Wilhelm Gentemann

Wilhelm Gentemann saw the light of day March 15, 1837 at Elverdissen, Herford, Wesphalia. In 1857 he came to Quincy, where he was employed by John Wood, Quincy's first settler, as a flower gardner for many years. Then he opened a greenhouse in this city, which he ran for many years. Five years ago he retired from business and since then the greenhouse has been operated by his sons Hermann and Philip and daughter Minna. Wilhelm was married here to Hannah Gösling, who was born in Lahn, Herford, Westphalia. Since he could not stand the severe climate of this area in the last few years, he traveled south every winter. Last winter he extended the trip to Cuba. On the return trip he died in Miami, Florida on February 18, 1907. His wife lives in Quincy; a son Heinrich in Argonia, Kansas; another son, Wilhelm, in St. Louis. His daughters, Mrs. William R. Coulsen and Mrs. William C. Schmidt, reside in Quincy. Transcribed by: Mindy Source: Bornmann's Sketches of Early Germans of Quincy and Adams County Volume 7; Chapter 2; page 163