Born in Leicester, Addison County, Vermont, June 14, 1850. In the paternal line he comes of Scotch Irish ancestry. He was the second in order of birth, was in his eleventh year when his parents removed to Lake County, Illinois, in April, 1861. There they remained for two years, after which they went to Alden, Iowa, where they lived until May, 1870. In that year they took up their abode in Newell Township, Buena Vista County. Mr. Mack assisted his father largely in his business duties. In the fall of 1874, however, he was elected clerk of the district and circuit court, at which time he removed to Sioux Rapids, then the county seat. He had acquired his education in the country schools and in the high school of Alden, and had manifested special aptitude in his studies. It was his ambition to become a member of the bar but this plan was frustrated by the illness of his mother and financial causes. As it was necessary that he provide for his own support, he secured a situation in a store in Newell, but later the store failed and Mr. Mack was appointed assignee of the stock. He then sold out the business to good advantage, the firm settling with its creditors, after which business was resumed. In the fall of 1874 he had received the nomination for clerk of the courts and was reelected six times, holding the office for fourteen years. While still in office he erected the Mack block and upon his retirement from the position of clerk of the courts in January, 1889, he opened a real-estate, abstract and loan office in his own building. In July, 1907, Mr. Mack was joined by his eldest son, Guy E. Mack, under the firm style of Mack & Mack. Edgar E. Mack was also instrumental in organizing the Electric Light & Power Company. On the 13th of September, 1875, Mr. Mack was united in marriage to Miss Ellen B. Ayers, who was born in Goshen, Vermont. Mr. Mack is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as trustee. He has also been a member of the board of trustees of the Buena Vista College, president of the Cemetery Association, and also member and president of the school board. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Masonic lodges and in the last named fraternity has attained the Knight Templar degree and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. His position on political matters has never been an equivocal one, for he is widely known as one of the leading republicans of his section of the state. Aside from the local offices which he has filled he has served as state senator, being elected in 1889 to represent the fiftieth district in the upper house of the Iowa assembly for four years, the district then comprising Humboldt, Buena Vista and Pocahontas counties. During the session in which he served he was connected with much important constructive legislation and with the active work of various committees of which he was a member. In 1890 he was elected a member of the republican state central committee and acted as its chairman in 1891-2. He was made a member of the state delegation and delegate at large and was chosen chairman of the delegation at the national convention in Minneapolis in 1892, the other delegates at large being Governor Gear, James S. Clarkson and Cady Chase. He has been most active in behalf of his party's interests and has served as chairman of the county central committee.
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