WILLIAM EMRICH……….biographical sketch

WILLIAM EMRICH, who now lives retired in his attractive home at Huntertown, is one of the venerable and honored citizens of Allen County, within whose borders he has resided since his early youth, a scion of one of the sterling German pioneer families who here settled more than 60 years ago, and he has been one of the vigorous and successful exponents of agricultural enterprise in the country, his old homestead farm, of 110 acres, having been developed and improved under his energetic management and being one of the fine farms of Perry Township.  He still owns the property, which is now under the active management of his youngest son, FRANK E. EMRICH.  Mr. Emrich was born in Baden, Germany, December 17, 1838, a son of FRANZ and ELIZABETH (HOCKERBERGER) EMRICH, who came with their children to America in 1852, remained for an interval in Pennsylvania, then removed to Stark County, Ohio, whence, almost 18 months later, they came to Allen County, Indiana.  The family home was established on a little farm of 30 acres, in Spring-field township, and at the time only 2 acres of the tract had been cleared.  With the passing years, FRANZ EMRICH achieved independence and success through his association with agricultural industry, and both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in this country, their religious faith having been that of the Lutheran Church. 

Of the 3 children, the eldest was ELIZABETH, whose death occurred in 1905;  the subject of this review was the next in order of birth;  and GEORGE is a resident of Cedar Creek Township, this county.   WILLIAM EMRICH acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and was a lad of 14 years at the time of the family emigration to the United States.  In Stark County, Ohio, he attended school 2 months, and his broader education has been gained under the direction of that greatest of all head-masters, experience.  Upon the removal of the family to Allen County, he became his father’s energetic assistant in the work of the home farm, and later was employed for 12 years on  neighboring farms in Springfield township.  Frugal and industrious, he carefully conserved his financial resources and eventually was enabled to purchase the fine homestead farm which he still owns in Perry township.  In October, 1907, he retired from the farm and removed to Huntertown, where he now occupies his attractive and modern home, on Hunter Street, the house having been erected by him and being of cement-block construc-tion.  His second wife died, in 1909, and MRS. AMANDA FRIECE now has charge of the domestic affairs of his home. 

In his young manhood, Mr. Emrich wedded MISS MARGARET HOLEWARTH, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Daniel and Barbara Holewarth, who settled in Ohio upon coming to America and thence came to Allen County and established their home in Springfield township, where they passed the residue of their lives.  MRS. EMRICH died February 15, 1871, at the birth of her daughter, SARAH.  She was the mother of 5 children, all of whom are living, namely:  MRS. ELIZABETH WORLEY;  JOHN, of Perry Township;  MARTIN of Fort Wayne;  CHARLES, a resident of Ohio, and MRS. SARAH PARKER, of Perry Township. 

Mr. Emrich married for his second wife MISS ELLEN BOGER, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of PETER and CATHERINE (GRUBER) BOGER, who were natives of Germany and came from Ohio to Allen County, Indiana, in an early day, their home having been in Springfield township at the time of their death.  MRS. ELLEN EMRICH passed to the life eternal on January 22, 1909, and is survived by 2 children, HARRY A., who is a resident of Fort Wayne, and FRANK E., who remains on the old homestead farm in Perry township.  WILLIAM EMRICH has always given his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and while living on his farm he and his wife were active members of the Reformed Lutheran Church in Springfield Township. 

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The William Emrich home on the Shoaff Road.     Recent photo.

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EMRICH/EMRICK Burials at Perry Township Cemetery, Allen Co., IN, Old Section

EMRICH, ADDIE                 1873-1958,  Martin

EMRICH, ALICE F.                         Feb. 1916, 15 days,  H.A. and N.L.

EMRICH, B. MAY KELL    1869-1856

EMRICH, ELIZABETH       Nov. 6, 1890, 86Y 10M 13D, wife of Frank

EMRICH, GLADYS                         April 11-May 12, 1904,  dau. of M. & N.

EMRICH, HENRY A.          1872-1942,  Alice & Nina

EMRICH, JOHN                  1865-1938

EMRICH, MARTIN              1867-1951,  Addie

EMRICH, NINA L.               1863-1943,  H.A. & A.F.

EMRICK, ALBERT GUY    1879-1932,  George,  Elizabeth

                                                Sterling-Emrick monument

EMRICK, ELLEN                1840-1909,  William, mother

EMRICK, GEORGE ELIZABETH                         1883-19__,  Albert G.

EMRICK, WILLIAM            1838-1929,  Ellen, father

New Section

EMRICH, CLYDE W.          1895-               Edna

Census of William’s brother, GEORGE EMRICH

1880 Census of Cedar Creek, Allen Co., IN  204 B

George Emrich         Married          Male, 37         born Germ.    Farmer

            Both parents born Germany

Caroline Emrich       Wife                Female, 30     born Ohio       Keeps house

            Both parents born Switzerland

Clara E. Emrich        daughter        Female, 13    

Malisa Emrich          daughter        Female 9

Manervia Emrich     daughter        Female 6