The Fred Baden Family

Freiderick (Fred) Christopher Baden, one of four children of Conrad Baden and Catherine Mahnke Baden was born May 28, 1865, in Sprengel, province of Hanover, Germany. His folks were very poor so he worked for his daily bread. A teacher noticed he had a good voice so he was chosen to sing for funerals and special occasions.

He was confirmed at the age of 14 and a Rev. Haxcius assisted him in getting work to make his living. On Ascension Day, 1882, he was struck bylightning as he was taking the sheep out to the field. He was knocked unconscious and the animals fell on him. When he was seventeen, his folks gave him a little inheritance and an aunt and uncle Mahnke provided him with enough funds to come to America. His mother's last words to him were "Halte fest an deinen Glauben."

The trip over was very stormy; three days and nights they had storm and fog. He told how things from the upper deck were knocked to the lower deck. The trip took about fourteen days. Three days before his arrival in New York, most of the people were on deck and the sun was shining when a stroke of lightning and a clap of thunder brought water over the boat and many people got wet. He said, "That reminded me that there is a God in heaven."

His parents had planned to come to America and his brother Henry had already sent money for them to come. His parents were concerned about religion as they inquired if the hymnals and Bibles were like the ones they were using in Germany. His mother's last letter, written to his brother Henry, closed with "Hoping to see you soon." But she died shortly after the letter was written. Fred's first letter from Germany informed him of his mother's, grandmother's and grandfather's deaths in three months time. His father, (Conrad) came to America in 1888. He died May 13, 1899. He had three sisters in Hanover: Anna Rosebrock, Katrina Dehning, and Ilse Grefe.

Upon Fred's arrival in America, February 15, 1883, he located his Uncle Henry Mahnke in Freedom Twp. This was his mother's brother. He worked for him for several months. Then his older brother, Henry, who had come to America earlier, offered him a job on the B & 0 Railroad, so he moved to Standley. He received several complimentary citations for his good work. He was foreman on a stretch of railroad from Deshler to Garrett, Indiana. Later when his brother left the railroad to farm, Fred became foreman at Standley.

On May 31, 1888, Fred married Anna M. Rohrs, daughter of John Henry Rohrs and Katherine Marie Rohrs of Okolona. They were married by Rev. Theodore Horst of Florida nad moved into a house owned by the B & O Railroad in Standley.

Fred's health failed so he resigned from the railroad and moved to Hamler in 1891. He was the first German in the north end of Hamler. He went into the shoe business with Herman Guelde but a short time later began working in the elevator.

Fred's wife, Anna, suffered a stroke in 1923 after which she could scarcely eat or talk. She lost her power of speech altogether but accepted it bravely. She died July 19, 1926.

In 1904 Fred had a lot of pain and was informed he had cancer of the nose. Dr. Garrett of Deshler performed surgery but he gained little relief from this. In 1910 he got a plaster from Pettisville and that cured him as far as he knew.

The children attended a school in Hamler and the older children received their religious education at Hope Lutheran School. Fred Baden was one of the first fourteen members active in forming St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Hamler.

Fred and Anna had eleven children: Minnie born April 23, 1889; Carl -February 17, 1891; Albert - February 20, 1893; Lydia - February 2, 1895; William - March 15, 1897; Rudolph - March 10, 1899; Frieda - April 5, 1901; Martin - March 29, 1907; twin girls - Lorena and Loretta born December 18, 1909, and these both died of influenza September 11, 1910; Martha was born September 9, 1915. All the children were born in Henry County.

Fred Baden died April 11, 1940, and was buried in Hope Lutheran Cemetery. Minnie married Albert Hagen May 31, 1909; Carl married Alma Werner Nov. 6, 1913; Lydia to Herman Rosebrock Dec. 16, 1915; Albert married Alvena Meyer Jan. 18, 1917; William to Frieda Brandt March 3, 1921; Rudolph to Emma Hasemann April 20, 1922; Frieda Bade and Herman Haase December 15, 1924; Martin Baden and Hilda Bartels June 14, 1928; Martha to Herman Gebers September 26, 1936. Minnie's children are: Lavina (Mrs. Clarence Asmus) of Haskins who has five sons, Robert, Ronald, twins Dale and Dean, and Larry; Edna (Mrs. Norman Conley) of Fostoria who has three children, Richard, and twins James and Janis; Esther (Mrs. Hugo Sonenberg) who has three children, Darwin, Keith, and Lila; Raymond Hagen married Florence Rayle and they have six children, Mary, John, Anne, Paul, Mark, and Robert. (Three died in infancy.); Louis Hagen married Luella Joseph and they have two children; Lynette and Gary; Arleen Hagen (Mrs. Wilferd Rathge) who has four children, Thomas, Michael, Diane, and Debra.

Minnie died November 10, 1966, and Albert Hagen passed away October 25, 1974.

Carl Baden's had eleven children: two are deceased: Irene and Paul. The living are Arthur who has three children, Jerry, Diane, and Clarence; Walter Baden who married Dorothy Benien and they have three children, Vernon, Dennis, and Barbara; Harold Baden whose children are Linda, James, and Lisa Marie; Olga (Mrs. Arnold Groll) who has a daughter, Brenda Kay; George Baden who has a son David Robert; Robert Baden who married Joan Dibling who have twin daughters, Karen Marie and Kay Ann and a son Robert Joseph; Nora Baden married Lester Littrell (They had two sons Joel and Douglas. Nora passed away September 28, 1969.); Fred Baden who married Mary O'Dell (They have four sons, Frederick, Jeffrey, Timothy, and Thomas Allan.); Edward Baden who married Joan Hefflinger and they have two children Bradley and Carla Jean.

Carl Baden died September 18, 1965, and Alma died July 10, 1967.

Albert and Alvena's children are Loretta (Mrs. Leland Oberhaus who have six children, Beth, Ruth, Norma, Lowell, Mark and Thomas); Lorena (Mrs. Raymond Oberhaus) who has five sons, Paul, Harold, Luther, James and Jerry; Herbert who married Betty Nartker and they have five children, Cheryl, Terry, Kathy, Karen, and Timothy (Randall and David died in infancy.); Alvena (Albert's wife) died April 20, 1954. He married Inez Binger June 26, 1955.

Lydia and Herman Rosebrock had five children: Bielda who married Paul Asmus of Haskins and they have three children, Donald, Ruth and David; Richard who married Hilda Tietje and they have a daughter (adopted) Mary Ann; Elda (Mrs. Harry Hasch) who has four children, Norman Sunderman, John Sunderman, Robert Sunderman, and Sharon Kay Sunderman; Donald Rosebrock who married Lois Kuhnah and they have two children, Christineand Phyllis; Clarence Rosebrock who has three children, Thomas, Steven, and Carol.

William and Frieda Baden had four children: Norma who married Erford Smith and lives in Illiopolis, Illinois; Marvin who married Margaret Gerken and they have two daughters, Patricia and Sandra; Donald married Lynette Shelt and they have four children, Roger, Vicki, Dennis and Brenda; Kenneth married Patricia Parker and they have a daughter Julia Kay; William died May 24, 1974.

Rudolph and Emma Baden have two sons: Eldor who married Leona Bostleman and they have five children, David, Thomas, Michael, and Cynthia, Stephen died in infancy; Luther who married Henrietta Plassman and they have two children, Bradley and Brenda; Rudolph died June 3, 1964.

Frieda and Herman Haase had five children: Lawrence who married Geraldine Groll and they have four children, Kenneth, Patricia, Karen, and Peggy; Helen (Mrs. Richard Bradford) who has four children, James, Thomas, Mark, and Kenneth; Jack Haase who married Mary Wrigley who have three children, Gene, Glenn, and Beverly; William Haase whose wife is Mary Lou Brogan has a family consisting of Daniel, Christine, and Teresa; James Haase died in infancy, July 3, 1935. Frieda Haase died July 21, 1935 and Herman Haase died March 4, 1936.

Martin and Hilda have an adopted son Clifford who has two children, Clifford Jr. and Erica.

Martha and Herman Gebers had two children, Merlyn who was married to Beverly Sue Ellis and killed by electrical shock three months later, July 20, 1959, at the age of twenty-two. Leon died December 18, 1968, at the age of twenty-three. Herman died December 18, 1971. Martha accepted this cross bravely and has been of great help and comfort to many.

It is interesting to note that Fred Baden's son William worked on the railroad as did his father. Then William Baden's son Marvin is agent operator at Hamler and a great grandson, Mark Oberhaus, Albert's grandson is machine operator on the same section of track his great grandfather was foreman over.

Also noting that he began making his livelihood by singing he has two great grandsons, Luther and James

Oberhaus who are vocal directors at schools. Several grandchildren are in ministerial work. Most of the grandchildren reside in Ohio. However, there are some in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin and California.

As of June 1, 1975, there are four of Fred Baden's children living, thirty-three grandchildren, one hundred seventeen great grandchildren, and one hundred one great great grandchildren, and one great great great grandchild.

Respectfully Submitted, Lorena Baden Oberhaus (Mrs. Raymond Oberhaus)