Karl Vollmer

VOLLMER, PLAMBECK, VON MAUR, WEIR, KOEHLER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/20/2011 at 16:10:51

A Narrative History
of
The People of Iowa
with
SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN
EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS, ETC.
by
EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.
Curator of the
Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa
Volume IV
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
Chicago and New York
1931

KARL VOLLMER, physician and surgeon, is one of the honored professional men
of the City of Davenport, where he has practiced for over thirty-five
years, and where almost from the beginning his work has been specialized in
eye, ear, nose and throat.

Doctor Vollmer, whose offices are in the American Bank Building, was born
at Davenport, November 20, 1869, son of Henry and Dorothes Plambeck
Vollmer. Henry Vollmer was born in Germany and was about three years of age when
his parents came to America and settled at St. Louis. Henry Vollmer
learned the trade of printer in St. Louis and in 1864 came to Davenport. He had
been a member of the Missouri Volunteers during the early part of the Civil
war. At Davenport he was made foreman in the composing room of Der
Democrat, which for sixty-two years continued to be Davenport's German language
newspaper, finally suspending publication in 1917. It was a newspaper of
great influence and circulation, Davenport itself having a large element of
German people, and the paper circulated among many other localities. After
about twenty years with the newspaper Henry Vollmer resigned, in 1880, and
acquired an interest in the business which at first was chiefly engaged in
rubber stamp manufacturing. Job printing was added and subsequently Henry
Vollmer became associated with A. L. Mossman in the firm of Mossman &
Vollmer, out of which in later years has developed the Tri-City Lithographing &
Printing Company, one of the largest plants of its kind in the Mississippi
Valley. Henry Vollmer was active in business until his death on December 12,
1890. He served as county recorder of Scott County from 1883 to 1887. He
was a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Turners Society and Ancient
Order of United Workmen.

He married, in 1863, Dorothea Plambeck, of Davenport, who was brought to
that city when seven years of age. There were seven children: Henry
Vollmer, well known Davenport attorney and former mayor of the city who died in
September, 1930; Doctor Karl; Mrs. Henry Von Maur, of Davenport; Fred
Vollmer, former county attorney of Scott County, now a resident of California;
Mrs. Agnes Weir, of California; Major Arthur Vollmer, an officer in the United
States army, located at El Paso, Texas; and Emil, who died in 1897.

Dr. Karl Vollmer attended public schools at Davenport and while a student
of medicine had the advantage of coming under the instruction of the chief
surgeon of the Rock Island Railway, Doctor Peck. In 1892 he was graduated
M. D. from the University of Iowa, and the following year was spent abroad,
with particular attention given to eye, ear, nose and throat. He received
instruction at the Allgemeine Krankenhaus at Veinna, the Royal Ophthalmic.
Hospital in London. He went abroad again some fourteen years later, and
in his work has attended many clinics in this country. Doctor Vollmer has
splendid offices in the New American Bank Building. He was honored with
election as president of the Scott County Medical Society in 1907, is a member
of the Iowa State and American Associations and is on the staff of St.
Luke's Hospital and Mercy Hospital. During the World war he was medical
advisor to the county draft board. He has served as a member of the school
board, belongs to the Davenport Country Club, Outing Club and Commercial Club.

He married in 1897 Miss Paula Koehler, daughter of Henry and Ottilie
Koehler. Mrs. Vollmer is active in club and civic work, being a member of St.
Luke's Hospital board and on the board of the Davenport Municipal Art
Gallery. They have one son, Karl Koehler Vollmer, who was born October 20, 1902
and is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Business School.