By Betty Acker
Westcott Society Historian, 1998
My first contact with “Wescott & Winks” was when I recently purchased a model railroad car with this company name on it. I can never resist anything with the Westcott/Wescott name. Then much to my surprise, I found that I have a file on this Sumner, Iowa company, which was formed by Frank Rush Wescott.
Miniatures promoting Wescott & Winks produce business collected by Betty Acker and placed in Westcott Collection at the Warwick (R.I.) Historical Society
Frank was a descendant of Stukely and Juliana Westcott in the ninth generation: Frank Rush Wescott9, Orris Waterman8, George Washington7, George6, George5, George4, Jeremiah3, Jeremiah2 Stukely1.
Frank’s parents, Orris and Mary M. (Carroll) Wescott, migrated west from New York State, finally settling in Iowa in 1870, when Frank was 10. Orris and Mary had five children: Eugene Merritt of Hampton, Iowa; Frank Rush; Harley who resides on the family farm; Orris of New York City; and Edna Maude who married W.H. Franklin of Tripoli, Iowa.
Orris bought two hundred acres of land on the present site of the town of Sumner, Iowa and there engaged in farming. He was also interested in the hardware business, following this occupation for a number of years. He died in Sumner in 1884.
Orris and Mary’s son, Frank, was born in Union City, Pennsylvania on November 18, 1860. He married Helene Lowe and they had three children, Raymond, Leland and Lacile. Frank died on August 7, 1929 and is buried in Sumner.
Employees pose at the Wescott & Winks siding in front of a shipment of poultry; undated photo in the Westcott Society Collection.
Frank began his career as a clerk in the general store of Clark & Austin, Carpenter & Wescott. Frank remained connected with this concern until 1903, when he disposed of his interests and turned his attention to the produce business. He formed a partnership with Ben Winks under the firm name of Wescott & Winks. Frank was president of the First Trust & Savings Bank and vice-president of the First National Bank.
For many years, Frank’s cousin Devere Westcott operated a store in Sumner, which carried “Everything Electrical, Radios, Plumbing, Heating.”
So my tiny little railroad car takes on more meaning as it says on the side, “Wescott & Winks, Packers and Shippers, Butter-Eggs-Poultry, Sumner, Iowa.”
Source: History of Bremer County, Iowa. See also: Edna Lewis, The Westcott Family Tree, 1999.
Frank Rush Wescott Memorial
The following memorial can be found at FindaGrave.com:
Frank Wescott, holding a position of prominence and importance in financial circles of Sumner as president of the First Trust and Savings Bank and vice president of the First National Bank and connected with business interests as a successful grain buyer, was born in Union City, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1860. He is a son of Orris and Mary M. (Carroll) Wescott, the former of whom was born in New York and came to Iowa in 1870. He bought two hundred acres of land on the present site of the town of Sumner and there engaged in farming. He was also interested in the hardware business following this occupation for a number of years. His death occurred in Sumner in 1884. His wife has also passed away. To their union were born five children: E.M., engaged in the hardware and plumbing business in Hampton, Iowa; Frank, of this review; Harley, who resides upon the home farm; Orris, of New York City; and Maud, the widow of W.H. Franklin, of Tripoli.
Frank Wescott was ten years of age when he came with his parents to Iowa and he acquired his education in the district schools and the public schools of Sumner. He began his independent career as clerk in the general store conducted by Clark & Austin and he later formed a partnership with Messrs. Austin and Carpenter in the general merchandise business, the firm being first known as Austin, Carpenter & Wescott and later undergoing many changes in name. Mr. Wescott remained connected with this concern until 1903, when he disposed of his interests and turned his attention to the produce business, forming a partnership with Ben Winks under the firm name of Wescott & Winks. In 1911 he became interested in the grain buying business and now owns and operates an elevator at Sumner and controls an important and growing patronage. He has been carried forward into close relations with financial interests here, being president of the First Trust & Savings Bank and vice president of the First National Bank. He is a man of industry, integrity and ability and holds a high place in business circles of the city.
Mr. Wescott married Miss Helene Lowe and they have two children, Raymond and Leland, who are interested in their father’s produce business. Mr. Wescott gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is interested in public affairs, although not active as an office seeker. In business and social life he holds to high standards and he enjoys in large measure the confidence and trust of those with whom he is brought in contact. [History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914], Information submitted by Louis
Source: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 19 October 2020), memorial page for Frank Rush Wescott (18 Nov 1860–7 Aug 1929), Find a Grave Memorial no. 34711395, citing Union Mound Cemetery, Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by Diane Zabel (contributor 46890112) .