PECH, W. J.

PECH, STARK, HOUSER, BOLAND

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 10/20/2003 at 13:02:11

Biography reproduced from page 678 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

W. J. Pech, manager of the Algona Manufacturing Company, is numbered among the leading business men of this city. He was born in Atlanta, Illinois, June 3, 1877, a son of Robert and Henrietta (Stark) Pech. The father, who was a native of Germany, on coming to America located in Bloomington, Illinois, and was married in that city. He was a mason by trade and later engaged in the manufacturing of brick. He was very successful financially and later owned three hundred acres of land. He was a prominent citizen and greatly interested in public matters. He passed away in 1910 and his widow is now living on the farm. In their family were ten children, as follows: Fred, who is a resident of Kossuth county, Iowa; W. J., of this review; Henry and Adolph, both living in Atlanta, Illinois; Dora, the wife of Claude Houser, of Atlanta, Illinois; and Lizzie, Etta, Arthur, John and Robert, all at home.

W. J. Pech received his education in the public schools and after one year of work upon the farm he took up the carpenter’s trade at Le Mars, Iowa, remaining there until 1893. He then went to work with his uncle as a manufacturer of well machinery and in 1904 went to Cherokee, where he continued in the same business. He interested a number of the leading men there and his manufacturing plant was known as the Cherokee Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Pech of this review was the manager. He also acted in the capacity of manager while at Le Mars. Later Mr. Pech engaged in the manufacturing business at Algona, the establishment being incorporated with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and the following officers chosen: J. W. Sullivan, president; William Kleinhesselink, vice president; W. J. Pech, manager; A. Matson, secretary; L. J. Dickinson, treasurer; and W. H. Burke, sales manager. They are manufacturers of complete line shafting, friction clutches, engine trucks, shafting hangers, pulleys, couplings, set collars, etc. Mr. Pech has been very successful in the manufacturing business and besides his interests in this line of work he also owns land in this state.

On the 23rd of December, 1900, Mr. Pech was married to Miss Carrie May Boland and to this union have been born five children, Ione, Marion, Vivian, Donald and Lois. In politics Mr. Pech is a republican and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He attends and supports the Lutheran church. In business Mr. Pech has been a promoter of enterprises that have contributed to the general prosperity as well as to his individual success, and the warm regard that is given him by all his associates arises from a recognition of this true worth of character and his adherence to upright principles.