CARL OHLFEST.

CARL OHLFEST.—For thirty years Carl Ohlfest has been a resident of Allen county, and during that period has been actively identified with its agricultural and industrial interests. He belongs to that class of enterprising American citizens that the Fatherland has furnished to the New World. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 27th day of November, 1833, and his father, Carl Ohlfest, Sr., was also a native of the same locality. Our subject now has one brother living, John N., who is a valued resident of Allen county.

In the land of his nativity Carl Ohlfest acquired his education and learned the brick-mason's trade. Hoping to better his financial condition in America, he made preparations to leave Germany in 1856, and joined a company of six hundred emigrants who took passage on the westward bound vessel, Napoleon. He first located at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he followed his chosen trade for a number of years. In 1870 he came to Kansas, locating in Allen county, where he has since engaged in business as a brick-mason and farmer. He settled on a tract of prairie land a half mile south of the present town of LaHarpe, and with characteristic energy began its development, transforming the wild tract into richly cultivated fields constituting one of the finest farms of the county.

Mr. Ohlfest has been twice married. He first wedded Katrina Roeder, of Valparaiso, Indiana, and Della Mounsir became his second wife. The latter's great-grandfather, Adam Hahn, located in Maryland at an early period in the history of that state. Her father, Reuben Hahn, is still living, at the age of eighty-two years. She has three brothers and one sister living: D. H. Hahn, a physician at Wauneta, Kansas; R. H. Hahn, a cattle inspector in Oklahoma, and C. C. Hahn, an author of considerable repute. His work, "In Cloisters Dim," has created much favorable comment among critics. Josephine, the only living sister of Mrs. Ohlfest,

is the wife of Mr. Olney, a boot and shoe merchant of Fresno, California.

In his political views Mr. Ohlfest has always been a Republican, unswerving in support of the principles of the party. For many years he has been a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is faithful to the duties of citizenship and to every relation in life. He owes his prosperity entirely to his own efforts. His labors have never been performed in a desultory or intermittent manner but have been vigorously prosecuted, and his sound judgment has so enabled him to direct his efforts that he has gained therefrom a handsome competence.

Previous | Home | Next