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For a complete 100-year history of the company, click on the link below!
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About Us; Our company past, present, and future |
Some of this history is excerpted from the 1972 Ely centennial book
Frank Joseph Krob, a native of Lisbon, came to Ely in 1910 at the age of 21. Mr. Krob received his education in the Lisbon school system and was a member of Lisbon High School's famous football team when the gridiron sport was just getting underway in Linn County.
F.J. Krob and his brother-in-law, Wes Fiala, purchased the Ely Elevator from C.S. King in 1910. The scoop shovel was an important tool in the early grain business, with much physical labor, in comparison to today's mechanization. Many of the old timers often spoke of the twenty-two horse power single cylinder gas engine, used to power the corn sheller and the elevator, with its six-foot fly wheels and loud bark. |
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Coal retailing was an important part of the early elevator operation. A familiar sight was of an elevator employee, with only the whites of his eyes showing, after a day's work of unloading coal cars and delivering coal to customers
Commercial fertilizer sales began in 1918, when Frank Krob shipped in the first car load of fertilizer ever brought into the county. It was a fifteen ton rail car of 125 lb bags which took three years of hard selling to dispose of.
During WWI, Frank Krob was in the army from 1917-1918, serving as an instructor in gas warfare at Camp Gordon Georgia. |
Some of the company's expansions included the purchase of the elevator at Solon in 1928, purchase of the elevator at Rowley in 1936 and construction of of an elevator at Walker in 1950. The Mt. Auburn elevator was purchased in 1986. Frank J. Krob remained active in the elevator business until 1952 when he sold out his interest to his three sons, Vic, Robert, Norbert, and his son-in-law, John Phillips.
Norbert Krob worked with Vic at the Rowley elevator early on, and later managed the elevator in Walker until 1982. Vic Krob managed the elevator in Rowley until 1978. In spite of the best efforts of Vic's wife, Edna, the Rowley operation was closed while Vic and Norbert served overseas during WWII, and re-opened when they returned.
Robert "Bob" Krob managed the elevator in Ely until 1982. While he served in Europe, his mother Libbie (Mrs. FJ Krob) and sister Martha worked in his stead. Mixing feed was a joint effort, requiring the two of them to drag the 100 pound bags across the floor to the mixer. When needed, Martha would also make deliveries with the grain truck.
Johnny Phillips managed the elevator in Solon until 1977. While John served overseas, there was very reliable man there in Jack Kessler, and the Solon operation stayed open until John returned home. |
Vic Krob, Robert Krob, Norbert Krob, John Phillips
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 0Mike Krob000 David Krob |
In 1970, Robert "Mike" Krob, eldest son of Norbert, returned to the family business. He had graduated from Loras college in 1968, and served in the army until his discharge in 1970. Mike manages the company's northern operations.
Likewise, Norbert's younger son David, an Iowa State graduate, served stateside and overseas in the army from 1968 until 1970. After his discharge from the service, he worked for Caterpillar in Aurora, Illinois for four years, returning to the elevator in 1974. David manages the southern operations. |
FJ Krob and Company has the relatively unique distinction of longevity and family ownership, and as such is proudly entering its fourth generation of being family owned and operated. Allen Krob, Mike's son, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1992. He currently works out of the Walker office. Lee Cherry, Mike's son-in-law, manages the Rowley location. Mark Krob, David's son, graduated from Iowa State in 1999. Mark works at the Ely and Solon locations. |
 Allen Krob, Mark Krob, Lee Cherry |
Since its origin in 1910, F.J. Krob and Company has expanded its operations into nearly all aspects of farm production, including feed grinding and mixing (added in 1928), grain drying, liquid and dry fertilizer sales and custom application, anhydrous ammonia, farm and field scouting and planning, and everything in between.
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