The life history of this gentleman is of more than ordinary interest. He commenced at the foot of the ladder in life, with limited means, and after he, with his father’s family, had experienced a series of misfortunes sad enough to bring dismay to the stoutest heart. His early home was in Pennsylvania, where his father had taken up his residence upon emigrating from Germany, and where they lived until 1848. Then, not being satisfied with their prospects and their condition in that region, they decided to seek their fortunes further westward. The elder Baumgartner possessed but limited means, and the family of six persons, comprising the parents and their four children, started with a one-horse wagon to make the long trip from Columbia County, Pa., to Northern Illinois. The journey occupied six weeks, and their route lay over a section of country often unmarked by a wagon track, and much of the journey through swamp land. It may readily be supposed that many miles of this distance were traversed on foot by the older members of the family, as their one horse was nearly exhausted before the journey was half completed. They gave him the best of care, however, and the father was enabled to exchange it for his first payment on a tract of land which he took up in Loran Township. The mother had been obliged to part with some of their bedding on the way, in order to obtain sufficient funds for their immediate use. During the first year of their settlement here, the land being uncultivated and much rain having fallen, they suffered greatly from malaria in addition to their other hardships. The mother only survived three years, passing away with two of her children during the week ending Sept. 10, 1851. Everything was done for the mother and children that the physicians of that region could devise, but without avail, and the family were sorrowfully compelled to part with their best friend. The father of our subject proceeded with the cultivation of his land as best he could, and survived until 1868, then folded his hands for his final rest in the home which he had built up in Loran Township. Our subject is now the sole survivor of the family, his brothers and sisters likewise being all deceased. There were thirteen children in the parental family.

John Baumgartner was born on the other side of the Atlantic in Germany, Jan. 19, 1830, and when a youth of seventeen years emigrated with his parents to America, settling in Columbia County, Pa., where they lived until their removal to the West. He is the son of John G. and Julia A. (Rudel) Baumgartner, who were also of German birth and parentage. The family for generations had followed agriculture in their native country, and were possessed of the characteristic perseverance and industry of their nationality. Our subject remained a member of his father’s household four years after the death of the mother, and was married in Loran Township, Dec. 20, 1855, to Miss Johanna C. Olnhausen, a native of his own country. Her parents were Christopher and Johanna (Mindling) Olnhausen, also natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1854. They settled first near Marietta, Ohio, but a year later they started for the West, locating first in Galena, Jo Daviess County, Ill. Soon afterward they came into Stephenson County, and took up their abode in Loran Township, where the father spent his last days. The mother survived until 1869, and after the death of her husband made her home with her daughter, the wife of our subject. The parental household included two children only, a son and daughter. Mrs. B. was born in Germany in the same Province as her husband, Feb. 7, 1837. Her union with our subject resulted in the birth of twelve children: Johanna J., the eldest, born Feb. 17, 1857, is the wife of John Schaper, of West Point Township; Lydia was born Oct. 19, 1858; Louisa C., born Oct. 20, 1860, married August Schaper, and is a resident of Edmunds County, Dak.; Mary, born Aug. 1, 1863; Julia, Nov. 14, 1865; Anna, Dec. 4, 1867; John S., Aug. 12, 1870; George, Sept. 1, 1872; Willia A., Sept. 24, 1874; Albert C., Sept. 25, 1876; Rebecca A., Dec. 23, 1878; Binie, born May 1, 1881, died July 24 following. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner are greatly respected among their neighbors and are members in good standing of the German Methodist Church.

The homestead of our subject includes 155 acres of land, mostly under a high state of cultivation. After his first early struggles had ended, he was uniformly prosperous in his labors. The soil yielded bountiful under his judicious management, and in the course of time he was enabled to put up shapely and substantial buildings. The residence is particularly noticeable, and is the object of admiration by the passing traveler. The barn is a fine structure, admirably arranged and finely adapted to the purposes for which it is intended. The stock bears fair comparison with those of the prosperous farmers around him.

Mr. Baumgartner was particularly fortunate in his selection of a wife and helpmeet, and he has the manliness to render her due credit for the manner in which she has performed her part in the establishment of a home and a good position socially among their neighbors. She bore with cheerfulness and patience their early privations, and was willing to make any reasonable sacrifice for the sake of their future good, and that of their children. As they pass down the sunset hill of life, both our subject and his wife are enabled to look with satisfaction upon the result of their labors and the prosperity which has compensated them for the struggles of other days.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 246-248