Witte Family

In 1869 the Witte family living in Leseringen, Hanover, Germany, decided to leave their homeland and move to the United States. The family consisted of Jon Heinrich Christian Witte age 70 and his son George Friedrich Dietrich Witte born June 11, 1831. He was known as Dietrich Witte and he married Dorathea Sophia Mueller, born November 18, 1824. Their children at the time they came to America were -- Fred Mueller, a stepson, Wilhelmina age 12, Ernest age 8, Wilhelm (Wm. A.) age 4 and Carolina age 2. When they were ready to board ship, they noticed that Wm. A. was missing. When they arrived on board they found him on the ship, so the 4 year old boy had boarded the ship without the parents' knowledge. Little is known of their voyage until they reached the farm of their relatives northwest of Okolona, Ohio, (John Behnfeldt family). They became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Okolona. In the fall of this year the 12 year old daughter was sick 2 weeks and died Sept. 11, 1870, and was buried at their church cemetery. The father of Dietrich Witte died 5 years after they arrived and he was buried at the same cemetery. They farmed for 7 years, rent free, and another 2 years on shares in the Okolona area. Dietrich wishing to own his own farm bought 160 acres in Section 4 of Marion Twp., near Hamler. The west 80 acres had a few buildings and he bought this for $2,900. The east 80 acres without buildings he bought for $1,800. (1874) During the week the father and sons would come to this farm to clear the ground so it could be farmed. Some of the wood was taken to the railroad to fire up the steam engines and they earned about one dollar per day. They also split rails to build fences. On weekends they would walk back to Okolona to join the family and attend worship service in church.

Dietrich Witte Family. Left to right, front row: Dietrich Witte and Dorathea Sophia Witte; back row: Fred Mueller, William A. Witte, Ernst Witte, Caroline Witte.

Fred Mueller went to work on Kelleys Island and later worked in Toledo and Chicago, in the lumber yards. He never was married and after the death of his parents, he came to live in their home. Having learned the shoe cobbler trade in Germany, he repaired shoes for his living and he also raised a hog. Being fond of children and known as Uncle Fritz, he had a special talent to make balls using string for the inside, then covering them with wool yarn, with seam stitching designed like our present baseballs, being about the same size. He gave these balls to area children. He lived here until his death and was buried in the Hope Lutheran Cemetery. The house was moved to a farm north of Hamler on the second farm past the first corner. The house was remodeled and is still used. (see picture)

Ernest Witte married Christine Heinricks and they made their home on the west 80 acres. They lived in a log house for a number of years and then built a new house and other buildings. Ernest was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Okolona (Rev. Strauss). There were 12 boys and 13 girls in his class. He had to walk to school for 3 months. Ernest bought part of the 40 acres now owned by his daughter, Esther Arps, for $2,500. Ernest was a director in the German Mutual Insurance Co. for 40 years, and a member of Hope Lutheran Church. He reached the age of 100 years.

Caroline (Lena), being the youngest of the family, married Henry Lange, and after his death she married Herman H. Meyer and they also lived in the Hamler area.

Wm. A. Witte married Ida Schwiebert December 18, 1890. She was the daughter of Heinrich Schwiebert Sr. and Anna VonBroeling. Wm. had just finished building the house in which they were married, in 1890. Almost all of the lumber for the house came from their woods except a few siding. The brick were hauled from Napoleon with team and wagon. The siding was from basswood (Linden) and they put on a slate roof. The barn was built in 1900 and the timbers (8" x 8" x 40') for the frame to make the frame sections and 4"x8" burr or white oak bracings were used for the sills; red oak was used for the rafters and they put on a slate roof. Three sections of the barn had a double 1" floor so the grain that was hauled in before threshing, would not fall through the floor. The grain was threshed after it went through a sweat and when the threshing machine became available. The new ground was too rich to produce wheat and oats for the first several years, but corn made a good crop; some sugar beets were also grown. The combination corn crib and granary was built in 1903. The corn cribs were on each side of the driveway and the grain bins were overhead. A threshing machine shed was built with doors on each end so the machine could be pulled through. Wm. was part owner of the threshing machine. They also built a blacksmith shop and an ice house. The ice was cut on local ponds, most of it from the B&O railroad water storage reservoir in Hamler. The ice was cut in blocks about 18"x24" and depending on how thick it froze. Sometimes the sun would come out and honeycomb the ice. In the ice house the cakes were put in an upright position, the tops were made smooth with a footedge so that the next layer of ice had an even surface. When the ice house was full, the ice was covered with wood sawdust. They used this ice in summer to keep their food cold in an ice box and to make ice cream.

Fred Witte Family. Left to right, front: Emilie and Fred Witte; back: Leonard, Lula, Louis, Loretta, Lorenz, Lillian.

Eight children were born to the family in this farm house: 1. Clara, March 1, 1892, and she married Wilhelm F. Rabe and they moved to Rhodes, Mich.; 2. Fred H., May 31, 1894, and he married Emilie Helene Schuette and they made their home on the home place in the house that his father had built; 3. Otto E., Feb. 21, 1897, and he married Helen Tarbrake and they moved to Detroit, Mich.; 4. Anna M., Jan. 17, 1901, and she married Ferd H. Ehlers and they moved to Rhodes, Mich.; 5. Paul W., July 17, 1904, and he married Wilhelmine (Minnie) Mohrmann and they moved to Rhodes, Mich.; 6. Ida S., Oct. 15, 1906, and she married Lewis Katzer and they moved to Detroit, Mich.; 7. William R., May 24, 1909, and he married Sarah N. Bechtel and they moved to Rhodes, Mich.; 8. Heinrich D., June 9, 1913, and he married Jennie F. Ritter and they moved to Holly, Mich.

In 1915 Wm. A. and wife Ida moved to Rhodes, Mich., where they had purchased a sizeable amount of land of the sandy type. Wm. A. attained the age of 86 years and Ida died at the age of 89 years.

On January 8, 1915,   Fred H. and Emilie Schuette were married on the home place. The wedding was held in the house and Pastor J. Appel performed the wedding ceremony. They bought the 80 acre home place, when Fred's parents moved to Rhodes, Mich., located on Rd. F in Marion Twp. Six children were born at this home - Lorenz, Dec. 16, 1915; Leonard, Oct. 26, 1917; Lillian, Feb. 11, 1924; the twins Louis and Lula, July 13, 1928; and Loretta, Sept. 7, 1934. They were all baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church near Hamler. All the children attended a one room school (Measel) 1/2 mile east of their home, and some of the children attended the high school in Hamler. Before Fred was married he worked various jobs, as hauling water for steam engine, tended grain separator, hired man on a farm, section hand for B&O Railroad earning 18c per hour for 10 hours per day. After he was married, he settled down to farming. In 1918 they purchased a Model T Ford, but as the roads were all mud they could not use the car in the spring when the roads were too muddy. In the early 20s some of the roads were stoned. In 1925 the electric power line was built; the farm buildings were wired for lights. In 1925 a new chicken coop was built for about 400 laying hens.

In 1926, just before Christmas, an Atwater Kent radio was purchased, which gave the family much entertainment. From 1930 to 1934 the depression hit this farm as it did many others. Corn sold for 25( per cwt. and oats for 10e a bu. At these prices it was hard to pay for interest and taxes and many farms were lost because they could not make the payments. Grain and sugar beets were raised and later tomatoes were added to the crops which helped to pull the farm out of debt. Fred held various offices in the Hope Lutheran Church and Emilie taught Sunday School and vacation Bible school for a number of years. In 1949 Fred and Emilie with their daughter Loretta, moved to Hamler and Fred worked at Sylvania TV at Ottawa, Ohio, from 1952 to 1959 when he retired. Before Fred and Emilie moved to Hamler they lived on Ernest Witte's farm for several years as their son Lorenz moved on the home place after he was married. Fred died Dec. 23, 1967, and attained the age of 73 years.

Home of William A. Witte built in 1890.

Lorenz Witte and Alma Ludeman were married in 1941 and the parents gave them an opportunity to live on the home place and farm it. To this family five children were born, two of the oldest were also born in this house: Larry, Marvell, Marie, Dale, and Luther. The first years sugar beets and tomatoes and grain were grown; then livestock numbers were increased and beets and tomatoes were dropped. The laying hens were increased to 700, which Alma took care of mostly, and Lorenz took care of about 30 dairy cows. Due to health conditions the chickens were sold and the cow numbers were increased. A silo was built and a new milk parlor and milk house were built; also a free stall barn was added a few years later. In 1970 Lorenz and Alma purchased 70 acres one mile from the home place. This farm had a sorghum mill on it and sorghum (molasses) had been cooked there for many years by the former owners, Albert and Ida Cordes. With the help of the children these improvements were made possible. Larry attended Ohio State University for some quarters and then took a job in drafting in Napoleon, Ohio. Larry married Leona Gregory and two children, Cyintha and Lawrence, were born in Napoleon area. They moved to Roseville, Mich. (Detroit suburb). Later they bought a house in Sterling Heights, near Detroit, where Bryan was born. Larry was transferred to Chicago, so they moved to Naperville (Chicago suburb). Marvell graduated from Carnegie College in Cleveland and was employed as operating room technician in Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind. She later married Robert Mason, making their home on a farm southwest of Montpelier, Ohio. She went back to work as operating room technician in Bryan, Ohio, Hospital. A daughter Paula was born to them in 1971. Marie was a great help with the cows; she also worked in a factory and restaurant. She married Norbert Rohrs in 1968 and lived in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. To them two children were born, Anna and Steven. Norbert was a member of the German American Polka Band. Marie assisted with taking bookings for the band.

Dale attended Ohio State University, and during the summer months helped with the farm work. He married Kathy Eitzman and they lived in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio State and is now employed as a project engineer in Columbus, Ohio.

Luther is helping with the farming with his dad and plans someday to take over the home place.

Leonard William Witte and Edna Marie Tietje were married May 5, 1940. They rented a farm north of Hamler and later they bought a farm three miles east of Napoleon along the river road (Rt. 110). They farm this land and Leonard is employed by the Campbell Soup Co. They have five children - Raymond, born Jan. 16, 1942 and he married Noreen Vorwerk Dec. 20, 1969. Evelyn Marie, born Nov. 4, 1943 and she married Noble Rye Nov. 25, 1965. Robert L., born May 23, 1945 and he married LaDonna Bockel man. Kenneth, born Mar. 14, 1949. James, born Sept. 5, 1955.

Lillian Witte married Eldor Fitzenrieter on May 26 of 1946. They farm and live on the Fitzenrieter home place in Section 4, Bartlow Twp., Henry County, Ohio. They later bought this farm and they also rent other land. They are the parents of four daughters -- Marie Ann, born April 22, 1953; Annette Grace, born Aug. 28, 1953; Ruth, born Aug. 9, 1959; and Christine, born Oct. 24, 1966.

Louis Fred Witte one of the twins, married Mary Alice Freytag May 1, 1949. They live and farm the land that was formerly owned by Louis's grandfather (Henry Schuette). Louis also works at the Deshler Products Co. They have seven children -- Helen Mary, born June 6, 1950; Joan Susan, born Nov. 12, 1955; Donna Mae, born June 1, 1957 and died Nov. 6, 1968; William Louis, born Oct. 7, 1958; David Paul, born April 20, 1960; Linda Lou, born Oct. 10, 1964; and Sandra Kay, born Mar. 9, 1969.

Lula Witte and Walter Rickenberg were married May 2, 1948. The wedding was held in Hope Lutheran Church near Hamler, Ohio. Pastor A. J. Boomgarten officiated. They moved into their new home at 527 Sheffield Ave., Napoleon, in the fall of 1948. Twelve years later they sold this home and bought a 96 acre farm in Liberty Twp., where they lived for 7 years and in 1966 they moved into their new home at 300 Briarcliff Drive, Napoleon. Walter is a realtor and has his office at 506 N. Perry St., Napoleon, which is jointly owned with Vernon Holers, a State Farm Insurance Agent. The building was purchased in 1967. They are the parents of 8 children -- Carol, born July 15, 1949; Mary, born Oct. 23, 1950; Grace, born Oct. 5, 1952; David, born Feb. 15, 1954; Jane, born Aug. 11, 1957; Elizabeth, born Nov. 6, 1964; Jonathan, born Aug. 6, 1968; and Christa, born April 1, 1970. The family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon Twp., where all the children were baptized and confirmed. Lula is a Sunday School teacher and has taught since 1958.

Lola Catherine Witzel 1902 or 1903

Loretta Christine Witte married Edwin Henry Seedorf on December 28, 1952. They lived in Deshler for a half year and then they moved to a farm on State Route 65, north of Deshler. While living there they had four children -- Daniel Edwin, born July 27, 1957; Debra Christine, born August 4, 1958; Mark Henry, born Dec. 8, 1960; and Lora Lou, born August 31, 1962. Following the death of their landlady they moved to a dairy farm near Liberty Center, Ohio. They had two more sons while living there -- John David, born Feb. 18, 1965 and died May 18, 1965; and Ronald Alan, born Feb. 14, 1966. They now reside on their own 105 acre farm on Rd. U, east of Liberty Center. The children attend the Liberty Center School and Daniel will be going to Bowling Green State University and will be majoring in accounting and music. He received the highest music award in his class in high school. Edwin is working as a broth cook at Campbell's Soup Co. in Napoleon along with farming and Loretta is a press operator at Gould Inc., Napoleon, Ohio.

Submitted by Lorenz Witte