Herman Bostelman Family

Herman Bostelman was born in Visselhoevede, Germany, on March 23, 1874, and died on July 9, 1959. His parents were William and Maria Koester Bostelman of Visselhoevede, Amt. Rotenburg, Germany. Herman came to America in 1893 at the age of eighteen years. He had three brothers: George, Fred and Adolph, and no sisters.

After arriving in America, he came to this area and worked at farming for Fred Cordes, and later made his home with the Henry Vorwerk family on the Adams Ridge Road, Adams Township, Defiance County, Ohio.

While living at the Vorwerk home, Herman attended the Kunkle School, one of the earliest area schools, for several weeks during the winter so that he could learn to speak English.

Herman became an American citizen on March 27, 1891, at the Defiance County Probate Court. Then he went to the village of Florida, Ohio, and worked for the Andrews family that had a wheat and buckwheat flour mill. While there, he married Emma Harms in 1898.

Herman and Emma made their home in Cleveland, Ohio, for most of their married life. Herman worked as a carpenter. They had seven children.

The oldest, Thelma, was born on April 15, 1899. Erna was born in 1901. Herman was born in 1903. Emma was born in 1905. Mildred was born in 1907 and died at an early age. William was born in 1909. Fred was born in 1916.

Thelma married Herman J. Vorwerk on April 20, 1920. Thelma and Herman Vorwerk had four children: Ruth, Clayton, Clarence and AliCe.

Erna Bostelman married Louis Schnitkey and they had three children: Wilma, Henry and William. Erna and Louis farmed most of their life until they retired.

Herman Bostelman married Marie Beizer, They have one child, Marie. Herman was a master maintenance man at Western University.

Emma married William Pflueger, a jeweler who worked with his father in the jewelry trade, and continued on his own after his father retired. Emma and William have one son, Robert, who is working in the Lutheran ministry.

William Bostelman married Marion Terword and they have two children: William Jr. and Barbara. William worked with the Cleveland Fire Department all his life until retirement. He is now working in the catering business.

Fred Bostelman and his wife, Kay, have been separated for many years. They have two children, Fred Jr. and Pattie. Fred was with the Cleveland Fire Department until his retirement.

Submitted by: Herman J. Vorwerk