Carl H. Bockelman

Carl H. Bockelman was the only son of Louis and Anna but they also had three daughters. Carl was born in Napoleon, Ohio, on January 25, 1878, and he received his education in the schools of Napoleon.

The Carl H. Bockelman Family — 1945. Sitting: Sophia and Carl; standing, left to right: their sons with their wives, Louis and Bess, Herman and Eleanore, William and Norma, Carl and Maxine, Wilfred and Eleanor.

However, most of his active years were spent on the family farm in Freedom Township. In August, 1905, he married Sophia Helberg. Pastor Louis Damman of St. Paul's Lutheran Church performed the wedding ceremony. He had Confirmed them both as children and so they were life-long members of the congregation in Napoleon Township.
Carl and Sophia Bockelman had five sons: Louis C. born September 21, 1906; Herman H. born December 21, 1909; William H. born September 20, 1913; Carl F. born December 1, 1916; and Wilfred C. born November 15, 1920. The boys received their education at the Garrett School and Ridgeville High School. Wilfred C. the youngest went on to college and was ordained in the ministry of the Lutheran Church.

The Bockelman family lived on the 80 acre family farm. They specialized in live stock, raising purebred Holstein Friesian cattle and Chester White hogs.

For many years geese were raised and dressed at home. This was always a big occasion at Thanksgiving time for the whole family. Everyone had to participate in this project. The feathers or "down" were saved for making pillows. The dressed geese were loaded into a Model T Ford touring car and delivered to a commission house in Toledo, Ohio. This was usually a full days job - just delivering!

When the Farm Bureau was first organized in Henry County Carl H. Bockelman served on its board of directors. Carl and Sophia both took an active part in this very new organization and helped in many ways to expand its activities.

He also served on the school board, and was Justice of Peace for Freedom Township.

Before his marriage he was a member of the National Guard. His hobby interests were music and his bees. He played reed or brass instruments and also the violin. Much to his disappointment the musical talent wasnever captured by any of his sons. However, some of the grandchildren have made up for this.

Although he considered it a pastime working with his bees, it did supply the family and friends with plenty of delicious honey.

After selling forty acres of the original farm, he continued to farm the rest until he was eighty years old. However, by this time there was no more live stock.

In 1960 they moved to Napoleon where he died at the age of eighty-four years. One year later Sophia moved into the Lutheran Old Folks Home in Toledo, Ohio. She enjoyed the golden years and died January 11, 1969. It was just one month short of her eighty-fourth birthday.

The original Bockelman homestead had been acquired from the government in the 1860's by Louis Bockelman, Carl's father. It eventually was sold to Alvin Joost of Defiance County.

Submitted by The Family