Franz Kawi, 1899 Biography

KAWI, SCHULTE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/16/2006 at 16:07:05

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. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Franz Kawi

Among the residents of Kniest Township is Mr. Kawi, a sociable Westphalian and a well-known personality. He was born on 2 June 1852 in Minden, Westphalia. On 20 November 1880, he married the respected Miss Maria Schulte from Hagen, Westphalia. In 1882, he had the misfortune of losing an eye at an ironworks. But, active and industrious as he is, he sees more with one eye than others see with two. He came to America in 1884. He made his way quickly to the West and settled initially in Maple River Junction, where he worked at times on the railroad or made himself useful at other jobs. After he had lived there for five years, he moved to Kniest Township, not far from Mt. Carmel, where he is a very sought-after and skilled worker who knows how to work in the widest variety of jobs and leads a peaceful and pleasant life, respected by all his fellow-citizens in Kniest Township. This happy marriage has produced six children who enjoy a good upbringing. The children’s names are: Bernhard, Konrad, Anna, Elisabeth, Katharina, and Agnes.