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Christian Neumeister, of Sheboygan, is one of the early well-known citizens of that place. The time of his coming
was the spring of 1850. He was born in the city of Lobenstein, Saxony, Germany, April 9, 1830. He grew to manhood in his
native city, and learned the trade of hammersmith. His father was twice married, the mother of our subject being his first
wife. She died when her son was about eighteen years old. The father re-married in Germany, in 1853. There were seven
children in the first family that grew to mature years, and five of the second, making twelve in all. There are now living
five of the former and four of the latter. The first of the family who came to America was Frederick Neumeister, who
came in 1849. He lived in Milwaukee ten or twelve years, and removed thence to Muskegon, where he died a number of years
ago. He was two years younger than Christian. Christian came next, in 1850, and then three brothers - Louis, Ferdinand and
Gustav - came in 1852. In 1857, the father, the step-mother, two sons and two daughters emigrated from their native
country to Sheboygan County. The sons were named Franz and Julius. The former died in 1859. All the family are living
except the two already mentioned as deceased. Louis is now a resident of Howard's Grove; Ferdinand is a merchant on
Michigan Street in Sheboygan; Julius is engaged as clerk of Christian; Gustav resides in the state of Washington; the
eldest sister lives in Muskegon; Bertha makes her home in Sheboygan; Herman resides in Coryville, Wis., and Anna in
Chicago.
When Christian came to this country he went directly to the city of Milwaukee, where he resided one year, and then to
Sheboygan. While in the former city he learned the trade of wagon-maker, and on going to Sheboygan established himself in
that business, which he followed until 1863, when he engaged in merchandising, which he followed continuously since except
for a period of two years. It has been stated that the father, step-mother and their four children came to the United
States in 1857. It would be proper to state that they came to this country through the kindness of Christian Neumeister,
who made a journey to Germany for the purpose of bringing the remainder of the family to America. It is a rather
remarkable coincidence that the father and King William of Germany were born about the same time, and died on the
same day, March 8, 1888, the father at the age of ninety-two years and seven months. The step-mother died in Sheboygan,
in 1892.
Our subject was married in Sheboygan, May 22, 1853, to Miss Eliza Boehm, who was born in Philadelphia, December 25,
1833. The bride was a daughter of Conrad Broehm, a native of Germany. Mrs. Neumeister's parents came to
America from their native home, Germany, previous to their marriage, which event occurred in Philadelphia. They were the
parents of six children, four of whom are living. Eva is the wife of Fred Wuerffel, of the Evergreen City; Jacobs
resides at Forest Junction, Wis., Katherine married Philip Kranz and lives in Kaukauna; and Mrs. Neumeister
is the oldest. The parents removed to Milwaukee County, Wis., and many years later removed to Sheboygan, where both father
and mother died, in 1877, the death of the former occurring, a few months previous to that of the latter.
Mr. and Mrs. Neumeister have two adopted children: Wilhelmine, who is the wife of William Weise, of
Sheboygan; and Robert, who is associated with his father in business. The latter married Mary, daughter of Adam
Schneider, deceased, but his mother is yet a resident of the Chair City. While Mr. and Mrs. Neumeister have
had no children of their own, they have befriended many not related to them by ties or blood.
Mrs. Neumeister, who belongs to the German Reformed Church, does not confine her church work to that denomination,
but is liberal in contributing, both her work and otherwise, to the interests of other religious persuasions. Mr.
Neumeister, though not a member of any church, contributes freely to the support of the Gospel. He is an honored
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Copyright 1997 - 2009 by Debie Blindauer
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