Carl Lohmann, Clerk of the Township and of the Police Court of Burlington, was born in Brunswick, Germany, October 17, 1845, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in Wolfenbuettel College, graduating from that school at the age of nineteen. Not wishing to be dependent on his father, soon after finishing his education he began to consider the best means of making a living, and having a friend in New York City, he opened correspondence with him, and was advised to come to America. Acting upon this advice, he crossed the Atlantic, and landed in New York, November 7, 1864, but not finding what he wanted, he came West, remaining in Lee County, Iowa, for a short time. Hearing of an opening in Burlington, he came to this city, and engaged to teach the German school, managed by the German Evangelical Church, and remained in that employment for vie years. Mr. Lohmann then accepted a position as assistant teacher in the German-American school, and was subsequently promoted to principal. In 1878, going to Fort Madison, he was there teacher of German in the public schools for two years, but in 1880 he returned to Burlington, where he started a select school, but later had to abandon this on account of failing health, and was advised by his physician to take a position on the road as traveling salesman. For the past five years he has been connected with the Burlington (Iowa) Tribune as correspondent, which position he still holds. In 1855 Mr. Lohmann was appointed as Township Clerk to fill the vacancy of W. E. Burke, now County School Superintendent, and in the fall of 1886 he was elected to the office. The appointment as Clerk of the Police Court was received from Judge Fleming in December, 1886.
Socially, Mr. Lohmann is a member of the Knights of Pythias, organized the lodge in Burlington, and also the one in Fort Madison, and has filled all the chairs and represented the lodge in the Grand Lodge. He is a charter member of the A. O. U. W. lodge, and was its first master workman. In politics he is one of the staunch Democrats, and is a man well posted on all the topics of the day, a thorough scholar in German and music, of good address, and stands high in the community.
On the 1st of November, 1865, Carl Lohmann was united in marriage with Miss Dora Schaper, a native of Prussia, and by this union there are eight children - Carl H., Lulu, William C. Carrie E, Thea L., Henry (deceased), Nettie and Harry.
Mr. Lohmann's parents were Carl and Frederick (sic: Frederica?) (Reese) Lohmann, who emigrated to America November 27, 1865, and located upon a farm in Flint River Township, where the father died August 12, 1870. His wife is still living.
Carl Lohmann was one of the founders of the Volksfreund and is still at the head of that paper. Moreover, he is a most influential figure among the German-American citizens of Burlington, and his efforts have been an active element in advancing public progress along many lines. Born in Germany on the 17th of October, 1845, he is a native of the dukedom of Brunswick and is a son of Carl and Fredericka (Reese) Lohmann. The father has passed away, but the mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety-five years.
Carl Lohmann remained a resident of his native county until he sought the opportunities and advantages of the new world in 1864, arriving in the United States on the 3d of November of that year. For a short time he remained in New York, after which he came to Burlington on the 14th of April, 1865. He had been educated for the profession of teaching and afterward taught at intervals for several years in parochial and private schools, being thus engaged until 1884. In the meantime he followed various other pursuits, including newspaper work. Subsequently he became police clerk and filled that position until 1894, when he established the Volksfreund in connection with his sons, William C. and Charles H., and his brother, Henry C. This paper was first published as a semi-weekly and from 1895 its publication was continued as a tri-weekly until 1899, when the firm purchased the Iowa Tribune and combined the two papers under the name of the Volksfreund Tribune. They now issue both daily and weekly editions. This is one of the two German daily papers in Iowa and is liberally patronized. It is printed in the German language and is widely circulated among the sons of the fatherland in this state and their descendants. The subscription list of the weekly is particularly extensive. The Tribune was established in 1860 and changed hands several times before it was purchased by Mr. Lohmann. His son, Charles, H., and his brother, Henry C., have sold out, but William C. is still connected with his father in the ownership and publication of the Volksfreund Tribune.
On the 1st of November, 1865, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lohmann and Miss Dora Schaper, a native of Germany and a daughter of Christopher Schaper, who brought his family to Burlington in 1852 when his daughter Dora was but nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Lohmann have become the parents of nine children: Charles H., a printer of Davenport, who is married and has two children; Lulu, the wife of V. W. Sander, a resident of Idaho, by whom she has four children; William C., who is his father's partner and is married and has four children; Carrie, who married F. H. Jordan, of Topeka, Kansas, and has three children; Thea, the wife of E. G. Marquardt of Burlington and the mother of four children; Nettie, who is the wife of C. W. Marquardt of Burlington and has five children; Harry, who is with his father and is married and has one child; and two who died in early life. Mr. Lohmann has twenty-four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His mother is a great-great-great-grandmother and five generations of the family are living. Her descendants number nearly one hundred children. She had eight children of her own, six of whom reached adult age.
Mr. Lohmann was reared in the Lutheran church, while his wife holds membership in the Baptist church, and the spirit of Christianity guides them in all their relations and their sterling worth is recognized by all with whom they come in contact. In his political views Mr. Lohmann was a stanch [sic] democrat, voting with that party until the election of 1912, when he supported Theodore Roosevelt, the progressive standard bearer, and is now independent in politics. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, to the Commercial Exchange and to the Boat Club. He is well known as a prominent citizen and has been very active in musical circles. In his younger days he was a good pianist and organist and some of the best church choirs and glee clubs had him for their director. His efforts have done much to develop the musical taste and talent in Burlington, and this is but one of the many phases in which his life work has been one of benefit and value to his fellow townsmen.
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