August Wendorf (52 Ancestors)

August Wendorf>Fred Wendorf>Lorayne Wendorf

My great-great grandfather, August Wendorf was born on August 25, 1851 in Paatzig, Regenwalde, Pomerania, Prussia (present day Resko, Poland). He was married to Emilie (sometimes Amelia) Zuege on April 6, 1877. The couple had 11 children, all but one lived to adulthood. August, Emilie, and three sons (ages 3 years to 4 months) arrived in Baltimore on October 9, 1881 after leaving from Bremen, Germany. They sailed aboard the ship Strassburg, traveling in steerage and their ultimate destination was Minnesota. Like most of the members that make up my tree, August was a farmer.

The family settled in Watertown, Minnesota where August rented a farm. In 1903, August bought a farm in Hollywood, Minnesota. His wife died in 1913. August lived on his farm until 1938 when he moved in with his son William and his family in New Germany, Minnesota.

August had a zeal for life. A 1940 article in the local paper, tells of August and his love for flying. The headline reads “August Wendorf, 90, Wants Stunts When He Rides In Plane”
The article continues, “Every chance Wendorf gets he goes to Sell’s Flying Field and watches the mechanics service motors and waits for a chance to hop a sky ride. Even though he’s 90 the retired farmer would like to learn to fly. But so far he’s had to be content with being a passenger.”

Back: Martha, William, Carl, Alberg, August, Margaret
Middle: Emilie, Marie, August, Martin
Front: Fred and Hubert

August died on December 23, 1944 at the age of 93. He and his wife are buried in the Mayer Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mayer, Minnesota. 

Sources: Carver County Newspapers, Census records, Passenger list