USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
270
VALLEY OF THE UPPER' MAUMEE.
county, Ind., settling upon forty acres which they cleared. Four or five years later they came to Allen county and settled at Williamsport where he was postmaster during the war. Subsequently, he removed to Fort Wayne and remained there until his wife died, when he returned to Williamsport, where he now lives. Mrs. and Mrs. Schaick have had nine children, of whom eight are living: Margaret, George, Anna, Jacob, Mary, John, William and Louisa. He and wife are members of the English Lutheran church, and he was formerly a member of Sion S. Bass post, G. A. R., at Ft. Wayne. Mr. Schaick now has a good farm of eighty acres, well improved, in St. Joseph township.
Prominent among the respected old German residents of the county is Christian Koester, sr., who was born in Germany, November 11, 1813, son of Kordt and Mary (Stoppenhagen) Koester. He grew to man- hood in his native state, and in 1846 emigrated to America. He came to Fort Wayne in the same year, and worked on the canal a year and a half. He continued to be engaged in employment of that nature for several years, and in 1853 embarked in the lime and stone business at Fort Wayne. In this he continued for sixteen years, and did well at his business. In 1879 he bought the farm on which he now lives, and moved upon it, retiring from business life. This handsome place of 15112 acres with two-story brick dwelling and good barn he deeded to his son Christian. He was married in 1853 to Minnie Stellhorn, and they have had six children, of whom Christian is the only survivor. He 'and wife are devoted members of the German Lutheran church. Chris- tian Koester, jr., was born at Fort Wayne, December 30, 1857. He received a good common school education and attended Concordia col- lege four years. He remained in Fort Wayne until 1880, when he was married April 29, to Mary, daughter of John F. and Mary Gerke, when he removed to the farm above mentioned. Mrs. Koester was born December 5, 1861. They have three children, Minnie, Emma and Fred- erick. He and wife are members of the German Lutheran church, and are highly regarded by all who know them. He is a thorough-going young farmer, and besides his home, owns a good frame dwelling and barn.
In 1847, there came to Fort Wayne, Henry E. Antrup, son of Herman and Catherine Antrup, who has done his share in the development of the county. The parents came to America in 1838, and settled in New York. Henry E. Antrup, now a respected citizen of St. Joseph township, was born in Prussia, March 27, 1827. His parents being poor, he was com- pelled by circumstances, to earn his own support from the age of thirteen. On coming to Fort Wayne, he was first employed as a boatman on the canal, and this was his occupation for four years. During this time he acquired some town property, which soon appreciated in value so that when he sold it he was able with the proceeds, to buy 160 acres of land, upon which he now lives. It was nearly all in woods at the time, and the task of clearing it and preparing it for tillage busily occupied him for a considerable period. He has prospered in life, and the ninety-
271
ANNALS OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
one acres he still holds is well kept and provided with buildings. In 1849, he was married to Harriet Ashley, daughter of John and Diana (Potter) Ashley, and born in 1833. To them seven children were born, of whom two are living: Charles E. and Henrietta. Mr. Antrup has been a prominent citizen, was supervisor of the roads in an early day, and is an important member of the republican party. He has of late years been raising fruit for the market, with success, and making a specialty of breeding Shropshire sheep. He and wife are faithful mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been elder for fourteen years.
Louis Juergens, a respected farmer of St. Joseph township, was born at Fort Wayne, July 26, 1848. His parents, Henry and Wilhelmina (Bode) Juergens, were natives of Germany, who came to America in 1848, and made their home for two years in Fort Wayne. At the end of that period, they removed to a farm of forty acres, partly cleared, and ten years later moved to the farm which was their subsequent residence. Louis was reared on the farm and as his parents were then poor, had little school advantages. In 1874, he was married to Louisa Busche, who was born in 1852, and to this union were born eight children, all now living: Wilhelmina, Ernst, Henry, August, Louis, Arthur and Adolph. Mr. Juergens has served one year as constable, then resigning the office, and has held the office of road supervisor one year. During the rebellion, he patriotically tendered his services to the government, but was rejected by the recruiting officers on account of his youth and size. He and his father and brother began in this county poor, but their energy and industry have made them prosperous, and none are more highly esteemed. He has a valuable farm of 125 acres, well improved, with a good residence and largel and commodious barn.
John P. Lahmeyer, a native of Allen county, and a prominent citizen of St. Joseph township, was born in Adams township, December 22, 1848. His parents, Frederick and Dora Lahmeyer, were early settlers there. He was raised to manhood in Adams township, receiv- ing a good common school education. He served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and thus became able to construct his own buildings. In 1875 he was married to Martha Trier, who was born September, 1853, and this union was blessed with three children, John, Katie and Mary. Previous to his marriage, his father, with whom he had remained and worked on the farm until he was twenty-six years old, rewarded his assistance by giving him the farm on which he now lives, 100 acres of fine land, well kept and provided with substantial buildings, worthy of the progressive region in which he lives. Mr. and Mrs. Lahmeyer are members of the Lutheran church, of which he has served as a trustee about five years.
William Waltke, one of the industrious natives of Prussia who have prospered in this county in spite of discouraging circumstances, was born July 2, 1826. At the age of one year he was left an orphan by the death of his father, and grew up almost without a home. In
272
VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE.
Prussia he received some education in German, and after coming to this country he acquired some knowledge of the English language. In 1849 he immigrated and landed at New York on the 7th of August. As he put his foot on the soil of the new land where he intended some way to buy him a little farm and be independent, he had but $5 in his pocket and this was not enough to pay his passage to Fort Wayne, his destination. He worked for about six weeks to obtain enough to pay his fare, and then came to Fort Wayne, where he obtained employment as a tanner. This he was engaged in for seven years, and he then found employment at marble cutting, which busied him sixteen years. Out of his wages he saved enough besides supporting his family to buy fifty-one acres in St. Joseph township where he now lives, and has a handsome home. In 1851 he was married to Hannah Gerke, who was born in 1832, and twelve children were born to them, of whom seven are living: George, Christian, Dora, William, John, Lizzie, and Sophia. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church.
In 1849 Friedrich Vollmer, now a prominent farmer of St. Joseph township, arrived in Fort Wayne from Germany, in search of a new home in the strange land. He had with him on his arrival but 50 cents, which he in deference to the patriotism of his adopted country, spent in celebrating the fourth of July. Mr. Vollmer was born in Germany, January 15, 1824, son of Henry and Sophia Vollmer. He received a good education in his native language, and after coming to America speedily acquired a general knowledge of English. He remained in Fort Wayne but a short time and then went to Crawfordsville, Ind., where he found work in railroad construction about three months at 75 cents per day. All his savings were lost through sickness, and then he went to Indianapolis, where he worked on a railroad three or four years, and managed to save $108, with which he made a payment upon the land he now owns in St. Joseph township. In 1853, he was mar- ried to Sophia Zuba, who died in the same year, and he then married Sophia Meyer, who was born December 31, 1829. Their union was blessed with nine children, six of whom survive: Frederick, William, Louis, Sophia, Mina and Lisetta. The next year after his marriage he . went upon his farm and began the work of clearing. His years of toil are now rewarded by the possession of a good farm of eighty acres, and two houses and lots in Fort Wayne.
Henry C. W. Meyer, a prosperous farmer of Allen county, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 12, 1828, son of Henry and Elizabeth Meyer. The father dying when Henry was ten years of age, the latter was compelled by these adverse circumstances at the age of fourteen to seek his own fortune. By hard work and perseverance he accumulated the little sum of $25, and to this there was added $40 from the estate of his brother. With this capital he came to America, starting April 15, 1849. On reaching Fort Wayne he was in debt $2.25 for his pas- sage, an amount he borrowed to secure his clothes from the transporta- tion agents. He found employment as a boatman on the canal until
-
273
ANNALS OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
1854, meanwhile having bought seventy-six acres, which he paid for out of his wages. In 1854 he was married to Engel Gerke, and he and wife went upon their little farm, then mainly woods, which they have increased by wise foresight and patient industry to landed possessions of 246 acres, adorned with handsome and substantial buildings. Mrs. Meyer was born in December, 1831. She and her husband are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church. To their union three children have been born: Frederick G., Louis W. and Mary E.
James M. Fletter, a venerable and highly esteemed citizen of St. Joseph township, was born in Franklin county, Penn., January 10, 1813. His grandfather, a native of Germany, came to this country with a Hes- sian regiment during the revolutionary war. His company was taken prisoners by the continental army, and after this ancestor of the Fletter family had learned the ways of the country, and understood the struggle for independence, he became a citizen of America and determined to cast his lot with the colonies. His son Jacob was born in Pennsylvania, and became a soldier of the United States in the war of 1812, serving as a captain during the expedition into Canada. He was married to Lydia Crunkleson, and early in the twenties, with his family removed to Ohio and became a pioneer, clearing land and there raising his family. He was a potter by trade, at which he was also occupied. His emigra- tion to Ohio was caused by losing all his property in Pennsylvania on account of becoming surety for others, a favor which his kindly nature could not refuse. Previously he served as sheriff of Franklin county, and was a prominent and influential citizen. He lived in Ohio until the death of his wife. Their son, James M. Fletter, came to Fort Wayne on a prospecting tour in 1831, and worked there a short time as a tailor, but the country being then very new, he returned to Ohio and there worked at his trade. May 26, 1836, he was married to Jane, daughter of Zephaniah Bell, a devoted member of the Methodist church and a good and true wife. She died March 6, 1846, and one of her three children survives, Caroline, widow of William Andrews, living in California. September 10, 1846, Mr. Fletter was married to Ann, daughter of Abraham Grose. She was born August 4, 1822, and died June 26, 1860. Six children were born to this marriage, of whom four survive, Sarah, John, Eliza and William. In 1849 Mr. Fletter removed with his family to St. Joseph township, upon the eighty acres which is now his home farm, and began life anew in a little log cabin. This was his first intro- duction to farming, but he was successful, and subsequently erected a good dwelling, which he had the misfortune to lose by fire in 1883. November 18, 1860, he was married to Charity, daughter of Moses Embre, and widow of Roscoe Bennett. Mr. Fletter, about 1864, sold his property and rented his farm and moved to Fort Wayne and remained two years, and in 1883 he embarked in general merchandise in Milan township, and then in Perry township, but less than three years later he returned to his farm, which has been his residence with these excep- tions. Mrs. Fletter was born January 7, 1814, and is a member of the
18
274
VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE.
United Brethren church, to which Mr. Fletter also belongs, although he was formerly a Methodist.
In 1850, among the settlers in Milan township, from beyond the sea, were the family of David and Mary A. (Devaux) Evard, natives of Switzerland. James Evard, one of the children of these worthy par- ents, was born in Switzerland, September 6, 1838. He received a good education, both in the old country and in Allen county. He was a blacksmith by trade, and by industry and economy earned enough at the anvil to purchase his fertile farm of eighty acres in St. Joseph township, which is his present abode. In 1861 he was one of the earliest to enlist for the preservation of the union, and enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth Indiana regiment, and served with his company until the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded in the left foot so as to totally disable him for active service. He is now the recipient of a pension from the govern- ment in recognition of his sacrifices for his adopted country. In 1864 Mr. Evard was married to Corilla Bowers, who was born in 1840, and they have had five children, of whom four are living: Nellie, Jennie, Hortense and Lillie. The one who died was at the time of decease a teacher in the public schools. Her death was caused by fire, which caught in her clothing. Mr. Evard served one term as constable, and is a member of the Grand Army post at New Haven. He and wife are members of the Grace Reformed church at Fort Wayne.
The Goeglein family of St. Joseph township, prominent in the his- tory of Allen county, are descendants of Daniel and Magdalena (Reu- ter) Goeglein, of German birth, who emigrated from Bavaria in 1838, and came to Meigs county, Ohio, where they remained until 1865, when they removed to St. Joseph township and resided there until their death. Daniel Goeglein was a worthy, pious and honorable man. While in the old country he was a soldier for a time in the Napoleonic war, and was wounded, and before he was able to return to the service, Napoleon had met his Waterloo. He came to this country a poor man, but by indus- try accumulated enough to make easy his declining years. He and wife are both members of the Lutheran church, and were the organizers of the church at Pomeroy, Ohio. He died at the age of seventy-six years.
Jacob Goeglein, son of the above, was born in Germany, January 25, 1827. Coming with his parents to America, he helped in their la- bors in clearing their eighty-acre farm in Ohio. He received a good common school education, and is one of the intelligent and progressive people of the county. Widely known throughout the county as an en- terprising and valuable citizen, he was chosen to serve two terms in the responsible position of county commissioner. Though beginning life with no advantages he has prospered through the exercise of his own talents, and now has a good farm of 220 acres, with commodious build- ings. Politically he is, with the other members of the family, a firm supporter of the democratic party. Mr. Goeglein was married in Ohio, to Otilia Mess, who was born in November, 1827, and they have had thirteen children, of whom eleven are living: John, Jacob, Mary,
-
275
ANNALS OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
Henry, Abraham, Sophia, Elizabeth, William, Christian, Valentine and Daniel. Mrs. Goeglein and her husband are members of the Lutheran church.
George Goeglein, another son of Daniel and Magdalena, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, June 21, 1840. He was reared in his native state to the age of twenty-five, and then came to St. Joseph township, where his abode has since been. In 1867 he began a general merchandise business which he has continued to the present with considerable suc- cess in connection with farming. In 1872, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, which includes sixty-seven acres and is hand- somely improved. He has been chosen by the people of his township to serve as trustee four years, a well appreciated mark of confidence and esteem. During President Arthur's administration he was appointed postmaster at the office which was created and named Goeglein, and since that time has served in this position to the entire satisfaction of the public. Mr. Goeglein was married in 1861 to Catherine Sauvage, and this union has been blessed with twelve children, of whom there are nine living: John H., George A., Valentine J., Katie M., Sophia, Will- iam, Gottlieb, Frederick and Theodore. Mrs. Goeglein was born in 1839. She and her husband are members of the German Lutheran church.
John Goeglein, son of the above mentioned Jacob Goeglein, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, June 1, 1848. Coming to Indiana with his parents, his residence in St. Joseph township began at the age of fifteen years. He was the eldest child, and much of the labor of the early days in this county fell upon him, so that he was deprived of extended educational advantages. At the age of twenty-one years he started out for himself as the manager of a threshing machine, a business he followed for about six years, in connection with farming. He now occupies his pleasant farm of eighty acres and has a comfort- able home. May 4, 1871, he was married to Anna Bruick, who was born in 1850, and they have had eight children, of whom seven are living: Christian, Martin, Louis, Herman, Edward, Elizabeth and Anna. Immediately after his marriage he rented the farm of J. H. Bass in St. Joseph township, which he occupied five years, then going upon the farm he now lives upon. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church.
Charles Kramer, an enterprising and highly respected citizen of St. Joseph township, was born in Lucas county, Ohio, May 28, 1846. While a small child, he was brought by his parents, Frederick and Minnie Kramer, to Washington township, where he experienced much of the hard work and privations incident to the early days when all who were old enough to assist in any way found it necessary to take part in the arduous duties of clearing and brush burning. His early schooling was necessarily limited, but he is nevertheless an intelligent and wide- awake citizen. At the age of twenty-one he started out for himself, and worked four years as a farm hand. At about twenty-five years of
276
VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE.
age he found employment in railroading, and was so employed for ten years, doing well in this business, and reaching the position of engineer. During seven years as engineer he did not have an accident, a record of which he is well proud. His savings while railroading enabled to make payment on a farm of 130 acres, which he sold seven years later and purchased a farm of 247 acres, which he now occupies. Upon this he has a fine house and barn, and all in all has one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Kramer was married June 6, 1872, to Sophia Rose, who was born December 22, 1845, and they have had nine children, of whom seven are living: Charles, Emma, Eliza, Adolph, Henry, Amanda and Arthur. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church.
Prominent among the German pioneers of the county is Henry Wiegmann, who was born in Germany, October 31, 1834. Left an orphan at the age of two years, his progress in the world was attended with much privation and hardship. Receiving a fair German education in the old country, he left there in 1851, and came to America. He remained one year in New York state, and then came to Fort Wayne. Here he was first employed by Judge Hanna, at $6, and worked for a year and a half at that wages. He then began to work upon the rail- road, and was employed for two years carrying water and whisky to the men, both beverages being then considered indispensable. After that he hired out to Hon. F. P. Randall to make rails and clear land, upon the farm which he now occupies. Being economical and frugal he saved enough from his small earnings to start a small store in Fort Wayne, being the third German to open a grocery in the city. Two years later he went to Missouri and worked one year, and then after another short stay in Allen county, went to the gold fields of California, and remained four years and four months. Returning with some of the California gold, he re-established himself in the grocery business at Fort Wayne, and by fair dealing built up a good trade which remained with him while he was in business. He was a successful and prosper- ·ous business man. In 1877 he retired from business and removed to his farm of II0 acres one mile northeast of the city on the Maumee avenue turnpike. This is a beautiful and well improved place, and besides it he owns a business building and dwelling in the city. Mr. Wiegmann was married in 1863, to Sophia Waltermarth, and their union was blessed with nine children: Henry, Lizza, Sophia, Friedrich, Karl, Wilhelm, Caroline, Friedrich and Ludwig. He and wife are members of the German Lutheran church.
An industrious farmer of St. Joseph township, and prominent among the French settlers, is August Sarazin, who was born in France May 2, 1838, the son of Silas and Sophia Sarazin. Until fourteen years of age he re- mained in his native land, and being poor had there no chance to obtain an education. Since coming to America he has by his own efforts learned somewhat of English, and is an intelligent and capable citizen. His life has been devoted to industry, and he has prospered as a farmer,
-
277
ANNALS OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
and though starting in this country without any advantages, now has a good farm of eighty-three acres, advantageously situated, fertile and well-cultivated, and he has his home in a comfortable two-story brick dwelling house. Mr. Sarazin was married in 1866 to Josephine Bobay, who was born in 1842, and this union has been blessed with eleven chil- dren, of whom ten are living: Julius, John, Pauline, August, Mary, Frederick, Louisa, Charles, Sophia and Sylvester. Mr. Sarazin and wife are members of the Catholic church.
Louis Lacroix, one of the leading French settlers of St. Joseph town- ship, was born in France, August 17, 1832, son of Xavier and Frances Lacroix. When about thirteen years of age he came to the United States and first settled in New York state, where he began work as a laborer at $3 per month, and remained with the same employer five years, his wages being gradually raised to $13 per month. After a res- idence of seven years in New York, at the age of twenty years he returned to France for the family of his father, the latter having come to this country with him. His mother was then dead, but he brought over his four sisters, which cost him $400 of his hard-earned money. They remained in New York one summer and then came to Perry town- ship, Allen county, where he first leased land, and then bought forty acres of woodland which he cleared. He then leased another forty and cleared that, and then bought eighty acres in St. Joseph township. After clearing this he bought sixty acres, of which he cleared thirteen, and then cleared forty acres for Mr. Griffith. In 1852 he began working on the Wabash railroad, and the following year worked for T. P. Anderson in getting out ties, and in general work. He then was employed on a canal boat two years to obtain money to pay for the land he and his father had bought. During the early years of his toilsome career he gained his education; in France he was in school five winters, in this country he obtained two months schooling by paying six cents per week, and after he was twenty he worked for his board while attending school two months. He now has a valuable farm of 140 acres, with good buildings, and is a leading citizen. In 1861 he was married to Mary Martin, who was born December, 1843, and of their eleven children eight are living: Francis, Clara, Julia, Joseph, Louis, Sophia, Charles and Henry. He and wife are members of the Catholic church. Mrs. Lacroix is a daughter of Charles J. and Frances J. Martin, natives of France, who came to this country in 1842, and two years later settled in Perry township. Her father was accidentally drowned in the St. Joseph river at the bridge just north of Fort Wayne, February 19, 1861. He was driving home from the city, the other occupants of his wagon being his wife, another lady and a priest. As they drove from the approach the wheels struck the edge of the bridge, which was higher than the approach, and the sudden shock broke one of the tugs. The horses were then unable to hold the wagon on the steep and narrow approach and it ran off into the river. All escaped except Mr. Martin, whose body was not found until five weeks afterward.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.