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(Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens -
Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S.
Scranton, Celina, Ohio -
Published by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois - 1907 -
*UNLESS Otherwise Noted.)
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PETER
NIEKAMP, a representative farmer of Marion township,
who owns an excellent farm of 160 acres in section 10, was
born on this farm, February 10, 1859, and is a son of
Frederick and Catherine (Stammen)
Niekamp.
The father of our subject was born in Germany in 1811
and came to America in young manhood. For a short time after
reaching America, he worked at Cincinnati, as a laborer and
then went to Tippecanoe, Ohio, where he lived for 16 years. He
hauled the logs that were used in building the! first, house
in this place. Here he married a lady who was born at Dayton,
Ohio, and they had four children, viz.: John,
Clemmens, Joseph and Mary, who married
Rudolf Klostermann.
In 1850 Mr. Niekamp moved to Mercer
County and later traded an old surrey buggy for the land which
is now a part of our subject's farm. About seven acres had
been cleared. He was one of the earliest settlers in this ,
region. He built first a log cabin which he replaced in 1872
by a large six-room brick residence which our subject now
occupies. About two years after settling here, his first wife
died and he married Catherine Stammen, who came
from Germany. To this union were born these children: Henry,
who married Catherine Koch; Minnie, who
married John Ronnebaum; Gerhard, who
married Elizabeth Mestemaker; Peter;
Frank, who married Elizabeth Klostermann; and
Elizabeth and Catherine, both deceased. Mr.
Niekamp soon acquired fluency in speaking the English
language and in the early days, with Joseph Siefken
and a Mr. Loocterfelt, frequently
accompanied German neighbors when they went to Celina to
settle legal difficulties and business matters. He died August
18, 1894, aged 83 years, his wife having passed away in the
month of May previous. They were most worthy people,
widely known and highly esteemed.
Peter Niekamp was
reared in Marion township and worked for his father into
manhood. On September 25, 1884, he was married to Frances
Bertke, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Bertke,
who was born in Germany and emigrated to America before the
birth of Mrs. Niekamp. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Bertke were: Elizabeth, who married
Barney Vahorn; Ann, who became the wife
of Harman H. Schwietermann; Mary,
who married Barney Knopke; John, who
married Dinah Clune; Mathias, who married
Mary Hostelinger; and Barney, who married
Catherine Knopke. The father assisted in the
construction of the canal, from Cincinnati to the reservoir.
He died in 1905, at St. Marys, where his wife had died in
1901.
Mr. and Mrs. Niekamp have had nine
children, namely: Clemmens, Catherine, Fred,
Matilda, Leboretta, Leo, Tocilla
(deceased), Regina and Richard. Mr.
Niekamp and family belong to the Most
Precious Blood Catholic Church at Chickasaw.
In 1888 our subject bought this farm from his father.
He is interested also in the Chickasaw Grain & Milling
Company, having become a partner in 1906. This promises to be
one of the leading business enterprises of the place. |
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