Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Boltmann, Fred 1846 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:34 am Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 FRED BOLTMANN. The late Mr. Boltmann was born in Hanover, Germany, June 9, 1846. He was the son of Henry and Sophia (Olenkemp) Boltmann, natives of Hanover, where they were reared and married, and lived for some years thereafter. They came to America in 1853, taking passage at Bremerhaven on a sailing-vessel that crossed the Atlantic at a rapid rate, making the quickest time ever recorded by a sailing-vessel. The hurricane which had speeded it on its course at so rapid a rate nearly caused the destruction of the vessel, and many of the passengers died from fright or sickness in the short space of three weeks and three days. The Boltmann family survived the dangers of the passage, and coming from New York to Chicago, settled on a farm in Du Page County. There they made some improvements ere changing their residence to Will County and settling on section 35, Washington Township. The elder Mr. Boltmann secured a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, mostly wild land, on which he at once began to make improvements. It is now known far and near as a home of great comfort, where pleasing hospitality abounds and the social pleasures of life are thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Boltmann are now quite old, having been born in 1812, the former July 19 and the latter September 19. Mr. Boltmann has been identified with the Republican party, and he and his wife have been active members of the Lutheran Church since their childhood. They are particularly well known by the best German families of the county and are respected by all. The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced, was educated in the public schools of Du Page and Will Counties, and acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture on the parental estate. He was engaged in tilling the soil until after the breaking out of the Civil War, when he entered the Union army as a member of Company H, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, doing south, the regiment was put under the general command of Sheridan, and under that gallant leader participated in the battles which have made his name famous. Mr. Boltmann also took part in the battles of Atlanta and others of prominence, escaping injury, excepting a slight wound on the knee, in all his arduous and dangerous campaigning, he remained in the field until the close of the war, when, being discharged, June 8, 1865, he returned to his father's home justly proud of his record as a loyal citizen and brave soldier. Mr. Boltmann continued to occupy himself with agriculture until 1873, when he established himself in business at Beecher, dealing in wines and liquors until his health failed. He closed his eyes in death August 24, 1878, since which time his widow has successfully carried on the business, to the interest of which he had given his entire attention after its institution. The nature of Mr. Boltmann was a thrifty, kindly and capable one, and he was well known for his generosity toward his fellow-men and looked upon as a good business man. He was a member of Blue Lodge, No. 740, F. & A. M., at Grant Park, and had filled the various chairs. He was a sound Democrat in politics and his religious faith coincided with the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, to which he belonged, and to which he gave liberally. The marriage of Fred Boltmann and Miss Sophia Olenkemp was celebrated in Du Page County, this State. The bride was born in Hanover, Germany, October 9, 1846. She was reared to womanhood in her native land, receiving an excellent education there, and after she came to America acquired good use of the English tongue. In 1866 she crossed the ocean in company with an uncle, the passage from Bremerhaven to New York on the sailing-vessel "Shakespeare" consuming seven weeks and two days. She came at once to Illinois, and for a time resided in Du Page County, subsequently making her home in Washington Township, Will County. Her parents were William and Sophia (Herman) Olenkemp, both natives of Hanover and descendants of German stock of the better class. Mr. Olenkemp was a shoemaker. Two years after their daughter had come to America he and his wife made their arrangements to follow her to the New World. They were about ready to start when the husband and father sickened and died when about fifty-five years old. The widowed mother subsequently made the journey with the children who remained with her, and joining her daughter in Will County, spent her last days there. She died July 27, 1879, at the ripe age of seventy-five years, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Boltmann. She and her husband belonged to the Lutheran Church. Their family consisted of four daughters and one son, the latter of whom, Henry Olenkemp, is now running a meat market in Wyoming. He has served five years in the regular army. Mrs. Boltmann is a shrewd and capable woman, who manages her business affairs with great ability. She belongs to the Lutheran Church and generously supports every good work which is done therein. She is the mother of six children, one of whom, a daughter, Emma, died when eighteen months old. The living are: Tilda, wife of Henry Biefeldt, a lumber dealer of Beecher; Henry and William, who are carrying on the farm in Washington Township, and Alvina, who keeps house for them; and Rosa, who remains at home with the mother. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/boltmann450gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb