SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Christian Goedeke, Page 536

CHRISTIAN GOEDEKE, a prosperous farmer of the town of Herman, was born in Hornhausen Preusen, on the 16th of August, 1809.  Mr. Goedeke was reared and educated in his native land, and was married to Miss Lucitte Baumman, who was a native of Rels, Westphalia, Germany, near the border of Holland.  Of this marriage there were born three children, one son and two daughters.  After the death of his wife, Mr. Goedeke and one child emigrated to the United States, arriving in 1849 in New York.  In 1854 he was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Christine Witte, who was born in Germany.  Unto this union were born five children, three sons and two daughters, as follows:  Mary, the eldest, who became the wife of Adolph Knorr, of Chilton, a tanner by trade and quite prominently identified with the leather manufactories of that place, and of Sheboygan and Centreville; Robert; Flora, the wife of Ferdinand Glosew, a merchant of Medford, Wis.; Louise, who married Nicholas Stetter and resides in Washburn; and William, a merchant of the same place.  All are natives of the town of Herman, born on section 34, where the old homestead is located.

    In early life our subject learned the trade of wood-turner, and was conceded to be a fine workman in his line.  During his residence in Herman Township, Mr. Goedeke became well acquainted with the use of the axe, and many acres now cultivated were cleared of the forest by him.  To the original purchase he added from time to time, until four hundred acres were owned.  The valuable farm now owned by his son Robert is a part of this tract.  To-day this fine farming land, under a high state of cultivation, stands as a monument to his toil, and to the privations and hardships endured by himself and faithful wife.

    Mr. Goedeke now lives in the town of Meeme, having retired from active business.  He has never known a sick day in his life, and although he has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years is well preserved in body and mind, enjoying the fruits of his labor and care.

    Robert Goedeke, who resides on the old homestead, was born there August 14, 1855.  He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the common schools.  December 30, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Frederica Herzog, the ceremony occurring in Sheboygan Falls, at the home of the bride's parents, John and Catherine Herzog.

    The following spring the young couple sought their fortunes in the copper regions of Lake Superior, where they remained two years.  Tiring of the hard work in the mines, Mr. Goedeke removed to the town of Meeme, where he was engaged in farming.  A year later he returned to the old home, which has since been his residence.  Mr. and Mrs. Goedeke have three bright children:  George, Alma and Hedwig.  This happy little family was celebrating the father's thirty-eighth birthday on the day that this sketch was written.