Joseph Koevenig
Grand Meadow Twp.

Joseph Koevenig was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, Mar. 17, 1834. He came to America in the fall of 1856. Prior to settling in Clayton County he worked in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dubuque, Chicago, St. Louis and Allamakee County, Ia., where he located in August, 1858, erected a brewery of logs and engaged in the manufacture of beer there until 1859, when he went to Springfield, Grand Meadow Township, and established a brewery. In 1873 and 1874 he built a large stone and brick brewery, near Postville, forty by eighty-six feet, and three stories in height. It is the finest in the county. He manufacutres lager and bottle beer, and does an enormous business. On Sept. 25, 1866, Mr. Koevenig, married Catherine Welsch, who was born in Loranine, France, Aug. 6, 1847, and located in Grand Meadow Township in 1852 with her parents. Eight children have been born of this union, seven are living -- Louisa, born July 22, 1867; Mary V., Feb. 25, 1869; Catherine A., June 18, 1871; Anna J., Dec. 8, 1872; Henry M., July 1, 1876; Josephine L., May 1, 1878, and John J., Apr. 14, 1880. Mr. Koevenig owns 130 acres of land on section 4, 150 acres on section 3, eighty acres on section 22 and fifty acres on which his residence and brewery are situated. He has always been active in any work that tends to the improvement of Clayton County, and is one of her most prosperous and influential business men.

source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 829