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Multigeneration Farm

    The present century farm, located 2 ½ miles southwest of Lowden,* and presently owned and operated by Ralph and Jeanette King, was purchased from the government by James Andersen, an Englishman, Aug. 20, 1850, for $150, which included 120 acres. Andersen came from Hope, New Jersey. The location of the place was chosen because it was near a timber for use of the trees for lumber and fuel; near a creek for water; and close to rock for building. The house still being occupied by the Kings was built by Andersen in 1850. It is made of logs cut from the timber. Oak log beams and stone walls hold the structure in place. While building the house, Andersen lived in a shack where the present corncrib stands.

     In 1855, Mr. Andersen married Catherine DeKolt. He passed away in 1864.

     In 1865, his widow, Catherine Andersen married George Strackbein, and they owned the farm until 1907, when Fred and Florentine (Strackbein) Ohlrogge purchased it. Records show the taxes in 1907 for the entire farm were $25.18. George Strackbein lived with the Ohlrogge family until his death in 1924, at the age of 96. In 1924, the Ohlrogge family built a new home in Lowden, and moved to this location on the corner of Main and Jefferson. At that time, George and Emma (Ohlrogge) King moved to the farm and operated it until 1949, when their son and wife, Ralph and Jeanette (Wenndt) King, moved to the farm, which was then owned by Martha Ohlrogge. The Ralph Kings purchased the farm in 1973.

     The farm has many historic memories. It was said Andersen brought with him 10 heifers from New Jersey, one of which was very outstanding. Many persons wished to buy the eminent heifer but he would not sell it. A short time later all his heifers, with the exception of the prominent one were stolen.

     The present barn, house, and granary are the original buildings. The barn has a concrete basement and was built with log structure and square nails. The granary is rapidly deteriorating. The house, with the use of a lot of “elbow grease” will never fall. A garage was made from the summer kitchen in the early 1940's. In 1976 the garage was repaired and painted and looks like new. An ice-house which was used for storing ice in the early days, and later used for storing wood for fuel, which was sawed from the timber, was removed in 1976. This building was used until about 10 years ago, when a gas furnace was installed in the house.

     Until the late 1930's a road passed through the farm, east of the house. It is reported many horse thieves used this road in the early days, and the men slept in the hayloft with guns to protect their animals.

     It has been stated that this was the farm place all the Strackbein families in the area gathered for their Sunday dinners.

     Vicky (King) Chapman and Gary King were the 6th generation to be raised on this farm, and now the two grandsons of the Ralph Kings are the 7th generation to play there.

              Mrs Ralph (Jeanette Wenndt) King

    *The farm buildings mentioned above are located in the SE corner of the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 4 in Springfield Township.