|
Black Hawk County >> 1915 Index History of Black Hawk county, Iowa, and Its
People K Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. William Kober, president of the Waterloo Sash & Fixture Works, was born in Wheaton, Illinois, March 3, 1872, a son of August and Charlotte Kober, who now reside in Charles City, Iowa, to which place they removed when their son William was a little lad of but four summers. It was there that he was reared and educated as a pupil in the public schools. As early as his fourteenth year, however, he entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, working during the summer months and attending school in the winter seasons. His life has ever been one of unfaltering industry and in 1888 he returned to Wheaton, where he completed his apprenticeship and worked at his trade until 1894. He then again went to Charles City and secured a position in a sash and door factory, where he was employed until the spring of 1900, when he came to Waterloo and secured a position with the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Company, remaining in the employ of that organization for about eighteen months. Mr. Kober afterward spent about a year at the plant of the Nauman Company and in 1902 he engaged in business on his own account, purchasing the interest of Stephen Saulsbury in the Novelty Wood Works. He became a partner in the last named corporation which in 1906 was reincorporated and reorganized under the name of the Waterloo Sash & Fixture Works, at which time the capital stock was increased from ten thousand to twenty-five thousand dollars. The officers of the company are: William Kober, president; Harry Parks, vice president; Phillip Koester, secretary; and Fred Burk, treasurer. In 1911 the business had increased in volume to such an extent that a reorganization of the company and an increase of its capital stock were found necessary, at which time the latter was increased to fifty thousand dollars. This is one of the important manufacturing industries of Waterloo, conducting an extensive and growing business, their trade relations now covering a wide territory. They have ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and their efforts to please, combined with honorable business dealings and the excellence of their product, have been the chief factor in their growing prosperity. In 1894 Mr. Kober was united in marriage to Miss Anna Zeas, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1890, being then in young womanhood. They have become the parents of two children: Edgar Irving, who is attending the University of Illinois; and Frances Emma, a student in the Waterloo high school. Mr. Kober belongs to the
Brotherhood of American Yeoman, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights
of the Maccabees, the Loyal Order of Moose, and to Helmet Lodge, No.
89, K. P. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men
and measures of the republican party, but the honors and emoluments
of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred
to devote his attention to his business affairs and other outside interests,
which he considers more vital to his life than holding office. He and
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their many
good traits of character have firmly established them in the high respect
and good-will of their fellow citizens. |