In 1847 Mr. an Mrs Christopher William Arkenberg came to America from
Hanover, Germany... They are the parents of Charles Arkenberg of Milan,
Indiana, Charles Arkenberg was born in Germany and at the age of Stumpke's
Corner. At the time this was a huge forest and I have heard his mother tell
ho they had to build fires at night to keep the bears away from their son
and also so that they could find theyr way home again. Mrs Christopher
Arkenberg lived to the age of 90 years. Mr Christopher died at the age of 53
years. to this union was born four children... Frederick, William, Charles
and Dora.
Charles arkenberg was born in Hanover, germany on July 14, 1843 and died at
Milan, Indiana October 23, 1898 at the age of 55 yaers. He was married to
Louisa Schimdt (born March 9, 1853 and died december 5, 1920 at the age of
67 yaers) on june 11, 1874 .To this union was born five children: Frederick,
Louis, Milosena, Franklin, Mathida. Tho have passed onto the Great Beyond
Louis... born may 14, 1879 and died december6, 1912... Franklin born august
19, 1886 and died february 14, 1920... The tree children Milosena, Matilda,
and Frederick are now living in Los Angeles, California.
Charles Arkenberg moved from stumpke's Corner to Milan in 1882 and set up a
saw mill an had inconnection with it a repository and sold buggies, surreys
and carriages and made tent pine for the government. The Arkenberg Lumber
Compagny was bought by abbot and Thompson in 1900, two yaers after the death
of Charles Arkenberg. Charles Arkenberg installed the first electric plant
in Milan wich consisted of a small 12 light dynamo in 1889 and several years
later he installed a 110 ligt dynamo and able to furmish light for the whole
town of Milan.
Frederick William Arkenberg was born 18, 1877 north of Milan on a farm,
married Nettie Beaty of Moores Hill (she was bornMay 27, 1882) on december
25, 1901.
Five Children were born to this union...Lester ((born october 27, 1902),
Stella (born August 12, 1904) Evelyn (born october 27, 1907), Hazel (born
may 29, 1909) and Harold (born february 26, 1914).
Frederick was the firts to have an automobile in Milan in 1904 (a Marion car
... four cylinder aicooled made in Indianapolis) (everyone thougt he was
crazy and many toxnspeople would no speak to him for years ... Once the car
scared a horse hiched to a Buggy and the man filled his pockets with small
rocks and threw them at Frederick the next time he went by...) He started a
small repair shop and started selling automobiles in 1908. He had the firts
Ford agency in Ripley county in 1911. (sold treecars tfe firts years and
was one of the best dealers out the Cincinnati branch)... He continued in
the Ford business until 1923 when he sold to M.A.Huycheson and moved to
Batesville and continued in the Ford business until 1929, Now in the Ford
business in Los Angeles, Calif.
Franklin Arkenberg, son of Charles and Louise Arkenberg, also took up
automobile repairing in Milan and the delivery of standard Oil Compagny
Products. He died in Milan in 1920. His son, Franklin, is now in the
restaurant business in Milan so after 63 years some of the family are still
there. Now a son Franklin born...1943.
Add to information about Christofer William Arkenberg...born March 27, 1809
in Hanover, Germany and died in Ripley County, Indiana November 21, 1862 .
He married Carolina Dorothea Meyer, who was born september 1, 1806 and died
at the home of her son in Milan, Indiana, November 26, 1896. She wax 29
years of age xhen she married at Lithe Kirschspiel.
Catharina Carolina Dorothea Arkenberg was born sept. 1, 1806 and died at the
home of her son in Milan Indiana 26, 1896. when 29 years of age she married
Christopher William Arkenberg at Lithekirschspiel, Vunsdorf, Hanover,
Germany, in 1847 thy ame to America and settled in Franklin Tp. Ripley Co.
Ind...They had six children; fourof whom are living Mr Arkenberg died
November 21, 1862. Burial was at Stumpkes Corner.
Thank
you.