Borbeck, Joseph

BORBECK, LOHBERG, TEMMING

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 22:00:32

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

JOSEPH BORBECK.

There is no element which has entered into our composite national fabric which has been of more practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Germany, and in the progress of our country this element has played an important part. Among the most prominent German-American citizens now residing in Lyons is Joseph Borbeck, a member of the firm of Ingwersen & Borbeck, wholesale and retail lumber dealers.

Mr. Borbeck was born in Suedlohn, Westfalen, Germany, October 31, 1859, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Lohberg) Borbeck, who spent their entire lives in that country, as did also his paternal grandfather, Christopher Borbeck, who was landlord of a hotel. The father also engaged in the hotel business and conducted a brewery. He died in 1873, and his wife departed this life when our subject was quite young.

Joseph Borbeck was left an orphan at an early age and fell heir to his father’s property, including the hotel and brewery, which he sold on attaining his majority. He then learned the baker’s trade, which he followed until coming to America. He also served three years in the German army. Before leaving his native land he was united in marriage with Miss Johanna Temming, who was also born in that country. Her father, G. A. Temming, came to the new world and settled in Lyons, Iowa, where he lived retired until his death. Our subject and his wife have eight children, namely: Lizzetta, Emilie, Mary, Emma, Frank, Josephine, Henry and Agnes.

In April, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Borbeck took passage on a vessel bound for New York, where they landed on the 6th of May, and from that city they came direct to Lyons, Iowa, where he worked for his uncle, F. Lohberg, Sr., in the lumber business, until 1891, when his cousin, Frank Lohberg, Jr., succeeded to the business, and he remained with him for six years. At the end of that time he formed a partnerships with N. E. Ingwersen and J. F. T. Stamm, and purchased the business, which they have since carried on under the firm name of Ingwersen & Borbeck. They have a large yard and planing mill in the north part of the city, with the office and retail yard at the corner of Eighth and Main streets, Lyons, and do both a wholesale and retail lumber business. They are meeting with excellent success, having built up a good trade, and rank among the leading business men of the city. Besides his business property Mr. Borbeck owns a home in Lyons.

In politics he is independent. Socially he is a charter member of Lodge No. 3, Woodmen of the World at Lyons; is a trustee of the German Society there; president of the German Workingmen’s Association of Lyons; and a director of the Citizens’ Building Association of Lyons. A man of keen perception, of great sagacity, of unbounded enterprise, he has prospered in his undertakings and without the aid or influence or wealth has risen to a position among the most prominent business men of his adopted city, his native genius and acquired ability being the stepping stones on which he has mounted.