Biography - Herman Poggenpohl
HERMAN POGGENPOHL. Our subject is one of the leading German-American
citizens in Harvel Township, Montgomery County. He has a fine farm located
on section 30, of this township, which bears evidence of the industry and
unswerving attention that he bestows upon it. Mr. Poggenpohl is a native of
Prussia, having been born there April 7, 1833. He is a son of Francis and
Margaret Poggenpohl, both of whom were also natives of Prussia.
Our subject passed the first eighteen years of his life in his native land,
and received the usual training of German boys, who looked forward to the
military conscription. Possibly it was because he had different ambitions
that he, like so many other German youths, found that a change would be
advisable at that age. He emigrated to America in 1852, taking passage on a
sailing-vessel, and after a voyage that lasted fifty-seven days, landed in
New Orleans. He proceeded at once to Greene County, Ill., and was in the
employ of Mr. John Thomas for nineteen months, receiving in return for his
labor $9 per month with his board.
In 1853, our subject lost his parents. They had come to America at the same
time as did he, and after a residence of a few months in Greene County, the
entire family had come to Montgomery County and settled on the farm where
our subject now lives. His father secured a quarter-section of land from the
Government, paying for it $1.25 per acre. When they went to live upon it
they found it raw prairie land and young Herman turned the first furrow on
the farm.
Of the family born to his parents, Mr. Poggenpohl is the eldest; Mary is the
wife of J. H. Todt; Anthony, Joseph and Margaret were next in order of
birth. The last-named is now a widow.
Our subject was reared to man's estate and made familiar with all the duties
of farm life. He is a thoroughly practical man in his knowledge and ideas
appertaining to agriculture. Pioneer days and pioneer style of living are
perfectly familiar topics to Mr. Poggenpohl. He received a fair education
before leaving his native land, and since coming to America has acquired a
great deal. He is loyal as an American citizen, and, retaining a deep love
for the Fatherland, his allegiance is entirely given to the land of his
adoption.
Our subject has been twice married and is the father of a large family of
children, whose names are as follows: John, Antony, Frank, Charles, William,
Mary, Margaret, Christina, Lena, Annie, Katie, Emma and Bertha. Mr.
Poggenpohl is the owner of seven hundred and seventy-two acres of
well-cultivated land. The home farm comprises four hundred and four acres.
His successes in life are entirely due to his own efforts. He is well
esteemed in the township and county, has been Director of Schools for years,
and is a strong advocate of any improvement in educational methods. For a
number of years he was Township School Trustee and has been Highway
Commissioner a number of times. Politically, our subject is a Democrat. In
his religious preference, he is a Roman Catholic. He is a kind-hearted and
public-spirited citizen.
Extracted 29 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, page 124.
