Claus Stoltenberg

As printed in 1910

CLAUS STOLTENBERG.

Investigation into the history of Davenport shows that the native sons of the fatherland have been prominent and conspicuous factors in the business activity and development of the city. The industry and resolute purpose characteristic of the representatives of the Teutonic race have constituted salient features in the commercial progress of the city and prominent as a representative of this class is Claus Stoltenberg, now president of the Farmers & Mechanics Savings Bank.

He was born April 1, 1831, in Germany, and when sixteen years of age accompanied his father, Hans Stoltenberg, to the United States, the year of emigration being 1847. The mother had previously died in her native land. On reaching American shores the father made his way into the interior of the country, settling in Davenport township, Scott county, Iowa, where he entered land from the government and developed a homestead, on which he reared his family.

Claus Stoltenberg had acquired a good education in his native country and after coming to the United States bent his energies to the development of the home farm. Scott county at that time was largely an unimproved district, in which were many evidences of frontier life. There were no schools in Davenport township at that time and the homes were widely scattered, while much of the land was still unclaimed and uncultivated, but the state was rich in its natural resources and the opportunities afforded made for success when ambition and energy prompted their immediate utilization. Claus Stoltenberg was one of the younger children of his father's family and, like the others, was reared to farm life amid the scenes of a pioneer existence. He and his brothers, Hans and Joachim, turned their attention to farming, each receiving eighty acres. The subject of this review remained upon his father's farm for forty-six years, prospering as time passed and accumulating, as the result of his well directed industry, considerable land and money. He was diligent and persistent and his careful management brought him substantial success. In 1893 he retired from farm work and came to Davenport, where he has since figured in the financial circles of the city. In connection with Fred Heinz and others he organized the Farmers & Mechanics Savings Bank, of which Mr. Heinz became president, while Mr. Stoltenberg accepted the vice presidency and later succeeded Mr. Heinz as president. B. J. Meyer became cashier and the business was instituted upon a safe and paying basis, its conservative methods commending it to the patronage and support of the general public. Mr. Stoltenberg was also connected with the Davenport Malting Company for a number of years.

In 1853 Mr. Stoltenberg was married to Miss Anna Sindt, a native of Germany, who came to Davenport in 1851 with her father, Hans Sindt. Mr. Stoltenberg is very prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, his life being a splendid exemplification of the basic principles of the order. His political allegiance has been given to the democracy since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he served as county supervisor from 1892 until 1895. While he is interested in the political situation of the country, he has concentrated his efforts more largely upon business affairs and has won commendable success. He stands as a splendid type of the German pioneer of worth in citizenship, progressive in thought and action — a man of high character, honored wherever known and most of all where best known.

As printed in History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa : Illustrated (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.