| Name |
Ernst Johann Karl Kodelman |
| Birth |
27 Sep 1865, Charlottendorf, Isle of Rügen, Germany64,2 |
| Death |
9 May 1938, Riga, Lenawee Co, Michigan64,22 |
| Burial |
Riga Cem, Riga Twp |
| Father |
Johann Karl Friedrich (Carl, Charles) Kotelmann/Kodelmann (1826-1908) |
| Mother |
Wilhelmine Sophie Friederike (Minnie) Scheel (1831-1911) |
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| Misc. Notes |
Resided in Schaprode, Insel Rügen, Germany, prior to immigration in ca. 1884. When he first arrived in America, he spoke no English. His first job was as a farm hand for a Mr. G.P. Dolph who lived on Yankee Road nr. Ottawa Lake (at a place later known as the Lynch Farm). This man spoke no German and had to show young Ernst everything he wanted done. Soon Ernst quit this job and went to work for Christian Pepper, who lived on Ottawa Lake Road in Monroe Co., about one-third mile from the Lenawee Co line.22
After marrying, Ernst and Augusta remained on the Pepper farm, where all their children were born. When their son George married, they left the farm to him and moved to the village of Riga. Ernst then went to work for the New York Central Railroad on the "section gang", i.e., he did maintenance work on the roadbed, ties & rails.
In the mid-1880s the German Empire under Emperorer Wilhelm I and Prime Minister Bismarck was having political problems and maintained a sizeable army. Young Ernst left Germany at about the age of 18 years to avoid military service, a fact he related often to his children and grandchildren.22
In 1914 Ernst and Henry Heitkamp went to Wisconsin to help the Sunds move from there to Riga.65
Ernst had diabetes when he was in his 50s and 60s, but he was able to control it entirely by diet. Died of heart failure.22 |
| Spouses |
| 1 |
Augusta Christine Johanna (Gustie) Pepper64 |
| Birth |
23 May 1870, nr. Ottawa Lake, Monroe Co, Michigan2 |
| Death |
5 Feb 1948, Riga Twp, Lenawee Co, Michigan64,23 |
| Burial |
8 Feb 1948, Riga Cem, Riga Twp23 |
| Religion |
St. Johns Ev. Lutheran Ch, Riga51 |
| Father |
Christian Pepper (1824-1887) |
| Mother |
Friedericke Caroline Kumerow (1836-1898) |
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| Marriage |
14 Feb 1889, prob. Ottawa Lake |
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