The Blaul Family of Des Moines County, Iowa

JOHN BLAUL, a pioneer merchant of Burlington, Iowa, and the founder of the well-known wholesale grocery house of John / Blaul & Sons of that city, was a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, on the border of Rhenish Bavaria, near the historic city of Worms. Mr. Blaul received a liberal education, served an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade, and in 1850 emigrated to America, spending six j'ears in New

England, where he worked at his trade and then came to Burlington, Iowa. In company with his brother-in-law. Theodore Pochler (now a wholesale grocer of Lawrence, Kan. he opened a small retail grocery store on Fiontstieet. A few years later Ml-. Blaul bought out his partner's interest, and continued the business alone until 1865, when he sold out. Two years later he formed a partnership in the grocery business with Philip Herr, on the south side of Jefferson street between Main and Front, and in 1869 purchased Mr. Herr's interest, and continued the business alone. In 1874, Mr. Blaul began jobbing and doing a general wholesale grocery business in a building adjoining his old stand. The business prospered, and his.sons, John, Charles, Theodore and Louis, who had assisted him from their boyhood, were adniittetl to partnership, and the firm of John Blaul ife Sons was organized. The three elder sons went on the road as traveling salesmen, and by their energy and business tact rapidly increased the trade of the house, till it became one of the leading wholesale grocery firms in the State. Mr. Blaul continued his connection with and supervision of the business till his death, which occurred Jan. 27, 188.5. He had begun his career as a merchant at Burlington with a very limited capital, but, possessing good business ability, he prospered from the start, increasing.and extending his trade as his increased capital permitted. Always prudent and conservative, he established a reputation as a safe, reliable man, whose integrity was beyond question and credit gilt edged. He was ably seconded in his later years by his sons, now proprietors, who, with the energy of youth and the enterprise of the Ayest, aided materially in the prosperity of the house. His successful rise, through the legimate course of business, from the position of a small retail grocer to that of proprietor of one of the most important wholesale houses, shows what can be accomplished by patient effort, when directed by good business ability.

Mr. Blaul was twice married, his first wife dying in Boston, Mass., and her only surviving child is John, Jr. The second marriage occurred in Burlington, Iowa, in 1857, the wife's maiden name being Caroline Knoener. She was born in Germany, and is the daughter of Charles Knoener, a pioneer settler of Des Moines County. Five sons and two daughters were born to this second marriage. The daughters, Amelia and Pauline, reside with their mother; Charles, the eldest son, married Miss Jessie Stephen; Theodore is the husband of Miss Emma Unterkirchner; Louis is single; and two younger children, sons, died in childhood. Mr. Blaul was a member of the First German Evangelical Church of Burlington. In politics he was a Republican, but never an active partisan or an aspirant for office. His taste lay more in the way of business, to which he gave his undivided attention, and the prosperous and extensive wholesale house, which still bears his name, is a monument to his memory and its history tells a story of a self-made man, one who began his business career without other capital than sound judgment, indomitable energy, correct business principles and unquestioned integrity, who, by persevering industry, enterprise and judicious management built up an important business and accumulated a large property. Mr. Blaul was a plain, unpretending business man, sagacious and conservative, always perfectly reliable and held in high esteem by those with whom he had business or social relations.

John Blaul, Jr.. of the firm of John Blaul <fe Sons, wholesale grocers, Burlington. Iowa, was born in Boston. Mass., Feb. 1 1, 1853, and is the son of John Blaul, deceased. He came to Burlington with his father in 1856, was educated in the public schools, and trained to mercantile pursuits in his father's store. In 1882. he was admitted to partnership with his father and brotlicr in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of John Blaul ife Sons, of which he is now the buyer and also the financial manager. During his boyhood, while his father was in the retail business. Mr. Blaul began working for him as a salesman. He took an active interest in the management of the wholesale business from its commencement, and spent two years traveling on the road, since which time he has been actively identified with the general management of the affairs of the house. On May 13, 1877, at Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Blaul was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Dewein, daughter of Jacob Dewein, a pioneer of Burlington of 1841. Mrs. Blaul was born at Burlington, Iowa, April IG, 1853, and her mother, the only surviving parent, resides with her. Mr. and Mrs. Blaul have been the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom only two sons are living. Clara, the eldest, died in infancy; Lulu died at the age of five years, and John died aged fourteen months. Those living are: Milton Albert, who w.is born July 4, 1884, and Marcus Theodore, born Feb. 15, 1887.

Charles Blaul was born in this city July 28, 1860_ He was educated in the public schools, received his first lessons in business.as a salesman in his father's wholesale grocery house, spent eight ye.ars on the road in the same line and was admitted to partnership in the firm in 1882. He h.as been actively engaged in this business since 1875, having, by his energy and business ability, aided materially in the prosperity of the house, and.also in increasing and building up its extensive trade. He now has charge of the traveling salesmen in the employ of the firm, who are eight in number, and has general supervision over their extensive coffee and spice mills. In Wapello, Iowa, Mr. Blaul wedded Miss Jessie Stephen, daughter of Levi and Jane (Dickeson) Stephen. Mrs. Blaul is a native of Wapello, Iowa. They have one child, a daughter, Jessie Marie. Mr. Blaul is a Republican in politics, and while taking a warm interest in the administration of public affairs, has never been an aspirant for office. His important business interests occupy his full time, and the prosperity of the house of John Blaul & Sons is his first care.

Theodore Blaul was born in this city Feb. 23, 1862. He was educated at Burlington, and was trained in the mercantile business in the counting-house of his father. In 1883 he went on the road as traveling salesman for the firm, of which he had been made a member the previous year, traveling in the interest of the house until 1886, since which time the city trade has been under his management. At Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 14, 1886. the marriage of Theodore Blaul and Miss Emma Unterkirchner was celebrated. She was born on Dec. 16, 1866, and is a daughter of P. F. Unterkirchner. A most efficient salesman and competent business man, he has taken an active part in advancing the interests of his house.

Louis Blaul was born in this city Oct. 16, 1863, and was educated in the city schools. He entered the counting-house of his father in 1879 and has been constantly employed in that department of the business since. In 1885 he was admitted to partnership in the house, and is now head book-keeper and cashier. Exact, methodical and careful, Mr. Blaul has proved competent and faithful in the discharge of the important duties devolving upon him.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

No history of Burlington and Des Moines county would be complete were there failure to make reference to John Blaul and the family of which he is a most worthy representative. The name has long been associated with the commercial development of Burlington and has ever been a synonym for enterprise and honorable dealing. It is true that he whose name introduces this review entered upon a business already established, but in controlling and enlarging this many a man of less resolute spirit and of more limited business capacity would have failed. The wholesale grocery house of the Blaul Company is today the result of the cooperation, enterprise and business capacity of the father and sons and at the head of the business at the present time is John Blaul of this review.

Mr. Blaul was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February ii, 1853, but from the age of four years has been a resident of Burlington. The family name indicates his German lineage. The American progenitor was the Rev. John Blaul, a native of Germany and a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He did not himself come to the new world but his son, John Blaul, crossed the Atlantic and was the founder and promoter of the large wholesale grocery enterprise now conducted under the name of the John Blaul Sons' Company. His birth occurred in Hesse-Darmstadt on the 18th of December, 1826, and he was educated for the profession of school teaching, but he heard the call of the west and could not remain content in his native country with the alluring opportunities of the new world before him. As a passenger on a sailing vessel in the year 1850 he spent three or four months upon the broad Atlantic before reaching the American coast. After a brief period passed in Norwich, Connecticut, he went to Bangor, Maine, and also resided for a time in Boston, Massachusetts, before coming to Burlington. While in Bangor he worked for sixty cents per day and was ready to perform any service that would enable him to earn a living while he was mastering the English language and acquainting himself with the methods and customs of the new world and its trade conditions. For a time he occupied a position in a machine shop in Bangor, from which he removed in 1856 to Boston. It was through the influence of an old friend, August Poehler, a mechanic, who was employed in Burlington, that he came to this city. Soon after his arrival he secured a position in a tin shop but in 1857 embarked in the retail grocery business on Front street as a partner of Theodore Poehler. These gentlemen were also closely associated through the fact of having married sisters. Their business relations continued harmoniously and uninterruptedly for a number of years but eventually Mr. Poehler withdrew and joined his brother August in business, while Mr. Blaul continued alone in the retail grocery trade until the close of the Civil war in 1865. He then sold out to his former partner and in 1866 reentered the trade as a wholesale and retail grocer at No. 113 Jefferson street. Through the two succeeding years he had as a partner Philip Hoerr and while one was upon the road building up a trade the other managed the business in Burlington. After Mr. Hoerr sold out in 1869 Mr. Blaul was alone until he admitted his oldest son to a partnership in 1882 and later the other sons became members of the firm, at which time the business was conducted under the style of John Blaul & Sons, and the trade was confined exclusively to the wholesale business. The father remained as the administrative head of the business until his life's labors were ended in death on the 27th of January, 1885.

A contemporary biographer has said of him: "He was a prudent, conservative man, whose advancement came through his own untiring efforts, keen discernment, and the careful husbanding of his resources. He concentrated his energies upon his business affairs, and his name became a synonym for honorable dealing and commercial success. He was plain and unostentatious in manner, but possessed the worth of character that won him the confidence of the entire business community. He was married first in Germany to Miss Maria Anna Neufeld, who died in Boston, Massachusetts, in December, 1854. The children of that marriage died in infancy, with the exception of John Blaul, who is now at the head of the grocery house. In 1857 John Blaul, Sr., was again married, his second union being with Caroline Knoener, a daughter of Charles and Katherine Knoener, who were natives of Germany and came to Burlington early in the '50s from Lippe-Detmold. Her father was a school teacher and taught in the parochial schools of Burlington, in connection with the carrying on of agricultural pursuits. His daughter, Mrs. Blaul, died in

August, 1902. The children of this marriage were: Charles; Theodore; Louis; Amelia; Pauline, who died in 1901; and two who died in childhood."

Of this family Charles Blaul was born in Burlington, July 28, 1860, and entered the firm in 1882. He spent eight years as a traveling salesman and then took charge of the coffee and spice mills of the company. In Wapello, Iowa, he wedded Miss Jessie Stephen, a daughter of Levi and Jane (Dickeson) Stephen. Theodore Blaul, born February 23, 1862, was also admitted to partnership in 1882 and in the following year became the representative of the house upon the road, thus remaining until 1886, when he was placed in charge of the canning plant owned and controlled by the firm. On the lath of October, 1886, he wedded Miss Emma Unterkircher, a daughter of P. F. Unterkircher. The birth of the youngest son, Louis Blaul, occurred October 16, 1863, and after attending the public schools until 1879 he entered the store and was admitted to partnership in 1885. He was head bookkeeper and cashier for a number of years, but in 1902 took up his above upon a farm south of Burlington. He is still financially interested in the business and has other extensive connections with commercial enterprises of this city.

The eldest son of the family is John Blaul whose name introduces this review and who is now at the head of the business established by his father. At the usual age he became a pupil in the public schools, passing through the grammar grades and taking up the work of the high school. His business training was received in the employ and under the direction of his father and after reaching the age of si.teen years his entire time and attention were given to the grocery trade. In 1882 he was admitted to a partnership and following the demise of his father succeeded to the presidency of the company.

The business is one of far-reaching scope and importance. Theirs was primarily a wholesale grocery house but their trade relations have constantly broadened in scope and for a considerable period they have made a special feature of importing coffee and spices and in their factory they grind their own spices and also manufacture flavoring extracts and baking powder. In 1891; they established a canning factory and are now engaged in canning tomatoes, pumpkins, hominy, apples and baked beans. Their employes in these two connections number one hundred and fifty, two-thirds of the number being in the manufacturing department and one-third in the canning department. They have a large force of city and traveling salesmen and every phase of their business is being most carefully conducted with the result that greater success is constantly accruing. The family still own the business block in which the father established his store at No. I 13 Jefferson street. In 1880 he built a store at No. 1 13 North Third street, between Valley and Market, and in 1892 the brothers erected a part of their present fine business block, to which an addition was built in 1903. "I'his is a stone and brick structure, the two upper stories being of brick. Excellent railroad facilities have been secured, a track extending to the doors so that cars can be loaded and unloaded without the nee.d of teaming transfers. With the incorporation of the business on the ist of February, 1903, under the name of the John Blaul Sons' Company the oldest brother, John Blaul, became the president, with Charles as vice president, Theodore as treasurer and E. G. Koonz as secretary. The four Blaul brothers, together with W. H. Ripley, A. H. Riepe and E. B. Kerns constitute the board of directors and several of these gentlemen represent the house upon the road as traveling salesmen. They have altogether eighteen traveling men, who cover a large territory in the west and northwest, beside a portion of Illinois. Their business has now reached extensive and gratifying proportions. In this connection it has been said: "From a small retail grocery trade the enterprise has developed until it has reached extensive proportions, covering many branches, each one supplying a large patronage. The annual business has reached a very large figure, and the house has ever maintained an unassailable reputation, the straightforward policy inaugurated by the father being maintained by the sons. They are men of resourceful business ability, who have found in the business conditions of the present opportunity for advancement and successful accomplishment, and their position in commercial circles of Burlington is second to none."

Having spent practically his entire life in Burlington, during much of which time he has been a prominent figure in commercial circles, John Blaul is widely known, and the consensus of public opinion places him high in the regard of his fellow citizens. He was married on the 13th of May, 1877, when Miss Louise Dewein, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Meier) Dewein, became his wife. Her parents arrived in Burlington in 1841 and her father here followed shoemaking. Mrs. Blaul was born April 13, 1853, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children, but three of the number, Clara, Louise and John, died in early life. Those who survive are Milton, Mark, Robert and Selma.

Mr. Blaul holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, yet for four years filled the position of alderman and exercised his official prerogatives in support of many progressive public movements. He belongs to the Business Men's Association and cooperates heartily in all of its efforts for the improvement of commercial and industrial conditions and the extension of Burlington's trade relations. His name is synonymous with progress. Character, balance, harmony and sound judgment are his native traits, and evenness and poise are also features in his makeup. Anyone meeting Mr. Blaul face to face would know at once that he is an individual embodying all the elements of what in this country we term a "square" man — one in whom to have confidence, a dependable man in any relation and any emergency. His quietude of department, his easy dignity, his frankness and cordiality of address, with the total absence of anything minister or anything to conceal, foretoken a man who is ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Burlington Canning Company, a branch of the business of the firm, which was established in 1895. Here tomatoes, pumpkins, hominy, and apples have been canned, and after a year a pickling department was added, and olives, catsup, and other goods in the pickle line, were put up. Theodore Blaul now has charge of the canning department and of special lines of goods in the house, including syrups and cigars, and also has charge of the buildings. The present commodious building occupied by the firm was begun and the east side completed in 1903. The original building is sixty by one hundred and forty feet, and the L is forty by one hundred and twenty feet. The brothers, each having charge of some special branch of the business, have developed one of the leading commercial enterprises of the State, with a trade that is increasing each year, and the policy of the house is one that commends itself to their many patrons.

In 1886 Mr. Blaul, of this review, was married to Miss Emma L. Unterkircher, a daughter of P. F. Unterkircher, of Burlington. They have four children: Phoebe C, Theodore F., Emma Louise, and Arthur Philip. Mr. and Mrs. Blaul are members of the Presbyterian church. Socially he is connected with the Burlington Boating Association, the Burlington Golf Club, and the Crystal Lake Fishing Club. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he keeps in touch with the questions and issues of the day, although never seeking political preferment. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, a-pleasant, entertaining companion, and has many stanch and admiring friends among all classes. As an energetic, upright, and conscientious business man and a gentleman of attractive social qualities, -he stands high in the estimation of the entire community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Louis Bl.\ul, of Burlington, Iowa, occupying a prominent position in the progressive business circles of the city as vice-president of the Schmidt Hardware Company, was born in Burlington, Oct. 16, 1863, a son of John and Catherine Blaul, a full account of whose lives and ancestry will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Blaul is indebted to the public schools of this city for his early education, but after leaving the work of his preliminary studies he entered Elliott's Business College of Burlington, and pursued a course of training in business principles and commercial forms. Thus equipped for practical endeavor he entered his father's business, in which he continued until attaining manhood's estate. This training under the paternal direction has since proved of great value, and has played an appreciable part in his later successes.

On April 17, 1895, Mr. Blaul wedded Miss Bertha Paehler, of Lawrence, Kansas, a daughter of Theodore and Sophie (Tappe) Paehler, and four children grace their union, these being Sophie C, Bertha P., Laura L., and John Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Blaul are prominently identified with the work of the Congregational church, of which they are members and generous supporters; and in a social way. Mr. Blaul is a member of the Burlinsrton

Boating Association. Politically, he is allied with the Republican party, but devotes his attention primarily to matters of business rather than to partisan activity. His rise has been steady and his success marked, and he enjoys a degree of popularity which is bright with promise for the future, as well as being the best possible testimony to the strength, uprightness, and integrity of his character.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.