August Lauterbach

AUGUST LAUTERBACH is a veteran citizen and banker of Colby, having been identified with that community of Northwestern Kansas more than thirty years. He is a native of Germany but came to America in 1869, and in many ways expressed his gratitude to his adopted country for the opportunities that he has utilized in bringing him to his present position and influence.

Mr. Lauterbach was born in Saxony August 27, 1852. His father, Andrew Lauterbach, was born in the same country in 1800 and died in 1858, spending his life as a farmer. He married Louise Ludwig, who also spent her life in Saxony. Most of their children became American citizens. Herman was a bridge carpenter and died when a young man as the result of an accident at Pekin, Illinois. William is still living at Pekin, Illinois, a hotel proprietor. Louie was a general worker and died at Pekin at the age of forty-two. Louisa died in Saxony. Selma is a resident of Illinois. The youngest of the family is August.

August Lauterbach was educated in the public schools of Saxony, and was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States in 1869. After a brief stay in New York City he went on to Pekin, Illinois, and there learned the baker's trade. He had a varied business experience, and in 1886 came out to Colby, Kansas, and established the Farmers and Merchants Bank as a private institution, with Busheow & Lauterbach proprietors. This is one of the oldest banks under one continuous management in Northern Kansas. In 1902 it was chartered a state bank under the name Farmers and Merchants State Bank. Mr. Lauterbach is still directing its destinies as president, and the cashier is S. H. Alexander. The bank has a capital stock of $25,000 and surplus of $15,000.

Mr. Lauterbach is also president of the Levant State Bank at Levant, Kansas, is president of the Menlo State Bank at Menlo, and is a member of the Kansas Bankers, Kansas State Bankers, and the American Bankers' associations. He has acquired many large realty holdings in Northern Kansas, and owns about 6,000 acres of farm lands in Thomas County. He, like his parents, is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has served as a member of the council and as mayor of Colby. He is a republican, is past master of St. Thomas Lodge No. 306, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and past grand of Sunlight Lodge No. 273, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of Colby Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Colby Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

In 1878, at Pekin, Illinois, Mr. Lauterbach married Miss Josie Herburger, a native of Lincoln, Illinois, and they take a pardonable pride in their family of cultured and well educated children. Minnie, the oldest, is a graduate of the Thomas County High School and of the Musical Conservatory at Lindsborg, Kansas, is a proficient musician, and is the wife of A. J. McKenzie, a real estate man in Denver, Colorado. Martha, a graduate of Kansas University, married G. A. RaIson, a dentist at Des Moines, Iowa. Esther is a graduate of Washburn College of Topeka, and is now supervisor of music in the Thomas County High School. The only son, August, attended a military academy at Roswell, New Mexico, one year, was a member of the Students Army Training Corps at Lawrence, Kansas, where he was assigned to duties as clinic reporter in the hospital.

Pages 2265-2266.