My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Frank H. Hoelscher, of Washington, is a native of Germany, born September 25, 1838, the son of Frederick and Kate (Kappelmann) Hoelscher The parents came to America in 1841, and settled on Boeuf Creek, in Franklin County, Mo. The father was a farmer by occupation. He died in 1855 while yet in the prime of life. His wife died in 1856. Of their five children three are now living: Charlotte (wife of John F. Neimeyer), Herman and Capt. Frank H. The latter was a small boy when his parents died, and after that was thrown upon the world to fight the battle of life as best he could. He commenced to learn the carpenter’s trade when sixteen, and followed this seven months at Augusta, St. Charles Co., Mo. His employer failing in business, he was thrown out of employment. He then came back to Washington, and for three weeks lived upon apples in the citizens’ orchards. He then hired out to drive horses on a ferry-boat, and afterward went on the “Wide Awake” steam ferry-boat as “roustabout,” and soon became engineer. He followed this for about seven years, when he was promoted to clerk and conductor. In two years he was made pilot, and yet retained his clerkship for ten years. At the same time he was made captain, thus being pilot, clerk and captain at the same time for the past eighteen years he has been pilot and captain, and has his thirteenth issue of license as pilot and captain. He has run on “Mill Boy,” “Bright Star,” “Evening Star,” “May Bryan” steamers “Aggie” and “Dora”. The Captain now owns one-fourth interest in “Dora,” and has been captain of her for the past two years. He also owns one-fourth interest in the “May Bryan” Capt. Hoelscher has run as far up the river as Omaha, and as far down as Helena, and up White River as far as Duall’s Bluff. In 1861 he married Miss Genavafa Arbeiter, who was born in Germany, on the Rhine in 1842 Six children were born to this union: Kate (wife of Henry Moore), Edward William Frank, Louis and August. The Captain has passed his life on the river since he was a boy, with the exception of two years, when he farmed in Warren County. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the A. Q. U. W. His wife is a member of the Catholic Church.