For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 19
JACOB LORENZ. Jacob Lorenz, now living in Muscatine, was for many years identified with building operations. He has, however, passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey and in later years has enjoyed a well earned and well merited rest. He was born April 9, 1827, in Alsace, one of the provinces that has been contested territory between Germany and France for many centuries. It was a part of the French territory at the time of his birth, so that Mr. Lorenz is rather more of a Frenchman than a German. His parents were Michael and Catharine (Bastian) Lorenz, who spent their entire lives in their native country upon a farm. In their family were eight children, of whom Jacob was the third in order of birth and the only one who came to the United States.In early life Jacob Lorenz learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years in Paris before coming to America, and was recognized as an expert in his chosen field of labor. In the year 1854 he started for America as a passenger on a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans. From that point he proceeded northward to Louisville, Kentucky, after a voyage of thirty-three days spent upon the water. This was considered a rather quick trip for the weather was good and there was nothing to retard their progress.
After about a year spent in Louisville Mr. Lorenz came to Muscatine in 1855 and has since made his home here, covering much more than a half century. He came alone to this country and has since been dependent upon his own efforts. In fact, he is a self-made man for at the age of fourteen years he left school and began work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed continuously until 1880. He has aided in the erection of many buildings both in the city and surrounding country. He was regarded as a very good workman and therefore had no trouble commanding excellent wages, being preferred to many American workmen although his unfamiliarity with the language bothered him to a large extent in the early days of his residence here. Since 1880 he has given his time and attention to his vineyard and the manufacture of wine, owning fourteen acres of land at No. 950 Roscoe avenue, which is largely planted to grapes. The past few years, however, he has had to leave the work of this place largely to others, being unable to do anything. He has resided at his present home since 1869 and the place is regarded as one of the old landmarks of the city, where Mr. Lorenz is well known as a venerable and honored citizen.
Mr. Lorenz was married in Muscatine in 1856 to Miss Christiana Krehe who was born in Bavaria, June 26, 1836, and was brought to the United States by her father, who was a widower at that time. They located in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1849, and three years later the family removed to Iowa. Her parents were George and Sabina (Daut) Krehe, and the father, who was a physician and for many years followed his profession, died in Jefferson county, Iowa. He had seven children, all of whom came to the new world with him. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz have been born eight children: Emil, at home; Carl, who died at the age of forty years; Louise, who died at the age of thirty-five years; Anna, who passed away at the age of sixteen; Rosalia, the wife of John Wendinger, of Muscatine; Emma, the wife of George Overhouse, of Muscatine; Minnie, the wife of Jacob Toussaint, of South Bend, Indiana; and Bertha, the wife of M. Whitmore, of Muscatine.
During a residence of fifty-five years in this city Jacob Lorenz has witnessed much of its growth and development. He has become widely known and which he has not sought to figure prominently in public affairs, his well spent life, honorable activities and devotion to duty have gained him the high regard and affection of Muscatine's residents.
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