St. Marys, Ohio, Thursday, July 1, 1920
NINE SETS OF TWINS Among William Peterjohann’s Descendants.
REUNION HELD TO-DAY
At William Haberkamp Residence North of New Knoxville—Clan Members From Far Places Gather In Numerous Assembly Thursday, July 1, 1920, was the date of the Peterjohann family reunion consisting of four generations at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Haberkamp about a mile north of New Knoxville. This clan of families reckons their beginning with William Peterjohann, of Germany, who had the distinction of having a family of eight daughters as follows: Elizabeth, Christina, Elizabina, Marie, Sophie, Dina, Minna and Fredericka. Of these Dina died in youth in Germany at about the age of seven. Fredericka, being the youngest, remained in Germany and upon her devolved the duty according to the custom of the land to perpetuate the name of Peterjohann. So when she married a William Henry Kipp, her husband was obliged to change his name to Peterjohann. Christina likewise married and spent her life in Germany. She was united with a Henry Holtman and the union was blessed with two boys and three daughters.
Very little is known regarding these families. Although some correspondence has lately taken place, no answer has yet been received; consequently there is very little available concerning them. The tardiness of the answer in response to the various letters sent out is probably due to the present chaotic conditions of Germany. The others: Elizabeth, Elizabina, Marie, Sophia and Minna, migrated to America at different intervals and all for a while lived in and about the community of New Knoxville.
Elizabeth was married to Henry Katter about 1848 and came to America in 1860 and lived in this community until 1875, when they removed to Iowa where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Henry Wierwille is the only one of the Katters still residing here. Elizabina married Herman Haberkamp and after his death she again united in matrimony with H. W. Wierwille, who died about a year ago, and thus became the mother of the Haberkamp-Wierwille families. Maria united in matrimony with Henry Oelrich and became the fore parent of the numerous Oelrichs living here and in the community of St. Marys. Sophia was married to Jacob Vordermark, thus becoming the mother of the Vordermark wing of this great family. Mrs. Vordermark is the only one of the eight girls surviving and lives at Wapakoneta, having attained the ripe old age of 87 years. Minna married Henry Figenbaum and after his death she again married, this time to a Mr. Ulenhake and sometime thereafter removed to Minnesota and placed the descendants of the Peterjohann family in that state.
This reunion has brought many of the family clan here: Mrs. and Mrs. Henry Katter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Greiman, Mr. and Mrs. William Katter, Mrs. August Katter, Mrs. Huneman, all of Garner, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Katter, of Forest City, Iowa, are those of the seventy-five or more members of this family clan living in Iowa. Mrs. Christina Richter and her two daughters, Hazel and Mabel, are here to represent the far northwest. As far as reported Minnesota was not represented.
The total membership of this clan of William Peterjohann is more than four hundred in number not including those who may yet survive in the mother country, not included for reasons given above. This family meet is the largest of the many family reunions held here and there about the community annually and although it is expected to meet but this one time, it revives many and sacred memories of old and creates much attention even to many who are not of the family lineage.
It may be of some interest to note with what rapidity the various generations in America multiplied. Counting the first generation of two the second generation had increased to eight but not all saw America. The third generation numbered thirty-nine; the fourth 160 reaching out into the fifth generation not included here for want of knowledge available at this time and for want of time, but if the multiple ratio of this generation holds pace with that of the first four generations, then it is safe to say that the generation will exceed six hundred in number. The history of these families assembled stretches over a period of 120 years, and has the distinction of having nine sets of twins.