SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Louis C. Koellmer, Page 349

LOUIS C. KOELLMER, who resides on section 1, Herman Township, is a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Holland) Koellmer, and was born in Oberhof, Saxony, Germany, February 4, 1833.  After receiving a common-school education, he served an apprenticeship of three years with his father, who was then a village blacksmith.  He emigrated with his parents from the Fatherland when seventeen years of age, leaving Hamburg in 1850.  He went by way of Hull and Liverpool to New York, and thence to Philadelphia on a three-mast American sailing-vessel.  He was one of seven hundred passengers aboard this vessel on her long journey of forty days, during which time she encountered some rather rough weather.

    From New York City, Mr. Koellmer continued his journey by was of the Great Lakes to Sheboygan, where he remained about a month.  The father went to Mosel Township, where he bought sixty acres of timber-land, only a few acres of which were then under the plow.  This property, for which he paid $475, was later sold to one of his sons.  The father was born October 18, 1808, and after seeing his family grown up about him, went to live with his son Frank, where he died at the advanced age of sixty-nine years.

    Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Koellmer remained under the parental roof, and then went to Lake Superior, where he worked at his trade for about six years.  He then returned for a visit to his parents, afterward going back to lake Superior, where he made another stay of two years.  In 1876 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty acres of which lie in the town of Herman and forty acres in the town of Meeme, Manitowoc County.  The former was partially under cultivation, but the latter tract was heavily timbered.  For this farm of one hundred and twenty acres, Mr. Koellmer paid $2,800.  He lived in several different residences, each being better built and more modern than its predecessor.  A beautiful stone dwelling, 26 x 40 feet, now adorns the homestead, and since its erection a wing 18 x 20 feet has been added.

    Our subject has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Bertha Thamer, a native of Saxony.  One child, Bertha, was born of this union.  She is now living in Sheboygan, and is the wife of Albert Droscher.  On the 27th of February, 1867, Mr. Koellmer wedded Miss Pauline Dornhoefer, daughter of Paul Dornhoefer.  She was born March 27, 1834, in Baireuth, Oberfranken, Germany.  She braved the voyage across the stormy deep all alone.  She is the mother of four children:  Odelia, wife of Fred Bender, a farmer of Herman Township; Amanda, wife of Edmund Kolb, a carpenter of Manitowoc County; Gustav and Selma, who are still at home.

    The family of our subject are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  In Politics, he has been a life-long Republican.  He has served as Road master for one term, and as an honest, hardworking farmer commands the confidence and esteem of his neighbors.  Mrs. Koellmer mourns the loss of her father, who died August 12, 1877, and of her loving mother, who departed this life in 1872, both dying abroad.