William D. Wesche Family

William D. Wesche was born on August 16, 1873 on the farm west of Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. His parents were Daniel F. Wesche who was born on May 20, 1839 in Veltheim, Brunswick, Germany, and Friederika Martins who was born December 21, 1848 in Prussia.

The Wesche genealogy states that Daniel's parents, Andreas and Lucie Brandis Wesche left Veltheim because of much political and civil unrest and came to America, a country that was to provide a better life for the family.

They arrived in Pettisville, Ohio in August, 1858, with three daughters and one son, Daniel, aged nineteen years.

The 1860 U.S. Census for German Township, Fulton County, Ohio listed Andreas as age sixty-fifty, white, a day laborer, having $50 worth of personal property.

Daniel Wesche soon went to Richmond, Jefferson County, Ohio and stayed two years and then returned to the northwest section of Ohio. In 1865, he bought forty acres of land in Ridgeville Township, Henry County, Ohio. He later added another forty acres to the farm. This homestead is now occupied by his grandchildren, Arthur and Alice Dehnke and Hulda Miller.

Daniel married Friederika Martins in 1869 when she was nineteen years old. She and her father and his family had come to Pettisville from Prussa. Her father, Christian Martins, family consisted of Friederika, her stepmother and her step sisters and brothers.

The 1880 U.S. Census of Ridgeville Township, Henry County, Ohio listed Daniel F. Wesche as a white male, aged forty-one years, a farmer, with wife, Friederike, a female, white, aged thirty-two years and her occupation was listed as "keep house".

William D. Wesche and his six brothers and eight sisters were all born and raised on the above mentioned homestead. All fifteen children attended Dittmer public school, a country school located one half mile east of the Wesche home. Their religious education was received at St. John's Lutheran Church located one half mile west of their home.

All of the children of Daniel and Friederika are now deceased except for Laura Karies who lives in Hickory, North Carolina.

William D. Wesche, at the age of cwenty-four years, married Charlotte Lienau of Ridgeville Township. Her parents were Frederick and Dorothy Schultz Lienau. Frederick was born on July 23, 1835 and Dorothy was born on October 17, 1837, and both were born in Prussia.

Frederick and Dorothy Lienau bought a farm home in Ridgeville Township, a mile west of Ridgeville Corners. Their seven children were born here. The Lienau children also attended the Dittmer school and St. Johns Lutheran Church. The farm is still in the Lienau name, and a great- great-grandson, Wayne Lienau, lives on the homestead.

William and Charlotte bought a farm home one mile west of Ridgeville Corners, and raised a family of nine children, seven girls and two boys. Their issue were Frieda, Pauline, Martha, Ida, Emma, Dorothy, William, Clara and Elmer. This family also had their religious training at St. Johns. Lutheran Church, and their education at Dittmer School. The St. Johns Church is still flourishing, but Dittmer School has been dismantled.

Charlotte Wesche died in October 1921. Frieda and Pauline were already married at the time of their mother's death. Martha was left to care for the six younger children.

On February 21, 1923, William married Hulda Schumacker. During the next few years, the children married, and only Elmer was at home yet when the father died on March 12, 1938.

Elmer Wesche farmed the fairn for the next few years. William's second wife, Hulda Schumacher Wesche, died on June 24, 1945. By this time all the children had established their own homes, so the family home was sold to Emil Wendt, a cousin.

The oldest child of William and Charlotte Wesche, Frieda Wesche, was married to Fred A. Arnos. Frieda and Fred Arnos had Paul, Elmer and John. Fred still lives on the farm where he and Frieda started married life together.

Pauline married Fred J. Kruse. They farmed and lived in the southwestern part of Ridgeville Township. Their children were Martha Kruse, Flory, Marie Kruse Plassman, Charles Kruse and Doris Kruse Nagel.

Martha Wesche married Paul Otte. Paul was part owner, and operated, the Otte Mill at Ridgeville Corners until the time of his death. Martha still lives in the house that she and Paul started housekeeping in after their marriage. Martha and Paul Otte had Kenneth Otte, Helen Otte Rodel, Margaret Otte Thieroff, and Donald Otte.

Ida Wesche married Andrew Kammeyer and lived on a farm three miles north of Defiance, Ohio until Andrew's death. Then Ida moved to Defiance, Ohio where she lived until her death. Ida and Andrew had no issue.

Emma married Louis Toles. Their children were David, Charlotte who died young, and Daniel. Emma and Louis lived in Peru, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois before settling in Ridgeville Corners. There they built a new home, and operated the Gulf service station at Ridgeville. After Emma's death, Louis continued to operate the station for a few years, then sold it and moved to Houston, Texas to be near his family.

Dorothy Wesche married Richard Pusey. They have always made their home at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Richard worked at the International Havester plant until his retirement. They had Richard (now deceased) and Karen Pusey Zielinski.

William Wesche married Isabella Kruse. William followed the carpentry trade and also farmed his father-inlaws farm on the corner of Route 66 and 34. Isabella is deceased now but William still lives on the same farm. Their children were James (now deceased), Edward, and Eugene (deceased).

Clara married Donald F. Higbea and they live on, and farm, the Higbea homestead in Adams Township, Defiance County, Ohio. Their children are Carl, Carol Higbea Sanders, and Lee Higbea.

Elmer is married to Caroline Bostleman. They farmed the home place a few years and then bought a farm in Clinton Township, Fulton County, Ohio. Their children are Elaine Wesche Stamm and William Wesche.

There are twenty grandchildren, fifty-seven great-grandchildren, and twenty-three great-greatgrandchildren.

William D. Wesche was a faithful church member, a good neighbor and a devoted family man who was always anxious for his family to come home and have a family gathering.

The children of Daniel, and their families, still carry on the tradition and have two family gatherings a year — one in the summer, and one at Christmas time.