Frank J. Zapf,
a prominent business man, and at present Postmaster of
Elkport, was born in Volga Township, Clayton County,
Iowa. He is the son of Maxmillion and Elizabeth (Bauer)
Zapf, who were natives of Germany.
They sailed from the Old Country in 1864 and landed in
New York, where they remained two years; they later went
to Dayton, Ohio. He found employment in a stone-quarry,
where he occupied the position of foreman for five years.
In 1870 he emigrated to Kansas and engaged in
agricultural pursuits for one year, but not being
satisfied with that state he returned to Ohio. Shortly
after his return he, with some relatives, decided to seek
his fortune in Iowa. They located in Clayton County,
where they purchased eighty acres of land on which they
made their home for five years. At the end of that time
he bought one hundred acres of land in Volga Township and
proceeded to make a home for himself and family. He
became a very successful farmer, and soon increased his
possessions to three hundred and sixty-seven acres. He
still resides in the same place. He has five children
living and two dead: Mike, John, deceased, Christ, Joe,
Helena, Louis, deceased, and Frank.
Our subject Mr. Zapf served as School Director for four
years. He is Catholic in his religious belief, and a
life-long Democrat.
Our subject received a common school education and
remained with his parents until the age of eighteen, when
he started out in the world to make a living for himself.
He first went to work in a blacksmith shop, where he
learned the trade, and worked at that arduous though
honest labor for eighteen months. He then found a
position as clerk in a store of general merchandise,
where he remained for two years, becoming popular and
gaining the respect of the numerous customers that
patronized the establishment. After that he went into
business for himself. He bought a saloon and ran it
successfully for nine months; he then sold out and
embarked in the mercantile business with L. E. Zearley as
his partner. Everything went along smoothly for six
months, when they met with a very serious disaster,
everything being destroyed by fire; but being plucky and
not easily discouraged, Mr. Zapf soon went into business
again, and is now the proprietor of one of the finest
stores in Elkport.
The marriage of Mr. Zapf took place on September 28,
1892, uniting him with Miss Anna B. Foley. She was a
native of Iowa and was one of five children. Her father
and mother were John and Mary Foley, who now reside in
Manchester, Iowa.
Mr. And Mrs. Zapf are the happy parents of one child, a
beautiful little boy, John P., who was born in Elkport,
Iowa, May 26, 1894. Our subject was appointed Postmaster
under President Cleveland in 1893. In religious matters
he has not departed from the faith in which he was
brought up, but like his parents, has ever been a true
Catholic. Politically he is a Democrat, and takes a deep
interest in the welfare of that party. For his qualifies
of integrity and true worth he justly deserves the high
respect in which he is held by one and all, and with his
excellent wife occupies a high position in the social
circle and has secured the universal esteem and
confidence of his fellow citizens.
~source: Portrait and Biographical Record
of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman
Pub. Co., 1894; pg 456-457
~transcribed by Suzanne Terrell
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