FRANK L. BEIK.

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         One of the highly successful farmers and stockmen of Louisa county is Frank L. Beik, who with his brother is engaged in the cultivation of four hundred and ninety-two acres of land in Port Louisa township. Mr. Beik was born in the township where he is now residing on the 25th of June, 1872, and is a son of Jacob and Emma (Jackson) Beik, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Pennsylvania. An extended biographical record of Jacob Beik, deceased, appears on another page of this volume.

         The boyhood of Frank L. Beik was spent in a manner very similar to that of other boys of his circumstances in the more sparsely settled communities. He attended the district school during its brief sessions and when not thus engaged assisted about the farm in the performance of such tasks as were assigned by parental authority. He remained a member of the paternal household until he had attained his majority at which time he began working for himself. The first year he rented land but at the expiration of that period he purchased one hundred and thirty-nine acres on section 12, Port Louisa township, upon which he continues to reside. Later he and his brother formed a partnership and they now own four hundred and ninety-two acres of well improved land, practically all of which is highly cultivated. As they are extensive feeders of stock their fields are almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of grains which are best adapted for that purpose.

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On the 12th of April, 1894, Mr. Beik established a home for himself by his marriage to Miss Mollie Kammerer, who was born in Louisa county December 12, 1873. She is the eldest daughter and second child of J. and Caroline (Charles) Kammerer, natives of Germany from which country they emigrated to the United States in any early day, locating upon a farm in Louisa county which they cultivated until their demise. They were the parents of the follow- . . .

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. . . ing children besides Mrs. Beik; John, who is a resident of Muscatine county; and Harry, Bert, Charley and Otto, all of whom are living in this county. The mother passed away September 27, 1885, but the father is still living in Port Louisa township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beik have been born five children, Marcus, whose birth occurred June 24, 1895; Emma C., who was born on the 5th of January, 1899; Bertha M., born November 23, 1900; Leona, born July 8, 1907; and Lucille I., born in January 29, 1911.

         The family are all earnest Christians and fraternally Mr. Beik is identified with Grand View Lodge, No. 724, I.O.O.F. His political support he always accords the candidates of the republican party, taking an active and helpful interest in all local affairs. He is now serving as a township trustee and he has been a member of the school board. Mr. Beik is well known in the community where he has spent his entire life and where the comrades of his youth are the friends of his manhood, which is as great a tribute as it is possible to pay to the character of any man.