52 Ancestors #7 Wilhelm F. Bohnke

Wilhelm Bohnke was my Great Great Grandfather on my father's side. He was born on 6 Mar 1831 in Germany to Heinrich Boehnke and Dorthea Flothmeyer.
 In May of 1854 he arrived in Baltimore with his brother Friedrich, after gaining passage on the ship Blucher from Bremen Germany. On 14 May 1857 Wilhelm married Engel Anna Kukelhan she was also from Germany, but she did not travel with Wilhelm to America. Engel was born on 2 Feb 1837 to Friedrich Kukelhan and Catherine Schuermann. After they married they made their home in Cincinnati Ohio for several years before moving and staying in Adams County, Decatur, Indiana until their deaths. They are buried in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery in Adams County, IN.


                                                        


Together they had 9 children:
Engel D.  b. 23 Jul d. 30 Jul 1858 Cincinnati, Ohio
William  b.16 Oct 1859 Cincinnati, Ohio d. 29 Jan 1920 Allen County, IN
married Emma Melcher
Henry b. 20 Sep 1861 Cincinnati, Ohio d. 14 Jul 1943 Adams County, IN
Louise b. 12 Aug 1865 Adams County, IN d. 16 Mar 1936 Allen County, IN
married Herman Hockemeyer
Frederick b. 28 Feb 1867 Adams County, IN d. 9 Sep 1947 Allen County, IN
married Wilhelmina Franke
Charles W (my great grandfather) b. 15 Dec 1868 Adams County, IN d. 16 Aug 1947 Adams County, IN
married Emma Franz
Sophia Bohnke b. 17 Sep 1870 Adams County, IN d. 5 Jan 1943
married Charles Luttmann
August b. 28 Nov 1872 Adams County, IN d.19 May 1947
married Christine Holle
Henriette b. 5 Jan 1875 Adams County, IN d. 19 Aug 1965 Wells County, IN
married William Gerke.
Wilhelm and his family were early members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in rural Adams County. He died on 29 May 1915 his wife Engel died 15 Jun 1910.

52 Ancestors Week #6 Adam J. Bienz

Headstone Adam J Bienz

Christina Matilda Bleeke

Adam J. Bienz was born in Willshire Ohio, 26 Oct 1859, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Pflueger Bienz.

His first wife Pauline Germann died leaving 1 daughter Minnie.

Adam married his second wife Christina Reinking 14 May 1899. She died 9 Apr 1893 leaving 1 daughter Paula.

 On 14 May 1900 he married Matilda Bleeke daughter of Christian and Mary Rupp Bleeke. They had 7 children all born in Adams County Decatur IN.

Erwin born 21 Dec 1900 died Mar 1979

Amelia born 30 Jan 1903 died 7 Jan 1999

married Martin Bulmahn

Martin born 13 Apr 1905 died Mar 1955

married Leona Bucher

Louise born 23 Nov 1907 died 7 Oct 1935

married Herman Bohnke (my grandparents)

Emil born 12 May 1910 died Sep 1987

Ida born 1 Sep 1912 died 23 Jan 1994

married Carl Badenhop

Norma born 29 Jan 1915 died 12 Mar 1997

married Oscar Schuller

I don't know if Erwin or Emil were ever married, I have not found a wedding record for either one.

Adam grew up in Van Wert County and had a common school education. He worked for several years with his father on the family farm. At the age of 18 he learned the carpentry trade and worked as a contractor for 10 years. By 1892 he had moved to Decatur IN saving enough money to buy a 110 acre farm in Union Township. He also served as the trustee for Union Township starting January 1915 serving for 4 years.

Census records show Adam and Matilda stayed in Adams County until his death on 16 Jan 1949. He is buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery along side his wife Matilda who died 5 years earlier on 22 Apr 1944.

52 Ancestors week#5 Charles W. Bohnke

Charles W. Bohnke Family




My Great Grandfather Charles Bohnke was born 15 Dec 1868 in Adams County IN. The son of Wilhelm and Engel Kukelhan Bohnke he was the 6th of 9 children.
At the age of 31, on 10 Jun 1900 he married Emma L. Franz in Adams County IN. She was the daughter of Christian and Mary Ann Bucher Franz.
They had 7 children:


Christian W.-- b 5 Apr 1901 d 8 Nov 1986
m 25 Dec 1931 Louise M. Bleeke


Ester-- b 13 Jun 1902 d 3 Sep 1902


Herman W.-- b 24 Nov 1903 d 2 Jan 1952
m 7 Jun 1930 Louise Bienz
m 14 Dec 1939 Sophie  Krueckeberg


Lucille-- b 19 Jan 1906 d 14 Apr 1984
m 29 Oct 1930 August Macke


Ida-- b 7 May 1908 d 14 Feb 1981
m 23 Apr 1930 Rudolph  Fuelling
m 25 Aug 1974 Albert Scherer


Mildred-- b 29 Jul 1910 d 15 Mar 2005
m 12 Jul 1934 Morris Bleeke


Alvin-- 13 Aug 1913 d 28 Sep 1955
He never married
Charles worked on the family farm in Adams County his whole life. He attended St. Peter's Lutheran Church. He died at home on 16 Aug 1947.





52 Ancestors Week#4 Herman W. Bohnke

Herman W. Bohnke
Louise K. Bienz
wedding photo
7 Jun 1930




My Grandfather Herman W. Bohnke was born on 24 Nov 1903 in Root Township, Adams County, Decatur IN. He was the 3rd child of Charles W. and Emma L. Franz Bohnke. Herman worked on the family farm his whole life.
 He married Louise K. Bienz daughter of Adam J. and Matilda Bleeke Bienz at St. Peter's  Lutheran Church by Rev. M J Frosch in Root Township, Adams County,  Decatur IN. Prior to their marriage Louise was an employee of the General Electric plant in Decatur IN.
 After their marriage they moved to the Bohnke farm in Root Township. Together they had 2 sons, Willmott Doyle Bohnke was born on 18 Mar 1933 and Lehnford Lee Bohnke was born on 27 Sep 1935. Sadly Louise died of an embolism on 7 Oct 1935. Burial was at St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Rev. L J Dornseif.
On 14 Dec 1939 Herman married Sophie L. Krueckeberg daughter of Martin and Laura Bleeke Krueckeberg. They had no children.
On 2 Jan 1952 Herman was stricken with a heart attack while driving on US 27 northwest of Decatur. He was found by police and taken to Adams County Memorial Hospital. Burial was at St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery by Rev. F W Droegemueller.

Sunday's Obituary-William J. Edwards

William J. Edwards, 76, well-known farmer residing in Blue Creek township, Adams County, died suddenly Monday forenoon while engaged in cutting corn in a field on his farm. His lifeless body was found about 11:30 o'clock Monday forenoon. A physician, who was called immediately, by apoplexy.
Mr. Edwards had been in his usual good health. He went to the field to cut corn about 9:15 yesterday morning. Shortly after 11o'clock Mrs. Edwards became uneasy about her husband, as he had intended to return to the house before that time. She went to the homes of neighbors and failing to find him there, she went to the cornfield where she found his lifeless body. A physician was summoned, immediately, but Mr. Edwards had been dead for about two hours. There was no indication of any suffering.
Mr. Edwards met with an accident about three years ago, when a team of horses ran away with a wagon. The wagon upset and the bed of the wagon struck Mr. Edwards on the head. It is believed that this injury led to his sudden death yesterday.
The decesed was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 26, 1850. He had resided in Blue Creek township for more than fifty years. Surving are the widow Anna L. Kauffman, six children, Chalmer, Gerald, Raymond, Grace, Corrine and Mildred, all at home. One brother Horace G. Edwards of Blue Creek township, and one sister Mrs. Martin Suhm of Petersburg Illinois.
Funeral services will be held at the Salem Church at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

Information omitted from the obituary-William was the son of Lewis Edwards and Elizabeth Wilson. He married Anna L. Kauffman on October 8, 1900 in Adams County Indiana.