My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES F. HARDER, of Yates Center, was born in the village of Jagzow, Kreis, Anklam, Germany, November 18, 1844. His father, Charles H. Harder, was also a native of the same country and in early life was a shepherd but afterward became proprietor of a hotel. He spent eight years in Kansas in the latter portion of his life and died in 1883, at the age of eighty-four. In his family were thirteen children, those now in the United States being William, of Milton, Oregon; Ferdinand, a resident of Portland, Oregon; Albert, of Iola, Kas.; Henrietta, the wife of August Meyer, of Lake View, Ia., and Charles F.

The subject of this sketch acquired a good education in the schools of Germany, and at the age of twenty years he left home, starting out to make his own way in the world. Believing that better opportunities were afforded young men in America, he sailed for the United States in 1864, and located first in Livingston County, Ill., where he remained until coming to Kansas in February, 1869. Taking up his abode in Woodson County he was at first employed by the month as a farm hand, but afterward secured a homestead of his own which he owned until the time of his marriage, when he disposed of that property and removed to his wife’s farm. He has since engaged in the raising of stock and grain and in his pastures are seen good grades of cattle, horses and hogs, while his fields give promise of bounteous harvests.

In September, 1869, Mr. Harder was united in marriage to Mrs. Theresa Stockebrand, a daughter of Marquis Brockmann, whose family numbered five children, only two of whom came to the United States. Her people resided in the city of Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Mrs. Harder was first married to August Stockebrand, a brother of William and Ernest Stockebrand, and by her first union she had five children: August, Mary, the wife of Louis Brodmann; Henry; Annie, wife of John Donnerberg, and Emil. All are residents of Woodson County. Five children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harder, namely: Augusta, the wife of William Lauber; Martha, wife of Henry Kruger; Franz and Lizzie, at home, and Pauline, wife of William Toedman.

Since becoming an American citizen Mr. Harder has supported the Republican party when questions of state and national importance have been involved, but at local elections, where no issue is before the people, sometimes votes independently. He is a local preacher and a member of the Evangelical association with which his family are also connected. For more than thirty years he has resided in Woodson County and is thoroughly identified with his region, its interests and upbuilding, ever lending his aid to all measures for the public good. From the little German home he came to America, and in the land of the free he found the opportunity he sought to work his way upward to a position of affluence.