Mathias Petersen Family

Paul Petersen (father of Mathias) was born on May 4, 1861 in West Langenhorn, Community Husum, Schleswig Holstein, Germany. In 1874, his family moved to Genoa, Ohio. Paul helped support his family by working in a lime factory. He had to sacrifice his education in order to support his brothers and sisters. He was an avid reader throughout his life and received much of his education in this manner.

Mathias Petersen (father of Paul and grandfather of Mathias) was born on Nov. 4, 1825. It is not certain whether he or his father was born in Denmark. He was a "Zimmer Meister" (a cabinet maker who made all kinds of furniture). His wife, Johanna Johansen, was born Jan. 11, 1837. To this union ten children were born. They were Peter, Paul, Ingeborg, John, Anna, Emma, Pauline, Andrew, Cristina, and Mary. The first seven mentioned were born in Germany. Mathias died Mar. 9, 1904.

On Mar. 25, 1886, Paul Petersen married Emma Faber. Her history is as follows. Elise Momsen, Emma's mother, was born Sept. 28, 1837 in Langenhorn per Bredstedt, Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Emma's father, Bahne Faber, was born Mar. 11, 1842 in Buttjebull per Bardelum, Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Their four children were Emma, (Paul's wife), born Feb. 8, 1867, Lucie (Faber) Null, Cristina (Faber) Rodemich, and Herman Faber. This family moved from Germany to Clay Center, Ohio in 1878 and to Genoa, Ohio in 1884. Bahne Faber died Aug. 1922 and Elise (Momsen) Faber died in Feb. 1914.

Two years after Paul and Emma Petersen were married (1888), they bought a small farm about six miles NW of Deshler, Ohio. They were successful farmers and Paul was a leader in the church and community.

The children of Paul and Emma Petersen were Johanna Margaret (Meta). She married Christ Seedorf. Herman was born in 1889 and died in 1898. Mathias married Minnie Tietje. Bahne married Alvina Junge. Edna married Rev. W.E. Sund.

Paul and Emma retired in 1920 and moved to Deshler, Ohio. Paul was a Township Trustee, and on the Farm Board for many years. Paul died July 9, 1941 and Emma died Dec. 14, 1948. They are buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rt. 65, Deshler, Ohio.

Mathias Petersen, son of Paul and Emma Petersen, was born on Feb. 24, 1891. He was a farmer most of his life. At one time, he worked for Henry Benien drilling wells and plumbing. On April 8, 1917 Mathias married Minnie Tietje. She was born Aug. 4, 1899. She was the daughter of Herman

Tietje (1864-1936) and Anna Dickman (1866-1914). They were married on

Jan. 20, 1898. Minnie's brothers and sisters were Dora (half-sister; she married Fred Blanke). August (half-brother) married Alma Meyer. Henry (half-brother) died in 1930. Hattie married Everet Houser. Helen married Arthur Meyer. Matilda died in infancy. Ernest married Viola Burns. Adolph married Esther Dietz.

Herman Tietje (Minnie's father) was born in Verden, Germany. He came to America in 1883 and lived with Henry Vajen. He went to some western states for about three years and then went back to Holgate, Ohio to live with his parents, who had come to America. He then later lived in Richfield Twp. Herman and Anna (Dickman) Tietje are buried at Peace Luthèran Church, Deshler, Ohio.

Henry Tietje (Mar. 7, 1835 — Aug. 3, 1907) and Marie Schwiebert (Oct. 20, 1839 — May 20, 1920) were the parents of Herman Tietje (Minnie's father). They had these children: Sophie, Marie, Herman, Henry, William, Henry, Dietrich, and August. Henry and Marie Tietje are buried at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rt. 109, Hamler, Ohio.

Mathias Petersen and Minnie Tietje had these children. Alfred was born on Sept. 4, 1917. He married Juanita Meyer on Sept. 29, 1940. (Juanita was born July 5, 1922.) Their children are Burdell, Roger, Mary Ann, James, and Annette.

Matilda was born Jan. 28, 1921. She married Bill Bishop on Sept. 29, 1946. (Bill was born on Aug. 6, 1923). Their children are Matthew, Colleen, Bonnie, and Barbara.

Edwin was born on Mar. 13, 1924 and died April 5, 1924.

Norma was born on Nov. 6, 1925. She married Melvin Rosebrook on April 6, 1947. (Melvin was born Sept. 6, 1922). Their children are Nancy, Jerry, Shirley, Lynette, and Cheryl.

Victor was born May 8, 1932. He married Helen Hahn on Dec. 2, 1951. (Helen was born on Aug. 20, 1932). Their children are Patricia, Mark, Peggy, Robin, Jon, and Andrew.

Mathias and Minnie also raised their nephew Robert Houser. Robes t was born Mar. 17, 1930. He married Dolores Behnfeldt. Dolores was born on Sept. 18, 1932.

Mathias and Minnie Petersen lived on a farm in Bartlow Twp., Twp. Rd. F, Deshler, Ohio all their married life. Victor, the youngest son, owns the farm now.

Minnie Petersen died on April 11, 1943. Mathias retired from farming when he married Sophie (Koehnke) Ackerman in 1952. (Sophie was born on April 16, 1903 and died on January 7, 1978). Mathias died Dec. 22, 1955 of a heart attack, after the flu. He and Minnie are buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rt. 65, Deshler, Ohio.

Submitted by: Pat Leonard