Zum Felde (Zumfelde) Family

According to Author Paul Cascorbi in the book "Old German Family Names" published in Germany in 1933, the name zum Felde is one of the oldest family names in the aristocracy of Germany, the title of Nobility and with it a large grant of land was first conferred in the fifth Century. By the eighth Century there were many members of the family with variations in the spelling, but the last part was usually spelled Feld, Felde or Velde and in some areas as Veld or Velt. The zum Felde's that came to Henry County trace from a Hinrick to deme Velde (which in the Dutch language means "to the Fields") who was born in 1417 in the Netherlands and first became a landowner in 1438. Successive generations were Johan thom Felde, B. 1461, became landowner in 1521. Johan tom Veld, B. 1484, landowner 1528, Tonnies thom Velde, B. 1506, landowner 1563.

In the years following the Protestant Reformation the family had joined in the Protestant cause. In 1555 Philip of Spain became the ruler of the Netherlands and was determined to stamp out the Protestant movement. The Peace Treaty of Augsburg in 1555 forced Charles V to grant the ruler of each German state the right to choose between Lutheranism or Catholicism. As the rulers of the state of Hanover in Germany had chosen to follow the teachings of Luther, the family, under the leadership of Michel zum Felde B. 1527, left the Netherlands and went to Hannover, Germany in 1555. In 1587 he became the owner of a large farm in Untereinzingen near Dorfmark. In 1589 he is listed as owning 2 horses, 25 head of cattle, 55 sheep, 9 hogs and 31 hives of bees. In the years that followed there were many hardships during the religious wars, especially the Thirty Years War. This loyalty to Lutheranism has carried on to the present time as the family almost without exception are active members of the Lutheran Church. The farm also was held intact through the following generations. Michaili zum Felde, B. 1548, landowner in 1589; Michall zum Velde, B. 1569, landowner in 1606; Peter zum Velde, B. 1590, landowner in 1628; Heinrich zum Felde, B. 1611, landowner in 1656; Peter zum Felde, B. 1632, landowner in 1667; Oelrich Hormann zum Felde, B. 1652, landowner in 1672. Henrich Hormann zum Felde, B. 1674, D. 1723, landowner in 1709 married Garbrecht Magdalena Kuhnicken. Oelrich Hormann zum Felde (B. 1706, D. Feb. 18, 1750) landowner in 1739 married on Nov. 9, 1730 to Magdalena Ebeling (B. Apr. 23, 1712, D. Dec. 13, 1767). Hans Heinrich zum Felde (B. 1731, D. July 21, 1800) landowner in 1749, married on Nov. 20, 1749 to Anna Magdalena von Wieding (B. Sept. 3, 1730, D. Mar. 30, 1798). Johan Jakob zum Felde (B. Aug. 20, 1751, D. Sept. 23, 1803) landowner in 1781 married on Nov. 23, 1780 to use Magdalena Carstens (B. 1763, D. Oct. 24, 1834). Johann Jakob zum Felde (B. Nov. 9, 1786, D. Mar. 24, 1844) landowner in 1813 married on Nov. 27, 1812 to Anna Maria Buhr (B. July 28, 1791). Heinrich Friedrich zum Felde (B. Feb. 23, 1833, D. Jan. 26, 1910) married June 5, 1869 to Catharina Dorothea von Deylen Behnfeldt (B. May 13, 1839, D. Aug. 19, 1911). She was the widow of Johan Friedrich Behnfeldt who had several children, two of them Fred and Henry Behnfeldt came to Henry County in the late 1870's. At the time of their marriage they purchased a farm in Ottingen near Visselhovede in the province of Hannover; Germany. Of their five children two came to Henry County. Heinrich Friedrich zum Felde (B. Jan. 29, 1874, D. Nov. 12, 1939) known as Fred in this country came to Henry County in Oct. of 1889. His twin brother Wilhelm remained on the family farm in Ottingen which is still owned by the family. Two sisters also remained in Germany. A younger brother Hermann also came to Henry County in 1892.

After his arrival from Germany in 1889, Fred worked as a carpenter in Henry County until his marriage to Mary Oberhaus (B. May 6, 1875, D. Oct. 30, 1963) on Dec. 24, 1904. She was the daughter of John F. and Marie (Biederstedt) Oberhaus of Napoleon Township. In March of 1905 they moved to a farm they had purchased in Section 30 of York Township, Fulton County near Wauseon. This farm is still in the family, presently owned by Fred's youngest son, Henry. Fred and Mary took an active part in community and church affairs, they helped organize and became charter members of St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Clinton Township. Fred operated the farm until 1938 and lived there until his death in 1939. They had seven children (1.) Carl, B. Nov. 5, 1905; (2.) Frank, B. Mar. 18, 1907; (3.) Martha, B. May 12, 1909; (4.) Paul B. Dec. 1, 1910; (5.) Laura, B. July 16, 1912. (6.) Fred, B. Mar. 24, 1915 married on April 18, 1942 to Barbara Kirchner, B. May 10, 1923. They had two children Andrew, B. May 9, 1943 married on Aug. 20, 1967 to Barbara Moss- man, B. Dec. 2, 1946. They have three children, Amy, B. July 10, 1972, Elizabeth B. Oct. 25, 1974 and Jeffrey, B. June 29, 1976. Ann Marie B. Aug. 27, 1946, D. July 31, 1971. (7.) Henry F. B. July 6, 1918 married on Oct. 26, 1941 to Loretta Beck, B. Oct. 28, 1922. They had six children, Lawrence N. B. June 2, 1942; Paul R., B. May 14, 1944 married on July 12, 1969 to Suzanne Short B. July 9, 1949. They have two children, Kristiana M., B. Feb. 8, 1970 and Brett K., B. Apr. 8, 1972. Melvin T., B. Jan 23, 1946, D. Feb. 22, 1946; Dale R., B. May 31, 1947 married on Sept. 12, 1970 to Patricia Ikeda, B. Dec. 16, 1947, divorced in 1976. Karen L. B. July 6, 1950, D. Jan. 16, 1956; Roger A. B. Oct. 28, 1953.

The second zum Felde to come to the United States was Herman, B. June 30, 1876, D. Dec. 15, 1929. A younger brother of Fred, he came to Freedom Township, Henry County in 1892 and worked on several farms in the area. On Mar. 8, 1906 he married Emma Riefers B. Sept. 1, 1880, D. 1927.

After renting several different farms he purchased a farm near Ridgeville Corners which is still owned by his son. They had two children.

Adolph, B. Jan. 16, 1907 married on May 25, 1930 to Lorena Rickenberg, B. Dec. 4, 1909. They have four children, Raymond B. Apr. 11, 1931 married on Aug. 12, 1952 to Doris Arps, B. Nov. 19, 1933. Two children Daniel R., B. Jan. 11, 1961 and Christine H., B. Sept. 25, 1963; Marvin, B. Jan. 10, 1934 had two sons from his first marriage, Randy L., B. Feb. 11, 1961 and Raymond D., B. Oct. 14, 1962. On Aug. 9, 1967 he married Arlene Wallace, B. Aug. 27, 1939. She had two children from a previous marriage, Terry, B. July 1, 1960 and Christina, B. Oct. 31, 1962. Marvin and Arlene had two children. Marvin E., B. Oct. 16, 1968, and Brenda S., B. Mar. 22, 1972.

Eldon M., B. Nov. 6, 1935 married on June 19, 1955 to Doris A. Bergstedt, B. Dec. 10, 1937. Three children Barbara J., B. May 12, 1956 married June 4, 1977 to Dennis Arps, B. Nov. 1, 1954. James L., B. June 13, 1957 and Janet K., B. Jan. 20, 1960.

Ronald D., B. Dec. 31, 1944 married on May 25, 1974 to Dianna Hocking, B. Jan. 30, 1944. She had two children from a previous marriage. Erick, B. Dec. 18, 1964 and Monica, B. Aug. 11, 1966. Ronald and Dianna have one child Lori, B. Mar. 16, 1977.

Clara, B. May 10, 1911 married Martin Ohlrich, B. May 9, 1911, D. 1966. Three children Erwin, Ruth Ann, and Robert.

*D. - Date of Death

*B. - Date of Birth

Submitted by: Henry F. zum Felde