In every community there are found a few citizens who are ever the leading spirits in promoting the upbuilding of the vicinity and molding its public policy. They are its real founders, and their enterprise constitutes the moving force in all that is accomplished there. Such a man in Crawford County was Hon. Henry C. Laub. No history of this part of the state would be complete without extended mention of him and his life work, which constitutes so important a factor in the annals of the county. His birth occurred in Little York, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1824, his parents being William and Catharine (Snyder) Laub. He spent his early youth in Gettysburg and at the age of twelve years began to provide for his own support as a farm hand working in that way for four years and two months. The spirit of adventure, however called him elsewhere, and he ran away to Frederick County, Maryland, where he secured a situation and remained until eighteen years of age. He then returned to Gettysburg and spent a few months in school. This was the only educational training he received and yet he became a well informed man. While he was still in his teens he began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for four years, using his leisure hours in reading and study so that at the end of that time he was qualified for teaching and followed the profession for four years. The west, with its wider opportunities, attracted him, and hoping to make more rapid progress in the business world in this section of the country, he came to Iowa in November, 1851, making his way to Muscatine, where on the day of his arrival he was engaged to teach school. For two years he was identified with the educational interests of the city, after which he went to Cedar Rapids and turned his attention to merchandising, opening a general store. Subsequently he removed to Scotch Grove and began the cultivation of an eighty acre farm. He afterward spent a year and a half in agricultural pursuits in Benton County and in 1855 arrived at Mason's Grove, Crawford County, where he resided for two years. It was his intention to continue farming, and he purchased a tract of land near Deloit but he soon recognized the need of mercantile enterprises and opened a little store in that village. For years Mr. Laub was a merchant prince of western Iowa. Denison was his central place of business, but through partnerships he extended his interests in every direction. While engaged with many and varied business interests and activities, he never neglected his duties of citizenship and cooperated in every movement for the general good. In pioneer times he served as sheriff of Crawford County, summoned the first jury that ever sat in the county court and in later years found pleasure in relating the fact that he had to walk clear to the south edge of the county to serve some of the summons. He was the first county surveyor and for twelve years filled the office of superintendent of schools. He also built the first schoolhouse in Denison, now used by the Lutheran parochial school, and he took the contract for the erection of the courthouse and the west brick school. He built the first oven and burned the first brick made in Denison, and when the Northwestern Railroad Company was extending its line westward, Mr. Laub contracted to haul the poles and erect the first telegraph line that connected Boone and Council Bluffs. On the 7th of February, 1848, in Frederick, Maryland, Mr. Laub was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Baer, a daughter of Jacob and Matilda Baer, who were farming people and were of German descent. His word carried weight in political circles and his support was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, after which he joined the ranks of the Republican Party. He was influential in its councils and frequently served as a delegate to the state conventions. He represented Crawford County in the Eighteen Iowa General Assembly, 1880. Mr. Laub was a member of the Methodist Church.