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Des Moines County >> 1915 Index History of
Des Moines County, Iowa... F Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. E. A. FLORANG is the president of the Burlington Basket Company, in which connection he has developed an enterprise of considerable importance, his output now being sold over a wide territory. A native of Switzerland , he was born on the 4th of February, 1859 , a son of Anton E. and Mary Anna (Senn) Florang. The father was born in Geneva , Switzerland , in 1822 and just before his death returned to that city, there passing away in 1885. His wife died in Burlington in 1873. E. A. Florang was a youth of eleven years when he left the land of the Alps and accompanied his parents to the new world. They made their way direct to Burlington and here E. A. Florang continued his education in the public schools, thus supplementing the training which he had already acquired in Switzerland . At the age of fourteen years, however, his text-books were put aside and he began earning his own living. In 1884 he embarked in the retail liquor business on his own account and conducted the enterprise for several years, or until he organized the Burlington Basket Company in 1889. He started in a small way at the corner of Court and Front streets and gradually built up his trade until the volume of his business justified him in 1897 in the erection of a plant at Front and North streets. His building has twice been largely destroyed by fire but each time has been rebuilt on a more commodious scale. They make a line of staple baskets which sell throughout the west and also as far as the Pacific coast. They also make a line of specialties which they ship all over the world. The output of the Burlington plant is now very extensive and they have several warehouses in the west. The business has been thoroughly systematized and carefully managed and they have one hundred and fifty employes. The officers of the company are: E. A. Florang, president; C. A. Florang, vice-president; and O. E. Florang , secretary and treasurer. On the 29th of June, 1880 , Mr. Florang was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Wagner, of Burlington , who was educated in this city and by her marriage became the other of two sons and two daughters: Hazel, the wife of O. T. Fansel, of Burlington , by whom she has two children: Adele C., the wife of Ralph P. Mercer, of the Mercer Electric Company of Burlington , by whom she has one child; O. E., who married Gertrude Dollner, of Mount Pleasant , Iowa ; and Clarence A., who married Frances Williams, of Burlington . Mr. Florang is rather independent in politics, yet is inclined to the progressive party. He prefers, however, to concentrate his energies upon his manufacturing interests and is today one of the substantial business men of the city, having advanced continuously in his chosen field of labor until he is now at the head of one of the important and growing productive industries. Starting out in life for himself at an early age, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and his record shows what can be done when determination and energy point out the way.
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