Hinrich J. Bostelman

Hinrich J. Bostelman was born in Ottinger, Germany. When he was 17 years old, his father died. Heinrich's uncle, Fred Bostelman, who lived 21/2 miles northwest of Holgate in Henry County, sent for Hinrich. He came to the United States in 1869. His uncle felt that there was a greater opportunity for him to make an easier and better living in the United States.

Hinrich landed in New York and came by train to Henry County to live with Henry Bostelman two miles north of Okolona, Ohio. He got a job driving the mules that pulled the boats on the Miami-Erie Canal. He was employed by a Mr. Meyerholtz for five or six years. Later he got a job in Holgate working as a butcher and meat cutter at the Voight Butcher Shop.

In 1875, Hinrich married Marie Wildung. They moved into a house about three miles south of Holgate and went to St. John's Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. In 1886, Hinrich moved his family to the Earl Knipp farm on the south side of the Maumee River near Girty's Island east of Florida, Ohio. He did butchering and meat cutting in this area. They then went to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and School in Florida.

In the year, 1900, Hinrich bought a forty acre farm one and a half miles west of Holgate, Ohio, on the township line road. He farmed this farm, raising his own tobacco. He continued to butcher and cut meat in the neighborhood.

Hinrich J. Bostelman was born in Germany in 1852. He died in 1940. His wife, Marie Wildung, was born in Germany in 1852 and died in 1921. Two children were born to them. Sophia (Bostelman) Tadsen who was born in 1877 and died in 1961 and Anna (Bostelman) Walter who was born in 1880 and died in 1960. She married Christian F. Walter.

Submitted by Julius C Walter, Sr.