Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Louis Ockert - update 8/30/2016

Louis Ockert was born in July of 1840 in Baden, Germany, probably the son of Baden natives Anthony (1817-1900) and Anna Maria (Muendel or Mindel, 816-1901).

Louis probably immigrated to America with his family in 1851. It’s quite likely that his parents were living in Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada in 1861; Louis’ would marry his seoncd wife in Wellesley in 1884. By late 1863 Louis had settled in western Michigan.

Louis stood 5’7” with hazel eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 23 years old and probably working as a farmer in Alpine, Kent County or Grand Rapids’ First Ward when he enlisted in Company C on December 29, 1863, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Alpine or Grand Rapids’ 1st Ward, and was mustered January 9, 1864. He joined the Regiment on February 18 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was transferred to Company I, 5th Michigan Infantry upon consolidation of the 3rd and 5th Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. Louis was reported absent sick from October of 1864 through June of 1865, and was mustered out on June 13, 1865, at Chester hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania. After the war Louis returned to western Michigan.

He married Baden native Barbara Kramer or Kranier (b. 1848), and they had at least five children: Anna (b. 1868), Christopher (b. 1870), Barbara (b. 1872), Joseph (b. 1874), Anton (b. 1878) and Louis (b. 1878).

By 1880 Louis was living with his wife and children in Wheatfield, Mecosta County. Next door lived 26-year-old Joseph Ockert and his wife. Also living in Wheatfield were his parents Anthony and Mary Ockert, and Christopher Ockert and his family. (Christopher was possibly Louis’ brother.)

Louis married his second wife (it is unknown what became of Barbara or their children) Canada native Margretta Koebel (b. 1854) on February 26, 1884, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Waterloo, Ontario, and they had six children: Minnie R. (b. 1884 in Canada), Peter S. (b. 1886), Frank (b. 1888), daughter Franki (b. 1889), Edward (b. 1891) and Michael (b. 1893.

By 1886 Louis and his family had moved back to Michigan and he was living in Remus, Wheatfield Township in Mecosta County in 1890 and 1894. He and Margretta and their children were still living in Wheatfield in 1900; also living near by was Joseph Ockert and his family. By 1910 Louis and his wife were living on 3rd Street in Sherman, Isabella County.

He was living in Michigan in February of 1889 when he applied for and received a pension (no. 454531).

Louis probably died on March 26, 1921, in Wisconsin.

In April of 1921 his widow was living in Wisconsin when she applied for a pension (application no. 1173304) but the certificate was never granted.

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