Gottlieb Krebs

As printed in 1909

GOTTLIEB KREBS.

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 History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.