The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-11-23


CARROLL, in West Side, in Smithland
in Galland's Grove, Shelby county, in
Harlan, in Dunlap, at Buffers Mill,
Harrison county, in COrrectiOnville
and in ST Johns, Harrison county
near the present site Of Missouri Val
ley. During his life time Mr.. Laub
thirty-tive different mercantile estab,
lishments.
Merchandising was but one side OF
this busy mans career. During these
pioneer years he was sheriff OF CraW-
ford county. He summoned the first
jury that ever sat in a Crawford cOun-
ty court and he used to tell with
glee that he had to walk clear to the
south edge of the county to serve
some of the summons. He was the
first county surveyor, resigning this
Job in favor Of our beloved Uncle
Morris" McHenry. He was county
superintendent of schools for a period
of twelve years. But this was not all.
He was a contractor and builder. He
built the first ovens and burned the
first brick made in DenisOn. He built
the first school house in our city, the
building now used by the Lutheran
parochial school. If we mistake not he
was the contractor who built the
court house and the west brick"
school. When the Northwestern COM
menced to push it's line through to
the westward, H, G. Laub was the
man who contracted to haul the poles
and erect the first telegraph line that
connected Boone and Council Bluffs.
W. A. McHenry was our first telegraph
operator.
MI. Laub was the first to show his
faith in Denison by the erection 81
something more than frame shanty
for business house. The old stone
and cement structure on Main street,
now torn down, was the first substan-
tial store building in the city and this
was later succeeded by the "Laub
Block built in 1871, which, together
with the McHenry block, was the
pride of Denison for many years. He
was the contractor who built our pres
ent city hail. he erected the Mckim
hall, he extended the Laub block on
Broadway III all he built more than
forty residences and he was at one
time the largest property owner in
Denison He was the best of landlords,
never oppressive and always anxious
repair. He invented car-coupling de-
vice, which, While not a financial sue
cess, showed great inventive genius,
and well illustrated the many sided
effectiveness of the man. Later in
life he met with some financial re
verses, but these did not effect him |
greatly save as they curtailed his
ability to give. Mr.. Laub was the .
most cheerful giVer we have ever
him. He wanted to give; it was
pleasure not a task. No man had to
urge him to do his duty, he always did
it and a little more. He retained
large interests to the end Of his life,
however, and we are glad that he was
able to spend his last days in com
fort, in beautiful home, surrounded
by loved ones and friends and books
and all the things that make life worth
the living.
Three years before coming to Iowa
Mr.. Laub was married to Miss Lydia
Baer. They were married in Freder
ick, Maryland, February 7, 1S4S. We
are told that Mr.. Laub met his bride
to-be when, as lad of sixteen, he ran
away from the Pennsylvania farm to
make fortune for himself. Mrs
Laub shared with her husband all the
trials and hardships of the pioneers.
Their home in Denison was the center
Of social activity and both were noted
for their hospitality. Mrs. Laub was
a great force for good in the commun-
Ity and her sweet and lovable charac- s
ter will never be forgotten by those
who knew her. To Mr.. and Mrs.
Laub eight children were born, all of
whom, save Lydia Belle, who died in {
her twentieth year, and Mrs. ]. B.
whose tragic death occurred
a number of years ago, survive their
parents.
The living children are William H.,
our present mayor; Mrs. Alice M.
Afnsworth and Mrs. Carl F. kuehnle,
Of Denison; Mrs. w. T. Perkins, OF |.
Seattle, Wash; Mrs. G. F. Bartholo-
new, of Evanston, ILL.,, and Ely c., OF
Sioux City, Iowa. Mrs. Lydia Baer
Laub died in 1896, being seventy-six
years OF age. L
On the seventh of February, 1893
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