14.64.1-2

E. W. Valentine, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Ames in 1900 when he began a partnership with Joseph Jacobs in the ownership of the Fair Store, a department store on Onondaga (Main) Street which Jacobs had founded in September, 1895. Valentine was the secretary and treasurer of Jacobs, Valentine & Co. which managed the store. The store was located on the south side of the street, east of the Kellogg Avenue intersection. Jacobs bought the building the in which the store operated in 1915. In 1921, he sold the store to Valentine. It ceased operation as a complete department store (including grocery) in 1927, though it continued to operate as a fabric store on the north side of Main Street under different management. Valentine was also active in political and civic affairs. He served on the school board from 1910-1916, also serving as its president. He was the president of the Commercial Club (precursor to the Ames Chamber of Commerce) for two years; was a director of the Ames National Bank and the Story County Bank; was a member of Shriners; and was president of the Associated Charities (precursor of United Way). In 1916 he served as an Iowa delegate to the National Republican Convention. This cartoon likeness of E. W. Valentine appeared as part of a series, "Our Men of Affairs," in the 1917 "Ames Evening Times."