Walter F. Bied
Born: August 19th, 1885
Died: October 17th, 1967
Obituary
One of Burlington’s most interesting personalities passed from the scene Tuesday.
He was Walter F. Bied, an 82-year-old machinist, millwright, self-taught mechanical engineer, skilled woodworker, and artist.
Mr. Bied, of 220 Angular, died in St. Francis hospital after a long illness.
Starting out in adult life as a millwright and woodworker, Bied soon became interested in automobiles. He claimed that the garage that he opened in 1904 – Bied soon became interested in automobiles. He claimed that he opened in 1904 – Bied Auto Co. - was the first in Burlington.
He later turned his attention to developing machinery and equipment and developed – among other things – water motors for the US Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and rotary motors for the industry.
He worked up a variety of industrial inventions, for both local and out-of-city firms, and amused himself by working crossword puzzles and reading the Encyclopedia Britannica. He also did drawings and oil paintings.
Mr. Bied took 30 years to build a library table inlaid with more than two million pieces of wood. He used about 200 varieties of wood from all parts of the world and historical places, in constructing the table, which was exhibited locally and also in Chicago and Washington, DC, and at Robert L. (Believe it or not) Ripley’s museum.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bied and was born Aug. 19, 1885, in Burlington.
Surviving; a son, Walter E Bied, Burlington; brother George Bied, Burlington; sister Mrs. Freda Ahring, Cedar Rapids; a nephew, Dan Bied, and a niece, Mrs. Betty Scott of Burlington.
Services; Shegren's funeral home Friday at 1:30, the Rev. George Sherman Thompson, Aspen Grove Cemetery.