SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Christian Neumeister, Page 238

CHRISTIAN NEUMEISTER, of Sheboygan, is one of the early well-known citizens of that place.  The time of his coming was the spring of 1850.  He was born in the city of Lobenstein, Saxony, Germany, April 9, 1830.  He grew to manhood in his native city, and learned the trade of hammersmith.  His father was twice married, the mother of our subject being his first wife.  She died when her son was about eighteen years old.  The father re-married in Germany, in 1853.  There were seven children in the first family that grew to mature years, and five of the second, making twelve in all.  There are now living five of the former and four of the latter.  The first of the family who came to America was Frederick Neumeister, who came in 1849.  He lived in Milwaukee ten or twelve years, and removed thence to Muskegon, where he died a number of years ago.  He was two years younger than Christian.  Christian came next, in 1850, and then three brothers--Louis, Ferdinand and Gustav--came in 1852.  In 1857 the father, the step-mother, two sons and two daughters emigrated from their native country to Sheboygan County.  The sons were named Franz and Julius.  The former died in 1859.  All the family are living except the two already mentioned as deceased.  Louis is now a resident of Howard's Grove; Ferdinand is a merchant on Michigan Street in Sheboygan; Julius is engaged as clerk for Christian; Gustav resides in the State of Washington; the eldest sister lives in Muskegon; Bertha makes her home in Sheboygan; Herman resides in Coryville, Wis., and Anna in Chicago.

    When Christian came to this country he went directly to the city of Milwaukee, where he resided one year, and then came to Sheboygan.  While in the former city he learned the trade of wagon-making, and on going to Sheboygan established himself in that business, which he followed until 1863, when he engaged in merchandising, which he has followed continuously since except for a period of two years.  It has been stated that the father, step-mother and their four children came to the United States in 1857.  It would be proper to state that they came to this country through the kindness of Christian Neumeister, who made a journey to Germany for the purpose of bringing the remainder of the family to America.  It is a rather remarkable coincidence that the father and King William of Germany were born about the same time, and died on the same day, March 8, 1888, the father at the age of ninety-two years and seven months.  The step-mother died in Sheboygan, in 1892.

    Our subject was married in Sheboygan, May 22, 1853, to Miss Eliza Broehm, who was born in Philadelphia, December 25, 1833.  The bride was a daughter of Conrad Broehm, a native of Germany.  Mrs. Neumeister's parents came to America from their native home, Germany, previous to their marriage, which event occurred in Philadelphia.  They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living.  Eva is the wife of Fred Wuerffel, of the Evergreen City; Jacob resides at Forest Junction, Wis.; Katherine married Philip Kranz and lives in Kaukauna; and Mrs. Neumeister is the oldest.  The parents removed to Milwaukee County, Wis., and many years later moved to Sheboygan, Where both father and mother died, in 1877, the death of the former occurring a few months previous to that of the latter.

    Mr. and Mrs. Neumeister have two adopted children:  Wilhelmine, who is the wife of William Weise, of Sheboygan; and Robert, who is associated with his father in business.  The latter married Mary, daughter of Adam Schneider, deceased, but her mother is yet a resident of the Chair City.  While Mr. and Mrs. Neumeister have had no children of their own, they have befriended many not related to them by ties or blood.

    Mrs. Neumeister, who belongs to the German Reformed Church, does not confine her church work to that denomination, but is liberal in contributing, both by her work and otherwise, to the interests of other religious persuasions.  Mr. Neumeister, though not a member of any church, contributes freely to the support of the Gospel.  He is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.