Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

William F. Kahl

It is through his indefatigable energy and perseverance that William F. Kahl acquired the valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he owns in Crawford county.  It required years of application but he never faltered and today he is the happy possessor of a place which is yielding every year an increasing revenue.  He was born in Germany, August 4, 1875, a son of Christ and Christina (Koch) Kahl.  The father was born May 15, 1846, and the mother October 15, 1845.  They were married in the old country and came to America in 1891, stopping at Shelby county, Iowa, for a short time, after which they removed to Crawford county, where Mr. Kahl has engaged successfully in farming.  He is now sixty-five years of age and his wife is a little less than one year his senior.  To them nine children were born, namely: August, of Crawford county, Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased; Annie, wife of John McCeaghan, of Harrison county, Iowa; William F., the subject of this review; Bertha, now Mrs. Fred Kahl, of Crawford county; Minnie, the wife of William Watje, of California; Dora, now Mrs. Henry Mundt, of Crawford county; Guste, the wife of William Warren, also of Crawford county; and Sophia, who died in Germany.

William F. Kahl was reared until fifteen years of age in his native land and received his education in the common schools.  On March 11, 1890, he landed in America and for the next eight years devoted his energies to working upon a farm.  He then operated rented land until 1910, when he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 34, Hanover township, which he is developing into one of the highly productive farms of the county.

On the 14th of December, 1900, Mr. Kahl was united in marriage to Miss Dora Schneider, who was born in Germany, January 28, 1883.  She came to this country with her parents, arriving March 15, 1896.  the family settled on a farm in Crawford county, where the parents are now living, having retired from active labor in 1906.  The father is sixty-five years of age and the mother four years his senior.  They were the parents of six children, namely:  William H., of Crawford county; Mary, now the wife of August Lochmiller, of Crawford county; Maggie, now Mrs. Fred Mundt, of California; John C., of Langford, North Dakota; Dora, now Mrs. William F. Kahl; and Catharina, the wife of Herman Finn, of Crawford county.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kahl has been brightened by the birth of two children: Walter C., who was born September 12, 1901; and Albert William, who was born September 7, 1903, and died December 21, 1903.

Mr. Kahl early learned the great lessons of self-denial and willingness to labor and under the genial skies of Iowa he has realized many of his fondest expectations.  His wife has been to him a true assistant and a constant inspiration, and while he labors in the fields she performs her part in the house, setting an example of fidelity to duty well worthy of imitation.  They have many friends and their home is one of the welcome gathering places in the township.

JOHN KOCK

Although he had many difficulties to overcome John Kock of Jackson township, bravely persevered and today he is the happy owner of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, which gives evidence of his ability as a business man and practical farmer. He is a native of Germany , born January 20, 1857 , son of Claus and Sophie (Dean) Kock. The parents came to America and the mother died in Arcadia , Iowa , at the age of sixty-one years. The father is now living in Wyoming . There were five children in their family, namely: Henry, who joined the German navy and was killed in a collision at sea; John, of this review; William, who is now living in Texas ; Herman, of Elk Point , South Dakota ; and Sophie, who is the wife of W. C. Bolty, of Wyoming .

John Kock received his preliminary education in the public schools of Germany and contained a resident of his native land until after reaching manhood. In 1881, having arrived at the age of twenty-four years and being ambitious to accomplish something in life even though it should require his presence in a strange land and among strangers, he crossed the ocean and arrived in Carroll county, Iowa . Two years after coming to this country he was married and then began farming upon his own account by renting eighty acres which he cultivated to good advantage for three years. He then went to Minnesota and bought eighty acres, upon which he lived for five years. Not being entirely satisfied with conditions in that state, he sold his farm and returned to Carroll county, Iowa , where once more he rented eighty acres of land and engaged in general farming. A few years later he came to Crawford county and for four years rented one hundred and sixty acres and prosecuted his work so ably that in 1902 he purchased two hundred acres of good land on section 15, Jackson township, upon which he established his home. To this he has since added eighty acres, which is on section 14 of the same township, and he now has one of the most desirable properties of the size in his part of the county. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and as he applies himself with energy and ability he is eminently successful in his labors.

On the 23d of February, 1883 , Mr. Kock was united in marriage to Miss Mary Witt, a daughter of Reimer and Caroline (Holedorf) Witt. The parents were born in Germany and are now deceased. Seven children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kock, namely: Henry and William, both of whom are engaged in farming in Crawford county; and George, John, Rudolph, Mary and Caroline, all at home.

Mr. Kock through his own exertions has won his way to his present enviable position and, therefore, is entitled to high credit for what he has accomplished. He is a persistent worker and also possesses a goodly amount of sound judgment which is indispensable in the accomplishment of any important object. Since arriving at voting age he has given his support to the republican party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen, in whose principles of brotherhood he is a sincere believer, and in religious belief he adheres to the Presbyterian church.

CLAUS J. KROHNKE

One of the many worthy citizens which Germany has contributed to Iowa is Claus J. Krohnke, who for a period of more than twenty years was successfully identified with the agricultural development of Crawford county. The eldest son of Hans and Annie (Bergman) Krohnke, his birth occurred in the fatherland on the 9th of November, 1843. The other children born to them were: Jurgen and Henry, who reside in Schleswig; Maggie, the wife of John Petersen, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Sophia, who has passed away.

The early years of Claus J. Krohnke's life were spent in the land of his nativity, in the common schools of which he obtained his education. Being an industrious and ambitious young man he became dissatisfied with conditions as he found them in Europe, and, feeling convinced that better advantages must be afforded in America, in 1869, accompanied by his brother Henry, he sailed for the United States. Upon his arrival in this country he immediately made his way westward, thinking he could find better opportunities in the more sparsely settled communities of the younger states. Coming to Iowa, he located near Davenport, where he obtained employment upon a farm, his first duty being to plow the unbroken prairie, a most novel undertaking for the young German, whose experience had been confined to the cultivation of the well tilled fields of the old country. Following this he worked in a stone quarry, always carefully putting away a portion of his earnings each month, whatever his employment or wages, in order that he might later buy a farm of his own. After spending ten years near Davenport he accumulated the requisite capital to invest in land, so coming to Crawford county he bought an eighty acre tract, upon which he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. By means of close application, tireless energy and careful management he was able to add to his holdings from time to time until he acquired four hundred and forty acres of excellent land. He improved and carefully cultivated that farm for twenty-three years, at the expiration of which period he had acquired a competence which enabled him to buy a pleasant home in Schleswig, where he is now living retired.

In Cedar county on the 27th of October, 1870, Mr. Krohnke was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heech, a daughter of Stephen and Annie (Martins) Heech. Mrs. Krohnke is the second in order of birth and the eldest surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Heech, Peter, the first born, having passed away. The others are: Claus, who is residing in Crawford county; and Catherine, the wife of Andrew Tiel, of Iowa. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Krohnke: Adam, of Linn county; Julius, living in Crawford county; Edward, who is still at home; Annie, the wife of John Harman, of this county; Bertha, who married Herman Peterson, of Otter Creek township; and Embria, who became the wife of August Kastner, also of Otter Creek township. The fourth and fifth in order of birth passed away in infancy.

The family is identified with the Lutheran church, in the faith of which denomination the parents were reared. An advocate of the principles of government as promulgated by the democratic party Mr. Krohnke always accords his political support to the candidates of that organization. He takes an active interest in public affairs and has served his township in the capacity of school trustee, justice of the peace and secretary of the school board, the duties of which offices he discharged in a highly creditable manner. Coming to the United States with a limited capital but an inexhaustible fund of energy and perseverance, Claus J. Krohnke has added another chapter to the history of America's self-made men, the study of which must ever prove profitable as well as beneficial to the young men of the coming generations.

HENRY KROHNKE, a well-to-do and influential agriculturist of Crawford county, where he owns five hundred and sixty acres of land and engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in Germany, February 26, 185l, a son of Hans and Annie (Bergman) Krohnke, the other surviving members of the family being Claus and Jurgen, both of whom reside in Schleswig; and Maggie, who married John Petersen and lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Sophia is deceased. Both of the parents lived and died in the fatherland.

Henry Krohnke emigrated to the United States in 1869, when he was seventeen years old, and located on a farm near Davenport, Iowa, where he worked until attaining his majority, when he rented sixty acres of land and cultivated it for two years. He then bought a threshing machine, running it for one year, and in 1875 he removed to Crawford county, where he divided his time between operating a thresher and breaking wild land. He broke the prairie land upon which the county poor farm was formerly situated. In 1888 he purchased eighty acres of land, to which he subsequently added other lands until his holding now amounts to five hundred and sixty acres.

On November 2, 1876, Mr. Krohnke was united in marriage to Annie Suckstorf, a daughter of Henry and Maggie (Krueger) Suckstorf, who were the parents of ten children, of whom the following survive: Henry, residing in Schleswig; Dora, the wife of Adolph Rickers, of Crawford county; August and John, of Bloomfield, Nebraska; and Annie. The deceased members of the family are Nicholas and George, besides three who died in infancy. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Krohnke has been blessed with four children, namely: Augusta, who became the wife of William Bumann and resides in Bloomfield, Nebraska; John, who lives in Crawford county; Mattie, the wife of William Bielenberg, of Crawford county; and Amelia, who lives at home with her parents.

Mr. Krohnke has taken an active interest in politics, giving his support to the democratic party, and he has held a number of township offices. He attends the Lutheran church, to which he is a liberal contributor. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Sons of Harmony. He has resided on his present farm for nearly a quarter of a century and deserves much credit for the part he took in helping to reclaim this district for the uses of civilization. He is widely and favorably known throughout the community by reason of his long residence here, and the success he has gained is the merited reward of his own labor and indefatigable industry.

HUGO KROHNKE, a leading business man of Schleswig, is a native of Cedar county, Iowa, born February 26, 1874. He is a son of Jurgen and Dora (Hamann) Krohnke, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America about 1864 and Mr. Krohnke began in his quest of fortune in the new world by working by the month on a farm near Davenport, Iowa. After several years he rented land and then, having acquired sufficient capital, he purchased eighty acres in Morgan township, Crawford county, to which he applied himself with such diligence that he became one of the large landholders of the county. He is now the owner of one thousand and forty acres, which is divided into six different farms, all of them being in Crawford county except eighty acres which is in Woodbury county, Iowa. The land is well improved and under an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Krohnke retired from active labor in 1903 and is now living in a beautiful home at Schleswig. There are four children in the family, namely: Herman, a resident of Nebraska; George, of Ricketts, Iowa; Hugo, the subject of this review; and Emma, who is the wife of E. L. Dieckmann, of Sioux City, Iowa.

Hugo Krohnke attended the district schools in his boyhood and under his father became acquainted with the various details of agriculture and stock-raising. He continued at home until twenty-four years of age and then purchased a livery stable at Schleswig, which he has since conducted, also engaging extensively in buying and shipping live stock. He has a well equipped livery establishment, which he conducts in such a manner as to attract a lucrative patronage. He is a man of good business sagacity and has the confidence of the entire community.

On the 23d of May, 1906, Mr. Krohnke was married to Miss Emma Rickers, a native of Otter Creek township and a daughter of Adolph and Dora (Suckstorf) Rickers. The parents were both born in Germany but were married in Iowa. Mr. Rickers engaged successfully in farming but retired to Otter Creek in 1896. He died ten years later but his widow is still living and makes her home with the subject of this review. She is now sixty-five years of age. There are three children in the family, namely: Henry and George, both residents of Nebraska; and Emma, now Mrs. Hugo Krohnke.

Mr. Krohnke and his wife are active members of the German Lutheran church and are well acquainted in their locality, with which Mrs. Krohnke has been identified all her life. In politics he supports the republican party, whose platforms and candidates he has endorsed by his vote ever since he attained manhood. Fraternally, he is connected with the Sons of Herman and as a business man and citizen he is ever actuated by principles of integrity and progressiveness.

JOHN H. KROHNKE

A native of Crawford county, John H. Krohnke, of Schleswig, was born in Morgan township, April 13, 1879. He is a son of Henry and Annie (Suckstorf) Krohnke, both of whom were born in Germany. They were married in Iowa and Mr. Krohnke began farming on rented land. Being a man of unusual diligence and good judgment, he acquired a farm of his own in a few years and later became the owner of seven hundred and sixty acres in Morgan township. He cultivated his farm until 1904, since which time he has lived at Schleswig. There were four children in his family: Gustie, now the wife of William Bumann, of Bloomfield, Nebraska; John H., the subject of this review; Mattie, the wife of William Bielenberg, now residing upon the old homestead in Morgan township; and Amelia, who is still at home.

John H. Krohnke possessed advantages of education in the district schools and remained at home until after reaching his majority. At twenty-three years of age he engaged in farming on his own account but after four years' experience turned his attention to the butcher business at Schleswig. In 1909 he disposed of his butcher shop and has since engaged in the saloon business.

On the 25th of February, 1902, Mr. Krohnke was united in marriage to Miss Christina Witt, a native of Otter Creek township and a daughter of Fritz and Johanna (Ohl) Witt. The parents were born in Germany and were married in this state. Mr. Witt engaged successfully in farming until 1902 and has since made his home at Schleswig. In the family were six children: Emma, who married Amos Hollander, of Nebraska, and is now deceased; Louis, who is now living on the old homestead; Christina, now Mrs. John H. Krohnke; Amanda, the wife of William Schmidt, of Schleswig; Benjamin, also of Schleswig; and Ella, the wife of Paul Wilson, of Schleswig. One child, Vernie, now seven years of age, has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Krohnke.

Mr. Krohnke and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and are now members of the German Lutheran church of Schleswig. He takes the interest of a wide-awake citizen in politics but his attention is mainly centered in his business affairs and he has never sought the honors or emoluments of office. He is a man of generous and social characteristics and in business transactions is recognized as entirely reliable.