SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Frederick Stoelting, Page 306

FREDERICK STOELTING, one of the early settlers of Herman Township, is of German birth, that event occurring January 16, 1829.  He is a son of William Stoelting, a wagon-maker by trade, who passed his entire life in Germany, dying at the age of fifty-nine years.  The mother of our subject was only thirty years old at the time of her death.  She left a family of three sons and one daughter to mourn her loss.  William came to America about two years after our subject, and died in Indiana in the prime of manhood.

    The boyhood of Frederick Stoelting was passed in Germany, where he secured a good common-school education.  He commenced learning the carpenter's trade when sixteen years old, and followed that occupation more or less for a quarter of a century.  In 1854 he sailed for the United States, the voyage taking from the 20th of June until the last of August.  While in mid-ocean he had the most exciting experience of his life.  One night the cry of "Fire!" rang out, and in a moment the frightened passengers sprang from their berths, running higher and thither, and it was soon found to be a true alarm, as a fire had broken out in midship and had cut them off from the kitchen and larders.  For two days the passengers were without food, and on the third day each received for his rations a single herring.  The crew behaved nobly, every effort was made, and finally the fire was mastered.

    On arriving at New York City, Mr. Stoelting proceeded to Indianapolis, where he stopped for a short time with an uncle.  Then, in company with him, he came to Herman Township and worked at his trade.  In 1862 he built the first Mission House, and on its completion, the last Sunday in June, a feast was held there in honor of the event.  In fact, he built the first three houses at the Mission, and has done much toward its success.  He has also erected many houses, churches, etc., in this locality, and is considered a practical master of his trade.

    In May, 1858, our subject wedded Miss Sophia, daughter of Adolph Marten.  Her father died at the advanced age of eighty-three years, in Herman Township.  Her mother, who is a native of Lippe, Germany, is now about eighty-four years of age.  Mrs. Stoelting was also born in the same province, in November, 1837, being one of a family of four sons and two daughters.  Twelve children have blessed the union of our subject and wife, and all but one are living.  They are as follows:  Henry, who is a carpenter of Sheboygan, and owns one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa; Pauline, now of Freeport, Ill,; William, a carpenter, and the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land near Storm Lake, Iowa; August and Otto, who are carpenters in the came county; Ida, Bertha, Herman, Gustav, Matilda and Adolph, who are at home.  The family are members of the Reformed Church.

    In politics, our subject supports the Democratic party.  His home farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, of which all but twenty acres are cleared.  By the able assistance of his wife he has made every dollar he possesses, though in former years he experienced all the hardships common to pioneer life.