August Kaven, the pioneer settler and the man who erected the first building in Minden, now the residence of James Crow, is the real founder of this city, having erected most of the buildings, and is now one of the substantial business men of the town. He was born in Holstein, Germany, September 14, 1842, the son of Henry Kaven, who was the father of three children now living: Henry, Dora and August. The father was a farmer by occupation, and lived to the age of eighty-six years. His wife lived to the extreme age of ninety years. Her maiden name was Dora Westfall.

August Kaven, our subject, after visiting the principal cities of Germany, Switzerland and France, came to America, in 1866. He located in New York City, where he worked at his trade of cabinet-maker about nine months. He then moved to Chicago, and was in that city during the great fire, after which he worked in rebuilding the city until 1873, when he came to Avoca, where he remained for a few months, working on the bank building.

January 22, 1874, he came to Minden, having the contract to build the residence for Casper Foster, but on account of the deep snow he was unable to find the stakes marking the lots. He was next occupied by August Dolen, and then the building now occupied by John Bloom, which was the first business block erected in this city. Since that time Mr. Kaven has been one of the prominent builders and contractors in Minden and the surrounding country, and has at times employed as many as fifteen men.

He is now holding the office of Township Trustee and commissioner, and was also Justice of the Peace four years. He is now a member of the First Council of Minden. Mr. Kaven owns his residence, five lots and the store and lot now occupied by John Crow. He is a self-made man, having come to America with no knowledge of the English language and in a strange country made his own property. He came from Avoca to Minden by wagon, and brought with him food for himself and men. Henry Urbahns, a carpenter, came about four days after Mr. Kaven, bringing his family and one man, and all of the people lived in a shanty on the lot now occupied by the Minden House. Mr. Kaven built the first school-house in this city in 1874, and the first church, the German Lutheran, in 1880. He also built the Minden House, the Union Hotel, and all the places on the road, on which Minden House now stands.

Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the I.O.O.F. of Neola. Politically he has always been a Republican, but is now a believer of the great Democratic Party.

He was married in Frankfort, Illinois, in 1867, to Miss Margaret Klepper, and they have eight children, namely: Lena, Emma, Charles, August, William, Edith, Lucy and Minnie.