Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Hinrich Feldtmann
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
HINRICH FELDTMANN. The early careerof this well-to-do resident of Bloom Township, was one of more than ordinary interest, during which he spent several years on the high seas, visiting most of the prominent ports of the world. In addition to his wide experience, he is naturally possessed of a keen observation of men and things, and this has constituted him a man more than ordinarily well-informed. He has been likewise a voluminous reader, and there are few men who possess a more varied knowledge of customs and people as seen on both hemispheres. He was one of the early pioneers of Clay County, homesteading a tract of land in Bloom Townshipin 1870, to which he has added until he is now the owner of 320 acres, from which he has improved a good farm, embellished by suitable buildings.
Mr. Feldtmann was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Jan. 12, 1844, and comes of excellent parentage. His father, Hinrich Feldtmann, Sr.,was a native of the same Province, and followed farming and teaming. He is still living, being seventy-five years old, and still sojourning near theplace of his birth. He was married in early manhood to Miss Margaret Gossen, likewise a native of Hanover, and the daughter of a seafaring man. She became the mother of four children of whom Hinrich, our subject was the eldest, and departed this life in 1887, when about eighty-seven years old. Both she and her husband joined the Lutheran Church early in life. Two of their sons are living in Hanover, one being a musician and the other a book-keeper. The second son, Ernest, a sailor, was lost at sea, during a storm and while reefing a top-sail, being blown overboard. He was but seventeen years old.
The subject of this notice received a good practical education in his native tongue, and at the ageof sixteen years he entered the service of a merchant vessel and followed a sailor's life until coming to America, at the age of twenty-three years. He also subsequently made a number of trips onthe lake from Milwaukee, Wis., as a mate, in the lumber trade. While making his headquarters in the Cream City, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Harriet Gepner, to whom he was married. Mrs. Feldtmann was born in Prussia, in 1850, and came to America with her parents in 1870, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father later came to Kansas and homesteaded a tract of land in Clay County, where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away in 1860, when about seventy-five years old. The mother is still living there and is now aged seventy-six. Both became identified with the Lutheran Church early in life.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Feldtmann,four of whom, Henry, Arthur, Magdalena and Wilhelmina died from scarlet fever within aweek. The survivors are George, who remains at home with his parents; Mary, a seamstress in Clifton; Otto E. and W. Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Feldtmann are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Feldtmann has held various positions,and is one of the chief pillars. In former years he was a Republican, politically, but is now a leading member of the Union Labor party.