- F. E. Bewyer Dies Today; rites Wed.
Frank Earl Bewyer, 71, prominent businessman early in the century and former operator of clothing stores in Minneapolis, St-Paul and Chicago, died at 12:05 a.m. today at his home two miles northwest of Newton.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Toland Funeral Home. The Rev. Allan K. Williams, pastor of the Methodist Church will officiate and burial will be at Newton Union Cemetery.
Masonic rites will be held at the cemetery.
Mr. Bewyer is survived by his wife, Vera E. Bewyer; a daughter, Mrs. Gerald L. Bachman of Des Moines; two sons, Joe F. Bewyer of Des Moines and Willard C. Bewyer of Newton, three sisters, Mrs. Frank Clements of Newton, Mrs. Leona McMurray and Mrs. Vernis Trusler, both of Des Moines; and a brother, Evert Bewyer of Newton.
Also surviving are four grandsons, a granddaughter and nieces and nephews.
Mr. Bewyer was born on the Hiram Johnson farm, located a mile west of Newton, July 22, 1883, received his education in Newton public schools, later attending Newton Normal College.
Clothing store
He began work at the Continental Clothing Store located on the south side of the square in 1901 when he was a youth of 18. He was promoted to manager of the store shortly afterwards, a position he held until 1908.
In 1909 he purchased George Allen's interest in the Jones-Allen Clothing Store, located on the northwest corner of the square, but in 1912 sold his interest to his partner and moved to Minneapolis.
He opened his own made-to-measure clothing store at Fifth and Hennepin in Minneapolis, later moving to a location on Severn and Hennepin.
During that period he opened (illegible) in St. Paul, and Chicago and one time had his own clothing manufacturing plant in Chicago. Due to ill health, he was forced from business in 1928 returning to Newton in 1930 to make home on the family farm two miles northwest of Newton.
Mr. Bewyer has been a semi-invalid since 1928.
Mr. Bewyer was initiated into Masonic Lodge in 1907 and was (Illegible) to Master mason the following year. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News, Mon. 8 Nov. 1954
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