The value of industry, determination and perseverance in the attainment of success is readily manifest in the life record of Kossuth Pauls, for he started out in life as a farm hand and today is living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the comforts afforded by a goodly competence. He resides in one of the finest home in the city and is the owner of three hundred and fifty-five acres of land in Springfield and Massillon townships, which return to him gratifying annual income.
He is one of Iowa’s adopted sons who were born in Germany, his birth occurring in Schleswig-Holstein on the 22d of November, 1849. Reared to manhood in his native country, he received his educational training in the schools of the fatherland and at the same time was thoroughly instructed in the work of the farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He continued his connection with agricultural pursuits in Germany until 1872, when, deciding to seek his fortune in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York city, where he remained for about six months. He then came to Cedar county, Iowa, and was here employed as a farm hand for about a year, and then, with the money which he had been able to save from his earnings, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pottawattamie county.
After spending a year in breaking prairie Mr. Pauls returned to Cedar county and here invested in another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he carried on general farming until 1884. He then established a lumber and coal business, and the following eleven years were devoted to the growth and development of a business along that line, which subsequently, as a result of his careful management and excellent ability, attained large and gratifying proportions. In 1895 he sold out and again returned to the farm, where agricultural pursuits claimed his attention until 1909, when, in possession of a most comfortable competency, he retired from active work and took up his abode in Lowden. His home, which is one of the finest in the town, is material evidence of the success which attended his efforts during his active career, and three hundred and fifty-five acres of rich and valuable land in Springfield and Massillon township are the source of a most substantial annual income.
It was in 1875 that Mr. Pauls was united in marriage in Springfield township to Miss Minnie Rixe, a daughter of Fred Rixe, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and unto them were born eight children: Fred, Mary, Ernest, Emil, Mathiesen, Herman and Louise, all yet living, and Helene, who died in infancy.
The family hold membership in the Evangelical church and Mr. Pauls belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America at Lowden. Politically he is a democrat and has often been called to office, serving as township assessor for two years, also as township trustee and as a member of the school board and of the village council, his public record at all times being characterized by a fidelity to duty which gained for him the endorsement of the entire community. An industrious, clear-minded, progressive man, with an aptitude for successful management, he closely watched his opportunity for advancement in business lines, and with the passing years acquired a position among the substantial and representative citizens of Lowden and Springfield township which not only indicate the attainment of prosperity on his part, but also the possession of all those qualities which make for honorable and valuable citizenship.
