Blom. He remained with Mr. Blom until 1880, when he was offered a position as
traveling salesman for the wholesale house of Kellogg Berge & Co. He remained
with this firm until 1893, when he returned to Pella and formed a partnership
with A. M. Vander Linden in the retail shoe business. Seven years later he
retired from active business. During his residence in Pella he has been honored
to the positions of alderman and a member of the board of education. In 1883 he
was elected chancellor of Central University and has served in the capacity of a
member of the general board of that institution ever since and still holds the
position. He is a member of the Second Reformed Church and enjoys the honor of
being one of the elders of that Christian institution.

PETER G. GAASS

CORNELIUS BONGERS

Was born in the Netherlands March 29, 1843. Came to America in 1848 and settled
in St. Louis, Mo., where he lived until 1864, when he came to Pella to cast his
lot with his countrymen. Upon his arrival here he was employed as a clerk for
Mrs. Carson for a few months, after which he associated himself with a Mr.
Wilsey in the drug business at Monroe, Iowa. After a time he returned to Pella,
where he associated himself with Major Post in the hotel business in the
hostelry known as the American House. In 1872 he purchased the interest of his
partner in the business and took the entire responsibility. His hostelry was
known from one end of the state to the other for its hospitality and service. On
May 5, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Angie Mortimore of Monroe, Iowa,
and to them were born five sons, three of which are living: Fred M., now
residing in Los Angeles, Cal.; Bernard N. and J. Guy, residing with their mother
in Des Moines.

CORNELIUS BONGERS