SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Louis Neumeister, Page 592

LOUIS NEUMEISTER, now residing on section 23, in the town of Herman, is the eldest son of Christian and Charlotte G. (Neumeister) Neumeister, born on the 2d of April, 1826, at Lobenstein, Saxony, Germany.  The father was employed in a large iron manufactory in his native village, but came to the United States in 1857.  A fuller account of the family may be found in the sketch of Christian Neumeister, Jr. elsewhere in this volume.

    The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native country, and at the age of twenty, in company wit his brothers Ferdinand and Gustav, took passage on a sailing-vessel at Bremen for Quebec.  After fifty-seven day's sailing, they arrived in Quebec, and eight days later, July 7, 1852, landed in Sheboygan, where they were met by Christian, a younger brother, who had preceded them some two years.  Soon after his arrival Louis began an apprenticeship with his brother Christian to learn the trade of wagon-maker.  He worked in Sheboygan about two years and then went to Plymouth.  During his residence in the latter city he formed the acquaintance of Marie Folhard, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Dabus) Folhard, whom he wedded on the 9th of December, 1856.  Mrs. Neumeister is a native of Mettenheim, Darmstadt, Germany, her birth having occurred October 19, 1835.  Of this union twelve children were born, seven sons and five daughters, of whom seven survive.  Ferdinand, the eldest, is carrying on the long-established trade of his father, that of wagon-maker, in Howard's Grove; Eliza is at home; Louis is a tanner by trade, and resides in Holland, Mich.; Emma is a resident of Milwaukee; Otto is a well-known druggist of the Chair City; Arthur is associated with his brother in the drug business; and Alma completes the family.

    Having remained in Plymouth about five years, Mr. Neumeister returned to Sheboygan.  In 1862 he located at Howard's Grove, where he established his well-known wagon works, which a few years ago were turned over to his eldest son.  At the time of his arrival he purchased the site for his business, consisting of an acre and a-half of land, to which he has added by subsequent purchase, until it contains fourteen and a half acres.

    Mr. Neumeister has an interesting family and his good wife is much beloved in her home, and among her neighbors.  The venerable father of our subject lived to see the place of his first settlement grow into a large manufacturing centre.  In his ninety-third year, surrounded by children and grandchildren, he passed from among the living, a respected citizen and an old land-mark.

After years of toil Mr. Neumeister is enjoying a well-earned and much-needed rest, being blessed with wife and children to comfort him in his declining years.  All the family attend the German Reformed Church.  In politics, he has been a life-long Democrat.  Mr. Neumeister has a beautiful home in Howard's Grove, where he hopes to spend his remaining days.  Possessed of honesty, industry and high moral principles, he is highly regarded by the people of the community in which he has lived for over thirty years.