George Haehl
The subject of this biographical review, although of the
second generation of Germans in this country, has many of the sterling
traits and praiseworthy characteristics of the people of that country
who have done so much toward the development of Shelby county; in fact
the major portion of the United States. George Haehl was born in
Union township, Shelby county, Indiana, June 6, 1849, the son of John
Henry and Mary C. (Zeisz) Haehl. John Henry Haehl was born in Bavaria
Germany, December 4, 1820. He came to America and prospered, ending
his days in Shelby county, on September 3, 1855. His wife was born in
Rheinpfaltz, Byron, Germany, November 27, 1826, and died in Shelby
county, June 28, 1907. The subject's father landed in New Orleans
upon his arrival in the United States. He was yet a young man. Not
taking a fancy to the South, he ascended the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers to Cincinnati, and later came to Shelby county. He was accompanied by his parents, and they located just south of the German
church in Union township, his father purchasing wild land there and at
once set about making improvements, developing the same into a good
farm. John Henry Haehl died when our subject was only six years old,
consequently he does not know much of his father; but he was a
prosperous and hard-working farmer, devoting all his time to his home
and family. He was a member of the German Protestant church of Union
township, a Democrat in politics but not an office seeker. The
subject's mother came to this country when she was a girl, with her
parents who located in Shelby county, Indiana, when she was about six
years old. John Henry Haehl and Mary C. Zeisz were married in this
county, and five children were born to them as follows: the first
child died in infancy; Rosina married Jacob Theobald; George, of this
review; John deceased; Caroline, who married a Mr. Witz.
George Haehl received his education in the common schools of
Shelby county, and spent his youth at home working on the farm. When
he reached manhood he married Katherine Kuhn, on December 7, 1872; she
was born in Shelby county, May 1, 1856, the daughter of Andrew and
Anna Mary (Theobald) Kuhn. Andrew Kuhn was born in Germany, August
20, 1807, and died in Shelby county, Indiana, in 1870; his wife was
also born in Germany, August 3, 1808, and died in 1890. They came to
the United States in an old-fashioned sailing vessel about sixty-one
years ago. Andrew Kuhn was one of the prominent members of the Kuhn
family in this country.
Eleven children have been born to the subject and wife, as
follows: Pauline Otilda, born December 12, 1873, married Jacob
Gayheimer, living in Union township, and they are the parents of one
child, Della Irene; Henry A., born July 26, 1874, married Laura John,
they are living in Union township, and are the parents of two children, Clark Henry
and George Wallace. George W. was born April 4,
1876; Flora Catherine, born April 21, 1878, married Albert Callahan,
of Union township, and they are the parents of one child, Freda Fay;
John R., born September 23, 1879, married Nora Callahan of Union township, and they are the parents of two children, Elma Irene and Mary
Frances; Ida, born October 6, 1887, married Arkas Wagoner; they live
in Rush county and are the parents of one child, Ira Revere; Ella C.
was born January 5, 1874; Laura L. was born July 13, 1885, and married
Julius Theobald; they live in Rush county, and are the parents of two
children, Fern Elizabeth and Mabel Catherine; Oscar P., born December
31, 1887, is deceased; Robert Daniel, born November 28, 1889, is
living at home; Walter, born October 16, 1894, is also a member of the
family circle. This large family has always been a harmonious and
happy one, and these children are fairly well educated and doing well.
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, INDIANA, Edward Chadwick, 1909, pg 448.
Submitted by Richard Weightman