John Harnack
John Harnack, one of the most wealthy and prominent citizens
of Postville, where he lives retired, was born in Clayton county,
Iowa, October 29, 1857, and is a son of Christ and Dora (Sasz)
Harnack, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, the former born July
21, 1817, and the latter November 11, 1822. Both crossed the
Atlantic in the same vessel but did not meet until they reached
Clayton county, Iowa, the mother having made the journey with her
uncle, who settled in Gutenberg. The father also became a
resident of that community and there worked at cutting cord wood
during the winters and spending his summers as a laborer in a
stone quarry, receiving for this work fifty cents per day. After
his marriage he worked for several years in the employ of others
but eventually was obliged on account of his failing health to
turn his attention to farming. He rented land near Garnavillo, in
Clayton county, and remained upon it for a few years, later
purchasing an eighty acre tract of land near Elkader. This was
entirely unimproved, but with characteristic energy Mr. Harnack
set himself to the task of developing it. With a yoke of oxen he
made trips to McGregor and there purchased lumber, with which he
built the first house upon the homestead, in which he lived five
years. There he carried on the cultivation of his farm, facing
with confidence and courage the hardships and difficulties
incident to pioneer existence. During the first years he was
obliged to keep his seed corn under his bed in order to save it
from depredation of the many squirrels which fed upon it if it
were left uncovered. Eventually he replaced his first house by a
two room cabin of hewed logs and a few years later he sold the
farm for two thousand dollars, having in the meantime cleared and
improved it to a remarkable extent. He afterward purchased a one
hundred acre farm in the same vicinity and upon it re resided for
three years, at the end of which time he sold the property,
buying one hundred and sixty acres in the same township near
Clayton Center. This he improved and developed until 1878, when
he disposed of the land and purchased two hundred and seven and
three quarter acres in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county,
upon which he resided until 1886, when he rented the farm and
moved into Postville, where he has since lived retired. For some
time he owned another farm in Fayette county, just across the
county line, but this he sold to his son in 1885. He and his wife
still make their home in Postville, where they are numbered among
the prominent and representative citizens. In their family were
seven children: Bernhardt, who died in infancy; John, of this
review; Sophia, the wife of August Dahl, a retired farmer living
in Postville; Ida, who married John Krambeer, who lives upon his
farm in Post township; Anna, the wife of Joseph Schultz, a farmer
of Winneshiek county, Emma, who married Lousi Meier, engaged in
farming in Post township; and Mary, who after the death of her
first husband, Henry Bradt, wedded John Schroder, a retired
farmer living in Postville.
John Harnack spent his childhood upon his father’s farm,
dividing his time in his youth between his studies at the
Garnavillo district school and work in the operation of the
homestead. He afterward spent two winters in the German school at
Clayton Center and was still later a student in the district
school near Clayton. He remained at home until after his
marriage, which occurred in 1885, and he then purchased from his
father eighty acres of land in Fayette county. After one year,
however, he returned home and rented his father’s homestead,
operating both farms for some time and finally selling his own
eighty acre tract. He afterward purchased a farm one mile west of
Postville, his two hundred acres lying partly in Winneshiek and
partly in Allamakee county. Upon this property he carried on
general agricultural pursuits for eight years, his industry and
practical methods winning for him a gratifying degree of success,
and gaining him a place among the representative and substantial
agriculturists of the region. At the end of that time, however,
he rented out the property and moved into Postville, where he
became connected with business interests as an employ of Henry
Eckert in the latter’s implement concern. He made good use
of his time and opportunities, and his industry, diligence and
energy resulted in his acquiring a comfortable competence, which
enabled him to lay aside the cares of active business life. He
now makes his home in one of the most modern and attractive
residences in the city and he lives most of his time to the
management and supervision of his extensive real-estate
interests, which include not only his two hundred acre farm but
also his residence and a number of valuable lots in Postville.
On the 14th of April, 1885, Mr.. Harnack married Miss Maggie
Thoma, who was born in Reed township, Clayton county, June 17,
1864. She is a daughter of Fred and Katherina (Pesch) Thoma, both
natives of the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, who in early life
crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Clayton county on a
farm. This property the father operated until about the year
1887, when he moved to Postville, where he lived retired until
his death, in 1878. Mrs. Harnack was one of nine children, two of
whom died in infancy. The others are: George, a farmer in Post
township; Anna, the widow of Charles Schultz, formerly a retired
farmer living in Postville; Conrad, a resident of Chicago;
Savina, the wife of Louis Saulsgaber, a resident of Minnesota;
Fred, who makes his home in Omaha, Nebraska; and John, also a
resident of Omaha. After the death of his first wife the father
was again married, and to this union was born one child, Paulina,
who married Bruce Klingman, steward of the Elks Club at Clinton,
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Harnack became the parents of four children:
Sadie K. E., who was born June 8, 1887, and who died November 26,
1894; Libbie, whose birth occurred on the 4th of November, 1888,
and who died November 22, 1894; Fred, who was born February 11,
1892, and died November 22,1894; and Hulda, who was born January
3, 1896, and who is now attending the Postville high school, from
which she was graduated in June, 1913.
Mr. Harnack gives his political allegiance to the democratic
party and, thought he has never aspired to public office, he
served for four years as a member of the city council.
Fraternally he is connected with the Turner Society at Postville
and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the
Lutheran church. He stands high in the regard of the people of
this community and his progressive spirit, his high standards of
honor and integrity and his many sterling qualities of mind and
character have won him the respect and esteem of all who are in
any was associated with him.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index