Introduction to the 1923 Biographical Sketches
This biographical sketch was published along with many others in the 1923 History of Auglaize County, Volume II, edited by William J. McMurray and published by the Historical Publishing Company of Indianapolis. In most cases the subject of the biography was of the first generation born in this country to German immigrants. In some cases the subject may have been born in Germany and came to this country at a young age. In most cases the story tells of the immigrant parents of the subject and also the children and grandchildren of the subject named at the beginning of the story. In some cases comments have been added after the biography to explain the locations of the farms where the immigrants settled. New Knoxville did not have rural addresses until 1955, and therefore the settlers had rural route addresses of St. Marys, Botkins, etc.
George Haberkamp, one of the trustees of Washington township and superintendent of pikes in and for that township, one of the best known farmers and landowners in the New Knoxville neighborhood, was born in that township, a member of one of the real pioneer families there, and has lived there all his life.
Mr. Haberkamp was born on a farm just north of New Knoxville, on January 2, 1870, and is a son of Adolph and Elizabeth (Schroer) Haberkamp, who had come to this country from Germany with their respective parents in the days of their youth and had grown up in the New Knoxville neighborhood, where the Haberkamps and the Schroers had settled upon coming out here in pioneer days.
As is narrated elsewhere in this volume, Adolph Haberkamp, born in 1821, was a well-grown boy when he came here. His father took the contract to excavate one mile of the canal, which was then under way of construction, and the boy, Adolph, helped out on that job, working for several years on the canal. He later helped his father develop the woodland farm the latter had taken in the vicinity of New Knoxville, and after his marriage in the summer of 1848 established his home on a farm of his own there just north of the village, and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1885. His widow survived him for some years, and her last days also were spent on the farm.
Adolph Haberkamp and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch and his elder brother, Fred Haberkamp, a former trustee of Washington township, and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Reared on the home farm in Washington township, George Haberkamp received his schooling in the nearby New Knoxville schools and remained at home on the farm, a helpful factor in the labors of developing the same, he having been but fifteen years of age when his father died, until after his marriage, when he moved onto the place on which he is now living and has since made his home there.
Mr. Haberkamp has a well-improved farm of ninety-four acres and a well-equipped farm plant. He is a Republican and has long given his active attention to local civic affairs. In 1915 he was appointed superintendent of pikes in and for Washington township and has since been serving in that important capacity, having done much in that time to advance the cause of good roads thereabout. In 1919 Mr. Haberkamp was elected a trustee of Washington township and is now (1923) serving his second year in that capacity, the general affairs of the township receiving his close attention.
He and his wife are members of the First Reformed church of New Knoxville, and he has served the congregation of that church as a deacon. It was on August 21, 1890, that George Haberkamp was united in marriage to Lena Kuck, daughter of Henry Kuck, and also a member of one of the old families of this county, and to this union two children have been born, Ferdinand and Viola, the latter of whom is still in school. Ferdinand Haberkamp married Selma Elshoff and is engaged in farming, taking over the active operation of the farm in his father's behalf, the latter having practically retired from the more arduous duties of the farm.
The Haberkamp home is pleasantly situated on rural mail route No. 4 out of St. Marys, and the latchstring is always out to their friends.
Mr. Haberkamp’s farm was located at what is now 07205 Moulton-New Knoxville Road. It has subsequently been farmed by his son Ferd, Ferd’s daughter and son-in-law Eileen and James Wessel, and then by their son Clyde Wessel.