Our founder, Austin Enos “Brick” Kness was born in Chadwick, Illinois on June 19, 1889. He was the second of eight children born to William and Clara Kness. The family settled on farms near Olin and Monticello, Iowa in the mid 1890’s. "Brick" attended school through the eighth grade. He left home at the age of fifteen. He worked on various farms and wrestled professionally. He even enjoyed some success traveling as a wrestler