Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Prosperity is the result of hard labor combined with sound business judgment and this truth is abundantly verified in the life of Lawrence Foell, who now owns four hundred acres of valuable land on section 19, Hayes township. Mr. Foell is a native son of Iowa, born on a farm in Jefferson township, Dubuque county, May 27, 1859 a son of George Foell, now a resident of Storm Lake. The son was raised in his native county to the age of sixteen years and acquired his education in the district schools near his father's home. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Buena Vista county during its early development. The father located on a tract of unimproved land and the son gave his entire time to the work of development and improvement on the homestead and remained under the parental roof until he attained mature years. He and his father then entered into an agreement whereby they would share equally in the profits derived from their farming and stock-raising interests and in this way the son made a start in the business world. This not only brought to him a gratifying income, but also a wide experience that worked to his advantage when he began business alone. He eventually purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he has added from time to time until his place now embraces four hundred acres all in one body, and situated on section 19, Hayes Twp. He has fenced and tiled the land, which is now very productive, has planted an orchard, has erected a good residence, supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories for the comfort of the inmates, has built a good barn and cribs, has a wind pump that forces water to various parts of the farm for watering the stock and there are also pipes running to the house, furnishing an ample supply of water for household purposes. Mr. Foell gives his time to general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of red polled cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, fattening from one to two carloads of each annually. He also is a stock-holder in the canning factory at Storm Lake.

Mr. Foell established a home of his own in November, 1892, by his marriage to Miss Clara Fultz, who was born in Allamakee county, this state, and there spent her early girlhood, but later removed to Buena Vista county. The home of Mr. and Mr. Foell has been blessed with four children, but Guy died at the age of one year. The others are Karl L., Vernon L. and Caroline.

Politically Mr. Foell has been a life long republican, but has never sought nor desired office, for he finds that his entire time and attention is needed in his private business affairs. He is a member of the Storm Lake Methodist Episcopal church and his fraternal relations are with the Masons at Storm Lake. He is a public-spirited, progressive citizen, and although he ahs accumulated a handsome competency he has never allowed this to in any way to affect his demeanor toward those less fortunate. From early youth his duties have been performed with the greatest care and business interests have been so managed as to win the confidence of the public and the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort.