Biography of Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle

Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle. Since his arrival in Champaign County in 1873 the career of Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle has been one in which industry, integrity and fidelity have served to give him an ever-increasing success, a standing as a reputable and substantial citizen, and the respect of the community in which he has so long resided. At the time of his arrival he was in modest circumstances, and he found the new community in which he settled little more than a raw prairie. His own development from his former position to one of affluence has kept steady pace with the progress … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fred Burger

Burger, Fred; florist; born in Germany, July 24, 1866; son of Gottlieb and Karolina Wenz Burger; educated, public schools; married, Cleveland March 16, 1895; Katrina Greiner; issue, three children; with J. M. Gasser Co., 1892 to 1893; started in business as florist in 1893; has continued in same location; designer and decorator; Forester Court Broadway, No. 1252; P. W. C., No. 220; member Florist Club.

Biography of Henry J. Meierkord

Henry J. Meierkord, vice president and cashier of the Exchange State Bank of Linn, and officially identified with other banking and business enterprises in this part of Kansas, came to this country a comparatively poor boy many years ago, and by hard work and strength of will had won a commendable station in business affairs and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Washington County. Mr. Meierkord was born near Bremen, Germany, June 29, 1871, and is the only member of his family in America. His father, Fred Meierkord, was born in the same locality in 1841, spent … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Martens

Mr. Henry Martens has been a resident of California for thirty-five years, during all but five years of which period he has devoted himself to the steel industry in San Mateo County. In 1886, after an exhaustive search for the best location for a foundry, Mr. Henry Martens together with Mr. J. W. Heney, selected South San Francisco and founded the Enterprise Foundry. In 1892 the firm was incorporated. Mr. Martens is one of South City’s strongest boosters. In a recent interview he stated that the Enterprise Foundry of which he is president owes much of its prosperity to its … Read more

Biography of Adam Kroner

Adam Kroner. In making productive the vast prairies of the Middle West no one class of people has borne a more steady and effective part than the German element, and particularly to those who came as colonists after the German revolutionary troubles of the ’40s. Representing the second generation of this element is Mr. Adam Kroner, concerning whose work and standing as a Champaign County agriculturist only the highest words of praise may be spoken. Mr. and Mrs. Kroner occupy a fine home in Newcomb Township. Mrs. Kroner is also of a prominent German family of the county, and at … Read more

Biography of George Storch, Hon.

Hon. George Storch was one of the notable and influential figures during the first and second decades of the history of Atchison County. The life of such a man deserves the memory of succeeding generations because it exemplified the dignity of honest labor and was fruitful in all those resources which contribute to the substantial character of a community. He came to Kansas when the state was in its infancy of development and was a pioneer merchant of old Kennekuk, becoming in time a merchant, banker, etatesman and altogether one of the most useful citizens Atchison County ever had. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert W. Laws

Laws, Albert W.; mason contractor; born, Germany, Aug. 19, 1869; son of Anton and Anna Dreier Laws; educated, Liebenthal, Germany, and St. Mary’s School, Cleveland; married, Cleveland, July 2, 1892, Henrietta Frederick; issue, two children.

Biography of William Frank Flack, M. D.

William Frank Flack, M. D. While the medical profession for centuries had enlisted some of the most profound minds of all times, modern discoveries and developments have opened up new fields for the brilliant physician and surgeon, and many of this profession have turned their attention to particular branches, specializing along certain lines. This development had been necessary, for the problems presented in the calling today are so serious and difficult of solution that the average physician had not the expert knowledge to handle all satisfactorily. For some years past William Frank Flack, the pioneer physician of Elk County, had … Read more

Biography of Herman H. Sudendorf

Herman H. Sudendorf was born in Hanover, Germany, October 10, 1832, and came to the United States in 1848, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned and followed the carpenter trade. In 1859 he removed with his family to Kansas and continued to work at his trade for ten more years. In 1868 he embarked in the lumber business at Salina with Mr. C. Eberhardt, they having opened one of the first lumber yards in the town. The partnership was dissolved in 1891, Mr. Sudendorf afterward continuing the enterprise alone, and the business is yet carried on in his name. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rudolph A. Koch

Koch, Rudolph A.; merchant, church supplies; born, Germany, March 19, 1870; son of John and Ann E. Gipperich Koch; educated, public schools of Germany and Parochial schools in Ohio; married, Youngstown, Aug. 16, 1893, Susanna Kleeh; issue, nine children, seven living; started in as dry goods clerk at $2 per week; after five years work and advancement, became traveling salesman in church supplies; in 1894, purchased his present business, developing same and adding department of Society goods, especially embroidered flags and banners; the firm is incorporated as The R. A. Koch Co., and is the largest of its kind in … Read more

Biography of George Vanderschmidt

George Vanderschmidt was a prominent early pioneer citizen of Leavenworth. He came to Kansas in 1868, nearly fifty years ago. Leavenworth is still the home of his daughter, Emma, and of his two progressive sons, Louis and Fred Vanderschmidt, both of whom are prominent merchants of the city. The name Vanderschmidt was originally spelled Von Derschmitt. The late George Vanderschmidt was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, July 11, 1839. He grew up in Germany, attended the public schools, and was between sixteen and eighteen years of age when he left his native land and came to America. An older married … Read more

Lippert, Elmer Eugene – Obituary

Elmer Eugene Lippert, 83, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 28, 2005, at his home. His funeral was Dec. 31 at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Pastor Denny Diezel of the John Day United Methodist Church officiated. Elmer was born on July 8, 1922, at Baker City to Eugene H. and Mandy Richardson Lippert. He attended school at Granite, Ukiah, and at Ritter, where he spent most of his childhood. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1944 during World War II. He was in Berlin during the fall of Germany and also spent time in … Read more

Biography of Albert Ohms

ALBERT OHMS. – The well-kept and carefully tilled farm of the subject of this sketch, with its excellent improvements of fine house, commodious barn, substantial outbuildings, and other evidences of thrift, taste, and industry, all handled with a discerning sagacity and practical judgment, testify eloquently of the substantiality and skill of our subject and give abundant proof that he is one of the most prudent and skillful and successful agriculturists of our county, and it is with pleasure that we grant him a representation among the leading citizens of Union county. On June 14, 1849, in Germany, Albert Ohms was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Laub

Laub, Jacob; master baker; born, Germany, May 16, 1861; son of Henry and Margaretha Eck Laub; educated, public schools; married, Cleveland, Feb. 28, 1889, Catherine Schrister; three children; for past twenty years considered the most practical and scientific baker in Cleveland; started at 4832 Lorain St. with an output of 200 loaves of bread a day; after fifteen months, fire destroyed the small bakery; the place was rebuilt at once, and on the opposite corner of the street a modern plant was put up, the first of its kind on the West Side; the firm soon became wellknown for the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roman W. Wascko

Wascko, Roman W.; florist; born, Germany, Dec. 3, 1887; son of Ernest and Emma Shmemgatzea Wascko; educated, Cleveland public schools; married, Cleveland, Feb. 12, 1903; Mary Pallyblank; issue, four children; from 1892 worked for J. W. Wilson as florist, till 1901, for Lyman Essex, florist; in 1902 started in business for himself, continuing in one location; member P. H. C. and Florist Club.

Biography of Samuel Bowman

Samuel Bowman, now of Coffeyville, where he is engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business with his sons, is a Kansas resident of nearly thirty-five years and was long prominent in Labette County, where he served two terms as probate judge. His Bowman ancestors were German people who came to Pennsylvania in Colonial times. His grandfather, Benjamin Bowman, a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer and cabinet maker, also a minister of the Dunkard Church, and spent many years in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he died some years before Judge Bowman was born. It was in … Read more

Biography of John Schilling

John Schilling. A hazardous and arduous task confronted those venturesome and hardy men who forsook the security and comforts of the settled communities during the ’50s and penetrated the wilds of the untrodden West. None but themselves and their children can ever realize, in the faintest degree, the difficulties with which they were forced to contend, the perils to which they were exposed, and the privations which they endured. Fortunately, they were animated by an indomitable spirit and sustained by inflexible resolution, and patiently, perseveringly and steadfastly accomplished their mission, leaving to their posterity the fruits of their enterprise, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jurgen Frederick Wienke

Jurgen Frederick Wienke was born in Germany, July 15, 1844, where he was educated. At the age of twenty-five he left his native county to seek his fortune in the States, coming to California in 1869. He is an engineer by profession, serving in this capacity on the ferryboats in Germany. In 1881 he purchased a farm at Moss Beach and opened up a hotel for an investment, under the impression they were to put a railroad through his property within a year. But it was many years after before he saw this in reality, although his land has greatly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Leonard Scalather

Scalather, Leonard; retired; born in Germany; came to the United States in 1853, locating in Cleveland, and engaged in the brewery business; in 1857, started in for himself, and continued until 1902, when he sold out to the Cleveland-Sandusky Brewing Co.; director Peoples Savings Bank and the Union National Bank; Trustee Society Savings.

Biography of Capt. Henry Roeder

CAPT. HENRY ROEDER. – In this veteran of the early times, as well as of the war of 1856, we have a representative of the men who first opened business on the Sound. As such he merits somewhat extended notice. He was born in Germany on July 4, 1824, his parents being John and Martha Roeder. He is connected by family ties with the great European events of the early part of the century, his father having been a soldier under Napoleon, and having fought in the battle of Waterloo. Not wishing to bear arms for Louis, nor rear his … Read more