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.
FERDINAND F. FLEDDERJOHANN, M. D., one of Auglaize county's best known physicians and a resident of New Bremen since the day nearly twenty years ago, when fresh from medical college, he first became engaged in the practice of his profession, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the real pioneer families here, and has resided here all his life. Doctor Fledderjohann was born at Lock 6 on the Miami & Erie canal, in section 26 of St. Marys township, December 26, 1876, and is a son of Herman Henry and Engel (Wellman) Fledderjohann, both of whom were born in Germany and both now deceased. The late Herman Henry Fledderjohann, who for many years was one of the best known citizens of Auglaize county, was twenty years of age when he came with his parents to this country in the '30s of the past century, the family coming on out into Ohio and settling in what is now the New Knoxville neighborhood in Washington township, this county, the father becoming one of the pioneers of that community. It was about that time that the canal project was being pushed on up through this part of the state and the young Henry Fledderjohann found ready employment on that public work. His aptitude for that sort of constructive work soon was recognized and he was made a foreman, in which capacity he superintended the construction and reconstruction of a number of the canal locks in this county. Some time after his marriage he set up a saw mill at Lock 6 and there established his home, continuing to operate the saw mill for forty years or until the big timber was practically exhausted thereabout and the days of lumbering here were over. At his well improved place there he spent his last days, his death occurring on July 25, 1904. In addition to his milling interests he had a hand in other enterprises of one sort and another and also was a large landowner, long having been regarded as one of the county's most substantial citizens. He was twice married and raised a large family. Of these, seven children by his second marriage are now living, those besides the Doctor being Minnie, Dr. H. E., Herman, B. A., Louise and George. B. A. Fledderjohann is a former representative from this district in the Ohio General Assembly. Dr. H. E. Fledderjohann is a practicing physician at New Knoxville, and George Fledderjohann is a farmer. Dr. Ferdinand F. Fledderjohann was reared on the home place at Lock 6 and received his common schooling there. After taking a course in the New Bremen high school he began reading medicine and presently entered the Medical College of Ohio, where he studied for one year, at the end of which time he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia and was graduated from that institution in 1903. Thus equipped for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life, Doctor Fledderjohann returned to his home county and opened an office at New Bremen, where he ever since has been engaged in practice and where he is very pleasantly situated. The Doctor is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society and has ever taken an interested part in the deliberations of that body. He is a member of the Zions Reformed church and has from the days of the beginning of his residence in New Bremen taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of that community, at present serving the public as a member of the local school board. In his political views he holds himself as an "independent," reserving the right not to be bound by mere party ties. His father was long looked upon as one of the leaders of the Democratic party in that part of the county and was a staunch and outspoken defender of the principles of that party. On Sept. 7, 1905, Dr. F. F. Fledderjohann was united in marriage to Emma Bierbaum, a daughter of William and Mary (Henkener) Bierbaum, and to this union were born three children, Orlando, Norman and Elodie, the latter of whom died on March 21, 1910. The mother of these children died on October 23, 1918.
The farm where the sawmill was located is known as the Lock Six Farm and is being occupied and farmed by Tom and Diane Lammers Fledderjohann.
Dr. F. F. Fledderjohann was a brother to Dr. Henry E. Fledderjohann, who practiced medicine in New Knoxville for many years.