Biographical Sketch of John Wilson

John Wilson, farmer, and Constable for Coles Co; P. O. Cook’s Mills; was born in Germany, March 8, 1840; came to the United States in 1857, and to this State in 1865 and to Coles Co. in1871. He was married to Miss Sarah Ann Prince, who was born in Indiana Jan. 19, 1848; they have two children deceased, viz., Mary C. and Louisa. Mr. Wilson has served a term in the United States Regular Army; he enlisted from New York City in Co. D, in 1861; he served all through the late rebellion, and at its close was discharged with … Read more

Fox, Mannie – Obituary

Sudden Death of Mannie Fox Seized With Acute Indigestion Dies at Home of Sister Mannie Fox, a pioneer of Baker coming here when a mere boy, died suddenly last evening at 4:30 o’clock at the home of his sister, Mrs. Mose Fuchs, 2500 Main street from acute indigestion, the first symptoms being manifest about 2 o’clock and his death when it became known was received with expressions of sorrow throughout the community, for the deceased was a very loveable character, kindly, sympathetic and charitable. Mannie Fox was born in Portland, March 22, 1862, and came to Baker in 1876, entering … Read more

Biography of George H. Grimmell, M. D.

George H. Grimmell, M. D. One of the first graduates of medicine to set up in practice at Howard, Kansas, was Dr. George H. Grimmell, who rendered his first professional services in that section of Elk County thirty years ago. With the exception of about eight years spent at Onaga, Doctor Grimmell had been continuously in practice at Howard since 1898, and is accounted one of the most competent surgeons in that locality. The first authentic records of his ancestry is found in the annals of the first crusade of 1096, A. D. There was a Sir John Von Grimmell, … Read more

Gregg, Olga W. Janson Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Olga W. Gregg, 89, of Baker City died March 3, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service was at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St. Pastor Dennis Hickman of the church officiated. There was a reception afterward at the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Mrs. Gregg was born on Feb. 3, 1914, at Riga, Latvia, to Ludwig and Gottlieb Janson. She spent her childhood in Lithuania, where she was educated. She enjoyed learning folk dances of the Baltic states. She was a secretary for a major power plant. After World War … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles H. Meyer

Charles H. Meyer was a German, and settled in Tucson in 1854. From 1875 he served several times as City Recorder. His court was unique; every man, when first brought before him for any misdemeanor, he would treat leniently, sometimes giving him a lecture, but for the second offense, he usually imposed a heavy fine, and in addition, would send the offender to the chain gang. If the prisoner demurred to the sentence, the judge would generally double the time on the chain gang, saying: “Veil, I gifs you thirty days more on the chain gang for contempt of de … Read more

Brown, Barbara Mrs. – Obituary

Cornucopia, Baker County, Oregon Former Pine Valley Woman Passes At Baker Tuesday Mrs. Barbara Brown, resident of Pine valley for many years, died in Baker Tuesday. She suffered a paralytic stroke Sunday morning and was taken to the hospital. Mrs. Brown was a native of Germany, born in that country March 7, 1859, and came to the United States when a young girl. She came to Baker county in 1886 and located at Cornucopia. Mrs. Brown moved to Baker in 1927 and lived there the remainder of her life. She was a member of the Catholic church and the American … Read more

Uebelacker, Frank – Obituary

Last Sunday afternoon about two o’clock Frank Uebelacker passed away. Mr. Uebelacker was born in Germany 44 years ago, came to America, stopping at Streator, Ills., in 1882; came to Kittitas valley and married Miss Anna Michel, July 16, 1888. To this union nine children were born, eight of whom are living. The funeral was held from St. Andrews church Wednesday at 10 a.m. Frank was born September 1860 and died December 22, 1904. He is buried in Ellensburg in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Bork, R. A. – Obituary

R. A. Bork Dies Aged Nearly 93 North End Resident Born In Germany and Came To County In 1891. Rudolph A. Bork, one of the oldest residents of the county, died Friday, Nov. 18, 1938, at the home of his son, William, near Flora, where he had made his home a few years. He would have been 93 years old next march. He was in good health until his last illness, and attended a family picnic at Wallowa lake early in October. Before that he had visited around with his children and grandchildren and always had found some chores he … Read more

Biography of Herman Genthe

Herman Genthe. The oldest bakery establishment of Topeka under one continuous ownership and management is that conducted by Mr. Herman Genthe, who now had associated with him his oldest son. Mr. Genthe is a master of his trade. He learned it as a boy in Germany, where his ancestors so far as known were millers and had a great deal to do with those grains that furnish the staple food stuffs, wheat and rye. Mr. Genthe’s talent as a maker of fine bread is therefore partly an inheritance from his ancestors, though it had been developed by his individual experience … Read more

Biography of James Fulkerson

Fulkerson (This name in the native tongue, was Volkerson, but after the removal of the family to America they began to spell it as it is pronounced.) James Fulkerson, of Germany, came to America at an early date and settled in North Carolina. There he became acquainted with and married Mary VanHook, and subsequently removed to Washington Co., Va. The names of their children were Peter, James, John, Thomas, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, William, Polly, Catharine, Hannah, and Mary. Peter married Margaret Craig, and they had Polly, Robert C., James, Benjamin F., Jacob, Peter, Jr., John W., Margaret, Rachel, David C., … Read more

Biography of William Hasselmann

William Hasselmann is an expert florist. He learned the business in all its details and all its phases in Germany, and had had experience in some of the greatest flower growing centers in the world. Some years ago he located at Independence, Kansas, and is now proprietor of the leading greenhouses of that city and his business had grown so rapidly that it is constantly demanding more room and greater facillties for the better handling of a custom that now extends far beyond the borders of his home city. His full name is William Dietrich Hasselmann. He was born at … Read more

Biography of Antony H. Blue

Antony H. Blue. The poet who said, “Sweet are the uses of adversity,” had a true understanding of life’s meaning, since it is true that those are happiest who have lived most and have had experiences in which the sweet and the bitter have been mingled. It is the prosperity and contentment won by years of faithful toil, self-sacrifice and economy that Mr. and Mrs. Antony H. Blue enjoy in their beautiful home south of Thomasboro. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have lived in Champaign County since 1870. Years have brought their honest endeavors a full reward and besides their material … Read more

Biography of August A. Jekel

August A. Jekel, secretary and treasurer of the Reliable Life & Accident Insurance Company of St. Louis, was born in Germany, April 22, 1867, his parents being Henry and Katherine (Maeser) Jekel, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married, the father there following the occupation of farming. Their family numbered five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom all are living, namely: Katherine, the wife of George H. Velten of Germany; Mrs. Bertha Hechler, a widow, living in Germany; August A., who is the third in order of birth; Eliza, the wife of … Read more

Zdeb, Victor J. – Obituary

Victor J. Zdeb, 61, died July 22 at Evergreen Healthcare. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. Victor was born Dec. 30, 1946, in Germany. He immigrated to Chicago with his parents at the age of 5, earned his naturalization papers at 16, and attended four years of college at University of Illinois at Carbondale, where he discovered a passion for computers that would last all his life. He was fascinated by technology even as a child and took great pleasure in fixing things. His mother remembers when, as a young boy of only 7, he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. A. Schmitt

Schmitt, C. A.; florist; born in Germany, May 16, 1871; son of A. and Salome Mueller Schmitt; educated, Glenville public schools; with Stoors & Harrison Co., Painesville, O., 1888, to 1890; worked for Edwin Lonsdale, in Philadelphia, from 1896 to 1902; member the lodge of Moose, and Florist Club. Favorite recreation; Motoring.

Biography of Charles Tholen

Charles Tholen, who came to Kansas in 1857, was for a long period of years a recognized force in the professional and civic life of Leavenworth and was especially a leader among the German element of the city. He was a pioneer lawyer and had come to Kansas when it was still a territory and was first identified with Leavenworth as an employe of the fort. He was born at Emden in the Province of Hanover, Germany, January 28, 1827. He came of a prominent family and was given unusual advantages and training as a youth. His father, Claas Tholen, … Read more

Biography of Joseph Chesky

Joseph Chesky has had his home in Kansas nearly forty years, and is one of the old time business men of Nickerson. Though retired from the mercantile field in which his activities were engaged for so many years, he is still a man of affairs in that community and is president of the Nickerson State Bank and is one of the largest land holders in Reno and adjoining counties. In this outstanding figure of Nickerson is represented the Province of Posen, Prussia, Germany, where Mr. Chesky was born February 6, 1853. His father, John Chesky, spent his life in Posen, … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Schnabel

Thirty-seven years have passed since Charles Augusta Schnabel came to Idaho. This state, so aptly termed “the gem of the mountains,” was then a wild district, its lands unclaimed, its resources undeveloped. A few courageous frontiersmen had dared to locate within its borders, but the work of progress and improvement remained to the future, and there was little promise of early development. In the years which have since passed Mr. Schnabel has not only witnessed a most wonderful transformation, but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed the wild tract into a splendid commonwealth. Now in his declining … Read more

Biography of Herman J. Bialeschke

Herman J. Bialeschke. For upward of sixty years the Bialeschke family has had a prominent part in the farming and business activities of southwestern Champaign County. Herman J. Bialeschke came to this county when a small child, industriously followed farming for many years, has played a very vigorous and public spirited part in local affairs, and is now enjoying the comforts of retired life in the village of Sadorus. He was born in Germany, July 28, 1855, a son of Frederick and Minnie (Nofftz) Bialeschke, who were also natives of the fatherland. In, 1857, when he was about a year … Read more

Biography of John M. Winter

John M. Winter. Among the respected citizens of Manhattan, Kansas, no one stands higher than John Winter, a reliable business man and since May, 1914, postmaster of this city. He was born at Volkartshain Province Oberhessen, Grosherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, February 27, 1854, and is a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Greb) Winter. His father belonged to the working class and, although industrious, had accumulated little means, so that, when John had completed his public school training, his future lay almost entirely in his own hands. As soon as possible he began to learn the carpenter trade, in the meanwhile … Read more