The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-02-17

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Reading and then to Womelsdorf, Pa,
the place OF birth, to Harrisburg,
Johnstown and Pttsburg by canal
through and over the Allegheny noun
tains, thence down the Ohio to the
site of Cleveland, where they boarded
a boat (which took them via the Great
Lakes and Straits of Mackinac to
Chicago, on to Carlisle. Indiana, DAN
vile, Ill.,, and back to Terre HauIe,
Indiana, where O stop was made. In
Yae spring of the following year.
1S50-Mr. and Mrs Kaibach started
out anew eaBdl approaching the Mis-
sissippi river, arrived at Nauyoo, H.,
and thence moved on to Muscatine
where another winter was spent.
Leaving the wife at that place Mr..
Kaibach journeyed on foot through
Oskaloosa on his way to Fort Dodge
TO work on the government property
then in construction. He was i'm
pressed with the town and in the fol
lowing spring, 1851, he brought his
family to Mahaska and settled down
TO make unto himself home that
should endure for him and his. The
trials and the privations of that long
journey from the east that had COW
cred parts of three years would seem
impossible TO people of today who
make it in less number of days.
Mr.. Kalbach had come to Oskaloosa
10 live and he entered at once upon
the business of building the town as
we'll as making his nome. He imme-
diately took mis- place in the happen
ings OF the town. Eie was chosen city
marshall under the newly organized
village and served three terms, 1853
20 1856. He was secretary OF the
school board when the city erected
its first school house, the old Gospel
Ridge. He was called to the city
council in 1862 20 represent the First
ward and at other times his services
were required in the making of the
town. ...-..
Mr.. Knlbach worked, as did his
wife. They bought property
in the city, and the husband, with his
own hands, shaped much of the ma.
terial used in building their first home
in Oskaloosa. They made their way
as best they could, enduring priva-
tons of which we of today know
nothing. In the early days when
there was no lumber with which to
build things excepting that hewn and
cut from native timber, Mr.. Kalbach
pounded his thumb. 1t was vicious
blow but lucky hit. The pain made
Mr. Kalbach angry,--as angry as he
ever grew; it decided him. He
would have some timber, some soft
lumber, that was fit for a civilized
man to work. He Immediately pro-
ceeded to import some pine lumber
from the towns on the Mississippi.
But Isaac was not the only person
who wanted the soft timber The
first load was soon gone and other
consigniments were demanded until
Mr.. Kalbach soon found himself re-
tailing uhe precious sticks OF timber.
In this incident was the birth OF the
lumber firm of J. Kaloach &c Son.
aiiC -busiiiSGS anu crew.
The firm enlarged and became John
and George Kalbach, and is today a
monument to the founder under the
name of the Kafbach Lumber Com
parry. 49,.
Nine children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Kalbach: John A, Sarah and
Il. Taylor, born at Port Carbon. Pa,
and who came west with the parents:
Emma r., Clara f., Alice, William
H., George and Nellie NJ. were born
in OsKaloosa. Three OF these, Sarah,
Taylor and Emma r. preceded the
parents to the other side. The good
wife departed this life Oct. 80, 1897
ard was inferred in Forest cemetery
. Isaac kalbach has lived good life
and has passed to his reward. He
will be missed by his family and
those of his circle of friends who
shared with him portion of the de.
cltnirg days. The influence of his
hTe and his example remain, however,
and the work he has wrought has
lett lasting impress upon the city and
the people who knew him and were
associated with him and his splendid
family.