Louie Kroll
Among the citizens who have recently located in Mapleton is Louie Kroll, a member of one of the well known families of Crawford county. Although a young man, he has shown marked ability in agriculture and stock-raising and has attained a reputation as one of the most successful farmers of his age in the county.
He is a native of Germany, born July 5, 1880, and a son of William and Amelia (Brockmann) Kroll, both of whom were born in Germany. The father came to America with his family in 1884 and after spending a year in Chicago he came to Crawford county, where he worked for wages for one year. He then rented land for seven years and, having acquired the necessary capital through his thrift and perseverance, he bought two hundred acres of land, which he cultivated for five years and then disposed of. He next invested in four hundred and eighty acres in Willow township and added to his possessions until he had five hundred and twenty acres, comprising three different farms in Crawford county.
He died November 4, 1910, but the mother is still living and makes her home on one of her farms in Charter Oak township. There were fourteen children in their family, of whom eleven survive, namely: Gustaf, of Monona county, Iowa; William, of Crawford county; Herman, of Monona county; Louie, the subject of this review; Ernest, Henry, Paul and John, all of Crawford county; Annie, who is the wife of John Fischer, of Monona county; and Elizabeth and Emma, both of whom are at home.
Louie Kroll attended the public schools and assisted his father upon the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, gaining a practical knowledge of the various departments of agriculture and stock-raising that assisted him greatly after he began business upon his own account. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Charter Oak township, which he sold after five years, and then bought one hundred and forty-four acres on section 30, Soldier township, which he greatly improved. He has managed his business with excellent ability and his farm yields handsome annual returns.
On the 9th of February, 1901, Mr. Kroll was united in marriage to Miss Freda Buenger, a daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Wittecopf ) Buenger, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. On April 1, 1911, he and his wife took up their residence in a handsome home at Mapleton.
He is still within convenient distance of his farm and has not given up his agricultural interests. His prosperity has been gained by legitimate means and is the direct result of the application of industry and good judgment. On account of their genial, social qualities and admirable traits of character he and his wife have many friends in Crawford county.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.