Kriegel, Balzer

KRIEGEL, COLING, BRIMMER, MCCLELLAND

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/3/2012 at 07:58:54

Another of Poweshiek county's agriculturists who has ably demonstrated that energy and perseverance when capably directed assure success in America is Balzer Kriegel, who owns three hundred and thirty acres of land in Madison township which he is cultivating. Mr. Kriegel was born in Alsace-Loraine, which at that time was a province of France, on the 5th of March, 1857. His parents, who were Nicholas and Mary (Coling) Kriegel, were also natives of Alsace, in which country the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until his demise in 1891. The mother passed way in 1870.
Ever loyal to France, although then a subject of Germany, he resented the idea of entering the army of the latter government, and so decided to join his brother, who had emigrated to the United States six years previously. He took passage for America in 1875, and upon his arrival in New York immediately made his way westward to join his brother John, who at that time was living in Champaign county, Illinois. With the latter's assistance he readily found employment as a farm hand, with which occupation he continued to be identified there for two years. At the expiration of that period he again started westward, locating in Madison township, Poweshiek county, in 1877, where he continued to do farm work. By means of thrift and industry he had acquired sufficient capital by 1891 to enable him to engage in business for himself, so he purchased a livery stable in Tama, Iowa. He conducted this for ten years, then disposed of his interest and, returning to Madison township bought two hundred and ten acres of land on section 14 upon which he settled. In 1908 he extended the boundary of his homestead by purchasing one hundred and twenty acres on section 15, which adjoined him on the west, making the aggregate of his holding three hundred and thirty acres. The land, which is well drained and thoroughly cultivated, is most fertile and yields abundant harvests, the greater portion of which is consumed in the feeding of cattle and hogs for the market. Mr. Kriegel has a fine orchard, covering two acres, and this year has increased it by planting one hundred and fifty more trees. The improvements upon his place are good and well kept up, as are also the grounds, which greatly improves the appearance of his property and which is justly considered to be one of the valuable farms of the township. In addition to the cultivation of his extensive fields Mr. Kriegel also raises cattle and hogs, making quite large consignments of both to the stock market annually.
On the 12th of June, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kriegel and Miss Mary Brimmer, a daughter of Geore and Catherine (McClelland) Brimmer. The father at that time was one of the well-known farmers of Jefferson township, but later he and his family removed to Madison township, where Mrs. Brimmer and the children still reside. Mr. Brimmer, however, spends the greater portion of his time in Dakota, where he has extensive interests. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kriegel have been born eight children, as follows: Fred, who is sixteen years of age: Roy, age fifteen years: Walter, eleven, Marian, ten: Marie, nine: Josephine, seven: Floyd, five: and Balzer, threee years of age. All save the oldest and youngest sons are now attending school in district No. 6.
Mr. Kriegel is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, being affiliated with the camp at Tama, while his political support he gives to the candidates of the democratic party. Although he is public-spirited and takes much interest in township affairs he has never been identified with any official position save that of school director in his district, in which capacity he has now been serving for six years. The success which has been awarded the capably directed efforts of Mr. Kriegel is all the more gratifying in consideration of the fact that it is almost entirely attributable to his own independent exertions, and is generally recognized among his fellow citizens to be justly and well merited.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages531-532