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The Leon Vincent home

1024 3rd Avenue South

The large brick residence at 1024 3rd Ave. S.—known in earlier years as the Leon Vincent home—was built by a pioneer Iowan who was a civil engineer, railroad builder and gypsum industrialist. The house dates back to 1896 when it was erected and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leon Vincent.

The house, of exterior brick construction, now has three rooms and bath on the first floor, four rooms and two baths on the second floor, two bedrooms on the completely finished third floor and a large finished basement area.

Ownership of the house has changed several times since it was built by Vincent. At one time it was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Vincent and later by Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Thornton. In 1965 the Thorntons sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Eide who now, with their family occupy the home.

Leon Vincent, a first cousin of Webb and Beth Vincent, came to Iowa in 1867 and as a civil engineer worked in laying out the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, now part of the North Western system. He continued in this work until 1873 when he came to Fort Dodge.

In 1881 Vincent was employed as assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank until its merger with the early-day First National Bank here. He was secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Plaster Association in 1891 and was identified with gypsum operations here for many years. In 1899 he rebuilt and re-equipped the Central Gypsum mill, first of the early-day gypsum plants here. When the U.S. Gypsum Company took over the Iowa Plaster Association in 1902, Vincent remained as manager of the Blanden mill.

Vincent was active in many affairs, one of which was designing and building of the present St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which replaced an earlier edifice destroyed by fire. He also helped in laying out and beautifying of Oleson Park and in designing of 17th Street as a boulevard.

In 1911, Leon Vincent and the brothers Harry S. and Donald Vincent, sons of Webb Vincent, founded the Vincent Clay Products, Inc., which operated its big plant at Shady Oaks until recent years. Many of the plant’s machines and processes were inventions of Leon Vincent.

In failing health for many years, Leon Vincent died in 1916 at age 69. Mrs. Vincent died in 1928 at age 81. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent were grandparents of Al Loomis, photographer for most of the houses shown in the book.