August F. Honeck Family

In July, 1881, August F. Honeck and his wife Elisabeth left their home in Schmalkalden, Germany, and came to these United States to meet the challenges of a new country. They brought with them two children, Carolyn Gertrude age 3, and Karl 1 ½. All of their possessions were in a big wooden trunk which he had made. Being civic minded he early appreciated the opportunities in this country and made application for citizenship. A copy of this application, made on October 12, 1886, is in the possession of August Honeck III and is signed by Judge David Meekison in Henry County.

They came to Malinta in Henry County because some relatives, Peter and Anna Bensing, had already settled here. For a time they lived in a log house on the Bensing property, and in 1882 a son, August Jr., was born. About eight years later there was another child, Herman.

A building contractor by trade Mr. Honeck soon began building houses and barns for other people as this black swamp area was cleared and drained, including a house for his own family which still stands in downtown Malinta.

The Honecks were members of St. John's German Reformed Church and in 1888 he, with several other members, built a new larger church on its present site. Ten year old Gertrude would walk from Malinta with food, and stay the week, cooking for the men as they worked on the church. This first church, plus several later additions, was used until 1956, when it was destroyed by fire.

In the 1890's Mr. Honeck bought an already established tile mill at Elery, originally known as Herrtown, and he, with the help of his sons, manufactured clay drain tile.

The oldest son, Karl, was killed by a train as a young man. Gertrude taught school from age sixteen until retirement, most of the years at Wernert School in Lucas County. Herman became a medical doctor practicing in Toledo. He is a veteran of World War I.

August Jr. stayed in Malinta and in 1909 married Maude E. Hall, daughter of Henry and Sophia (Miller) Hall of Harrison Twp., also early settlers. They had five children, four of whom still live in Henry County.

James became a partner with his father in the tile business. He married Janell Groll and they have two daughters, Juli and Jill. August III, a veteran of World War II, is a farmer, married Elizabeth Ritz and tyey have two sons, Mark, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, and John. Herbert also farms, is married to Ethelyn Barnes, and they are the parents of Carolyn, William,and Jayne. Virginia, a teacher, married Harold Parnham and they have twin daughters, Jane and Sally. Christine (Honeck) Riswold resides in Ottawa, Illinois, where she is a public school music teacher. Her only child, Patrick, a Vietnam veteran, is now deceased.

Submitted by Mrs. Virginia Parnham