The Lee County histories sketch two Krehbiel households, both German and both Mennonite, but they never say how the two were related, so they are kept apart here. John Charles Krehbiel, a miller from the Rheinpfalz in Bavaria, married in 1837, sailed for America the same day, and settled at West Point in 1839; he was ordained pastor of the Mennonite church in 1849 and died at West Point in 1886. His son Frederick B. Krehbiel, born at West Point in 1851, worked twenty-eight years as a blacksmith at Denmark and then farmed 378 acres in Pleasant Ridge Township. Christian and Mary (Schnebele) Krehbiel came to Franklin Township in 1851, built an 80-acre start into 415 acres, and helped build the first Mennonite church in Lee County; their sons Valentine J. and Rudolph H. farmed and raised stock there. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Lee County history.
Earliest in the record
Rev. John Charles Krehbielborn 1811Most recent in our records
Rudolph H. Krehbielborn 1866Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Miller, sawmill owner and Mennonite pastor at West Point
Blacksmith at Denmark; farmer in Pleasant Ridge Township
FREDERICK B. KREHBIEL
Frederick B. Krehbiel, one of the respected and well-known citizens of Fort Madisnn. where he is leading a life of retirement at his pleasant home, 1401 Sixth street, is one of Lee county's native sons, having been born at West Point, January 4, 185 1. There he acted as assistant to his father in the farm work and applied himself to acquiring an education in the public schools until his nineteenth year, when he decided to liegen his independent career. Going to the village of Denmark, this county, he learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed at that place for twenty-eight years, achieving, by his energy, honesty and devotion to his work, an important financial success. After learning the trade he bought the shop of his employer. On terminating his business at Denmark in March, 1896, he purchased a farm of 378 acres in Pleasant Ridge township. The land at that time was only partially improved, but Mr. Krehbiel has since placed the entire tract under cultivation, and also erected some of the present buildings. Here he remained for a period of eight years, engaged in general farming and the raising of high-grade stock, in which he met with a considerable degree of success. In 1903, having decided to retire from active life, he resigned the management of the farm to his son, and removed with his family to Fort Madison, where he purchased the present home and has since resided.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Settled in Franklin Township in 1851
Farmer and livestock shipper; township trustee
VALENTINE J. KREHBIEL.
One of the prominent younger farmers of I-'franklin township, where he owns 215 acres of farm lands, as also seventy-five acres in Harrison township, is Valentine J. Ivrehbiel. He was born on a farm adjoining that on which he now resides.September 16, 1862, the son of Christian and Mary- (Schnebele) Krehbiel, both natives of Germany. Their portraits appear upon opposite page. The father was a man of enterprising spirit, and came to America in 1850. at aliout twenty years of age, locating in Ohio. The following year, 1851, he came west and located in Franklin township. Lee county. Iowa. His future wife came to the township) about the same time, with her parents. Here he took employment as a farm hand, in which he continued for about five years, when he married, and having saved his earnings, was able to purchase a farm. This consisted of eighty acres of unimproved land, upon which stood a log house. This tract he cleared and made it productive, occasionally adding to it by further purchases, until finally he was the owner of 415 acres in this township, besides a great deal of land in Kansas and forty-five acres in Harrison township. Pie was a self-made man, and by his own efforts came to be one of the most successful farmers in this section of the county. He was also an important factor in the township's affairs, and was for a number of terms trustee of the township. He was a lifelong Democrat, and often served the party in county conventions. His death occurred in 1899. and that of his widow in 1902.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer and stock raiser, section 29, Franklin Township
RUDOLPH H. KREHBIEL.
In order to properly and fully iniderstand the greatness of the country in which we live it is necessary to make a study of the various sources from which that greatness arises, to analyze its elements, and to appraise, with what accuracy we may. the value and importance of its several constituent parts; and in any inquiry of this kind it invariably appears that a very great measure of credit is due to families of Germanic origin, and that the energy, enterprise and keen mentality of this class of citizens has entitled the part ])layed by them in the material, moral and civic advancement of the nation to be considered highly e.excellent, ]3raiseworthy and broadly significant. A re])rescntali\e of this class of estimable citizens in Lee county and a member of one of its old and prominent families, is Rudolph H. Krehbiel, of Franklin township, where he resides on a large and highly improved farm in section 29 and successfully conducts a business of general farming and stock-raising.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
On May 15, 1892, Mr. Krehbiel was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lowenberg, a native of Lee county and a daughter of Valentine and Kate (Krehbiel) Lowenberg. Mrs. Krehbiel's father was born in Germany, and when only fourteen years of age came to America, locating in Lee county, where he successfully engaged in farming throughout his active life. To Mr. and Mrs. Krehbiel have been born eight sons and daughters, as follows: Hilda, Edgar, Robert, Iary. Rudolph, Kurt, Lillian and Honier, who died at the age of two months. All had Franklin township for their place of birth, and are being educated in the public schools of that township.
Mr. Krehbiel is a member of the Mennonite church and an acti\e supporter of its work as of all movements calculated to secure the welfare of his conmnmitv. \Mn'lc an advocate of all progressive measures and taking a great interest in public affairs, he has never aspired to public office, but contents himself with conscientious effort in his capacity of private citizen to promote honest and efficient government. In his partisan relations he is a member of the Democratic party, believing the principles and declared policies of that organization to lie the highest embodiment of American political science, !)ut usually maintains an independent attitude in affairs of local government, casting his ballot according to his individual estimate of the men and measures involved. Always public spirited and ready to aid all worthy enterprises, he was at one time a stockholder in the Bank of Donnellson during the earlier history of that institution, but has not maintained the connection. Mr. Krehbiel's position among the progressive and substantial citizens of Lee county is one of the very highest, and by reason of his successful career, his representative character and his wide acquaintance he is well deserving of a prominent place in a work of the present nature.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops in the early 1900s. We pick up from there and trace your line down to you and back as far as the records go, into a written book with every source cited.
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