Biographical Sketch of Bros. Bownam & Kranz
Bowman Kranz Bros., established on July 1, 1886, in Holstein, Iowa, succeeded the S. H. Bowman Lumber Co., the area’s first lumber dealers. The firm operated from a substantial facility near the railroad depot. H. G. Kranz, born in Germany in 1865, began his career with the Bowman Lumber Co. after emigrating at age 18. His brother, J. C. Kranz, also from Germany, worked as a farmhand before joining the business, actively contributing to local banking and development initiatives.