John Blaul

As printed in 1888

OHN BLAUL, a pioneer merchant of Burlington, Iowa, and the founder of the well-known wholesale grocery house of John / Blaul & Sons of that city, was a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, on the border of Rhenish Bavaria, near the historic city of Worms. Mr. Blaul received a liberal education, served an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade, and in 1850 emigrated to America, spending six j'ears in New

England, where he worked at his trade and then came to Burlington, Iowa. In company with his brother-in-law. Theodore Pochler (now a wholesale grocer of Lawrence, Kan. he opened a small retail grocery store on Fiontstieet. A few years later Ml-. Blaul bought out his partner's interest, and continued the business alone until 1865, when he sold out. Two years later he formed a partnership in the grocery business with Philip Herr, on the south side of Jefferson street between Main and Front, and in 1869 purchased Mr. Herr's interest, and continued the business alone. In 1874, Mr. Blaul began jobbing and doing a general wholesale grocery business in a building adjoining his old stand. The business prospered, and his.sons, John, Charles, Theodore and Louis, who had assisted him from their boyhood, were adniittetl to partnership, and the firm of John Blaul ife Sons was organized. The three elder sons went on the road as traveling salesmen, and by their energy and business tact rapidly increased the trade of the house, till it became one of the leading wholesale grocery firms in the State. Mr. Blaul continued his connection with and supervision of the business till his death, which occurred Jan. 27, 188.5. He had begun his career as a merchant at Burlington with a very limited capital, but, possessing good business ability, he prospered from the start, increasing.and extending his trade as his increased capital permitted. Always prudent and conservative, he established a reputation as a safe, reliable man, whose integrity was beyond question and credit gilt edged. He was ably seconded in his later years by his sons, now proprietors, who, with the energy of youth and the enterprise of the Ayest, aided materially in the prosperity of the house. His successful rise, through the legimate course of business, from the position of a small retail grocer to that of proprietor of one of the most important wholesale houses, shows what can be accomplished by patient effort, when directed by good business ability.

Mr. Blaul was twice married, his first wife dying in Boston, Mass., and her only surviving child is John, Jr. The second marriage occurred in Burlington, Iowa, in 1857, the wife's maiden name being Caroline Knoener. She was born in Germany, and is the daughter of Charles Knoener, a pioneer settler of Des Moines County. Five sons and two daughters were born to this second marriage. The daughters, Amelia and Pauline, reside with their mother; Charles, the eldest son, married Miss Jessie Stephen; Theodore is the husband of Miss Emma Unterkirchner; Louis is single; and two younger children, sons, died in childhood. Mr. Blaul was a member of the First German Evangelical Church of Burlington. In politics he was a Republican, but never an active partisan or an aspirant for office. His taste lay more in the way of business, to which he gave his undivided attention, and the prosperous and extensive wholesale house, which still bears his name, is a monument to his memory and its history tells a story of a self-made man, one who began his business career without other capital than sound judgment, indomitable energy, correct business principles and unquestioned integrity, who, by persevering industry, enterprise and judicious management built up an important business and accumulated a large property. Mr. Blaul was a plain, unpretending business man, sagacious and conservative, always perfectly reliable and held in high esteem by those with whom he had business or social relations.

John Blaul, Jr.. of the firm of John Blaul <fe Sons, wholesale grocers, Burlington. Iowa, was born in Boston. Mass., Feb. 1 1, 1853, and is the son of John Blaul, deceased. He came to Burlington with his father in 1856, was educated in the public schools, and trained to mercantile pursuits in his father's store. In 1882. he was admitted to partnership with his father and brotlicr in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of John Blaul ife Sons, of which he is now the buyer and also the financial manager. During his boyhood, while his father was in the retail business. Mr. Blaul began working for him as a salesman. He took an active interest in the management of the wholesale business from its commencement, and spent two years traveling on the road, since which time he has been actively identified with the general management of the affairs of the house. On May 13, 1877, at Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Blaul was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Dewein, daughter of Jacob Dewein, a pioneer of Burlington of 1841. Mrs. Blaul was born at Burlington, Iowa, April IG, 1853, and her mother, the only surviving parent, resides with her. Mr. and Mrs. Blaul have been the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom only two sons are living. Clara, the eldest, died in infancy; Lulu died at the age of five years, and John died aged fourteen months. Those living are: Milton Albert, who w.is born July 4, 1884, and Marcus Theodore, born Feb. 15, 1887.

Charles Blaul was born in this city July 28, 1860_ He was educated in the public schools, received his first lessons in business.as a salesman in his father's wholesale grocery house, spent eight ye.ars on the road in the same line and was admitted to partnership in the firm in 1882. He h.as been actively engaged in this business since 1875, having, by his energy and business ability, aided materially in the prosperity of the house, and.also in increasing and building up its extensive trade. He now has charge of the traveling salesmen in the employ of the firm, who are eight in number, and has general supervision over their extensive coffee and spice mills. In Wapello, Iowa, Mr. Blaul wedded Miss Jessie Stephen, daughter of Levi and Jane (Dickeson) Stephen. Mrs. Blaul is a native of Wapello, Iowa. They have one child, a daughter, Jessie Marie. Mr. Blaul is a Republican in politics, and while taking a warm interest in the administration of public affairs, has never been an aspirant for office. His important business interests occupy his full time, and the prosperity of the house of John Blaul & Sons is his first care.

Theodore Blaul was born in this city Feb. 23, 1862. He was educated at Burlington, and was trained in the mercantile business in the counting-house of his father. In 1883 he went on the road as traveling salesman for the firm, of which he had been made a member the previous year, traveling in the interest of the house until 1886, since which time the city trade has been under his management. At Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 14, 1886. the marriage of Theodore Blaul and Miss Emma Unterkirchner was celebrated. She was born on Dec. 16, 1866, and is a daughter of P. F. Unterkirchner. A most efficient salesman and competent business man, he has taken an active part in advancing the interests of his house.

Louis Blaul was born in this city Oct. 16, 1863, and was educated in the city schools. He entered the counting-house of his father in 1879 and has been constantly employed in that department of the business since. In 1885 he was admitted to partnership in the house, and is now head book-keeper and cashier. Exact, methodical and careful, Mr. Blaul has proved competent and faithful in the discharge of the important duties devolving upon him.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Des Moines County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county .. (1888). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.