Although not originating from a German area but still basically German in speech and ways s Nikolaus Goschie, of Delaware Township, whose likeness we present here and who is our oldest reader.
Mr. Goschie was born in Udingen in the canton Arlan, Province of Luzemburg, Belgium on the 18th of June 1818 so that he is now in his 90th year of life. He stayed in the Fatherland, until he had attained his 18th year; then he and his parents immigrated to this country and settled in Seneca county in our state, where 80 acres of land were bought. A few years later he had come far enough, that he could look around for a suitable life companion, which he found in the person of Miss Christine Utz, and married her on the 18th of October 1843. After he had spent a few more years in other parts, in the year 1853 he came with his [family] to Delaware Township in our county and took possession of 80 acres of untamed land, to which through later purchase he has added another 55 acres. On this property he has kept house with industry and foresight and brought it to considerable prosperity, so that the evening of his life may be without a care financially. His loyal life's companion died 24 years ago -- a severe blow for the aging man, but he kept house for almost another ten years on the farm, and then went into well-earned retirement.
Up until a few years ago he was hale, but now as it stands with him, he might say: "It is enough! Take me Home, o Lord, the tired pilgrim."
Of the eight children that Mr. Goschie was blessed with, three with their mother have preceded him into Eternity. The survivors are: Hermann Goschie, Mrs. Josephine Limpach, Mrs. Margarethe Hohenberger, Miss Marianna Goschie, who runs her father's household, and Nikolaus Goschie; they all reside in Delaware Townshp. Besides these there are 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The descendants, like the old trunk, are honored and well regarded, so that Nikolaus Goschie in deed and in truth will live on in his children and children's' children.
Gottfried Möhring
Our German Pioneers
At this time we offer our readers the portrait and biography of a hale worthy old German father, who has lived in this area for 60 years and is definitely entitled to the name of Pioneer by any estimation. This is Gottfried Möhring, known by any means to most of the old Germans in the city and county.
Gottfried Möhring was born on the 25th of October 1822 in Windeberg, Prussia, as the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Gottfried and Bertha Möhring. In his younger years he learned agriculture, until the King of Prussia took him into his service. Then he served four years in the army -- two years in Magdeburg and two years on the French border at the time of the revolution, in Saarbrucken and vicinity, from which he received honorable discharge from his king.
In the year 1850 Mr. Mohring, with many of his countrymen who settled in and around Defiance, took ship in Bremen on the sailing ship "Hermann" for the trip to New York, which ended well. After a 16 day stopover in Cleveland, O., Mr. Möhring came to Defiance on the 15th of July 1850, and has been a resident of our county ever since. He worked for about three years in and around Defiance, then bought with his later brother-in-law Johann C. Riek 75 acres of brushland 2¬Ω miles west of Defiance on the Ft. Wayne Road, and built there an 18 by 28 foot blockhouse (?log cabin). In November 1853 he married Dorothea Schlagmann before Pastor Adam Detzer, and then moved to the farm. In January 1854 his sister married Johann C. Riek. The two families lived for three years in the [previously] mentioned house; later, another house was built, in which Mr. Mohring made his home until just recently, and the property was divided. Mr. Mohring's wife passed from Belief to Knowledge on the 1st of January 1906, and of the 7 children whom she had given life, three have a1ready died. The surviving children are: Mrs. Theodor and Mrs. Ferdinand Benecke at Ridgeville Corners, August Möhring in Napoleon and Edwin Möhring in Archbold.
Additional descendants include 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Of the six siblings, 4 boys and 2 girls, Gottfried Möhring is the sole survivor.
Gottfried Möhring and his wife had often found the long years on the farm to make life bitter. But he remained true to the ?earth, and now with his children, who love and respect him, his twilight years are without care. He has read his "Herold" for 26 years already and still finds it interesting. May he receive many more years of good health.
Pastor F.A. Kiess 25th Jubilee
A wonderful surprise was prepared for Sunday evening by the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church for their faithful shepherd of souls Pastor F. A. Kiess, in that they, without him having the least hint, prepared a jubilee celebration in honor of his 25 years of service. Pastor Kiess was just preparing himself for the evening worship service, when his brothers in service C. H. Schröder from the South Ridge and H. C. Siegert from Holgate entered the sacristy and informed him that they would take his place in leading the worship service. And as they walked into the church, hundreds of friendly countenances lit up. Only as Pastor Kiess saw the lovely floral arrangement in the altar niche and the big number "25" in evergreens and white flowers above the pulpit, it became clear to him that he was the ?recipient of a surprise.
The jubilee celebration was opened with the song "Praise the Lord, the mighty King of Glory". Thereafter Pastor C. H. Schroder read the 103rd Psalm. Then he also gave the German ?celebration sermon on 2. Cor. 5, 18-20, in which he explained to his listeners that such an anniversary celebration could be a lasting blessing for Pastor and congregation alike, when they both recognized that the preaching office is ordered by God and must be fulfilled faithfully. After the congregational choir had presented the hymn "The Lord is my Shepherd" in a right creditable fashion, Pastor H. C. Siegert gave an English sermon based on 1. Cor. 15, 10, in which he proposed, a Lutheran preacher might in all justice on his silver jubilee contemplate that he is what he is by the grace of God, and that God's grace on him has not been in vain. After an organ and violin duet by teacher Hacker and Esther Kiess, Elder Heinrich Röhrs, gave a cordial speech of congratulations to the jubilarian and in the name of the congregation and the other Elders Carl Fessel, Peter Engel, J. N. Wolfrum and Gottlieb P. Gerken, a goodly monetary gift. For this, as well as for the jubilee celebration and for the so often and so evident goodwill to him from the congregation, Pastor Kiess thanked in a short speech, in which he was barely able to keep his composure.
After the church celebration, a reception with refreshments took place in the schoolhouse, arranged by the Ladies society "Harmonia", while the congregation's orchestra played, at which hundreds of people took part and personally offered the jubilarians their congratulations. Besides his aforementioned brothers in service, also attending were the Pastors P. G. Rau from Mark Township and H. Huge from Flatrock Township.
Pastor F.A. Kiess, after successfully completing his studies in Ft. Wayne and St. Louis, was ordained on the 28th of August 1892 in Mansfield, S.D. by Pastor Georg Fischer. Until 1897 he acted as an itinerant preacher, then served until 1904 a congregation in Auglaize county, Ohio, and since then the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation here. How much he is beloved and highly valued is shown in the splendid jubilee celebration more clearly and obviously, more than words could say. May Mr. Röhrs' wish, that Pastor Kiess might remain to lead the congregation for many more years, come to fulfillment.