If you are related to this family please write to me! from "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Huron and Lorain, OH; Vol. II Illustrated", Chicago: J.H.Beers Co., 1894: pp 881-881 "JOSEPH BALDAUF-one of the foremost among the German residents of Russia township, was born December 23, 1843, in Bavaria, Germany. His father, also named Joseph, died when our subject was three years of age, and the mother afterward married Joseph Haller. In 1852 the family, consisting of Mr and Mrs. Haller, two sons and five daughters, immigrated to America, sailing from Bremen and landing in New York after an ocean voyage of four weeks. From New York they came westward, by canal and lake to Cleveland, Ohio, thence to Avon township, Lorain County, where Mr. Haller bought twenty-five acres of land. Joseph Baldauf had attended school in his native country, but after their emigration to the United States received no educational advantages whatever, though at that time he was but eight years of age. He was put to work, giving such assistance on the farm as he was able, and when fifteen years old started out in life for his own account. For two years he was employed by George Bryant, of Amherst township, then going to Oberlin hired out as a farm hand in Russia township, receiving twenty dollars a month for three years. On November 22, 1864, he married Theresa Schmidt, a native of Grafton township, Lorain county, daughter of Jacob Schmidt, and after his marriage bought a farm of fifty acres, the "Schmidt Homestead" where he has since resided. In 1878 he erected his pleasant residence, and has made many other improvements on the place, increasing the area of the farm until he now has 180 acres of choice arable land. Mr. and Mrs. Baldauf are the parents of the following named children: Margaret (wife of Joseph Klingshirn, a farmer of Avon township), Anna (wife of Anton Klingshirn, of Avon township), John (a farmer), Catherine, Frank, Willie, Mary, Charley, Elizabeth and Theresa, all living. Mr. Baldauf has been an energetic, industrious farmer, econimical from boyhood, and, though starting life with nothing, he has amassed a comfortable competence. Though having few opportunities for an education, he has, by observation and study, acquired a very fair store of practical knowledge, and is possessed of sound judgment and good common sense. Politically he is a lifelong Democrat, and in religion he is a membe of the catholic Church at Elyria. During the summer of 1898 Mr Baldauf paid a visit to the World's Fair, Chicago." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! http://greetings.yahoo.com