Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Ernest Oberhelman
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
ERNEST OBERHELMAN. The majority of the successful farmers of the West began in life dependent upon their own resources. Among them may be numbered the subject of this notice, who is now the owner of a good farm property, lying on section 15, May Day Township, and which he brought to its present condition by untiring labor and perseverance. He is now located many leagues from his birthplace, which was in the Kingdom of Prussia, and where he first saw the light July 22, 1855.
The father of our subject was Henry Oberhelman, likewise a native of Prussia and born in 1809. He was a typical son of the Fatherland � industrious and frugal, an expert in the handling of tools, working as a mechanic, and also carrying on farming. He emigrated to America about 1874, and coming directly to Kansas, settled with his family in Swede Creek Township, Riley County, where he subsequently made his home until his death, which occurred in 1884. Upon becoming a voting citizen in America, he identified himself with the Republican party.
Mrs. Fredericka ( Bloom ) Oberhelman. the mother of our subject, was a native of the same Province as her husband and son. and accompanied her family to America. She is now living in Riley County, this State, and is seventy-six years old. To her and her husband there were born thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy unnamed. The others were Minnie, Fredricka, Dina, Mary, Eliza, Frederick, Henry, William, August, Ernest, and Lizzie. Ernest was the tenth child, and was a youth of seventeen years when coming to America. He had gained a good education in the German tongue,
but after coming to Kansas attended the High School for a time at Irving, in Marshall County. He worked on a farm in Riley County, from 1872 until 1878, then starting out for himself, purchased a farm in that county, upon which he lived until 1881. Then selling out he purchased 160 acres on section 15. May Day Township, which comprises his present homestead. He is considerably interested in stock-raising, and devotes his time and attention to his farming interests. He meddles very little with outside matters, but like his honored father, votes the straight Republican ticket.
Mr. Oberhelman in 1879 was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Schroer. This lady, like himself, was a native of Prussia, and was born in 1858. Her parents, Herman and Caroline Schroer, emigrated to America in 1877, and located in Riley County, Kan., where they still live. Mr. Schroer has been very successful as a farmer, and politically, gives his support to the Republican party. This union has resulted in the birth of six children, viz.: Lydia, Eddie, Gideon, Ludwig, Ernest G. and Otto. One child, a son, Gideon, died at the age of six months.