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John Harnack, one of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of Postville, where he lives retired, was born
in Clayton county, Iowa, October 29, 1857, and is a son of Christ and Dora (Sasz) Harnack, natives of Mecklenburg,
Germany, the former bolt July 2i, 1817, and the latter November ii, 1822. Both crossed the Atlantic in the same
vessel but did not meet until they reached Clayton county, Iowa, the mother having made the journey with her uncle,
who settled in Gutenberg. The father also became a resident of that community and there worked at cutting cord
wood during the winters and spending his summers as a laborer in a stone quarry, receiving for this work fifty
cents per day. After his marriage he worked for several years in the employ of others but eventually was obliged
on account of his failing health to turn his attention to farming. He rented land near Garnavillo, in Clayton county,
and remained upon it for a few years, later purchasing an eighty acre tract of land near Elkader. This was entirely
unimproved, but with characteristic energy Mr. Harnack set himself to the task of developing it. With a yoke of
oxen he made trips to McGregor and there purchased lumber, with which he built the first house upon the homestead,
in which he lived five years. There he carried on the cultivation of his farm, facing with confidence and courage
the hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer existence. During the first years he was obliged to keep his
seed corn under his bed in order to save it from the depredations of the many squirrels which fed upon it if it
were left uncovered. Eventually he replaced his first house by a two room cabin of hewed logs and a few years later
he sold the farm for two thousand dollars, having in the meantime cleared and improved it to a remarkable extent.
He afterward purchased a one hundred acre farm in the same vicinity and upon it he resided for three years, at
the end of which time he sold the property, buying one hundred and sixty acres in the same township near Clayton
Center. This he improved and developed until 1878, when he disposed of the land and purchased two hundred and seven
and three quarters acres in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county; upon which he resided until 1886, when he rented
the farm and moved into Postville, where he has since lived retired. For some time he owned another farm in Fayette
county, just across the county line, but this he sold to his son in 1885. He and his wife still make their home
in Postville, where they are numbered among the prominent and representative citizens. In their family were seven
children: Bernhardt, who died in infancy; John, of this review; Sophia, the wife of August Dahl, a retired farmer
living in Postville; Ida, who married John Krambeer, who lives upon his farm in Post township; Anna, the wife of
Joseph Schultz, a fanner of Winneshiek county; Emma, who married Louis Meier, engaged in farming in Post township;
anti Mary, who after the death of her first husband, Henry Brandt, wedded John Schroder, a retired fanner living
in Postvile.
John Hayrack spent his childhood upon his father's farm, dividing his time in his youth between his studies at
the Garnavillo district school and work in the operation of the homestead. He afterward spent two winters in the
German school at Clayton Center and was still later a student in the district school near Clayton. He remained
at home until after his marriage, which occurred in 1885, and he then purchased from his father eighty acres of
land in Fayette county. After one year, however, he returned home and rented his father's homestead, operating
both farms for some time and finally selling his own eighty acre tract. He afterward purchased a farm one mile
west of Postville, his two hundred acres lying partly in Winneshiek and partly in Allamakee county. Upon this property
he carried on general agricultural pursuits for eight years, his industry and practical methods winning for him
a gratifying degree of success, and gaining him a place among the representative and substantial agriculturists
of the region. At the end of that time, however, he rented out the property and moved into Postville, where he
became connected with business interests as an employe of Henry Eckert in the latter's implement concern. He made
good use of his time and opportunities, and his industry, diligence and energy resulted in his acquiring a comfortable
competence, which enabled him to lay aside the cares of active business life. He now makes his home in one ofthe
most modern and attractive residences in the city and he gives most of his time to the management and supervision
of his extensive real estate interests, which include not only his two hundred acre farm but also his residence
and a number of valuable lots in Postville.
On the 14th of April, 1885, Mr. Hayrack married Miss Maggie Thoma, who was born in Reed township, Clayton county,
June 17, 1864. She is a daughter of Fred and Katherina (Pesch) Thoma, both natives of the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany,
who in early life crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Clayton county on a farm. This property the father
operated until about the year 1887, when he moved to Postville, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred
in 1893. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1878. Mrs. Harnack was one of nine children, two of
whom died in infancy. The others are: George, a farmer in Post township; Anna, the widow of Charles Schultz, formerly
a retired fanner living in Postville; Conrad, a resident of Chicago; Savina, the wife of Louis Saulsgaber, a resident
of Minnesota; Fred, who makes his home in Omaha, Nebraska; and John, also a resident of Omaha. After the death
of his first wife the father was again married, and to this union was born one child, Paulina, who married Bruce
Kingman, steward of the Elks Club at Clinton, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Harnack became the parents of four children: Sadie
K. E., who was born June 8, 1887, and who died November 26, 1894; Libbie, whose birth occurred on the 4th of November,
1888, and who died November 22, 1894; Fred, who was born February 11, 1892, and died November 22, 1894; and Hulda,
who was born January 3, 1896, and who is now attending the Postville high school, from which she was graduated
in June, 1913.
Mr. Harnack gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and, although he has never aspired to public
office, he served for four years as a member of the city council. Fraternally he is connected with the Turner Society
at Postville and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Lutheran church. He stands high in
the regard of the people of this community and his progressive spirit, his high standards of honor and integrity
and his many sterling qualities of mind and character have won him the respect and esteem of all who are in any
way associated with him.
From:
Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievemant
By: Ellery M. Hancock
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1913
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