Frederick B. Krehbiel

As printed in 1905

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.

In his religious relations Mr. Krehbie! is a member of the Mennonite church of Lee county, and politically, he is a lifelong Republican. He has not, however, possessed time or inclination to engage actively in partisan politics, or to do more than cast his ballot in favor of honest government.

Mr. Krehbiel is a son of John Charles and Katherine (Raber) Krehbiel. His father was born in Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, Germany June 9, 181 1. At the age of fifteen he learned the trade of a miller, and continued in that occupation in his native land until 1832, when he emigrated to the L'nited States and followed it for one year in Butler county, Ohio. He then returned to (germany and on April 12, 1837, was married to Miss Annie Wohlgemoth, who was also a native of Rheinpfalz, the date of her birth having been March, i8ri. On the dav of their marriage they sailed for America. They made their home in Butler county until the autumn of 1839, when they decided to seek the greater opportunities of the West and became pioneers of Lee county, Iowa, erecting their cabin of logs at W'est Point..\t that place the wife died the following year, leaving two children: John J., now a resident of Newton, Kansas, who was born in Ohio, May 3. 1838, and Hannah M., Iiorn in Lee county, November 26, 1839, now the widow of Daniel Ilertzler, late of Mount Rich, Kansas.

On July 31, 184), Mr. Krehbiel's father was remarried, his second wife being Katherine, daughter of Christian Raber, an early settler of the county. She was born in Baden, Germany, April 8, 1826. In the autumn of 1849 John Charles Krehbiel was ordained pastor of the Mennonite church, a position he retained until the time of his death. In 1857 lie removed to the village of West Point, where he purchased a half interest in the sawmill known as the Krehbiel & Risser mill. Of his second marriage were born ten children, as follows: Annie M., wife of Edward Brown, of Denmark, Lee county; Christian W., deceased; Frederick B., the subject of this review; Katherine B., deceased; Elizabeth, wife of John Trowbridge, of Denmark; Daniel S.; Sarah M., deceased; Sarah R., wife of Lewis Bretz, of Deer Creek, Oklahoma; Charles W., a resident of McPherson Center, Kansas, and Henry IL, of Lingborg, Kansas. The father of the family died at West Point, February 26, 1886, at the age of seventy-five years. He was successful in business; was very public spirited, and was generally respected. He was elected to a number of township and county offices and performed their duties with ethciency and honor. He was buried at West Point. Mrs.

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

Mr. Krehbiel has been a witness of many improvements in general conditions in Lee county, has viewed its rise, in fact, from an almost primitive state to the proudest position in the commonwealth. Moreover, he has borne a worthy part in the general advancement, as his ability has enabled him to do. He is a man of strong character, and has won success by his own efforts, and this achievement has gained for him the respect of all, while his genial disposition has made him many friends.

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.