THEODORE F. KOCH:
An Inventory of His Reminiscences and Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Koch, Theodore F., 1854-1940, creator. | |
| Title: | Theodore F. Koch reminiscences and family papers, | |
| Dates: | 1881-1980, 2013. | |
| Language: | Materials in English, German, Dutch, Danish. | |
| Abstract: | Reminiscences (1930) by a Minnesota land developer and businessman engaged in many land development enterprises, colonization projects, cattle buying, and other activities in both Minnesota and Texas. The collection includes genealogical materials, correspondence and papers of other family members, some family financial information, blueprint drawings, and snapshot photographs. Materials are in English, German, Dutch, and Danish. | |
| Quantity: | 0.85 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 oversize folder in a partial box). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Theodore F. Koch was born in Looward, Holland April 1, 1854. He emigrated to the United States in 1884 and settled in Clara City, Minnesota, and also lived in Saint Paul, Chicago, in several cities in Texas, and on the West Coast. He pursued a number of widely varied business enterprises, mostly land development in Minnesota, Texas, and other states. He was also an emigration agent for Dutch immigrants and established a number of agricultural colonies.
Koch married Clara Hoeborn on April 12, 1887, died in Braunfels, Texas September 19, 1940, and was buried in Saint Paul. His son, Theodore William, was born in Saint Paul August 20, 1891. Theodore W. Koch was a first lieutenant and commanding officer in the 372nd Air Squadron during World War I, and over the years was associated with a number of business enterprises. Koch died May 17, 1962. Theodore Heath Koch, son of Theodore W. and Florence Heath Koch, was born April 3, 1936.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Theodore F. Koch Reminiscences and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 3593; 16,864
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, January 1998; additions by David B. Peterson, June 2014.
Catalog ID number: 990017358510104294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2868 | 1 | Theodore Frederick Koch: | |||||||||
| "Abbreviated description of my life," July 21, 1930. | |||||||||||
| The manuscript begins with information on Koch's birth in Holland and his early education, which ended in 1870 for want of money. He worked on the family farm from 1870 to 1876 and, at that time, sold farm machinery and also managed other farms in the area. | |||||||||||
| Beginning in 1880, Koch embarked on a career which took him to many parts of the United States and Germany. In August 1880 he formed a partnership with Fritz Hesse, called Koch & Company, which sold hay, oats, potatoes, and other produce to nearby areas and to England, Scotland, Germany, and Belgium. In 1884 he entered the cattle business, and arranged to have live cattle herds exported to the United States, arriving in the United States with the first herd in August 1884. He successfully sold the cattle and, in the expectation of establishing immigrant colonies, traveled extensively throughout Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. | |||||||||||
| From that time until 1930, the autobiography details Koch's unceasing activity in Minnesota, Texas, and the West Coast; trips to Holland and Germany; the formation of many companies dealing with land development; interests in timber and cutover lands in Pine, Mille Lacs, and Isanti counties (Minn.); dealing with railroads regarding the sale of their lands; a strawberry and tobacco company in Columbus County, North Carolina; the Dutch settlements of Friesland and Gronigen in Pine County, Minnesota (1897); and finally, in 1906, his interests in Texas land development in the Gulf region. | |||||||||||
| The Texas phase contains description of wetland drainage for development; the establishment of the Riviera Beach and Western Railroad (1912-1919); descriptions of the Galveston flood (1915) and other hurricanes on the Gulf coast, including financial losses; the development of tick control measures for cattle; and his fig growing business (1924-1930). | |||||||||||
| There is also information on his son, who joined the air corps in 1917 and saw action in France during World War I, and his subsequent career associated with his father's business ventures. A long discussion (pages 60-64) describes the effects of the Alien Property Act during World War I, which confiscated businesses in the United States owned by nationals of enemy states. Koch was able to remove the German members of his companies and thus avoid prosecution. The war, however, did have its effects on the financial condition of his companies. | |||||||||||
| Throughout the manuscript mention is made of Clara City, which was founded in 1887, (and which he named after his wife), but very little of substantial interest is revealed. | |||||||||||
| Miscellaneous papers, 1932-1940. | |||||||||||
| Photocopies of Koch's obituaries in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star-Journal, September 20, 1940; a letter (December 30, 1932) from Koch to Grace Lee Nute, giving more information on his career and on Dutch, German, and other immigrant groups; and "Notes taken during an interview with Theodore Koch, September 11, 1934, C. G. and L. H. B.": a recapitulation of the information found in the autobiography, with additional information on the Koch family. | |||||||||||
| Genealogical materials, 1895-1980. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Includes clippings, writings, and related materials concerning the founding of Clara City by Koch and his wife Clara Hoeburn Koch, for whom the city was named, as well as other family business ventures. Also contains writings and clippings of related family members, including Bill Koch, a 1976 Silver Olympic medal winning cross country skier. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, undated, circa 1881-1935. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| The bulk of the correspondence is in Dutch and/or other Germanic languages. | |||||||||||
| Financial information and related materials, 1883-1893. | |||||||||||
| Account book and journal, 1887-1902. 1 volume. | |||||||||||
| Clara Hoeburn Koch: | |||||||||||
| Recipes, circa 1890s. | |||||||||||
| Reminiscences, circa 1900. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1913, 1921. | |||||||||||
| Theodore William Koch: | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1907-1928. | |||||||||||
| Harvard grades, sports activities, photographs, and related miscellany, 1911-1913. | |||||||||||
| World War I menus, reports, orders, and related materials, 1918-1919. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Squadron history: reminiscences of World War I with the 372nd Aero Squadron, undated. | |||||||||||
| Folder | |||||||||||
| 138.E.4.8 | 1 | Blueprints of alterations to residence located at 785 Linwood Place, Saint Paul, 1936. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2868 | 1 | Edward Brewer: Portrait of Theodore W. Koch, 1962. | |||||||||
| Theodore Heath Koch correspondence, 1948-1964. | |||||||||||
| Inventory of correspondents compiled by Robert Schoone-Jongen, 2013. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2868 | 2 | Photographs, undated and circa 1890s-1970. 7 folders. | |||||||||
| Include photographs of family business ventures and snapshots of Theodore F., Clara H., and subsequent generations. The bulk of the images are of Theodore W. (Theo), and his family, wife Florence Belle, and son, Theodore H. "Teddy" Koch. Included as well are photographs taken on family trips to Texas; at Shreveport, Louisiana; at Clara City, Lake Pokegama and Camp Mishawaka, Minnesota, and at the White Bear Lake Yacht Club. | |||||||||||
RELATED MATERIALS
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Agricultural colonies -- Minnesota.
- Alien property -- United States.
- Business enterprises -- Minnesota.
- Business enterprises -- Texas.
- Cattle -- Europe -- Buying.
- Cattle -- United States -- Buying.
- Cattle tick -- Texas.
- Cattle trade -- Europe.
- Cattle trade -- United States.
- Drainage -- Texas.
- Dutch Americans -- Minnesota.
- Dutch Americans -- Texas.
- Emigration and immigration.
- German Americans -- United States.
- Hurricanes -- Texas.
- Land companies -- Minnesota.
- Land companies -- Texas.
- Railroads -- Minnesota.
- Railroads -- Texas.
- Real estate business -- Minnesota.
- Real estate business -- Texas.
- Storms -- Texas.
- Wetlands -- Texas.
- World war, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations.
- Persons:
- Koch, Clara, author.
- Koch, Theodore H. (Theodore Heath), 1936- , author.
- Koch, Theodore W. (Theodore William), 1891-1962, author.
- Places:
- Clara City (Minn.).
- Chippewa County (Minn.).
- Galveston (Texas).
- Netherlands -- Description and travel.
- Netherlands -- Economic conditions.
- Texas -- Description and travel.
- Organizations:
- United States. Army Air Forces.
- United States. Army. Air Service. Aero Squadron, 372nd.
- Types of Documents:
- Interviews.
- Photographs.
- Reminiscences -- Minnesota.
- Occupations:
- Businessmen -- Minnesota.
- Businessmen -- Texas.
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