~ Biographical Sketch ~

     Herman August Neuendorf was born on Tuesday, November 1, 1887 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, Wisconsin, son of August Neuendorf (Neidorft) and Frances Fischer.^1,2

At age 24, Herman married Augusta Ottielia Reetz on Wednesday, October 9, 1912 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Indian Creek, Clifton, Monroe County, Wisconsin. Augusta was 17 years old. She was the daughter of Edward Wilkinson and Augusta K. Alvine Reetz.^3,2

On their marriage certificate Herman is stated to be 24 years old, single, white, this being his first marriage, birthplace was Oakdale, Wisconsin, and was a farmer residing in Oakdale. His father is listed as August Neuendorf and his mother is listed as Francisca Fisher, both born in Germany. Augusta is stated to be "Gusta," 17 years old, single, white, this being her first marriage, birthplace was Wellington, Wisconsin, and a resident of Oakdale, Wisconsin. Her parents are listed as August Reetz and Ottilia Zierke, both born in Germany. (Author's note: August and Ottilia Reetz were actually her grandparents who had raised her from birth; her mother having died from childbirth complications.) The witnesses were Gusta's first cousin Elna Wilde of Norwalk, Wisconsin, and Herman's brother Otto Nuendorf of Tomah, Wisconsin, Rd 3. Im. Brockebusch, Ev. Luth. Pastor of Tomah, Wisconsin, Rd. No. 4, officiating.⁴

A wedding announcement for Herman and Augusta was made in the Tomah Journal, Oakdale News on October 2, 1912, and reads:

"Mrs. and Mrs. August Reetz have issued invitations to the marriage of their granddaughter, Miss Augusta, to Mr. Herman Neuendorf. The ceremony will be said at the Lutheran Church October 9 at 2 o'clock , followed by a reception at the home of the bride."²

An announcement was made in the Tomah Journal, Oakdale News on October 16, 1912:

Herman Neuendorf and Miss Augusta Reetz were married October 9th at the Lutheran Church in Oakdale. The ceremony was said at 2 p.m. by Rev. Brockabush, Pastor of the church. The bride was gowned in white messaline and wore a veil. She was attended by her cousin, Miss Elna Wilde and Mr. Otto Neuendorf acted as best man. Following the church ceremony the guests returned to the home of the bride's grandparents where a reception was given for relatives of the contracting parties and a few close friends of the bride. The happy young couple have the best wishes and congratulations of a large circle os friends. The will live on the farm the groom recently bought of his father, Mr. Aug. Neuendorf.⁵

Herman August Neuendorf appeared in the Oakdale Township census of January 3, 1920 as head of household 112/115. He is enumerated as a white married male age 32. He was born in Wisconsin and was able to speak English, however he was not able to read or write. Both of his parents were born in Germany and spoke German. He owned his farm which was under a mortgage. He is listed as a general farmer on farm schedule 109.

. The household also included:

Augusta Ottielia Neuendorf, his wife is recorded as a white married female age 24. She was born in Wisconsin and could read, write and speak English..

Nona Frances Neuendorf is recorded as his daughter, a white single female, age 6. She was born in Wisconsin and had attended school in the last session but no comment was made as to whether or not she was able to read or write..

Helen Emma Neuendorf is recorded as his daughter, a white female born in Wisconsin. She was one year and nine months old at the time..⁶

Herman August Neuendorf appeared in the Tomah, Monroe County, Wisconsin, census of April 19, 1930 as head of household 141/144. He is recorded as a white male age 42. He was born in Wisconsin being in the first Neuendorf generation of this line to be born in America. Both of his parents were direct immigrants from Germany. The census records that he was able to read and write. (Family lore is that he only had a second grade education and that could only read simple words and memorize just enough to get by for customer deliveries at the coal business. His daughters felt that reading and writing were easy, and they attempted to convince him to learn to read and write, but he felt that he got along well enough as he was.) He could speak English. His occupation at the time of this census was as a general farmer living on his own farm on schedule 131. He was 24 years old at the time of his first (and only) marriage. He was not a U.S. military veteran.

. The household also included:

Augusta Ottielia Reetz, his wife is recorded as a white female age 34. She wedded at age 17. She was born in Wisconsin (as were her parents) and she was able to read and write and speak English..

Nona Frances Neuendorf a white female age 16, born in Wisconsin. She had been in attendance at a school since September 1, 1929 and was able to read, write and speak English..

Helen Emma Neuendorf a white female age 12, born in Wisconsin. She had been in attendance at a school since September 1, 1929 and was able to read, write and speak English..

Ione Anita Neuendorf a white female age 10, born in Wisconsin. She had been in attendance at a school since September 1, 1929 and was able to read, write and speak English..

Janet Grace Neuendorf a white female age one year old. She was born in Wisconsin, as were her parents..

The family did not own a radio.⁷

Herman and Augusta were having trouble keeping their farm due to the hard times of the Great Depression. Augusta's father, Edward Wilkinson, owned the City Coal Company in Dubuque and offered to give 1/2 ownership of it to Augusta if they would move to Dubuque when the farming in Wisconsin failed. About the time their daughter Janet was two years old, Augusta took daughters Helen and Janet to Dubuque, Iowa ( 1361 Central) to live with Augusta's father. The City Coal office was in the front and they lived in the back. A curtain separated their living quarters from the office area. Janet recalls that later they lived above the Coal Office at 17 Central Street. She remembers a roll-top desk and a chair in the office and having seen a picture of herself on the chair with her mother standing near and Edward standing in the background. Later they added a grocery store to the office.

For a short time, Herman stayed on the farm to continue to make a go of it. Daughters Oney and Nona also remained on the farm as Nona was to finish high school. Later, when the farm was lost, they all move to Dubuque.

Augusta became the sole owner of the City Coal Company when she inherited the remaining 1/2 from her father's estate. The Neuendorf's successfully ran it for many years until coal was no longer the common heating source in Dubuque.^8,9

His favorite song was as follows:


"To Save a Poor Sinner Like Me"

I was once far away from the Savior
As vile as a sinner could be;
And I wondered if Christ the redeemer
Could save a poor sinner like me.

I wander'd on in the darkness
Not a ray of light could I see;
And the thought filled my heart with sadness,
There's no hope for a sinner like me.

And then, in that dark lonely hour,
A voice sweetly whispered to me;
Saying, "Look unto me; I have power
To save a poor sinner like thee."

And then fully trusted in Jesus;
And Oh! What a joy came to me!
My heart was filled with His praises,
For saving a sinner like me.

No longer in darkness I'm walking,
The light is now shining on me,
And now unto others I'm telling
How He saved a poor sinner like me.

And when life's journey is over
And I the dear Savior shall see,
I'll praise Him for ever and ever,
For saving a poor sinner like me.⁹

Herman's daughter Helen recalls that he sang his favorite song to her the day before his death. He also told her he had seen heaven and it was beautiful and there were lots of children there, and he heard the angels singing and it was beautiful.¹⁰


Herman died on May 22, 1949 in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa, at age 61.¹ He was laid to rest in the Neuendorf family plot, in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah, Monroe County, Wisconsin.^11,2

His obituary appeared in the Tomah Journal, Bear Creek news column of on May 27, 1949, read:

"Word came Sunday morning of the death of Herman Neuendorf. Burial was in the Tomah Cemetery with funeral services at 2 p.m. Wednesday from White's Funeral Home. The Neuendorf family were owners of the Hely farm in the valley moving from there to Dubuque, Iowa, about eight years ago."⁵

On July 1, 1949, his daughter, Janet, married Don Smith.^9,12