The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 720 

JOHN N. BIEVER.

There is perhaps no one better informed concerning realty values or who more
thoroughly understands the realty market in Yakima than does John N. Biever, who
has been a resident of the cite for only a brief, period but who does with
thoroughness everything that he undertakes. He was born in Cooperstown,
Wisconsin, in 1868, a son of John and Elizabeth Biever, both of whom were
natives of France. They removed to Minnesota about 1872 and the father devoted
his life to the occupation of farming. Both he and his wife have now passed
away.

After acquiring a public school education John N. Biever gave his attention to
farm work on his father's place until he reached the age of nineteen, when he
entered commercial circles, being employed for a time as a clerk. In 1890 he
established a mercantile business on his own account in Hankinson, North Dakota,
and subsequently was numbered among the merchants of Brainerd, Minnesota, where
he conducted a large store, continuing in business successfully there for
fourteen years. In 1915, however, he sold out and came to Yakima, where he
purchased a ranch and also entered the real estate business in connection with
W. J. Burianek. their interests being conducted under the name of Burianek &
Company, Mr. Biever being the junior partner. He is a man of marked business
enterprise, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
Obstacles and difficulties in his path seem to serve as an impetus for renewed
effort on his part -- effort that results in the attainment of his purpose.

On the 18th of December, 1915, Mr. Biever was married to Miss Anna Burianek, of
Yakima, a daughter of Wencil Burianek, who came to Washington from, Iowa about
1910. He was born in Bohemia in 1849 and passed away in Yakima in June, 1917. It
was in 1873 that he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling at Cedar
Rapids, Iowa. He was a wagon maker by trade and followed that business in the
Mississippi valley for a considerable period but in 1898 removed to Cosmopolis,
Washington, where he had charge of mill work. In 1909 he became a resident of
Yakima and here lived retired until his demise, for his industry and enterprise
in former years had brought to him a substantial competence that relieved him of
the necessity of further labor in order to provide for his support. In early
manhood he wedded Anna Brzak, of Bohemia, her birth having occurred near Prague.
They were married in the United States in 1877 and Mrs. Burianek passed away in
1910. They had a family of six children, three of whom are living: Anna, the
wife of John N. Biever; Stanley, who resides in Hoquiam, Washington; and Wencil
J., who is a lieutenant of the Sixty-second United States Infantry and is a
member of the firm of Burianek & Company, real estate dealers of Yakima. Those
who have passed away are Wencil, Emma and Bessie, who were respectively the
second, third and fifth members of the family.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Biever is a Mason, belonging to Yakima Lodge No.
24, F. & A. M.; Yakima Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M.; the Lodge of Perfection No.
11; Rose Croix Chapter, No. 9; Yakima Council of Kadosh; and also to Afifi
Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise connected with the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks and he has membership in the Commercial Club,
cooperating heartily in all of its plans and movements for the upbuilding of the
city, the extension of its trade relations and the upholding of its civic
standards. In politics he is an active republican, giving earnest support to the
principles of the party in which he so firmly believes. He has never been an
aspirant for office, however, as he has preferred to give his undivided
attention to his business affairs, and through his close application and
unfaltering enterprise he has gained for himself a very creditable position in
business circles. He is now the owner of an excellent fruit and stock ranch in
the Yakima valley and in addition is carrying on an extensive real estate
business in Yakima, meeting with well deserved success. He has ever been
persistent in purpose, sagacious and of sound judgment. He has long realized
that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed he can carve out another path
whereby he may reach the desired goal and it is this trait of character that has
brought him to a creditable and enviable position among the business men of his
adopted city.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.