The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years
"L" Biographies
Lorch
Theodor Lorch Family
Theodor Lorch came to Iowa from
Ontario, Canada, in 1896. He worked for Jeff Carpenter on
a cattle ranch in southern Osceola County for one year;
then returned to Canada and convinced his parents that
Iowa was the place to live.
He returned here and worked on the farm of Peter Auker of
Business Corner.
Theodor heard fascinating stories about South Dakota, so
boarded the Milwaukee train and went to western South
Dakota, to a village called Hartley. There he staked a
claim and built a shack to satisfy the requirements of a
Homestead. He also planted a small area to crop. He
joined neighbors and together they went to Pierre and
worked as stone masons in construction of the State
Capitol Building.
After a time he abandoned his claim and returned to
Osceola County and rented farm land. He purchased 80
acres in Sec. 12, Harrison Township. This farm was on the
Harris mail route.
November 23, 1908, he married Christina Mohr. In 1913,
they moved to the farm in Sec. 3, Harrison Township.
There were four children were born; Frieda and Clarence
(deceased), Lucille now residing in Nebraska, and Otto
who married Helen Craggs in 1935. They farmed until Helen
died of cancer in 1982. Two of their sons, Bruce and
David, continue as farmers and livestock producers in the
area.
Theodor served as an Osceola County Supervisor for
District 4 which included Allison, Harrison and Baker
Townships.
Harris was a convenient trading center—which
included J.M. Wren’s harness shop, Zwank’s
Hardware, J.F. Anderson Lumber Co., operated by Lee
McFarland, C.W. Beeler’s grocery store, Harry Hawk’s
barber shop, John Weigand sold gas and kerosene before
the days of bulk handling. It came in 55 gallon barrels
and was shipped in railroad box cars. The early bulk
delivery of petroleum fuels were made by Ed Ringler.
Herman Screeden operated a livestock shipping
association. Hogs were weighed and marked—then
co-mingled in freight cars and shipped to Chicago, for
slaughter. The hogs were usually hauled to town in box
wagons. Cattle were driven on hoof on the roadways,
herded into the stockyard gate and were also shipped to
Chicago.
Interesting entries from his account book are October 9,
1898. Overalls 90 cents, basket of grapes 30 cents,
dinner and livery (feed for the driving horse) 35 cents.
Year 1905; fork handle 15 cents, barrel of salt $1.15,
milk pail 85 cents, logging chain 76 cents, manure fork
60 cents, alarm clock $2.00, water jug 10 cents, binder
canvas $1.00.
Sales Feb. 4, 1907—22 lambs, 2240 pounds at $6.40
per cwt.
William Lorch Family
William Lorch was born April 29,
1885, in Perth County near Listowel, Ontario, Canada. He
came to the United States with his parents in 1900, and
located on a farm south of Harris. He married Anna Louise
Pommer of Wellesley, Ontario, Canada, on October 30,
1912, who came with him to Harrison Township, Osceola
County. Mrs. Lorch passed away June 3, 1919.
Two daughters were born to the couple, Irene and Anna
Louise. Irene married Rudy Danielson on July 5, 1953. He
passed away November 11, 1972. Anna Louise married Albert
Bogt on June 1, 1946. They live south of Harris, on the
former Bill Lorch farm.
Mr. Lorch married Edna Lind of Lexington, Nebraska,
September 30, 1937. They lived at Spencer, Iowa, until
the death of Mr. Lorch April 5, 1952.