Biography of Charles Lehmback, pages 791/792/793.  History 
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



The virile and wholesome blood of the fatherland, which has 
steadily flowed in all its enriching and purifying power 
into the arteries of every industry and occupation of this 
land, has probably been more marked in the development and 
uplift of agriculture than in any other vocation. With 
wholesome minds and sturdy bodies these welcome emigrants 
from the Kaiser’s domain have formed a part of the vanguard 
of almost every band of pioneers fighting their way through 
forests dense, braving untold dangers and suffering severe 
privations that they might do their full share in making 
their adopted land the glorious nation it is today. No more 
worthy son of the Teutonic race could find a place in the 
pages of this work than he who forms the caption of this 
brief sketch. The phrase “a self-made man” has been so 
frequently abused an so carelessly applied that its full 
import is often lost, but the friends and acquaintances of 
the subject will readily grant, and insist, that, in all 
its broadest meaning, it but justly and truthfully 
describes the one whose life inspires this article.  
Charles Lehmback was born August 25, 1841, in Germany, the 
son of Christian and Hanna (Geist) Lehmback. The father, 
Christian Lehmback, spent his entire life in Germany, where 
he died in 1841. He was a farmer all his life and was noted 
for being thrifty and progressive in his methods. The 
mother, also a native of Germany, emigrated to the United 
States when the subject was about twenty-six years of age, 
his two brothers also coming. They came to Auburn, which at 
that time was sparsely settled.  The mother lived in Auburn 
with her son John until her death. To the subject’s parents 
were born six children: Sophia, deceased; John, who lives 
in Auburn; Minnie; Reggie, or Regina, deceased; Mary , 
deceased, and Charles. The mother was married a second 
time, to Carl Kruse, whose decease occurred previous to her 
death. To this union was born one child, William who lives 
in Auburn.  In December, 1868, Charles Lehmback was united 
in holy wedlock with Fredrekia, daughter of John Strube and 
Fredreda (Shultz) Strube, both natives of the fatherland, 
who came to America and located in Chicago, where they 
spent the balance of their days, John Strube passing away 
in 1902, his wife having preceded him across the dark river 
one year. To them were born six children: Fredrekia, 
Charles , Fred, John, Minnie and Lena (Mrs. Brochar).  To 
Mr. and Mrs. Lehmback have been born six children: Minnie; 
Frank, who lives in Garrett and is employed by the 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, is married and has three 
children: John, a carpenter, who is married and has four 
children, living also in Garrett; Lizzie is married to a 
Mr. Schulthess, retired, of Garrett, and they have had five 
children, two of whom are deceased; Liddie, who also lives 
in Garrett, married a Mr. Martz, who is employed by the 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and they have one child; 
Tillie is married to W. M. Miller, also a retired resident 
of Garrett.  Charles Lehmback worked in Auburn for nine 
years and lived for one year on a farm between Waterloo and 
Auburn.  After leaving Auburn he came to Keyser township, 
and rented the farm for twenty-two years, he purchased the 
tract and is still engaged in active farming.  He has built 
a comfortable residence on the place and the substantial 
outbuildings are also evidences of his thrift and energy. 
He has remodeled the barn and fenced and drained the land 
until it today stands as one of the best agricultural 
plants in the township and is an inspiring illustration of 
the old axiom, “where there’s a will there’s a way.” In the 
development of this wild tract of timbered land into the 
model farm it is today, and in the struggles, hardships and 
trials incident thereto, he has been loyally assisted by 
his devoted helpmate, who with her honored spouse has the 
satisfaction of duty well done. They came to the farm with 
empty hands, but by keeping “everlastingly at it” they have 
prospered and have been rewarded with a goodly share of 
this world’s goods.  Politically, Mr. Lehmback take an 
active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, 
while his religious affiliations are with the German 
Methodist church, of which he is a trustee.


Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com