For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 59
FRANK J. STOHR. Frank J. Stohr, a prominent representative of industrial interests in Muscatine, is the senior member of the firm of Stohr & Freund, conducting a machine shop at No. 119 West Front street. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 18th of March, 1862, his parents being Philip and Adelaide (Kuper) Stohr, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who was born in Baden-Baden, was a needle maker by trade. He crossed the Atlantic to the United States in the '40s and took up his abode in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1873 he came to Muscatine, Iowa, and during the remainder of his life conducted a boarding house in this city. While a resident of the fatherland he was a soldier in the regular army of that country. He passed away in Muscatine, in 1884, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who was brought to America by her parents when only a year old, still survives and makes her home at No. 1117 Oregon street in Muscatine. The circle of her friends is an extensive one.Frank J. Stohr, who was a lad of eleven years when he came to Muscatine with his parents, grew to manhood in this city and obtained his education in the public schools. When a youth of eighteen he began learning the machinist's trade and has since followed that occupation. He worked as a journeyman for a period of fourteen years and then returned to Muscatine in 1893, being here employed by the Barry Manufacturing Company for three years. On the expiration of that period, in partnership with P. W. Freund, he established a machine shop at the corner of Front and Chestnut streets, while for the past twelve years the firm of Stohr & Freund has conducted business at their present location---No. 119 West Front street. They manufacture gasoline engines and do general jobbing, having built up an extensive and profitable business in these connections.
On the 18th of February, 1891, Mr. Stohr was united in marriage to Miss Lilly Howell, a native of Sutter Creek, California, while her parents were born in England and Wales respectively. On coming to the United States they settled in California and in that state spent the remainder of their lives. Their children were five in number, namely: James, Frank, Annie, Mary and Lilly. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stohr have been born six children: Esther, Edith, Ruby, Cora, Frank and Gertrude.
In politics Mr. Stohr is a republican. Fraternally he is identified with the Yeomen and the Masons, belonging to Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M.; DeMolay Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; and Webb Council, No. 18, R. & S. M. He attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. Their home is at No. 1117 Oregon street. The position and success to which Mr. Stohr has attained in the business world is due to the exercise of his innate talents, prompted by laudable ambition, and his record for efficiency in work and for reliability in his dealings is a most enviable one.
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