My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES HAGEMEYER, of Holden, is a native of Germany, but has passed nearly his entire life in the United States. He is a gardener and florist, and also takes great interest in breeding and handling fine Plymouth Rock and light Bramah poultry. His present home was a cornfield when he purchased it, but he at once prepared it for gardening purposes, and has made substantial improvements. He has a greenhouse, 65x20 feet in dimensions, full of choice plants, and a large poultry house, 10x72 feet.

He bought the place, a tract of ten acres, in 1880, since which time it has greatly increased in value. Born February 12, 1852, our subject is a son of Gotlieb and Elizabeth (Eikhoff) Hagemeyer, who were married in Germany. The couple emigrated to America, settling in St. Louis, where their first-born child died. Not being satisfied with the country, they traveled about to find a suitable habitation, and went as far West as the Rocky Mountains. Returning to St. Louis, as their funds were exhausted, they were both obliged to hire out, one working at one place and the other elsewhere. As the people for whom Mrs. Hagemeyer was working intended to take a European trip, they asked her to go with them, and she agreed to do so provided they would employ her husband and allow him to go also. They agreed to this, and the party went to New York City. Mr. Hagemeyer left the ship a short time before it sailed in order to make some purchases, and the vessel sailed in his absence. The party waited for him in Bremen for six weeks, and at length he reached them. They remained in Germany for two years, a portion of which time Mr. Hagemeyer worked as a gardener. Concluding to return to the United States, he left his wife in Europe while he prepared a home for her. He went to St. Louis, and in 1850 was offered the ground on which the Southern Hotel now stands for two months’ wages, but refused. For three years he worked steadily at his trade and did fairly well, and in the mean time his wife had been engaged in weaving, and had also earned considerable money. He went back to Germany for his wife, but they changed their plans and instead bought a home near Herford. In 1867 they sailed for America by way of New Orleans, and while on the Mississippi, just below Cairo, the mother died of paralysis, and was buried in St. Louis. The father brought about $6,000 with him, but was cheated out of it ere long.

Charles Hagemeyer passed fourteen years of his boyhood in his native land, and then accompanied his parents to St. Louis. He hired out at $5 per month soon after locating there, staying with his employer about six months, but was then unable to collect his wages. In 1868 he began working for a gardener, and at that time learned the business. During the three years which followed he gave his father all of his earnings. When in his eighteenth year he obtained a clerkship in a grocery, and worked for a cousin for a year, eventually being cheated out of his wages for the entire time.

June 9, 1873, our subject married Lizzie Techenbrok, who was born in Germany, June 7, 1855. When she was four years old she came with her parents to the United States, and was but eight years old when her father’s death occurred. Two years later her mother died of cholera, and from that time she earned her own living and helped take care of a sister. Thus her chances for an education were exceedingly meager. On the contrary, her husband had received good advantages in German, but did not learn to read English until after his marriage. They had ten children, namely: Hermina, Lillie, Clara, Edward, Carl, John, Frankie, Elmer, Nettie and Fred. Frankie and Nettie died at the ages of two and four years, respectively. The eldest daughter was born in St. Louis, but the others are all natives of Holden.

For a year or more after his marriage, Mr. Hagemeyer continued to clerk in St. Louis, and then for ten years was similarly employed in Holden, during most of the time working for Bluhm & Boxmeyer. He carefully saved his earnings, which he invested in a lot, afterward building an unpretentious house thereon, and in 1883 he sold the place and invested in his present homestead. Mr. Hagemeyer cast his first ballot for Horace Greeley in 1872, but afterward became convinced that the principles of the Republican party were better suited to advance the interests of the people, and now votes that ticket. He and his wife and all their children belong to the Evangelical Association. During the nine and a-half weeks which he spent while crossing the ocean, the vessel encountered a severe storm, which lasted for three days. The Captain told his passengers that they must prepare to die, as he had but little hope of saving the ship, and during the latter part of the journey they were placed on a very small allowance of food and water, for the stores were nearly exhausted.