The Haak Family

John Haak in History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa (1910

The full biographical sketch as printed in 1910, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

JOHN HAAK.

One of the most enterprising young business men of Davenport is John Haak, manager of the Davenport Leaf Tobacco Company, which is located at 319 Western avenue. A native of this city, he was born August 7, 1872, a son of Ferdinand and Caroline (Kohrdt) Haak. The father was bom in Elmshorn, Germany, about four miles from Hungary, in 1845, his parents being Carsten and Lesette (Oldendorf ) Haak. Carsten Haak was a man of means, who came to this country in 1857 and began farming in the vicinity of Davenport. He died in 1888. His son, the father of our subject, came here at about the age of twelve years, completing the education he had begun in Germany in the

schools of Davenport. His early life was spent upon a farm, but when he reached manhood he learned the trade of a cigarmaker, became foremen of a factory, and then, in 1870, engaged in his present business, which has grown to be one of the largest in the west. In it he had the assistance of his son John, the subject of this sketch. He was married in 1867 and became the father of seven children: Minnie, now the wife of Charles Meier; PauHne, the wife of E. Gruenewald and the mother of one child; John, the subject of this sketch; Richard, living in this county, who is married and has two daughters, Ermia and Elsie; Edna and Elsie, who are at home; and Theckla the wife of Frank Hetzel, of Sioux City, Iowa. The father belongs to the Turners and is a direc- tor in the Iowa National Bank.

John Haak received his early education in the common schools of Davenport and then took a commercial course in the business college here, after which he learned the trade of cigarmaker under his father's tutelage. He worked for the latter until 1896, when he branched out for himself, organizing the Globe Cigar Company. This business he conducted profitably until February, 1905, when a severe fire destroyed his father's establishment. Thereupon he sold his plant to the latter and engaged in 4eaf tobacco buying and selling. He started in a small way but through good management has brought his business up to the present high standard it now enjoys. Indeed, he is the only man in his section of the county who goes into the fields and buys his stock. In consequence he ob- tains the very best and in its freshest condition, so that he is able to dispose of it quickly and profitably, hampered by few competitors. He has eviriced strong business qualities, is keen in discovering opportunities and, having made a rep- utation for honesty, his word is as good as his bond.

On the 19th of October, 1899, Mr. Haak wedded Miss Mae Barbour, a daughter of John and Katherine (Mason) Barbour, of Ainsworth, Iowa. Three children have been born to the couple: Minnie, Gertrude and Ferdinand, Jr., all of whom are attending school. Mr. Haak belongs to the Turners Society and to the fraternal lodge of the T. P. A.

MRS. KATHRYN W. BLUEDORN.

Mrs. Kathryn W. Bluedorn, who owns a valuable tract of one hundred and fifty-nine acres in Davenport township, is the widow of Frederick O. Bluedorn and a daughter of August and Kathryn Petersen, who were among the very early German settlers of Scott county. They came from Germany in 1843 and upon their arrival here took up from the government the tract now occupied by their daughter. It was prairie land, and had never known the touch of plow or harrow, so that it was a difficult task that confronted the family when they set out to make their home in the new world. Mr. Petersen broke the land, prepared it for cultivation and instituted some of the improvements which now adorn the property.

On this homestead, Mrs. Bluedorn began her life, April 30, 1850. She was enrolled as a pupil in the district school of the locality, but owing to the death

KATHftYX W. BLURDORX

of her father, while she was still a child, she was forced to leave her lessons before well advanced in her studies and assist with the great amount of work there was to be done at home. She was but little more than eighteen years of age when, on the loth of November, 1868, she gave her hand in marriage to Frederick Bluedom, who had been born in Germany in 1840 and had come to this land with his parents, Charles and Louisa Bluedorn, when he was about fifteen years of age. He settled first in Davenport, where he worked at the trade of a cabinetmaker and later engaged in farm labor in the township of Davenport. After his marriage he assisted in the operation of the farm be- longing to his wife but was called to his final rest in 1892.

Mrs. Bluedorn became the mother of eleven children. Emelia married Ver- nard Hencher, of Davenport, and they have two children, Adolph and Florence. Gustave, who is residing in Sheridan township, wedded Miss Anna Kurt, and they have three daughters. Norma, Mildred and Malinda. Rosie became the wife of William Schumacher, of Davenport township, and they have one daugh- ter, Rosie. Rudolph married Miss Rosie Sepke. They live in Walcott, Iowa, and have four sons, Herbert, Rudolph, Edgar and Carl. Theodore, who lives in Sheridan township, wedded Miss Emma Kurt, and they have three daughters and one son, Edna, Ermal, Hilda and Stella. Emanda married Adolph Specie, of Davenport township, and they have one daughter, Ella. Fannie became the wife of John Eggers, of Davenport, Iowa. Frank lives at home and operates his mother's farm. The other three children died in infancy.

Mrs. Bluedom has experienced the many hardships which fell to the lot of those courageous men and women who sought to make a home for them- selves in this county in the early years of its settlement, but she has also sur- mounted all the trials of that period and in addition to being well situated now she has the satisfaction of knowing that her- children have grown to a useful maturity and, having profited by her teachings, hold honorable positions in their respective communities.

Source: History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa (1910. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.