Leo Sonnenberg

Leo Charles Sonnenberg is the grandson of Casper Henry Sonnen? berg (Feb. 3, 1843-Nov. 11, 1916). C. Henry was born in Osterholz, Kingdom of Hanover, Germany to Heinrich Sonnenberg and Christina Von der Bruelle. His father died when he was

young, leaving his mother with four small children whom she couldn't support. Henry was raised in the home of a German schoolteacher where he learned the significance of education and later supported the schools as a member of the school board. At age 23

he didn't see many opportunities and was also aware of the unrest in Germany at the time because he had cousins in Bismarck's army with knowledge of skirmishes nearby. The Prussians wanted to take over the Kingdom of Hanover to unify the northern states, but it was an unpopular war. He boarded a ship for America at Bremerhaven with a couple of friends and arrived in New York City in May, 1866 where he stayed to earn money. He frequently told hte story that in New York City while he and his companions went looking for a job someone ransacked their room and stole all his money! When he was financially able, he traveled the railroad to Toledo and to Napoleon by the Miami and Erie Canal where a cousin named Panning had settled. He later took a job at a Toledo brickyard where he worked for six years. He encouraged his family to come to America, and his brother Christopher immigrated a couple of years after him. Christof learned to do carpentry in Germany and continued the trade here. The remaining family members also came: his mother Christina, brother Fredrick and sister Dorothea all lived in Toledo where Fredrick opened his own tailor shop. In 1872 Henry and Christof moved to Defiance where they farmed together until Christof married, and Henry then moved to Freedom Township. Five years later he bought his farm in Monroe Township, section 32 the southwest quarter, where a small cabin was built by whoever leased the land. Some of the wooded land had been cleared, but the ground was swampy and had to be drained for farming.

On Dec. 1, 1876 he married Elize Ludeman (Sept. 13, 1856-June 27, 1932), the daughter Of William Ludeman and Mary Haase who both emigrated from Hanover, Germany while young with their respective families and settled in Henry County. Henry and Elize Sonnenberg had eleven children, Charles, George, Caroline Rettig, John Herman, Henrietta Michaelis, Theodore, Henry, who now lives in Toledo, Olga, Fredrick, Emilie Schwiebert, who now lives in Hamler and Adelia Kratz. Henry had a philosophy he impressed on his children, "to thine ownself be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man."

J. Herman (Feb. 16, 1885-Jan 6, 1954), father to Leo was a lifelong resident of Henry County. In 1910, he and his brother George started a tile drainage business using a steam powered ditcher, but due to the time consumed in traveling, it was necessary to spend the night with the family for whom he was ditching. After marriage to Henrietta Badenhop on April 11, 1912, he bought a farm in Richfield Township, section 21 the west half of the southwest border, and he stopped ditching so he could be home with his family. When Leo was 15 years old, he returned to tile drainage in addition to farming.

Henrietta Badenhop Sonnenberg (Dec. 8, 1891-Mar. 14, 1974) is the daughter of William F. Badenhop (Oct. 27, 1866-Nov. 2, 1943) and Henrietta Haase. (Aug. 6, 1870-June 23, 1961).

For the Badenhop family history see Volumn 1 of HENRY COUNTY, OHIO, written by her brother Arther.

Herman and Henrietta Sonnenberg had six children, Leo, Alta Gerken, Juanita Rauch, Clarence, who died at age four, Henry and Herman Jr. Leo was born Jan. 31, 1914 and grew up on the family farm southwest of Westhope. In 1929, the family lost their home in a tragic fire which was discovered by Leo as the family was about to begin their Thanksgiving dinner. Leo helped to build the house that is presently on the homestead, and he worked with his father farming and laying tile until he married Lillian Emma Deetz on Jan. 10, 1942. Shortly after they were married, they bought the "Bremer farm" in Richfield Township, section 8 northeast corner where they presently live, and he continues to farm. For over 45 years he has done tile drainage, a profession his father started in 1910. He has been a life long member of Peace Lutheran Church of Deshler.

Leo and Lillian have four daughters, Marilyn, Jan. 8, 1943, Sandra, Dec. 29, 1944, Joanne July 10, 1947, and Elaine Oct. 26, 1950. Marilyn, a beautician, married Richard L. Pratt on Aug. 14, 1964. Dick grew up in Napoleon and graduated from Napoleon High School. He teaches English at Clay High School, and they live at Maumee with their two sons Steven Jan. 15, 1965 and Brian Jan. 5, 1975. Sandra, a registered nurse, married Perry F. Gardner of Akron, Ohio on Sept. 3, 1966. Perry is an engineer and plant manager with Pfizer Inc., and they live in East Canaan, Connecticut with their son Greg Nov. 30, 1970. Joanne, an insurance agent, underwrites policies for tractor trailor trucks and lives in Toledo. Elaine, a nurse, married George F. Wells Jr. on June 13, 1970. Frank is a native of Henry County and graduated from Liberty Center High School. He is carrying on the family tile drainage business and is employed with Hi Voltage, and they live at Napoleon with their two children George III (Nov. 1, 1972) and Elizabeth (July 15, 1974).

Lillian Deetz Sonnenberg has lived all of her married life in Henry County. She was born Mar. 12, 1915 to William Deetz and Ida Avers in Elmore, Ohio.

William Deetz (June 18, 1886-Oct. 13, 1963) was the first son born to Ferdinand Deetz (April 5, 1854-Jan. 5, 1928) and Augusta Bredlau (Oct. 25, 1859-July 6, 1923) after they immigrated from Germany. Ferdinand was born in Ein Schwald, Germany southeast of Berlin where he married and had three sons Harmon, Ferdinand, and Fred. After coming to America the family first settled in Saginaw, Michigan before moving to Elmore. William also had two younger brothers and a sister: Henry, Otto and Augusta. On Feb. 14, 1912 he married Ida Marie Henrietta Avers and they had five daughters: Esther Tietje, Lillian, Alice Piotter, Hilda Saelzler, and Wilma Keeler Hoffman Kassick who helped their father on his fruit and vegetable farm where he was also a beeskeeper. Ida Avers Deetz (Feb. 13, 1887-Oct. 31, 1972) was born in Gibsonburg, Ohio to Harmon A. Avers (Mar. 20, 1850-Feb. 26, 1920) and Mary E. Louise Davidter (May 14, 1854-May 6,

1933). The Harmon Avers were married on June 12, 1879, and they had six children John, Julia Ninke, Theodore, Ida, Frank, and Ervin. Harmon was born in Sandusky County to John H. Avers (Jan. 6, 1802-Oct. 31, 1885) and Angeline Tramme (d. Oct. 26, 1865) who immigrated from Germany. Louise Davidter was 17 years old when she immigrated from Germany with her parents Henry Davidter and Julia Hoodlebrink.

Submitted by Sandra Sonnenberg Gardner