ROBERT FORBRIGER.
In the present incumbent of the county assessor’s office, the people of Atchison county are extremely fortunate in having a painstaking, faithful and conscientious public servant who believes in doing his duty by the people, taxpayers, and for the people as the law provides. It is probable that no other individual in the county has a wider or more intimate knowledge of values and property ownership in Atchison county than Mr. Forbriger. Born in Atchison county in the pioneer days when the county was in process of early settlement, he has grown up with the city and county and has a speaking acquaintance with almost every person within the confines of his native heath. Kind and obliging to a high degree, he has made himself invaluable as a citizen and able county official, and is well liked and highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities.
The father of the gentleman named in the foregoing paragraph was Robert Forbriger, a native of Saxony, Germany, born in 1825, immigrated to America in 1848 and died in the city of his adoption in 1886. The senior Forbriger was a man of good education, and came of a family of scholars and educators in his native land. Therefore, he was well equipped to fight a winning battle for success in the land of his adoption. He first located in Elgin, Ill., and after a residence of ten years in that city, came to Atchison in 1858. This thriving and beautiful city was then in its infancy, and Mr. Forbriger had the distinction of being one of its foremost citizens and builders in the early days. He obtained a job in the J. E. Wagner hardware store, which was situated on the southeast corner of Fourth and Commercial streets. Not long afterward he engaged in the insurance and real estate business and from that drifted into the banking business. He, with George Storch and John Belz, established the German Savings Bank, which was later reorganized as the United States National Bank. This new organization erected the building at the corner of Sixth and Commercial streets. Mr. Forbriger was connected with the banking concern until his death, after which the institution was again reorganized. He was active in civic and business affairs in Atchison during his long residence here, and was always a booster for his adopted city, liberal in his donations and support of public enterprises, and a benefactor of churches and charitable enterprises. It is said of him that he always generously responded to calls for assistance in the name of charity, religion or civic betterment of the community. As a citizen he did his duty in an official capacity, serving as a member of the city council and as an active member of the city school board. During the early sixties when Atchison was yet a village he served as a member of the town council. In addition he served three terms as city assessor. While a Democrat in politics, he was a great admirer and warm personal friend of the late Senator Ingalls, and it was the Senator’s custom to make his headquarters in Mr. Forbriger’s office while at home, on his return from Washington. This pioneer citizen was a charter member and officer of the Turner’s Society, a famous athletic organization in the early days. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but was broadly tolerant of all creeds and religious beliefs. It was only natural that he should have been a charter member of the Atchison Masonic lodge, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. During the Civil war he was enrolled as a member of the State militia, and responded to the call for volunteers to repel Price’s invasion and served in Colonel Quigg’s command.
Robert Forbriger, the elder, was married in 1862 to Helen Geier, born in Limbach, Baden, Germany, and died in Atchison. She came from her native land to Philadelphia with a sister and cousin, and from there journeyed to Atchison. To them were born three children as follows: Robert, of this review; Emil, engaged in business in East Atchison; Bertha, wife of M. Noll, druggist of Atchison.
Robert Forbriger, the son, was educated in the public schools and St. Benedict’s College. He then entered his father’s bank and also engaged in the insurance business. After his father’s death he continued in the insurance business for a number of years, until he began his service as postoffice clerk, during Cleveland’s administration. After four years in the mercantile business he filled the office of deputy register of deeds for four years; served three years as deputy county assessor, and was elected to the office of county assessor in 1912, and again elected or appointed to the office by the board of county commissioners in 1914. In his younger days he served several years as a regular fireman under three successive fire chiefs, and two terms as city councilman. While originally a Democrat, he deserted the party in 1896, as many others did, to follow the teachings of William McKinley, and now takes an active part in Republican politics, and is sincere and active in his work in behalf of the candidates of his party. Having been born in Atchison, April 4, 1863, it is only natural that he should gather for his sustenance some of the needful in the way of property, and is the owner of a fine fruit farm of twenty-eight acres near the city, and in addition has five residence properties in the city, with properties in Oklahoma and Seattle, Wash.
Mr. Forbriger was married May 21, 1888, to Carrie Wagner, and to them have been born two children: Helen, wife of Leo T. Markey, a banker of Greeley, Kan.; Ralph, a student of electrical engineering in the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Starkville, Miss. The mother of these children was born at Port Washington, near Milwaukee, and is a daughter of Henry and Rosa Wagner, natives of Germany, who removed from Milwaukee to Atchison where Henry Wagner became a bridge contractor and builder. Mr. Wagner for a long period of years did practically all of the bridge construction work in Atchison county.
Mr. Forbriger is a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, and is broad and tolerant in his religious views, taking the staple ground that the manner of life a man lives, regardless of his religious belief, determines his salvation. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Fraternal Citizens, and the Modern Brotherhood of America.