William Frederick Ludeman, Sr.

William Ludemann Sr., Dec. 11, 1844-May 22, 1921

Anna Arps Ludemann,  Jan. 17, 1849-June, 1896

William Ludeman, Sr. was born in Fintel, Soltau County, Germany. He was born on Dec. 11, 1844, and died May 22, 1921. As a lad, he wished to come to America but he did not have enough money for passage on the boat. He hid in a barrel on the boat until he was discovered. He then worked on the boat for payment of passage. He landed in Canada and then came to Chicago, Illinois.

There he met his wife, Anna Arps (born Jan. 17, 1849, died June 24, 1896) and got married on March 30, 1874. They had two children that were born in Chicago - Anna (1875-1936) and Sophia (1877-1956). They then moved to Henry County and lived one mile east and 1/2 mile south of Holgate. Several more children then came along. They were Minnie Ludeman Springhorn (1882-1965), Anna Ludeman Gerken, William Ludeman, Jr. (1884-1962), Caroline Ludeman Bodycott (1889), and George Ludeman (1886).

William Ludeman, Sr. then bought his own farm on County Road G between St. Rt. 65 and Co. Rd. 3 in Bartlow Township. In the meantime he sent for his parents to come to America - Daniel Ludeman and Mrs. Anna Marie Arps. Daniel (1814-1899) was a wooden shoe cobbler. The only thing they had to wear were hand cut wooden shoes and hand knit socks. Food was very simple with potatoes and corn meal being widely used.