ADOLPH KALLASCH, a prominent farmer of Elkhorn township in Brown county, is a native of Germany, having been born in that country, February 16, 1840. He is the son of Frederick and Fredrica (Kuntz) Kallasch, natives of the same country, who, in 1852 came to America in a sailing vessel, making the voyage in six weeks and landing in Quebec, where they remained but a short time, coming from there to Chicago, by the lakes and railroad. From that great city they came to this county and settled near where the subject now lives, buying ninety acres of land, partly improved, on which had been erected a little log cabin. This cabin they replaced later by a frame house and here died both the father and the mother, when about seventy-six and fifty-six respectively. They were the parents of seven children, two yet living. The father was a carpenter by trade and a stanch Democrat in political faith. Both he and his good wife were earnest Christians, both in life and teachings.
Under the guidance of these good parents our subject remained until 1862, when his country called him from the peaceful occupation of a farmer and he enlisted in Company B, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry, Captain Fee in command, in which he remained all through the war, being mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and discharged at Springfield. From there he returned home.
After his return home he was married, about Christmas, to Miss Mary Lipkaman, born in Pike county, Illinois, daughter of Frederick and Barbara Lipkaman, who came to this country from Germany at a very early day, renting in Pike county, in the �30s. The father died when about seventy-six, but his wife still lives, on the old farm. The family principally carried on farming, but a few were mechanics. Mr. and Mrs. Kallasch have had seen children, five yet living, namely; Henry, married Minnie Wood, has one boy; Louis, at home running the old farm for his father; Harvey, is also at home; Emma, married Andrew Kelinlein, and they have one child; and Anna, at home.
After his marriage our subject bought seventy acres just across from his father's farm, later adding eighty more acres, 108 acres of which he sold to his son Henry. He first lived in an old log cabin, but now has as fine a house as there is in the county.
This gentleman is a stanch Republican, casting his first vote for General Grant. He and his estimable wife are members of the Lutheran Church, attending at Perry post office, Pike county, where they are regarded as highly respected members of that body. They have always been church members since reaching years of maturity and lead good, earnest lives. Mr. Kallasch has always carried on general farming, at which he has been very successful and can be said to be one of the leading influential men of the township.