The Glab Families of Dubuque County, Iowa

Adam Glab, pioneer business man of Dubuque, now deceased, was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, November 17, 1828. He acquired a practical education in his native country and there first learned that success was to be obtained only through industry and economy. In 1852 he immigrated to the United States and the same year located in Dubuque, Iowa, which was ever afterwards his home. For a number of years he followed mining, as was the usual custom of the early settlers, but in 1866, at a cost of $50,000, he built the Northern Brewery and was thereafter actively identified with the brewing interests of Dubuque until his death. Mr. Glab was a fine example of the self-made man. He started out in life for himself without a dollar. A stranger in a strange land, unacquainted with the ways and customs of a people speaking an unknown tongue, his efforts were in many ways impeded. He possessed natural qualities of shrewdness and sound business ideas, and gradually prospered until he had accumulated a competency. He was a close observer of human nature, generous in his relations with his fellow men and was a liberal contributor to charitable and deserving objects. In 1850 he married Katharina Werner, by whom he became the father of eight children, the following named six now living: Louise, Nicholas, Margaret, Alois, Frank and Kathrina. Mr. Glab and family were adherents of the Roman Catholic faith. He died November 26, 1880, and his widow on February 7, 1903. They were among the best people of this locality.

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

Nicholas Glab, the eldest son of Adam Glab, was born in the city of Dubuque, April 10, 1857, and was here reared to manhood and received his education. He has, all his life, made this place his home. He was associated with his father in the management of the Glab Brewery until his father's death, after which he and his brothers, Alois and Frank, conducted the business under the name of The Glab Brothers until the consolidation of several brewing interests in 1892, and from that time until May, 1910, was president and general manager of the new organization. At the latter date he retired from the more active duties and business cares of life, devoting the time to looking after his extensive property interests in and around Dubuque. He belongs to the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat. On May 4, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Homan, daughter of Mathias Homan, who died September 5, 1905, leaving one daughter and three sons, as follows: Mary K., the wife of Karl Ziepprecht, of Dubuque; William M., a member of the Board of Supervising Engineers of the Chicago Street Railway Company; Edward; and John Irwin, a student at the Northwestern Military Academy. For his second wife Mr. Glab married, on February 7, 1910, Miss Sarah E. Deggendorff, daughter of the old settlers, John and Sarah Deggendorff. Their home is at 3216 Couler Avenue, Dubuque.

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

John Glab, one of Dubuque county's highly respected citizens, is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the village of Guegesheim, of Hesse-Darmstadt, November 11, 1834. He was one of a family of six children born to Christoph and Elizabeth Glab, both of whom were descended from old German families, and who in 1854 immigrated to the United States and located on a farm in Dubuque county. The father was an honest, conscientious man, a credit to any community, and after a long and useful life of eighty-eight years passed away on the old homestead in 1888. His wife died ten years before, at the age of seventy-eight. Their son, John, the immediate subject of this review, received his schooling in the public institutions of his native country, and after coming to America worked for a time in a lead mine in this county. He then followed teaming for a while, and subsequently freighted wood on the Mississippi river until 1865. He then bought a distillery and a flour mill, but disposed of same after successfully operating them five years, and in 1870 established himself in the manufacture of vinegar and pickles, which industry he continued for a period of thirty-six years. The building he occupied is now one of Dubuque's hostelries, known as the Glab House. Mr. Glab has always taken an active interest in local affairs of importance, and served as alderman from his ward during 1883 and 1884, and as mayor of Dubuque

S8o in 1885 and 1886. In religion he is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith and is a member of St. Mary's church. On December 7

1 86 1, at Dubuque, he was united in marriage with Miss Louise Wagner, daughter of Peter Wagner, who died on the voyage from Germany to this country. To Mr. and Mrs. Glab four sons and two daughters have been born, as follows: John Nicholas, who died in 1897, aged thirty-seven; Lena, wife of B. D. Heeb, capitalist residing in California; Henry, of St. Louis; Lulu, who married F. K. Matterson, deceased, and now resides with her father; Leo F., a plumber of this city; and Morris P., a news agent. MnGlab's residence is at 846 West Fifth street, his home for the past forty years. For the past eight years Mr. Glab has been justice of the peace in Dubuque.

Prof. George F. Gerken, in charge of the parochial school at New Vienna, is a native of Dubuque County, Iowa, a son of Henry and Anna (Winter) Gerken and a grandson of Herman Gerken. The latter came from the Prussian Province of Westphalia, Germany, to America and Dubuque county in 1850, and for a time followed carpentering.

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