Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah October 5, 2020

In every community in America are to be found men who are ranked among the substantial citizens, whose success is entirely due to their own endeavors, intelligently and persistently directed toward a definite purpose. Of such as these is Fred Klockman, who owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Sheridan township. He was born in Germany on the 18th of March, 1849, being the elder of two brothers. The father passed away while his boys were yet too young to recollect him, the mother, however, attained the venerable age of eighty-six years before her demise. She emigrated to the United States with her younger son in 1870, making her home with our subject until her death, which occurred in 1895. She was laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery in Sheridan township. The younger son, William, was born in the fatherland in October, 1856, and passed away at the age of thirty-two years.

Fred Klockman, who was only seven years of age when his father passed away, acquired his education in the common schools of his native land. Feeling confident that his opportunities of realizing his ambition were better in America than in his own country, by means of much self denial the money was raised to pay for his passage. He left home with the full determination to succeed and promised to send for his mother and brother as soon as he could save the money. The young man made good his promise and two years later the mother and younger brother also came over to the United States. When they first located here the brothers farmed for a time in Cook and Du Page counties, Illinois, following which they removed to Chicago, where Mr. Klockman learned brick-making. In 1875 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he followed his trade for five years. At the expiration of that period he came to Carroll county locating on a farm on section 8, where he still resides. He has met with most gratifying success in the direction of his affairs during the thirty years of his residence here, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. It is well improved and plentifully stocked, being one of the first homesteads in the township. He engages in general farming and in connection with the cultivation of his fields also raises a good grade of stock.

Mr. Klockman established a home for himself when he married Miss Maria Heimborg, a native of Germany, their union being solemnized in 1882. To them have been born five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are still at home. The order of their birth is as follows: Walter, Albert, Edith, Emma and Bertha.

The religious belief of the family is manifested through their affiliation with the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an interest. Ever since acquiring the right of franchise through naturalization Mr. Klockman has voted with the democratic party. Despite the exactions of his extensive personal interests he always finds time to meet the duties of citizenship, and ever assumes his share of the governmental responsibilities. He has been a member of the board of township trustees for ten years, while for two terms he was a school director and school treasurer for seventeen years. The length of his service attests his efficiency in the various capacities in which he acted. During the long period of his residence in Sheridan township Mr. Klockman has won the friendship of many of his fellow citizens, who accord him their esteem having found him to be at all times a man of his word, whose integrity is above question.

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