Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Asche, Henry 1830 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 2, 2007, 11:20 pm Author: T. H. Ball (1904) HENRY ASCHE. The German citizen in America has been specially important as a factor in the development of farming interests, and to this worthy class of people belongs Mr. Henry Asche, one of the oldest German farmers in Hanover township as well as one of the most prosperous. Mr. Asche was born in Hanover, Germany, April 21, 1830, a son of Frederick Asche. There were only three sons, and Henry is the only survivor. Father Asche was a man of industrious habits, of German education, and was a soldier in the European war of 1812 against the French, and saw the great Napoleon. He underwent many of the hardships of the war. Mr. Asche was reared in his native land to the age of twenty-four, and learned the weavers trade. May 1, 1854, he bade adieu to his native land and sailed from Bremen in a sailing vessel, and the voyage lasted forty-nine days before the arrival at New York. He landed in a strange land and among a strange people, and could not speak the English tongue, and all the money he had was thirty-five dollars. He remained in New York about ten months, and then came to Chicago, where he resided for ten years. He began as a wage-earner, at twenty-six dollars a month, the next year got thirty-four dollars a month, and the next year forty. In the fall of 1864 the crisis came when there was no work. During the years 1862-63-64 he received sixty-five dollars a month, and in 1865 he came to Hanover township and purchased seventy-five acres of partially improved land, going in debt for part of the purchase price. His first home was a little frame structure, and it still stands as a monument of the early days of his entry into this township. As the years have passed he and his good wife worked and toiled and added to their possessions until now they have two hundred and ten acres in Hanover and West Creek townships. Since that early day he has erected the most comfortable and desirable residence, barns and other buildings to be found in the township, and the premises around the home indicate the careful, industrious man which Mr. Asche is. He has prospered greatly in his affairs, and now in the evening of life he and his good wife live in peace and plenty. Mr. Asche is one of the stockholders in the Brunswick Creamery Company at Brunswick. October 2, 1859, he was married in Will county, Illinois, to Miss Sophia M. Becker, and of the six children, four sons and two daughters, born to them, only one is now living, Hermann H. This son was born in Hanover township, March 13, 1874, was educated in the English language, and is a practical farmer, residing with his father and mother. He is a Republican in politics. Thus only one child is left to Mr. and Mrs. Asche in their declining years, and they too have had grief and sorrow in their journey through life. Mrs. Asche was born in the province of Hesse, Germany, May 24, 1836, a daughter of H. H. and Elenora Becker. There were ten children in the family, and six are living, of whom Mrs. Asche is the eldest. John Becker is a resident of Chicago and is married. Ella is the wife of Henry Moeller, a resident of Minnesota. Henry is married and lives in Hanover township. H. Henry Becker is married and a farmer of Iowa. Conrad is married and resides in Iowa. Mrs. Asche was reared in Germany until she was eighteen years old, and she came to America with her brother John, sailing from Bremen and being forty-two days in crossing the ocean. She came to Chicago to her friends and resided there for four years. For thirty-nine years have Mr. and Mrs. Asche resided in Hanover township, and they are among the best and most prosperous people of the township. Mr. Asche is a Republican and has always supported the ticket and candidates since his first vote. He has held no office, preferring to devote his time to his business interests. Mr. and Mrs. Asche's beautiful country seat is one of the most desirable locations in the township, and could well be called the "Pleasant View Farm." They are typical German-American citizens of sterling worth. Having come to this country poor people, by their industry and economy they have gained a competency which places them in easy circumstances. Additional Comments: Extracted from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Genealogy and Biography OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 1834—1904 A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. REV. T. H. BALL OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO NEW YORK THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1904 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/lake/bios/asche642gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb