CHARLES GUSTAVUS KREBAUM
Page 530

CHARLES GUSTAVUS KREBAUM, a prominent business man of Havana, and widely known as a breeder of fine trotting horses, was born December 22, 1837, in the city where he now resides, and enjoys the distinction of having been the first white child born in Mason County. For particulars regarding the family history, the reader is referred to the sketch of his brother, Adolph, which is presented on another page of this volume. He grew to manhood in Havana, and received a practical education in the common schools of this place. The business career of Mr Krebaum commenced in 1851, at which time he accepted the position of Deputy Clerk in the office of his brother, Adolph, who was Clerk of Mason County for a number of years. After having filled the position of Deputy until 1863, he embarked in the mercantile business in Havana, and with G. W. Langford as his partner, did an extensive and lucrative business under the firm name of Langford & Krebaum. Later Mr. Langford withdrew from the enterprise, and Henry Middlekamp entered the firm, the business being conducted in that manner for some time, after which our subject sold out to Slade & Middlekamp. Entering the grain business in 1868, Mr. Krebaum has since conducted a large trade in that line, and makes shipments to the various markets of the country. For several years he was engaged in the buying and selling of cattle and hogs, which he ships in large numbers to different markets. He has grain warehouses and elevators at Poplar City, Liverpool and Topeka, Ill. In addition to these enterprises he is also engaged in the sale of hides and furs, seeds, etc. With the breeding of fine trotting horses, the name of Mr. Krebaum is perhaps more closely identified than with any of his other enterprises. Every animal on his place is standard-bred, and many of them represent in their blood lines some of the leading sires that hold the world's record. "Honest Byerly," a five-year-old, has a record of 2:24¼, and in his first race, at Peoria, June 27, 1893, won three straight heats, and upon the following Tuesday, July 4, at Monmouth, Ill., he made a record of 2:24¼ on a muddy track. He has been in nine races, and has proved beyond a doubt his superior qualities as a trotting horse. He was sired by "Byerly Abdallah," 1856; dam, "Nina K.," who has a record of 2:28½."Honest Byerly" is half-brother to Jerome Turner, with a record of 2:15¾. The bay mare "Nina K.," foaled in 1878, was sired by "Honesty" 170, record 2:42, also the sire of "Big Soap," 2:23; first dam, "Bay Pet," by "Champion Black Hawk;" second dam by "St. Lawrence." In color "Nina K." is a beautiful bay, and is fifteen and one-half hands high. She is sound, kind and gentle, and her record of 2:28½ is no measure to her speed. She trotted the Lincoln track in 2:22, timed by half a dozen horsemen; a half-mile at Freeport in 1:10, a quarter in thirty-four seconds, a 2:12 gait. Her produce are: 1887, "Honest Byerly," by "Byerly Abdallah;" 1889, "May Day," by "Strawn" 3330; 1890, "Honest," by "Byerly Abdallah" 1856; 1891, "Electorite" by "Elector" No. 10830; 1893, "Midnight" by "Billy Wilkes" No. 2938. "Honest" No. 21860, a three-year-old colt, stands sixteen hands high, and has a speed of 3:00 at any time. "Electorite," 21861, dam by "Nina K.," sired by "Elector" No. 10830 is a beautiful bay. "Dottie Dimple," a bay mare, is a half-sister of "Nina K.," record 2:28½ and dam by "Honest Byerly," 2:24½; sired by "Indianapolis" 517, record 2:21, sire of "Budd Doble," 2:13½; "Regulator," 2:28¾; "De Jarnette," 2:17; "Indianapolis Boy," 2:20¼; "Indianapolis," 2:28½; "Holstein," 2:29¾; and the dams of "Ophir," 2:26½; "Captain Lee," 2:29. First dam, "Baby Pet," by "Champion Black Hawk." Second dam, by "St. Lawrence," trial 2:28; "Indianapolis" 517, by "Tattler" 300, record 2:21; dam "Indiana," by "Mambrino Chief" 11; "Tattler" 300, by "Pilot, Jr.," record 2:26; dam "Teletale," by "Telamon," son of "Medoc." "Dottie Dimple" is sixteen hands high, and is compactly built, with plenty of bone and substance, making her desirable both for the track and as a brood mare. "May Day," standard, registered volume twelve, is a bay mare, fifteen and one-half hands high, and is one of the most promising fillies on the farm. She was foaled in 1889, sired by "Strawn" 3330, sire of "Carrie Strawn," 2:29¾, first dam, "Nina K.," by "Honesty" 170, record 2:42; second dam, "Bay Pet," by "Champion Black Hawk," son of "Black Hawk" (Vermont); third dam, by "St. Lawrence Strawn" 3000, by "Mammont" 2052; dam, "Black Swan," by "Bashaw" 50 (Greens); "Mammont" 2052, by "Almont" 33; dam "Mag Ferguson," by "Mambrino Chief" 11; "Honesty" 170, by "Hiatoga," (Stier's) son of "Hiatoga" 497. "Krebaum Honesty" 9239, standard, registered in volume eight, is sixteen hands high, and in harness is pleasant and gentle. Though never driven by a professional, he has shown remarkable speed. He is an own brother to "Nina K.," and was sired by "Honesty" 170, record 2:42. "Honest" 21860, standard, registered volume twelve, is a bay colt, sixteen hands high, foaled 1890; one of the handsomest colts on the farm, with splendid trotting action and can be driven in 2:30, or better if given sixty days work. He is a full brother to "Honest Byerly," 2:24¼, and was sired by "Byerly Abdallah" 1856; first dam, "Nina K." Among the horsemen of the state, Mr. Krebaum is well known, and his horses have a reputation equal to the best. A lover of the animal, he finds one of his chief pleasures in owning and raising fine horses, and is thoroughly capable and efficient in this line. In politics he is a Democrat, but does not take an active part in public affairs. Socially, he is identified with Havana Lodge No. 88, A. F. & A. M., Chapter No. 86, R. A. M. and Havana Commandery No. 42, K. T. In 1861 Mr. Krebaum was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. John, of Tazewell County, the daughter of William M. John, a native of Ohio. Four children have blessed the union, one of whom, Francis, is deceased. Nina F. is bookkeeper for a law firm in Chicago, and is also a Notary Public; Carl G. and Hope Beatrice, aged respectively fourteen and nine years, are students in the Havana schools. The family home is beautifully situated and a comfortably furnished residence situated on Pearl Street.

1894 Biography Index

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