Louis Schalk, acceptably filling the position of postmaster of Rawlins, was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1852, a son of John and Katherine Schalk, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in early life, the father when twenty-one years of age and the mother when a little maiden of eight summers. For a number of years Mr. Schalk conducted a hotel in Pittston, Pennsylvania, but eventually sold his interests there and moved to Iowa, where he secured five hundred acres of virgin land. He then performed the arduous task of breaking the sod and cultivating his fields, which work he carried on with the assistance of his son, thus becoming actively, prominently and successfully identified with agricultural interests. His last days were spent in Newton, Iowa, where he passed away at the age of eighty-five years. His wife died in that city at the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of six children, all of whom are yet living: John B., who resides in Newton, Iowa; Louis; Charles F., who is living in Mexico; Louise and Mrs. C. F. Cowgill, both of whom are residents of Newton; and Emma, also living in Newton.
    Louis Schalk was the second in order of birth. In his boyhood days he attended a private school of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and following the removal of the family to the west become a student in the district schools of Iowa. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he worked upon the home farm with his father and after his textbooks were put aside concentrated his entire attention upon the cultivation of the fields. At the age of thirty years he left home and made his way to Laramie, Wyoming, where he engaged in government survey work with the firm of Downey & Grant. In the fall of 1883 he entered the book and stationery business at Laramie and there remained until March 28, 1884, when he established his home in Rawlins, where he again became engaged in the book and stationery business, continuing active in that field for eight years. He built up a trade of large and gratifying proportions and at length he sold out to enter the real estate business, also establishing a fire and life insurance department. He then continued successfully along those lines until he was appointed postmaster by President Wilson. On the 13^th of December, 1913, he assumed the duties of the position, which he has since filled, making a most creditable record in the office by the prompt and systematic manner in which he discharges his duties. This is not the first office which Mr. Schalk has filled. He was city clerk during the administration of Mayor John E. Osborne in 1886 and after occupying that position for one year he was nominated the following spring for the office of city trustee and served in that capacity for three years, during which time he acted as president of the board of trustees. Later he was elected county commissioner and was made chairman of the board, continuing in that capacity for two years, after which he was renominated for the office but failed of election. In 1892 he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term as postmaster under President Cleveland's administration. He was out of office then for seven years, after which he was appointed deputy postmaster under P. L. Smith, serving for more than three years. He was then again out of office for three years and in 1913, as previously stated, was called to the position of postmaster, in which he is now serving.
    At Rock Springs, Wyoming, on September 18, 1889, Mr. Schalk was married to Miss Mary Ann Johnson, a native of Portsmouth, Ontario, Canada. They have become the parents of three children, William Charles Eugene, who was born December 14, 1890, in Rawlins, attended the schools of his native city and the McKinley Manual Training School in Washington, D. C, from which he was graduated in 1906. He is now acting as assistant postmaster. John S., the second son, was born in Rawlins in 1892, was graduated from the high school and afterward was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company as baggage man and bill clerk. While thus engaged he learned typewriting and afterward was at Douglas, Wyoming, passing the civil service examination which secured him a position in the land office at Douglas. In February, 1918, he was appointed stenographer for the Four Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regular Engineers Transportation Corps, Twenty-first Company and is now at Fort Slocum, New York. Robert Louis, born in Rawlins, in 1900, attended the public schools of this city and is now a student in the preparatory school at Boulder. Colorado.
    Mr. Schalk is a charter member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Rawlins. He and his family are all active members of the Episcopal church and Mrs. Schalk was president of the Ladies' Guild, which position she occupied for a number of years. Mrs. Schalk served as chairman of the Carbon County Liberty Loan Committee. A most public-spirited citizen, he stands for all that has to do with the advancement of the interests of his country and of the commonwealth.