EARLY CHILDHOOD

This is the first section of my grandfather's writing about his life.  He has titled it "Early Childhood". I guess I should tell you, my grandfather's name is Alfred William Moehlmann. He writes:

"My father (Fred A. H. Moehlmann) was born July 1, 1869, at 617 East McCarty street, Indianapolis, Ind. the son of Frederick and Anna (Krentler) Moehlmann and my mother was Mathilda (Tendick) Moehlmann born on May 15, 1878 in Neukirchen, Kries Moers, Germany the daughter of Peter and Katerine (Kukes) Tendick.  She came to the United States with her parents, brother Diedrick, and sisters Gertrude and Sophia in the year 1889 at the age of 16 years.  Her family located on a farm about 4 miles N.E. of Linton and there they started a new life in a new country and their home was a 2 room log house.  She soon went to Indianapolis to find employment and there met my father and was married in 1893."

I know that is a very short excerpt but there is a lot of information there that I think I should explain.  Alfred's father was Frederick August Henry Moehlmann and his paternal grandparents were Frederick Henry William Moehlmann and  Ida Sophia Mathilda Krentler.  Alfred has said her name was Anna but I have not seen that in any record.  In all the census records it is listed as Ida. Frederick and Ida were married August 15, 1867 in Meisen, Germany and just 17 days later on the ship "Hansa" they sailed into New York harbor. On the church's marriage registry there was a notation that not much notice of the intended marriage was given and that they were married at seven in the evening because their ship is going to America. The passenger list does list Ida with her maiden name.  

Fred and Ida (Krentler) Moehlmann
From the Moehlmann Family Collection

Unlike Alfred's paternal grandparents, his mother's parents were married in Germany on January 14, 1858 and raised raised their ten children there.  The immigrated in 1889 and settled in the farming community of Linton in Greene county, Indiana where there was a large number of German immigrants.  Linton is located about 60 miles south of Indianapolis. 

Peter and Katrina (Kukes) Tendick
From the Moehlmann Family Collection

Alfred's parents, Matilda Tendick and Fred Moehlmann were married November 19, 1893 in Indianapolis.

Wedding photo of Fred and Matilda (Tendick) Moehlmann
From the Moehlmann Collection

So we have been introduced to Alfred's parents and grandparents. Next we will learn about Alfred's early years and the neighborhood in which he grew up.