Biography - Lewis Baumgarten
LEWIS BAUMGARTEN. The German-American citizen who has done so large a
share of leveling forests, breaking the soil and subduing wild prairies to a
state of cultivation are among the most valuable and sturdy citizens of our
country. They have proved themselves one of the essential elements in the
building up of our country and to them we give the honor due to a class of
men of integrity, industry and thrift.
Our subject whose birth was across seas, reside within the limits of the
village of Stewardson and his residence in Shelby County dates from 1868. He
was born in Germany, December 15, 1827, being a son of Frederick and
Elizabeth Baumgarten, the family came to this country in 1847, when this son
was not yet of age and they settled in Sullivan County, Ohio, where the
parents died, the mother at the age of seventy-six years and the father
after he had reached the venerable age of eighty-five.
Of the eight children of this worthy couple, Louise, the eldest, died in
Germany, when about twenty years old. Following her came Lewis, our subject;
Edward who resides in Shelby County, Ohio; Rosa, now Mrs. Henry Roegner who
makes her home in Miami County, Ohio; Thessa who married Conrad Uppermann
and died in Pickaway, Ohio; Caroline afterward married Conrad Uppermann;
Johanna became the wife of Frederick Hummel and resides in Decatur, Ala. and
Frederick resides in Shelby County, Ohio.
He of whom we write came to the United States with his father's family, and
in 1856, he was united in marriage with Cony Brehm who was born December 23,
1838 in Baden, Germany, her parents being John A. and Margaret Brehm who
brought their family to the United States in 1846 and settled in Shelby
County, Ohio. There the father died at the age of seventy-two years and
there the mother is still living, having reached the age of seventy-nine
years during the month of July, 1891.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brehm all grew to maturity and were as follows:
Frederick who died in Shelby County, Ohio; Catherine became the wife of Fred
Madernsides and lives in Hall County, Neb.; Cony, the wife of our subject;
Margaret, married Lewis Neth and lives in Pickaway, Ohio; Barbara is the
wife of Andrew Madernsides and lives in this county; Elizabeth married
Antonia Augast and died in Shelby County, Ohio; Mary married Charles Buarnd,
and died in Toledo, Ohio; and Rachel is the wife of Martin Hiegel and makes
her home in Saline County, Neb.
After marriage our subject resided for some years in Ohio and purchased
eighty acres of timber land which he proceeded to clear and had about
one-half of it free from trees when he sold out and came to Illinois, where
he purchased two hundred and sixty acres of land in Prairie Township, this
county, very little of which was improved. There he made his residence and
upon it erected excellent buildings and put it in first-class condition. In
June 1881 he removed to Stewardson and settled where he now resides, having
forty acres of fine land there, besides his original farm. His Stewardson
land is very finely improved and in a handsome condition.
In the mutations which have been the fate of political parties of late
years, it has been the lot of many men to be tossed about from one party to
another so much, perhaps, that they have been fickle in their political
belief and attachment but on account of the changes which have really taken
place in the standards of political parties. In this way, our subject who
was once a devoted adherent of the Republican party is now as warmly
attached to the Democratic. In religious belief the family are earnest and
consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Of the ten children who blessed
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Baumgarten three only have passed away. The living
are: Rachel (Mrs. John Bauer), John, Frances (Mrs. Andrew Bauer), Fred,
Edith, Edward and Lewis.
Extracted 29 May 2017 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 278-279.
