The photo is of Charles Eggebrecht's log cabin and his farm in LakefieldTownship during the 1890's. Pictured in the photo is Charles, Christena, Minnie, William, Ella and Joachim Eggebrecht.
The family of Charles Eggebrecht – Charles, Christena, Minnie, William and Ella
CARL "CHARLES" AND CHRISTENA WITTENBURG EGGEBRECHT
Carl "Charles" Johann Friedrich Christian Eggebrecht was born August 31, 1862 in Germany; to Hans "Joachim" and Henriata "Maria" Tesner Eggebrecht. Charles married Christena Friederike Johanne Wittenburg on September 24, 1885 in Jordenstorf, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. Christena was born January 15/16, 1863 in Germany, her parents were Christian Friedrich Johann and Friedericka Schroeder Wittenburg. Charles and Christena with Joachim and Maria Eggebrecht came to the United States on the ship called the Ems and entered the New York Port on November 7, 1885. Charles and Christena first lived in Saginaw, Michigan and attended St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in Saginaw. In 1887, Charles was a laborer with J.H. Pearson & Son and resided at 2015 State Street, Saginaw, Michigan.
Charles and Christena had the following children:
Minnie Alvina Eggebrecht was born in September 28, 1886 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. Minnie married Albert Federspiel.
William Joseph Eggebrecht was born June 26, 1889 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. He married Lizzie Belle Moulton on March 10, 1915. William died on August 5, 1956 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.
Ella J.H. Eggebrecht was born June 1891. She married Charles Wendt. Ella died on January 14, 1936 in Emerson Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.
Charles' father, Joachim was 66 or 67 years old when he came to the United States. He and his wife Maria, lived with their daughter and son-in-law, Carl and Caroline Wittenburg in Saginaw, Michigan. On May 15, 1893, Maria died of Cancer at the age of 63 years old and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan. Joachim lived with Charles and Christena when they moved to Lakefield Township. Joachim died January 14, 1901 at the age of 82 years old of Dropsy, and is buried in the Lakefield Cemetery.
Charles had two sisters, Caroline who was married to Carl Wittenburg; and his sister, Wilhelmina who was married to Edmond Lux. In 1896, they all lived in Lakefield Township. According to the Lakefield Township Plat Map of 1896, Charles and Christina owned and operated a 35.21 acre farm on the NW corner of Section 16 at the intersection of Roosevelt and Meridian Roads. Their neighbors were: Jacob Lauer, Albert Easlick, S. Wells, Peter Meyer, John Shay, George Trudgeon, John Baker, Louis Baker, Tom Gulick and James Clark. By January 1900, they owned 40 acres in Lakefield Township in Section 16.
The photo is of Charles and Christena Eggebrecht with their children, William and Ella
Charles' occupation was a carpenter and he built a home for his family at 325 Parsons St., Merrill, Michigan by 1915. By 1920, they moved to Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.
Christena died on February 17, 1928 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan and Charles died on July 21, 1930 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery beside Joachim Eggebrecht.
SOURCES: Charlotte Huebner; 1896 Lakefield Township Plat Map; U.S. Census; Carl & Christena's German marriage record; Charles & Christena's death records; Joachim Eggebrecht death record; Ella Wendt's obituary and death record; William Joseph Eggebrecht's obituary; Minnie Federspiel's obituary and Della Miller McKay's obituary collection.