My Genealogy Hound

Henry Noelker, farmer, of St. John’s Township, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1821, and is the son of Mathias and Anna (Unger) Noelker. The father was born in 1777, and was a farmer by occupation. He immigrated to the United States in 1837, and settled in Franklin County, Mo. He died in 1873. His wife was born in 1776, and died in 1858. To them were born eleven children, five of whom came to the United States and three of whom are living: Mary (wife of Henry Hundel), Sophia (wife of John H. Patrick), and Henry. The latter was reared on the farm, and at the age of sixteen came to the United States with his parents, where he worked for several years in the city of St. Louis. In 1839 he was in the city of New Orleans, and while there was at the hotel, where he saw Andrew Jackson pass, and blacked his boots for him. May, 1848, he married Miss Mary Johnning, a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1822, and the result of this marriage was the birth of two children: David and Henry. Mr. Noelker settled on his present place of residence, May, 1848. He purchased eighty acres in the dense forest, and began to build a house. In 1852 he lost his wife, and the following year married Catherine, who was born in Westphalia in 1827, and who bore him three children: Mary, Annie (wife of Henry Grothause) and August. Our subject lost his second wife in 1875, and in 1882 he married Mrs. Sophia Niederholtmeyer, nee Kopp. She was born in Baden, Germany, in 1844, and came to America when twelve years of age. She had four children by her first marriage; Lizzie, Thecla, Oscar and Matilda. Mr. Noelker is the owner of 110 acres of good land, and has a good home. He is one of the oldest settlers, and has the respect of all who know him. He has been a life-long Democrat in his political views, and he and family are members of the Catholic Church.