JOHN AND WHILEMINE KLATT

John Carl Klatt was born February 4, 1845 in Bromberg, Stadt Posen, Prussia, Germany. John's parents were Christian and Wilhemine Rehbein Klatt. He married Whilamine “Mena” Liptke in 1870 in Germany. She was born August 1846 in Germany. John and Whilamine came to the United States in 1882.

John and Whilamine in the 1900 U.S. Census stated they had eleven children with six living: Their children were:

1. through 8 unknown

9. Alvenia Klatt

10. John Jr. Klatt was born June 22, 1882/83/84 in Michigan. He married LuLu Willard on October 27, 1915 in Indiana and died in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Michigan on January 30, 1971.

11. Arthur B. Klatt was born in August 20, 1887 in Manistee City, Manistee County, Michigan and died at the age of 24 on October 26, 1914 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried in Mishawaka City Cemetery, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, Indiana

In 1896, John Klatt owned and operated 75 acres on the NW corner of Meridian and Grabowski Roads in Section 33 of Lakefield Township. Their neighbors were: Charles Anschutz, Jacob Brown, John Adamek, and John Hanneman (Honaman),

The following information about the Klatt's Farm was found in the book “Lest We Forget” written by Myron F. Gulick: “ Wonderful tame strawberries grew in the front yard. The house had been moved two or three times; no one knows why. The whereabout of the Klatt family was not known. The high bank, as we called it, was on the back of the cleared land. Very nice water could be had there; the Indians used it and called it “water of the great spirits” The water did have lots of minerals in it. The deer and other wild animals drank there, too. This spring never went dry.” “On the Klatt farm was a large ravine, with choke cherry trees along each side of it. They produced many cherries which were good for jellies and jams. A little stream of water in the center was known for tall grass and snakes of all kinds. Some were very large. Tall cottonwood trees grew there also.” "Archie Rodenbo and his wife, Muriel, lived on the Klatt farm in the 1920's. He farmed and worked for other farms at grain and bean harvest time. Muriel taught school at the Oak Grove School #9, Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan."

By 1910, John, Wilhemine, Alvenia, John Jr. and Arthur Klatt were living in Penn Township, Mishawaka City, St. Joseph County, Indiana. In 1920, John Klatt still owned his property in Lakefield Township. John died on October 21, 1923 and is buried in Mishawaka City Cemetery, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, Indiana.

SOURCES: 1900 and 1910 United States Census; 1896 and 1916 Lakefield Township Plat Map; John Carl Klatt's German baptismal and Indiana death records; Arthur B. Klatt's birth and death records; John Klatt Jr., and WWII draft record; marriage record; The book “Lest We Forget” written by Myron F. Gulick.