Julius A. Krousie
Julius A. Krousie, who in an influential way has for many
years been identified with farming interests in Franklin township
and whose enterprise has contributed much toward the agricultural
development of the community, was born at Lansing, Allamakee
county, March 17, 1873, a son of Gotlieb and Julia
(Schellschmidt) Krousie, both born near Berlin, Germany. In the
latter part of the year 1872 they crossed the Atlantic to
America, locating in Lansing, where the father passed away the
same year. In his native country he had always been a farmer and
during the short period of his residence in Iowa followed
agricultural pursuits. His wife survived him many years, dying in
1909, at the age of seventy-nine.
Julius A. Krousie attended the public schools in Lansing and was
afterward a student at district school No. 1, Ludlow township,
supplementing this by three terms at the Waukon Business College.
When he was nine years of age he was taken into the home of J. E.
Nash in Ludlow township and there continued to reside for eleven
years thereafter. Eventually he began earning his own livelihood
as a farm hand, but after ten years of work in the employ of
others purchased land of his own on section 7, Franklin township,
upon which he has since resided. He purchased first forty acres
of unimproved land and was so successful in its cultivation that
he was able to add to his holdings from time to time, owning
today one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which is
under cultivation. He has made substantial improvements here,
erecting the necessary buildings and installing the needed
equipment, and the condition of his fields and meadows indicates
his careful supervision and practical labor. He is a stockholder
in the Farmers Cooperative Store and in the Farmers Telephone
Company of Postville and in business circles is known as a
reliable, farsighted and discriminating business man.
On the 2d of April, 1902, Mr. Krousie was united in marriage to
Miss Julia Swenson, born in Post township, February 12, 1883. She
is a daughter of Anton and Anna (Halvorson) Swenson, natives of
Norway, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.
The father now makes his home in Ludlow township, having survived
his wife since 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Krousie became the parents of
four children: Violet, who was born September 12, 1904; John, who
was born July 10, 1906, and who died in October, 1908; Allen,
born June 28, 1909; and one child born June 7, 1911.
Mr. Krousie gives his political allegiance to the republican
party but never seeks public office, although he is always ready
to further any measure which will in any degree promote community
growth and advancement. He is a man of high moral character,
industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and integrity have
merited for him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he
comes in contact.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Linda Earnheart
Return to index