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Past
and Present of Shelby County, Iowa K A farmer of German descent who has made a pronounced success
of his life's work in Shelby county, Iowa, is Michael Kobold, who has been a
resident of this county since 1882. He
started in as a renter at the time of his marriage, and by true German thrift
and frugality has accumulated a fine farm of three hundred acres in Greeley and
Douglas townships. He is one of the
public spirited citizens of the county and has never neglected to give his
hearty support to all measures which he felt would be of general benefit to the
community at large. Michael Kobold, son of MICHAEL and EVA (SCHECHINGER) KOBOLD,
was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 13, 1864.
Eighteen children were born to Michael and Eva Kobold, and eleven of them
are still living: John, George,
Joseph, Michael, Louis, Wendel, Martin, Mary, Theresa, Francis, and Thomas.
Michael Kobold Sr. was a blacksmith in his native land, although after he
came to America in 1882, he followed farming.
On coming to this country, he immediately came to Iowa and located in
Douglas Township where he bought one hundred twenty acres of land at
twenty-seven dollars an acre. He
engaged in farming until about 1900, when he retired and moved to Westphalia,
Iowa, where he lived until his death on August 31, 1913.
His widow is still living at Westphalia.
Michael Kobold Sr. was an enterprising farmer and at one time owned two
hundred acres of land on which he had placed extensive improvements. Michael Kobold, Jr. received all of his education in Germany
and was eighteen years of age when he came with his parents to this country.
On locating in Shelby County, he worked with his father on the farm until
his marriage and then began working for himself on a rented farm of eighty
acres. However, he wished to have a
farm of his own, and after retnting one year, he bought eighty acres in Douglas
Township to which he has since added two hundred and twenty acres, giving him a
fine farm now of three hundred acres which lies in Greeley and Douglas township.
He has placed at least five thousand dollars worth of improvements upon
his farm and now has one of the most attractive country homes in the township.
He raises about 90 acres of corn and seventy acres of other grain each
year, selling most of his grain, rather than feeding it to stock. Mr. Kobold was married February 22, 1879, to LUCY JOSACK,
daughter of JOSEPH and MARY (SHAEFFER) JOSACK.
To this union, eight children have been born: Joseph, Eva, Francis, Mary, Michael, Matilda, John and
Loretta. Mary is the wife of JOE
BLUM and has one child, Michael Kenneth. The
other children are still single and reside with their parents. Politically, Mr. Kobold has been identified with the Democratic party since coming to America and always has taken an interest in local political matters. At this time, he is serving as school director of Douglas Township and is giving careful attention to his duties in this connection. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic Church, are deeply interested in its welfare, and generous contributors to its maintenance. |