Oelke, William Henry 1840-1934

OELKE, SMALFELDT, SCHMALFELDT, ENGLEHARDT, COUSINS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/14/2015 at 18:17:17

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon for William H. Oelke, 94, one of Clayton county's pioneers and an Indian War veteran, at his home in Farmersburg, with the Rev. H.M. Adix officiating. Burial was made in the Garnavillo cemetery with the Rev. M.J. Harder in charge. Members of the Elkader American Legion post assisted.

Mr. Oelke came to Clayton county when it was just being settled [illegible word] when means of transportation were slow and burdensome. He was born in Germany and came to the United States with his parents in 1851, crossing the ocean and landing at New Orleans from which place the [illegible] up the Mississippi on a boat and landed at Guttenberg.

He was married to Lena Smalfeldt, who came to this country on the same vessel that he did from Germany, at Garnavillo in 1866. To this union were born nine children, eight of whom survive. His wife died last February.

He experienced an airplane ride two years ago as one of his greatest thrills.

He is survived by eight children as follow: William C. of Farmersburg; Hugo at home; Ewald, Mitchell, S.D.; Mrs. Freda Englehardt near Elkader; Mrs. Adele Cousins at home; Helmuth, Farmersburg; Arthur, Fremont, Neb.; and Dr. Emil, Wheaton, Ill.

~Guttenberg Press, The Garnavillo Section, Thursday, May 31, 1934

Notes:
DOB was 01/25/1840
He served during the Civil War in Co. F, 1st NV Cavalry
Their son Fred, died 12/20/1876 at the age of 9 days