And this is what Koenig's invention did, as will be observed from the following brief summary of his life and labours.
Frederick Koenig was born on the 17th of April, 1774, at Eisleben, in Saxony, the birthplace also of a still more famous person, Martin Luther.

His father was a respectable peasant proprietor, described by Herr Goebel as Anspanner.

But this word has now gone out of use.

In feudal times it described the farmer who was obliged to keep draught cattle to perform service due to the landlord.

The boy received a solid education at the Gymnasium, or public school of the town.