In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1863
From History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa : Illustrated (1910)
JOHN STOLTENBERG.
John Stoltenberg, chief of the fire department of Davenport and a man of unusual strength of character and purposeful methods, was born here, January 7, 1863, a son of Henry and Mary (Jehring) Stoltenberg, both natives of Germany. The father came to Davenport in the 'sos, establishing himself in a butchering business, in which he prospered. However, when his adopted country had need of his services, he enlisted in the Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served until honorably discharged. Returning home, he resumed his business and continued to follow the butcher's trade until his death in 1889.
John Stoltenberg was educated in the public schools of the city, after which he was engaged in various lines of business. At one time he worked on a river steamer and again was in the employ of a railroad. On May 22, 1884, he joined the Davenport fire department and rose successively on merit through the various grades of promotion until he was made chief August 15, 1906, to the entire satisfaction of the department and the people of the city generally. Since he joined the department it has been revolutionized. He was one of the sixteen men employed when he entered it, now he has forty-six men under him, and the appliances of today bear but little resemblance to those with which he and his companions were expected to fight fires in those early days. The present equipment of men and appliances is so complete as to make the department the best in this part of the state.
In March, 1890, Mr. Stoltenberg married Meta Ramm, who was born in Davenport a daughter of John Ramm. They have two daughters: Mary and Hattie Mr Stoltenberg belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man who understands his work thoroughly, having passed through all of the positions, and, being brave and resourceful, he is the best man that could be found to head the department which conserves the safety of the people of so large a city as Davenport.
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.
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