Friederich Michael Hohn

Frederich Hohn, affectionately and more familiarly known as "Grandpa Hohn".....

Mr. Hohn was an earnest laborer and through much toil had converted the

wilderness in which he settled into a beautiful farm home. He was a man

of sterling character and a good and kind neighbor. He will be greatly

missed by all who knew him, for he was a friend to all, and though he was

blind for the last 10 years of his existence, he was always pleasant, cheerful

and good natured, in spite of his affliction. - Shawano obituaries

"Frederick Michael Hohn...at the age of eight worked taking care of ducks and geese as they grazed the hillsides, a job he didn't like. From ages 12 to 18 he herded sheep, from 18 to 37 he took care of 80 head of cattle. Women from the village came and milked the cattle, except first calf heffers and those that kicked, he milked. All the water for them had to be pumped by hand.

He and his family left Germany May 25, 1874, they reached America on June 26, 1874.

They settled in the Town of Herman, Shawano County, Wisconsin. They bought a farm and cleared two acres, the rest was virgin timber. His decendants, Elmer and Ruth Hohn reside there today.

Frederick Michael Hohn had brown hair and was blind the last 13 years of his life and used a cane to walk. He lived on the home place with his son Frederick Frank and family. He Loved children, i can remember visiting him, he always put his hand on our heads to tell how tall we were and how much we had grown and would trace our faces with his fingers.

He bought tobacco in paper packages, Plow Boy, for smoking in a pipe or for chewing. Prince Albert came in a red tin can and was for smoking only. Duke's Mixture came in a small white cloth bag with an orange draw string and was used for rolling cigarettes. Then there was plug, a hard bar of leaf tobacco which one could take a bite of and chew and chew and chew.

He passed away June 5, 1929, and is buried at Elias Lutheran Church, Town of Herman, Shawano Co., Wisconsin"

Written by Victoria Sabatke Hohn, 1981

Copied by David Charles Moede, 2 April 2000