Encyclopedia Dubuque
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RHOMBERG, Joseph H.
RHOMBERG, Joseph H. (Dubuque, IA, July 30, 1862--Dubuque, IA, July 1, 1929). Educated in Dubuque; Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; and St. Louis, Missouri, Rhomberg worked from 1881 until 1885 on the Austin and Northwestern Railroad owned by his father, Joseph A. RHOMBERG.
In 1885 Rhomberg returned to Dubuque and became the general manager and superintendent of the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY which was operated by his father. In 1898 he was one of the organizers of the DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY, eventually one of the largest businesses of its kind in Iowa.
Rhomberg was also involved in the sale of the "Rhomberg Cutter Blade Plow Share." Advertising material claimed that the plow share would increase crops from 20-100% by discing, plowing, and harrowing the ground in one operation. The Rhomberg Cutter Blade Plow Share was produced to fit any plow. All a customer had to do to order the tool was to give the name of the plow and the number which was stamped on the bottom of the share. The company recommended three blades for twelve inch and fourteen inch plows and four blades for sixteen inch plows.
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Source:
Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1911, p. 574