A La Porte County Indiana History of some
Langeman (Langman), Ott, Replogle and
Ledyard Family Connections

Contributed by Virgil A. Ruckdashel

Hello, my name is Virgil Ruckdaschel. I am 80 years young and live in Lewiston, Idaho. (see below for email and other address information. Following is a brief family history of mine. It involves many years research and has a lot of backup documentation. I hope you find it of interest.

My direct lineage is through my mother, (Olive) grandfather, Herman and grandmother Anna Langman. They moved from there to Floyd County, Iowa about the time of my mother's birth, abt the latter half of 1902. She was the 9th child so the previous eight were born there, in La Porte County, Indiana.

Herman's father, Frederick and mother Sophie (Radloff) Langeman, were born in Germany as were the four oldest sons:
1. William
2. Robert,
3. Hermann
4. Fernal.

They entered the United States at New York City on November 15, 1868 having sailed from Hamburg. Frederick was born in March 20, 1821 and she in Feb 27, 1832. Both are buried in the NW corner of Springville Cemetery near La Porte. All Langman's listed under the obituaries at the Michigan City library are ancestors. All these brothers, with the exception of Herman, are buried there in La Porte County, Indiana.

Additional children born, after arriving in the United States were:
5. Otis b. 1877 died as a child - buried Springville Cemetery, this county.
6. Edward (see below)
7. Edith
8. Constant never married and died at 34 years of age in Cass County, Indiana on 22 Apr 1905.

Grandmother Anna was a Ledyard. She was the daughter of Franklin Ledyard and Catherine (Cina) Ott who were married at New Buffalo, Michigan on April 6, 1866 by a David Terriwilliger it was witnessed by Nicolaus Austin and Catherine Austin.

Grandma had two sisters named Frances and Emma as well as a brother. Most all married, died and are buried in La Porte County.

Great Grandmother's parents were Henry Ott and her mother was Lavina Replogle. Both were prominent names and many ancestors in both lines are buried in the county.

Great grandfather, Henry, had an ancestor Johann Ulrich Ott who arrived aboard ship named the Phoenix on September 15, 1749. These family roots go back through Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and previous found in Germany. I have all of this in my records.

The Replogle side of our family dates back hundreds of years into Switzerland and Germany. Lavina's father was Jack C. Replogle and her mother was Elizabeth Boogher. Through me, I have 15 generations.

Okay, so back to a bit of the Langman's and their La Porte county history.

Children of Frederich and Sophie (Radloff) Langman

1. William b. 1858 d. 12 Mar 1925 m. Anna Ehrick .on 18 December 1884.She was b. 26 Mar 1863 d. June 19, 1930
Their Children were:

2, Robert b. 1860 was the second eldest son of Frederick and Sophie's and was a farmer of Coolspring Township (same county). He married Ella LaBorn she died on 28 Sep 1898 at the age of only 34 years.
He was playing cards in the First and Last Chance Tavern at 2210 Franklin on Saturday morning December 22, 1934. He died of a heart attack. Survivors at the time were children Mrs. Louis Hundt, George Langman, plus his sister Mrs. Herman Daun. Also surviving were 21 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

3. Herman - My grandfather Hermann and grandmother Anna had 12 children so one can see it didn't end there. However, all my aunts and uncles on both sides of my family have passed away leaving me one of the patriarchs of our lineage, at least through Hermann.
  Herman married

4. Fernal Langman, the 4th son married Catherine Austin, daughter of Nicholas and Catherine Austin. They were married 25 June 1914 and divorced sometime later. Fernal remained unmarried the remainder of his life. Buried in Pine Lake Cemetery.

5. Otis - see above died very young.

Obituaries available through the Michigan City Indiana Library index for several of the family members is on line. 

6 Edward - Married Francis Ledyard 26 Sep 1892. Edward, child of Fred and Sophie's sons, was born in 1871, at La Porte County died tragically. See obit of 2/24/1909. Both he and his wife Frances (Ledyard), grandmother Ledyard's sister, died when their buggy was struck by a west bound electric trolly car. They left France two children by a previous marriage and their five children homeless and penniless. Their children were Blanch, Esther, Viola, Frank and George. Frances' daughters by a previous marriage were Bessie, b. May 1887 and Etta b. February 1890. There is much history involved in the group of families.

7. Edith - Edith born Laporte Co. She married twice. First to Earnest Wagner on 6 Feb. 1890 secondly to Herman Daun on 31 Dec. 1897 both at LaPorte Co.

8. Constant - Constant never married and died at 34 years of age in Cass County, Indiana on 22 Apr 1905.

More on Associated Families
Jacob Replogle married Elizabeth Boogher 1791 in Maryland. They moved to Ohio. Then to Indiana.They had daughter Lavina who married Henry Ott July 21 1825 at Dayton, Ohio She was born July 14, 1801. She had a daughter Kathryn who married Franklin Ledyard 9/Apr. 1866 at New Buffalo, Michigan.
   Catherine had a brotther Joseph who died LaPorte Co.
  Katherine and Franklin Ledyard had my grandmother Anna; who married Herman Langman on April 27, 1885.

Now to fall back a bit. Frederick Langemann came to the states in 1868. He married in Germany to Sophie Radloff. They had 4 children in Germany. #1 son William (b) 1858. He married Anna Ehrick there in Laporte Co., #2 son Robert also born Germany married Ella Laborn about 1883-84 at LaPorte Co.  #3 son born Germany Herman married Anna Langman April 2, 1885 He died Floyd Co. Iowa. #4. Fernal Born Germany died Michigan City, In. unmarried. #5 Edward married Frances ??? #6 Otto died child. # 7.Edith born Laporte Co. She marrieds twice. First to Earnest Wagner on 6 Feb. 1890 secondly to Herman Daun on 31 Dec. 1897 both at LaPorte Co. Last was Constant who never married. My Langman line all married in Iowa. There were 12 children in grandpa Herman and Grandma Anna's marriage

I'm sure there must be descendents of some other of Frederick and Sophie's out there somewhere. If so and if you wish to exchange information, please contact me. I will surely answer as long as God allows.

With that I hope you like what I have submitted. I also with it could be made known so if there are relatives around that might contact me, please do so.

Virgil A. Ruckdaschel

3313 6th St.
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
1-208-743-0445
email me at varuck@cableone.net

Return to La Porte County Indiana Biography Page

Don't forget to do a search for some of these folks on our website.
Webmaster - Deanna West