#52 Ancestors Week 17 - Prosper - Frederick Henry William Moehlmann

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #17 and the suggested theme is PROSPER. I am highlighting my great great grandfather Frederick Henry William Moehlmann.

I have written about my 2x great grandfather before but it was in relation to having a long marriage.  This week I want to talk about his successes. I so admire all of my immigrant ancestors who had the courage to travel to new lands, seeking their fortune.  Frederick and his wife Ida Sophia came to the US in September of 1867.

I don't really know the circumstances around the decision to leave Beckedorf, Germany and settle in Indianapolis, Indiana.  There had been recent changes in the government with the formation of The North German Federation after the Austro-Prusian War ended in July 1866. The following year a new constitution was adopted.  I am just beginning to research the history of Beckedorf, where he was born, but it certainly seems logical that all the political changes may have had an impact on Frederick.  

One think I know for sure it that the decision for Sophia to travel with him was most likely last minute. There was a notation made in the marriage record at the church in Meinsen on 15 Aug 1867 stating:  "Very short notice was given for intended marriage. They married at 7 in the evening because their ship is going to America."  Also the manifest for the ship "Hansa" which arrived in New York on 2 Sep 1867, listed Ida with her maiden name of Krentler.

Passenger List for the "Hansa" 

Just three years later in the 1870 census, Frederick is working as a railroad laborer and has real estate valued at $1800 and they have two children. By 1880 the family has grown to six children and Frederick is still working as a laborer. According to an 1890 Indianapolis directory Frederick is working for Hendrickson, Kepler & Co., a hat and glove maker. By 1910, 72 year old Frederick is the owner of a cigar stand and owns his home free and clear.  

Frederick Moehlmann - Death 1911
Indianapolist Star April 21, 1911

Here is the transcript of his obituary:

                             "DADDY" MOEHLMANN IS DEAD

                                 KEPT STAND IN COURT HOUSE

 Paralysis Attack Causes Death of

 Familiar Figure, Whose Name Was

    Known to Few.

 ---------------------------------

Frederick W. Moehlmann, known universally as "Daddy" at the Court House where he had kept a cigar stand is dead.  Few of his many patrons knew his right name, and as he was away from his stand for only a little more than twenty-four hours before he died, few knew of his illness.  He became ill Tuesday afternoon and when he made his last sale, a 5-cent piece of chocolate, he was hardly able to make change.

  He protested at that time he was only slightly ill.  His little grandson,who had gone to the  Court House in the afternoon had to assist him in locking the case which contains the cigars, tobacco and candies.  Shortly after Mr. Moehlmann reached home he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which resulted in his death at 10 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 607 McCarty street.

                                       WAS AT STAND DAILY.

 "Daddy" as he was called by every one about the Court House for the last two years had become almost a fixture.  He opened his stand regularly with the offices and courtrooms and closed promptly at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. He was always ready to exchange a pleasant word with his customers.

Mr. Moehlmann was born in Germany seventy-three year years ago and came to Indianapolis forty-three years ago.  For twenty-five years he was connected with a hat company.  About two years ago he purchased the Court House cigar stand.  He is survived by two sons, Frederick and Lewis Moehlmann, and two daughters, Miss Mathilda Moehlmann and Mrs. Anna Lichtsinn.  The funeral will be conducted at 2:15 o'clock Sunday afternoon at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Burial will be made in the Lutheran Cemetery.

I think Frederick lived the American dream that allowed him to assimilate in a new culture, raise a family, buy a home, and eventually buy his own small business.  

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.