Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Kelbel, Frank J 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 6:36 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Kelbel, Frank J. – The dignity of labor intelligently performed and well 
executed is something men are beginning to properly recognize and appreciate.  
One of the men who has developed a wide-spread reputation for high-class 
shoeing of horses throughout Grundy County, is Frank J. Kelbel of Morris.  He 
was born at Chicago, in July, 1873, a son of Frank and Catherine (Becker) 
Kelbel, born in Germany, who came to the United States in their childhood, and 
married when they grew to maturity.  The father was a blacksmith for many 
years, and for a quarter of a century, had his own shop in Chicago.  His death 
occurred in 1889, and his wife died in 1886.

Living at home until his father died, Frank J. Kelbel received a public school 
education.  He started to learn his trade with his father, but when the latter 
died, in 1889, he engaged in bottling soda water and thus continued for two 
and one-half years in Chicago.  Then he resumed working at his trade, and 
completed it and came to Morris in 1898, where he started to work for Charles 
Weese.  In 1905, he bought the business, and is carrying it on, specializing 
on horseshoeing.

Mr. Kelbel is a member of Trinity German Lutheran Church of Chicago.  He 
belongs to Richard Cole Lodge No. 697, of Chicago, and Morris Lodge No. 198, 
Knights of Pythias, and twice has represented them at the Grand Lodge.  Mr. 
Kelbel was also Deputy Grand Chancellor of this district, F. O. E. No. 1024, 
of Morris, and held the office of president from 1909 to 1912.  He also 
belongs to the Fraternal Life Reserve Association No. 42 and the K. O. T. M. 
of Morris.

A strong Republican, Mr. Kelbel was elected Mayor of Morris, his term expiring 
in the spring of 1911.  During the period he was executive head of the city, 
Morris enjoyed an era of prosperity and civic development that reflected 
credit on him and his methods.  During the Spanish-American War, he enlisted 
for service in the First Illinois Cavalry at Chicago, April 28, 1898, and was 
honorably discharged October 12, 1898.  Mr. Kelbel has never married.  A man 
of sterling characteristics, he has proven himself a very desirable citizen, 
and either in war or peace can be depended upon to do his full duty as he sees 
it.

page 846

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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