Iowa Oil

Because of Dubuque's geographical location - across the river from the state boundary line between Wisconsin and Illinois, the Iowa Oil Company markets in three states. It has 16 bulk stations and 27 company-owned service stations, six of which are located in Dubuque. Iowa Oil supplies 57 dealers in addition to its own outlets. It is one of the lar... gest independent oil concerns in Iowa and one of the oldest in the Midwest. There is no company stock on the market, most of it still remaining with families of the founders. At a party held to celebrate Iowa Oil's 50th year, many of those attending were members of the second, third, and fourth generations of the founders. The company president, J. Hamilton bell, is also president of P.M. Lattner Manufacturing Company, of Cedar Rapids. The vice president is Carl F. hartman, who owns a Dubuque furniture store established by his father 60 years ago. The firm has 42 year-round employees, with a remarkable record for help turn over, possibly less that any other Midwest business concern of comparable size. In the main, ex-employees are those who have retired after many years of faithful service. Among present veteran employees, Cashier Eli Whitney has a record of 27 years and Auditor George Stoeck is rounding out his 30th. Andrew "Dutch" Schneller has been driving a truck for 35 years. Of the company's bulk plant managers, P.J. Winter has a record of 30 years with the company, A.A. Cardy's is 31, and R.W. Piquette is in his 33rd year. And when it comes to veteran customers, Bob Niveral holds the record. He's been buying from Iowa oil ever since it began operations. It's business concerns like this, remarked M.S. Engelbrecht, executive secretary of Dubuque's Chamber of Commerce, "that have made Dubuque one of the most important cities on the Mississippi." To mark the firm's Golden Anniversary, B.J. Farwig, general sales manager of company products fro Cities Service Oil Co. (Del.), presented a gold trimmed plaque. Its inscription reading "Presented in commemoration of ...Read More