Christian F. William Ortel, who is highly regarded as a citizen and a man throughout this section, was born on September 19, 1856, in Sugar Creek township, Hancock county, Indiana, on the family homestead. He is the son of Fredrick and Louisa (Deerberg) Ortel, both natives of Germany, who immigrated to the county in 1843. Fredrick Ortel was the son of Charles Ortel and wife who were also natives of Germany. Fredrick Ortel was a farmer and a pioneer of Hancock county and his large family were reared in the original home of logs, which was erected in 1852 and razed in June, 1905.

Christian F. William Ortel was reared on the home place and is indebted to the German school, and to those of the district in which he lived, for the education which he received. John Weaver was his teacher in the district schools and Rev. J. G. Kunz, his teacher in the German school. The interim between his student days and his marriage was spent in the interests of his father and for five years he was an employee of the neighboring farmers, for two years working for John Geisel. On April 4, 1886, Christian F. William Ortel was united in marriage to Amelia Weber, daughter of Anton and Mary (Stegman) Weber, who were both natives of Germany, and to this union two children were born, namely, Christian, who resides in Heron, Montana, and Benone, who lives at home. Amelia (Weber) Ortel was born on July 3, 1867, in Buck Creek township, of this county, and died on February 11, 1888.

On March 5, 1889, Christian F. William Ortel was united in marriage to the sister of his first wife, Emma Weber, and to them has been born one child, Otto. Emma (Weber) was born on April 30, 1861, on the home place two miles north of the town of Mohawk, Indiana, and is one of eleven children born to her parents. Seven of these children still survive, Henry Christian, Elnora, Louisa, Lena, Emma and Charles.

Christian F. William Ortel assumed entire charge of the home farm almost immediately following his first marriage, having purchased the interests of the other heirs. And this place has since been his home. In 1896 forty acres of the original purchase were traded for another forty acres adjoining on the north, and this large and well managed tract is devoted to the raising of grain and hogs. However, about ten head of cattle are kept for farm use beside six head of draft horses. All of the buildings on this place are large and finely constructed and add much to the attractiveness of the farm. In church matters, Christian F. William Ortel, as well as his wife, is a member of the German Lutheran church and both are active in its support, he being a deacon in this denomination. Politically, he is a member of the Democratic party, and votes that ticket on all issues.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 982-983.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 19, 2001.

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