Engelbrecht and Buchholz, PLLC, has been providing general legal services to its clients in Waverly, Iowa, and the surrounding area since 1885. While the name of the firm has continued to evolve, the firm has consistently provided full legal services to the Waverly, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, as well as throughout the greater Cedar Valley and Northeast Iowa area for over 125 years.

Edward A. Sager and Burton E. Sweet initially formed the law partnership of Sager & Sweet in Waverly, Iowa, on July 9, 1895. The firm was initially located on the second floor of the Lashbrook building on East Bremer Avenue in Waverly. At that time of the creation of their law practice, downtown Waverly consisted of little more than an unpaved street and a few small buildings.

The firm’s founding partner, Edward A. Sager, born in the Maxfield Township of Bremer County, was the son of German immigrants. His family moved to Waverly, where his father served as Bremer County Sheriff for a number of years. Edward was educated both in Waverly public schools and at the St. Bernard’s Academy, which was Waverly’s Catholic high school at the time. Following his graduation from high school, Edward severed as a Bremer County Deputy Sheriff for three years before entering the State University of Iowa law school. He was then admitted to the Iowa bar in June 1884.

The firm’s second founding partner, Burton E. Sweet, was born in the Tripoli area, and graduated from the Tripoli High School. He completed four years of study at Cornell College and then continued his studies at the State University of Iowa Law School. Burton graduated on June 12, 1885 and subsequently was admitted to the Iowa bar.

The following year, Burton began to pursue political aspirations. Initiated by a speech Burton gave during the McKinley/Bryan presidential campaign, Burton used his eloquent and persuasive speaking abilities to conduct his own campaign for a seat in the Iowa State Legislature. Burton was elected to and served two terms, in 1900 and 1902. By a large majority, the 3rd Iowa District elected Burton to Congress in 1914, where he served four consecutive terms. As a Congressman during World War I, Burton toured the battlefields and hospitals of war-torn Europe. These lasting images and impressions would result is Burton becoming a life-long advocate of veteran’s rights. His passion for this area of the law and his work in Congress resulted in the passing of the “Sweet Bills”, which provided additional compensation and benefits for servicemen as well as consolidated all government agencies providing services to veterans.

Meanwhile, Sager & Sweet continued to provide legal services to its local clients in the area. The firm provided past legal services to many of Waverly’s originating business, including Waverly Lumber Company, Eldredge Steel Gate Company, Waverly Heights Development Company, and the Kelly Canning Company, which was later known as the Marshall Canning Company.

On July 1, 1918, Robert A. Sager, Edward’s brother and World War I veteran, joined the firm upon his graduation from the University of Iowa Law School. In November 1936, the firm reached another milestone, with Edward elected to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court. Edward would go on to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court from January 1, 1937, until December 31, 1942, serving as Chief Justice for one term. After Edward’s death on in February 1943, the firm became known as Sweet & Sager.

The firm once again expanded to three partners on July 1, 1951, when William. H. Engelbrecht joined. As a result, the firm’s name changed to Sweet, Sager, & Engelbrecht. William conducted his undergraduate studies at Wartburg College and graduated from Drake University Law School on May 28, 1951. William not only provided legal services to local clients, he additionally provided services to the Iowa legal profession and Waverly community in various roles throughout his practice, including Chairman of the Grievance Commission of the Iowa Supreme Court; member of the State Judicial Nominate Commission; Chairman and member of the Board of Regents of his alma mater, Wartburg College; President of the Iowa State Bar Association; Iowa State Delegate to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association; Fellow in the American College of Probate Council; and member of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In June 1955, a special session of the United States District Court was called at Waterloo to honor Burton for his 60 years of service as an attorney. In review of his years of service, Burton explained he dedicated so many years of his life to law “because the Courts…are the home of our liberties”. Burton’s appearance in Court would come only two weeks before his death on January 3, 1957. Burton’s name is now well-remembered for the nearly 600 acres of his land near Tripoli he donated to the State of Iowa for use as a game and wildlife preserve, known as "Sweet’s Marsh".

In 1958, the firm expanded yet again, with the addition of partner Richard M. Hemingway. The firm then became known as Sager, Engelbrecht, & Hemingway. Richard was a 1952 graduate of the University of Iowa Law School and World War II veteran. He would serve as Waverly’s City Attorney and, later, as secretary of the 12th Judicial District of the Bar Association of Iowa.

In 1961, multiple changes occurred. The firm’s senior partner at the time, Robert, died in April 1961. Further, in the spring of 1961, after 66 years in the same location, the firm’s office was moved to the Brown Building, its present location, at 123 First Street SE, Waverly. The Brown Building was originally built in 1903 and used as a doctor’s office, with the first floor utilized for the Waverly Journal newspaper. During the interim years, the office was used as a funeral home with a portion occupied and converted into housing during World War II. Additional tragedy struck the firm as Richard would also pass away in 1961, at age 36 after a brief illness.

On July 1, 1963, Ivan J. Ackerman joined as a partner, changing the name of the firm to Engelbrecht & Ackerman. Ivan received both his undergraduate and legal education from the University of Iowa. During his tenure, Ivan served the Waverly community in a multiplicity of capacities, including Charter Member of the Board of Directors of the Waverly Economic Development Company; member of the Board of Regents of Wartburg College; Chairman of Waverly Light and Power; and Waverly’s Mayor for multiple terms.

Gary J. Boveia, a former member of the Black Hawk County Attorney’s office, became an associate with the firm in August 1973. He would then leave in December 1975 to open his own office in Waverly.

In June 1976, Gaylen V. Hassman joined the firm, resulting in the firm’s name change to Engelbrecht, Ackerman, & Hassman, a name it would maintain for over 30 years. Gaylen, who received his undergraduate education from the University of Northern Iowa and legal education from the University of Iowa, went on to provide legal services to the area for over 35 years. During that time, Gaylen served as member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa and Iowa State Bar Association. He additionally served the community as Iowa Chairman for the Christian Legal Society of America.

After 23 years of service as a Judge of the Second Judicial District, C.H. Wild retired in 1978 and joined the firm as Of Counsel. Judge Wild, who received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and law degree from Harvard University, passed away in the late 1990s.

On July 1, 1982, David M. Engelbrecht joined his father William and other members of the firm as an associate attorney. David was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1982 after receiving his undergraduate education from Wartburg College and his law degree from Drake University.

After decades of continuity, the firm encountered multiple challenges and changes. The first of those challenges and changes occurred in 2006 with the passing of the firm’s then-senior member, William, after over 50 years of practicing law in the Waverly community. Then, 2009 and 2010 saw the retirements of senior partners Ivan and Gaylen.

In September 2010, Beau D. Buchholz joined the firm as an associate attorney. Beau, a Tripoli native, received his undergraduate degree from Wartburg College and law degree from the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law in Denver, Colorado. Beau returned home to the Waverly area upon his graduation from law school and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 2008. After his admission, Beau practiced as an associate attorney at Boveia Law Firm for three years before joining the firm, which was then known as Engelbrecht Law Office. On January 1, 2014, Beau became a partner at the firm, at which time, the firm reached is latest evolution, when it became Engelbrecht and Buchholz, PLLC.

In 2016, Steven M. Egli, who had been an active attorney in the Waverly area for decades prior, joined the firm as an associate attorney. After nearly 50 years of practice, Steve retired from the practice of law in 2020.