Schreiber, Christian

SCHREIBER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:39:29

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.438

CHRISTIAN SCHREIBER
Christian Schreiber is now practically living retired in Indianola, deriving his income, however, from good business property and other investments. His life record is a notable example of the self-made man of foreign birth who improves the opportunities offered in the new world for business advancement and by the utilization of his advantages and by persistent, untiring effort wins a goodly measure of success. He was born in Germany in 1851, his parents being Christian and Rosina (Hokl) Schreiber. The mother came to the United States in 1884, and died in Forest, Illinois, at the age of seventy-two years. The family numbered nine children, all of whom came to America, and one brother, Jacob Schreiber, is now a blacksmith of Indianola.
Christian Schreiber acquired a common-school education in Germany, and learned the trade of blacksmithing there. Favorable reports reached him concerning America and its business conditions, and, believing that he could more rapidly acquire a competence in this country than in the old world, he sailed for the United States in the fall of 1871. In the spring of 1872 he became a resident of Indianola, where he has since remained. As his financial resources were limited, rendering immediate employment a necessity, he entered the shops of Joseph Jacoby. He afterward worked for John Olive, and later opened a shop on his own account in 1878, continuing the business for almost three decades, or until March, 1907. He was an expert workman in his line, was industrious and secured a large patronage, which in course of years made him a prosperous citizen. In 1907 he began dealing in automobiles, but is practically living retired, owning good business property and other interests which return to him a gratifying annual income. He is also the owner of an attractive modern home here.
In 1874, Mr. Schreiber was married to Miss Martha A. Hahn, who was born in Germany in 1857, and came to the United States in 1871, with her grandmother. the marriage was celebrated in Indianola, and unto them have been born five children, namely: Lizzie, the wife of Otto Smith, by whom she has three children, Mr. Smith being associated in business with our subject; Lena, who is the wife of S. G. Myer, a lawyer of Des Moines; Christina, the wife of Carl Minier, who follows farming, ten miles north of Indianola; Cecil, at home; and Martha, deceased.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Schreiber are faithful members of the Presbyterian church, and he is also connected through membership relations with the Odd Fellows, the Yeoman, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political endorsement is given to the republican party but honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. There is in the anxious, laborious struggle of the business man in the workaday world something that is of interest to the thoughtful student, for the course which he follows indicates methods that may be honorably pursued in the achievement of success. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and, realizing that energy and activity are the basis of all success, he worked long and persistently to achieve the prosperity which has at length crowned his labors.