Background
Beretta, John King was born on November 5, 1861 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States. Son of Alexander and Jane (Staggs) Beretta.
Beretta, John King was born on November 5, 1861 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States. Son of Alexander and Jane (Staggs) Beretta.
Early education in Bell Grove School, Fort Smith, and in public schools of San Antonio, Texas; later attended St. Mary’s College San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Beretta spent the first five years of his business life in the mercantile business in San Antonio, 1887- 92, and then went to Laredo, Texas, where he founded the Laredo National Bank in 1895. He served as president of the Laredo National Bank until 1912, at which time he returned to San Antonio and the ensuing year became president of the National Bank of Commerce of San Antonio. He had since been president of this hank and had been instrumental in its constant growth and progress.
In addition to directing the affairs of this institution he was president and manager of the Laredo Bridge Co., builders and owners of the international bridge which spans the Rio Grande River to connect the United States and Mexico at Laredo; and was a director of the Laredo National Bank: the Uvalde Rock Asphalt Co. of San Antonio, the San Antonio Joint Stock Land Bank, and of the Morris Plan Bank at San Antonio. He was also president of Laredo Chamber of Commerce (1900-01) and member of San Antonio Board of Education (1921-23).
During the World War period he was chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee at San Antonio.
Member of the Texas State Bankers’ Association, (district chairman, 1913) and of the Masonic Order (Blue Lodge, A.F.&A.M.; Consistory. 32 degree Scottish Rite; and Alzafar Temple, Mystic Shrine, all San Antonio).
Married Sallie Mills Ward, of Richmond, Virginia on December 9, 1896.