My Genealogy Hound

Herman Boeschen, collector of Benton County, Mo., was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, April 23, 1832, and is a son of Jacob Boeschen, who was also born in Germany and was there reared and married, the latter event being to Miss Gesina Harms. In 1839 the family immigrated to the United States, and first settled at Marietta, Ohio, where they resided about one year, after which they took up their abode in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1843 came to St. Louis. Here Mrs. Boeschen died in 1854, the husband’s death taking place in Benton County in 1875. Herman Boeschen, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in St. Louis, receiving a fair education in the schools of that city. He spent about two years in learning the carpenter’s trade, and then engaged in draying for a number of years. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he espoused the Union causey and in 1861 enlisted in the United States Reserve Corps, Fifth Regiment of Infantry. He participated in the battles of Boonville and Blue Mills, Mo., being wounded by a gunshot in the right shoulder in the latter battle, and being permanently disabled, received his discharge the same year. In 1866 he settled in the east part of Benton County, and was there engaged in merchandising until 1884, and also carried on farming and buying and shipping stock. At the latter date he was elected county collector and served one term, and is now filling the duties of the same office, being elected on the Republican ticket. In 1854, while residing in St. Louis, he was married to Anna Martha Iba, a native of Germany, by whom he is the father of seven children: Mary, wife of George Brunkhorst, of Morgan County; Herman C., a merchant; Catherine, wife of Gerd Miller, of Benton County; John H., a farmer; Henry, Edward and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Boeschen are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and he is a member of the G. A. R.