William F. Kahl
It is through his indefatigable energy and perseverance that William F. Kahl acquired the valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he owns in Crawford county. It required years of application but he never faltered and today he is the happy possessor of a place which is yielding every year an increasing revenue.
He was born in Germany, August 4, 1875, a son of Christ and Christina (Koch) Kahl. The father was born May 15, 1846, and the mother October 15, 1845. They were married in the old country and came to America in 1891, stopping at Shelby county, Iowa, for a short time, after which they removed to Crawford county, where Mr. Kahl has engaged successfully in farming. He is now sixty-five years of age and his wife is a little less than one year his senior. To them nine children were born, namely: August, of Crawford county, Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased; Annie, wife of John McCeaghan, of Harrison county, Iowa; William F., the subject of this review; Bertha, now Mrs. Fred Kahl, of Crawford county; Minnie, the wife of William Watje, of California; Dora, now Mrs. Henry Mundt of Crawford county; Guste, the wife of William Warren, also of Crawford county; and Sophia, who died in Germany.
William F. Kahl was reared until fifteen years of age in his native land and received his eclucation in the common schools. On March 11, 1890, he landed in America and for the next eight years devoted his energies to working upon a farm. He then operated rented land until 1910, when he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 34, Hanover township, which he is developing into one of the highly productive farms of the county.
On the 14th of December, 1900, Mr. Kahl was united in marriage to Miss Dora Schneider, who was born in Germany, January 28, 1883. She came to this country with her parents, arriving March 15, 1896. The family settled on a farm in Crawford county, where the parents are now living, having retired from active labor in 1906. The father is sixty-five years of age and the mother four years his senior. They were the parents of six children, namely: William H., of Crawford county; Mary, now the wife of August Lochmiller, of Crawford county; Maggie, now Mrs. Fred Mundt, of California; John C., of Langford, North Dakota; Dora, now Mrs. William F. Kahl; and Catharina, the wife of Herman Finn, of Crawford county.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kahl has been brightened by the birth of two children: Walter C., who was born September 12, 1901; and Albert William, who was born September 7, 1903, and died December 21, 1903.
Mr. Kahl early learned the great lessons of self-denial and willingness to labor and under the genial skies of Iowa he has realized many of his fondest expectations. His wife has been to him a true assistant and a constant inspiration, and while he labors in the fields she performs her part in the house, setting an example of fidelity to duty well worthy of imitation. They have many friends and their home is one of the welcome gathering places in the township.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.