William Ludeman, Jr.

William (1884-1962) and Sophia (1892-1968) (Seedorf) Ludeman, Jr. grew up as neighbors in Bartlow Twp. and went to the same church. They took their marriage vows on April 9, 1910.

They lived on the Ludeman homestead a few years and then bought 40 acres 1 mile south and 3/4 mile east of West Hope on what is now St. Rt. 281. The mud on the road was very thick and sticky when springtime came.

Farming was very hard - but so much more relaxed than today. The neighbors would all help each other when threshing time came around. Sophia would go to most of the places to help cook the meals while William brought along his team of horses. William and Sophia were very content with their lives and regularly attended St. John's Lutheran on St. Rt. 65.

William Ludemann Jr., 1884-1962

Sophia Seedorf Ludemann,  1892-1968

William Ludeman, Jr. farm on State Rt. 281 near Deshler, Ohio.

William and Sophia had five children. These are: Amanda Ludeman Rabe, Ida Ludeman Meyer, Alma Ludeman Witte, Paul Ludeman, and Norma Ludeman Kuesel. These children remember their father telling stories of when he was a young boy. He said there were big cracks in the roof of their log house through which snow could fall. In the morning when they would awaken everything would be covered with snow. They hated to get into their snow-covered clothes so they soon learned to put them under the bed before falling asleep at night. The older girls had to sweep up the snow in the morning so it would not melt and run through the clap board floor onto the first story of the house.

Submitted by Amanda Ludeman Rabe