Lorenz Balk, 1899 Biography

BALK, KICK

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 9/25/2004 at 11:58:55

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. I have not changed the place or name spellings. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Lorenz Balk

This gentleman was born in St. Lucas, Fayette County, Iowa, on 9 October 1870. In 1874, his parents moved to Pleasant Valley Township, where little Lorenz attended the parish school and took his First Holy Communion. He then took up agriculture and assisted his father on his parents’ farm until he was 22 years old. Then he purchased 80 acres of land in Roselle Township and married Miss Maria Kick, a well-brought up young woman who was born in Irchenried, Bavaria, in 1869. Mr. Balk ran the farm on his own for two years and then moved to Pleasant Valley Township, where he purchased and then farmed 120 acres of land. He gradually added to his real estate, so that he now calls his own 300 acres of land, which, on account of its good location and good buildings, may be considered as among the most valuable farms. Mr. Balk and his wife are honest German-Americans who enjoy the respect of all their acquaintances. This happy marriage has produced three children whose names are: Anna, Lorenz, and Fritz.

NOTES: There is a town called Irchenried in Bavaria, about 5 miles southeast of Weiden, and 5 miles west of Vohenstrauss.