The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
F. J. KOEPKE.
F. J. Koepke is a well known representative of activity in the field of insur- ance. He handles all kinds of insurance, including lightning, tornado and burglary insurance on banks, residences and mercantile interests. He also han- dles surety and fidelity bonds and the working men's compensation. He has his offices at No. 502 Marsh-Place building in Waterloo and his life is a very busy one because of the many clients that he has secured and the steady growth of the business since he embarked in this field of labor.
Mr. Koepke is a native of Germany. He was born October 17, 1855, a son of Joe and Sophia Koepke. The mother died in Germany and the father after- ward married again in that country. He cam.e to the United States in 1872 and settled in Denver, Bremer county, Iowa, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until he had acquired a substantial competence. He then put aside business cares and took up his abode near Raymond, Iowa, where he passed away in October, 1888. His widow still survives and is now eighty-nine years of age. By his first marriage were born two sons: F. J., of this review; and Henry, who is extensively engaged in wheat-raising in Umatilla county, Oregon. There vv?as also a daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Conrad Widman but died in 1913. By the father's second marriage there were two daughters: Louisa, the wife of Charley Snebly ; and Sophia, who married Christ Venter, of Black Hawk county, Iowa.
F. J. Koepke came to the L'nited States with his father when seventeen years of age. In the meantime he had acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Germany and after reaching Iowa he attended school in Bremer county. When his text-books were put aside he began farming and after following that occupation for two years he came to Waterloo, where he served an apprentice-
ship in the shops of the IlHnois Central Railroad Company, where he was em- ployed for eighteen years. He then became a traveling salesman for the Water- loo Gasoline Engine Company of Waterloo, Iowa, and for ten years he operated a dairy in this city. He then opened an insurance office, handling all kinds of insurance. He is also now renting houses and dealing in real estate in addition to other lines of business activity. He has land interests in Minnesota and a fine home and other residence property in W^aterloo. He is determined and energetic and brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort. He knows that reliable dealing will win public confidence and that business will result therefrom, and the principles which have guided him in all of his business dealings are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
In 1883 Mr. Koepke was united in marriage to Miss Alary Proeshold, who was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa, a daughter of Godfrey and Christina Proeshold, both of whom were natives of Germany and on coming to Iowa cast in their lot with the pioneer citizens of Fort Dodge. Mr. and Mrs. Koepke have nine children : H. C, who is now a minister of the gospel, preaching in Hardin county; Louise, the wife of E. O. Bertram, of Benton county; Carl C, of Waterloo, who is with the Schanlan System & Accounting Company of Chicago and Waterloo ; Alma, who attended the Waterloo Business College and is now a stenographer in her father's office; L. G., who is manager of the shoe depart- ment for the firm of Lightbody & Wlngate at Superior, W^isconsin ; Clara, who is a graduate of the Waterloo Business College and is employed as a stenog- rapher by I. J. Koover ; Ernest W^., who is with the Fowler Wholesale Grocery Company ; Flerbert, a student in the high school ; and Helene, who is attending a German school.
The family are of the Lutheran faith. They reside at No. 233 Alaple street in Waterloo, and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Koepke is a democrat in politics but not an office seeker. He is preeminently a business man, giving the greater part of his attention to his business interests with the result that success in a creditable measure has at- tended him.
Source: History of Black Hawk County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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