Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Doehne, George 1834 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 23, 2014, 1:35 am

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

                 GEORGE DOEHNE.

    George Doehne, a well-known and venerable retired business man of New Ulm,
pioneer resident of Brown county, a veteran of the old Mounted Ranger service
who rendered valuable aid to the state during the time of the Indian uprising in
the summer of 1862, a former partner in the old Eagle mills at New Ulm and for
many years one of the most highly respected residents of that city, is a native
of Germany, having been born in the principality of Waldeck, September 14,1834,
only child of Wilhelm and Carolina (Mueller) Doehne, the former of whom was a
Hessian, born near the castle of Hesse, and the latter of whom was born in
Waldeck. Wilhelm Doehne was a tanner and operated a tannery in the city of
Mangeringhausen, Waldeck. He died when his only son was five years old and his
widow survived him but seven years.

    Left an orphan at the early age of twelve, George Doehne's early life was
one of struggle, but he bravely faced each new situation as it presented and
with a stout heart ever pressed forward. He followed his father's calling as a
youth and learned the tanner's trade under a most competent master, becoming a
thoroughly skilled worker in leather. At the age of twenty Mr. Doehne decided to
try his fortune in the promising land across the sea and in 1854 came to
America, landing at Philadelphia, the sailing vessel in which he crossed being
forty-nine days in making the trip. Mr. Doehne found his first employment in
this country at Meyer's mills, in Somerset comity, Pennsylvania where for a year
he worked at his trade. He then walked to Cumberland, Maryland, and in
Gilpintown, Allegheny county, that state, on the old National road, found
employment. He was there nine months, at the end of which time he went to
Philadelphia, where he was employed until the financial crash of 1857 caused a
general closing of the mills and he found himself out of work. He then went to
Harrisburg and thence into the Allegheny mountains, where he spent the winter
chopping wood. Later he found employment in a tannery at Brownsville,
Pennsylvania, and was there employed until 1861, in which year, attracted by the
fine reports received in the East regarding the promising conditions in the
great Northwest, came to Minnesota, his "good star" guiding him to the New Ulm
settlement. He was so much impressed with conditions then existing in Brown
county that he bought a farm in Cottonwood township and proceeded to develop the
same. When the Indian massacre occurred on August 18, 1862, he responded at once
to the call to arms and enlisted in the volunteer militia service, later
transfering his services to the Mounted Rangers with which he served until the
Indian uprising was most effectually put down. Upon receiving his honorable
discharge at Ft. Snelling he returned East and for some time rendered efficient
aid in the tannery of his former employer, Samuel Steele, at Brownsville,
Pennsylvania. While thus employed he met a Bavarian girl, Anna Roeck, who not
long before had come to this country with her parents from Munich, and it was a
case of "love at first sight" for both. On May 5, 1865, Mr. Doehne and Miss
Roeck were united in marriage and immediately thereafter started West, Mr.
Doehne bringing his bride to Brown county and establishing his home on the
Cottonwood township farm which he had bought a few years ago, and there he and
his wife prospered from the very beginning, laying there the foundation for
their later very substantial material success. That pioneer farm Mr. Doehne
retained until a few years ago, when he sold it.

     From the beginning of Mr. Doehne's permanent residence in this county he
took an active part in the common life of the community and was soon not only
regarded as one of the substantial men of his neighborhood, but one of the most
useful and influential. He was one of the early supervisors of Cottonwood
township; was later a valued member of the board of county commissioners, and
after his location in New Ulm was for years one of the most influential members
of the city council. It was in 1874 that Mr. Doehne left the farm and moved with
his family to New Ulm, where he engaged in the lumber business and also
established a planing-mill. After being thus engaged for about two years he
formed a partnership with Jacob Pfaenninger and Werner Boesch in the operation
of the old Eagle roller flour-mill and was thus engaged until that enterprising
trio sold the mill to Charles Silverson. since which time Mr. Doehne and his
former partners have lived retired. In 1884 Mr. Doehne erected a beautiful and
commodious residence at 124 South German street, in New Ulm and there he ever
since has made his home, very comfortably situated. He has an extensive and
carefully selected library and in the genial "evening time" of his life finds
much comfort and pleasure in his favorite books. He has ever been a lover of
good books, a great reader, and still, though living in the eighth decade of his
life, retains the liveliest interest in current affairs, though his chief
pleasure, in reading, is found in those noble works of literature that have
stood the test of the years. Mr. Doehne is one of that all too rapidly passing
type of manhood lovingly referred to as "a gentleman of the old school," and has
ever stood for those things that are true of good report. Having no patience
with the shams and weakness of mankind, and despising all in life that is mean
and debased, his aspirations ever have been of a lofty character and his life in
this community has for many years exerted a most wholesome influence for good.

     On August 17, 1910, Mr. Doehne was bereaved by death of the gentle and
loving companion of his married life, Mrs. Anna Doehene dying on that date, at
the age of sixty-one years and eight months, she having been born on December
22, 1848. Mr. Doehne suffered a great loss in the death of his wife, who was a
loving and faithful companion, a competent helpmeet and an able and sympathetic
counsellor to her husband. Mrs. Doehene was a woman of much refinement and in
her gentle way did much to elevate the standards of social life in this
community, while her life was ever abounding in good works. She was devoted to
her husband and her children and ever sought to make her home the pleasantest
place in the world for them. There were five of these children, as follow:
William, a graduate of the University of Michigan and a young man of brilliant
accomplishments and a most promising future, who died at the age of twenty-one
years; Amelia, who married Dr. O. C. Strickler, of New Ulm, and has two
daughters, Vera and Leola; Clara, who married Dr. C. J. Rothenberg, of
Springfield, this county, and has three children, Robert, Norma and Marion;
George, who was graduated from the pharmaceutical department of the University
of Michigan and now lives at Spokane, Washington, and Louise, who is at home
with her father.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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