The Krebs Family of Washington County, Iowa

FREDERICK KREBS, farmer, was born in Wernigersock. Prussia, in 1820, and is the son of Henry and Louisa (Spe,ar) Krebs. Henry Krebs was born in Prussia, but his wife was a native of Hanover. He w.as a garden;- near the village mentioned, where he and his wife lived and died. They were the parents of seven children, of whom our subject is the only one now living.

Frederick Krebs, our subject, w.as reared and educated in Prussia, and while a resident of that country was engaged in the same business as his father, except that to this was added a knowledge of hothouse gardening, and this of itself is a wonderful science. The propagation of plants and gathering of seeds, which were sent throughout almost the whole world, was for many years his business. He was educated in German and Latin in the schools of his native country, and from his majority was enlisted in the German army, in which he served three years.

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

Charles Krebs, an energetic, alert and enterprising agriculturist of Iowa township, where he owns a well improved farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, was born in that township on the 7th of July, 1871, his parents being Frederick and Rachel ( Hagan ) Krebs, who were natives of Germany. In the '50s thev crossed the Atlantic to the new world, locating in the state of New York, where the father secured employment as a farm hand. Subsequently he removed to Massachusetts and later came to Washington county. Iowa, here purchasing a tract of land of forty acres. As the years passed and his financial resources increased through the careful conduct of his agricultural interests, he extended the boundaries of his farm by the additional purchase of land and continued to reside on that place until called to his final rest rm the 27th nt March, 11)04. His wife still survives at the age of seventy-three years and now makes her home in Riverside, Iowa. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children, namely: Mary, who is deceased; Louise, the wife of Jacob Franks, of Iowa township, Jane, who is the wife of Jacob Lawser and resides in Kalona, Iowa; Rachel, the wife of Charles Gerot, of Riverside, Iowa: Henry, whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Frederick and John, living in Iowa township; William; Charles, of this review; and Gottlieb, who is likewise a resident of Iowa township.

276 IIIS'n)K\' ( WASIIIXCl'i )X COl'XTV

Charles Krebs remained at home until the time of his marriage and then located on his present farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, which he had acquired from his father. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he has also been extensively engaged in the raising of black-faced sheep, this branch of activity adding not a little to his yearly income. The neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner and in all of his undertakings Mr. Krebs has gained that measure of success which is ever the reward of earnest, persistent and untiring labor when guided by sound judgment and keen discrimination.

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

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

Iowa with its splendid agricultural possibilities offers excellent opportunity to him who Avishes to earn his living by the tilling of the soil. Devoting his time and energies in successful manner to the cultivation and improvement of a farm, Gottlieb Krebs has become well known as a prominent and progressive citizen of Iowa township, where he owns and operates two hundred acres of land. He was born on the farm where he now resides, January 7, 1874, a son of Frederick and Rachel ( Hagen ) Krebs. The parents were natives of Germany and came to the United States in the '50s, locating first in New York, where the father was engaged as a farm hand. They later removed to Massachusetts and subsequently came west, establishing their home in Washington county, this state, where the father purchased forty acres of farm land. He became a very successful farmer and as he prospered he extended his possessions until he was an extensive owner of valuable land. He passed away on the 27th of March, 1904, and is still survived by his wife, who, at the age of seventy-three years, resides in Riverside, Iowa. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Krebs were the following children: Mary, deceased: Louise, the wife of Jacob Franks, of Iowa township; Jane, who wedded Jacob Lawser and resides in Kalona, Iowa; Rachel, the wife of Charles Gerot, living in Riverside: Henry, a farmer of Washington county; Frederick and John, living in Iowa township; William; and Charles, also residents of Iowa township: and Gottlieb, of this review.

Gottlieb Krebs spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, acquiring his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. The periods of vacation were devoted to the work of the fields and he early became familiar with the tasks that commonly fall to the farm lad. When he laid aside his text-books he those as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He therefore remained at home, operating the farm in partnership with his father until the latter's demise, when the old homestead was deeded to him and he has continued to reside thereon to the present time. It is a finely improved place of two hundred acres of valuable land, while he also owns ten acres of timberland. He carries on general agricultural pursuits, having brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, and also devotes a large portion of his time and attention to the raising of cattle and hogs. This branch of his business interests has been most successful and is proving a very substantial source of revenue.

Mr. Krebs was united in marriage in September, 1902, to Miss Mary Shebeck, of Riverside, Washington county. He is democratic in politics and is a stalwart supporter of the principles of that party, although neither desiring nor seeking public office as a reward for party fealty. He has never allied himself with any fraternal organization but prefers the pleasures and companionship offered at his own fireside. He has never sought to figure prominently in any public light, but in business has proven capable and reliable and his intense and well directed activity is now bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity which ranks him among the prosperous and representative farmers of this district. Having passed his entire life in the place where he now resides, his circle of acquaintances has become very extensive and the fact that he is most highly respected where he is best known is an indication that his salient characteristics are such as command the respect, trust and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.

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