The William F. Baden Family

William F. Baden was born May 29, 1871, in Hanover, Germany, the seventh and youngest child of Fred and Anna Baden. He was orphaned at the age of six and spent his childhood with an older sister, Emma Lining and her family.

At the age of 17 in 1888 he came to the United States with an older brother Adolph Baden, who had earlier in 1882 come to this country and worked as a farm laborer on various farms in Defiance and Henry Counties. On a return visit to his homeland, Adolph brought with him to this country his younger brother, William. The trip was made by steamship from Bremen to New York City.

Wedding picture of William and Minnie Baden

William and Minnie's Golden Wedding Anniversary picture

William also worked as a farm laborer making his home with the Frank Boesling family in Flatrock Twp. Henry County, near the village of Florida, Ohio.

Since his family in Germany were of the Lutheran faith, William also became a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Florida, Ohio, and during this membership held various offices in the church such as trustee and deacon. It was here that he met his future wife, Minnie Bunke. She was a seamstress by profession and the daughter of Frederich and Catherina (Boesling) Bunke who had also emigrated to this country from Germany some years earlier and settled in Flatrock Twp. Henry County, Ohio.

William Baden and Minnie Bunke were married on April 17, 1900. They lived in a log house the first four years of their married life on a farm belonging to Minnie's father. It was in this house that three daughters Alma, Helen, and Emma were born.

During these first four years of their marriage, William helped to clear another tract of land adjoining the one where they lived. The lumber gleaned from this clearing was used to build a more modern set of buildings for the Baden family. They moved to their new home in the fall of 1904. It was at this time that Mr. Bunke saw fit to give them a deed to 70 acres of this land and at the same time William bought from him another 10 acres making a farm of 80 acres in Section 19, Flatrock Township.

In this new home were born a son, Arnold, and three daughters, Laurina, Elsie, and Norma. During these years their transportation to church and shopping was entirely by horse and buggy or in winter by a team of horses and bobsled. In about the year 1916 William purchased his first automobile, a Willys-Overland touring car.

In 1923 the eldest daughter Alma married William Bockelman of Defiance County. To this union were born William Jr., Louise, Paul, Lulu, Norman, and Yvonne. Alma, now a widow, is presently living on the same farm in Defiance County where she began her married life.

In 1924 the second daughter Helen married Ernest Vorwerk. Their children are Leah, wife of Paul Dammeier, together with three daughters and two sons now living in Napoleon; Kathleen, wife of Gustav Conrad, together with one son and three daughters living in Napoleon; Betsy, wife of Warren Kahrs, together with three sons and one daughter living in Fulton County, Ohio. Ernest is president of Home Oil Co. Inc. of Napoleon and together with Helen presently living on High St., Napoleon, Ohio.

Home of the Baden family until 1928 in Flatrock Twp.

Home of the Baden family since 1928 in Napoleon Twp.

Mr. Baden's success as a farmer enabled him to purchase a 621 acre farm in Napoleon Township, Section 24, from William Bernicke in 1925. One year later he purchased another 20 acres adjoining the 62% acres from Hiram French. In 1928 William and Minnie and the unmarried children moved to this newly purchased farm. They also transferred their membership from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Florida to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio.

Family picture of the Baden family. From left to right: Helen, Alma, Norma, William, Arnold, Minnie, Elsie, Laurina, and Emma.

On June 29, 1929, Laurina married Ervin Germann of Monroe Twp. Their children are: Lois, wife of Ervin Bischoff, together with one daughter and two sons living in Napoleon Township; Launita, wife of Norman Glanz together with three daughters and one son living in Fulton County, Ohio; Carol, wife of Norman Roessing, together with two daughters living in Findlay, Ohio. Laurina worked as bookkeeper-cashier 18 years for Chief Super Markets, Inc. Napoleon. She became a widow in April, 1970, and is now living in retirement on Fifth St., Napoleon, Ohio.

After having sold the homestead of 80 acres in Flatrock Twp. to a neighbor, Henry Koch in January of 1941, William bought 73 acres in Section 24, Napoleon Twp., from Ora Huddle. Two years later in 1943 he sold 63 acres of this land to Milton Sigg and bought 110 acres in Section 7, Monroe Twp., from Frank Fruth. In 1945 he bought an adjoining 60 acres in the same section from Asa Crossman. This land is now being farmed by the youngest daughter, Norma and her husband Floyd Chester whom she married on May 29, 1945. Their children are: Joann Chester, Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Jane, wife of John Comune together with three sons living in Findlay, Ohio; Shirley of Napoleon; Linda and James at home.

In the year 1952, William sold the 80 acres in Napoleon Twp. to his son Arnold who was unmarried and living at home. The same year, Emma, the third daughter, married Charles Tomczak and they are now living in Toledo, Ohio. Emma worked for a number of years as a cake decorator at Smith's Bake Shop in downtown Toledo.

Arnold and Elsie remain unmarried and lived with their parents, William and Minnie until William's death in February, 1954, at the age of 82 years, and Minnie's death in August, 1961, at the age of 81.

Arnold and Elsie have since built a new home on a piece of land belonging to Arnold adjoining the corporation of Napoleon. Elsie continues to operate a beauty shop from this home. Arnold farms the land he bought from his father together with 87 acres in Section 23, Napoleon Twp., he bought from Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Steward in 1972.

Submitted by Laurina Germann