Ludwig "Louis" Helmlinger was born 31 July 1806 at the family home in Wimmenau, France. He was the seventh and youngest child of Phillipp Helmlinger (1769-1817)and Catherina Elsass (1768-1829). Ludwig was a farmer. He married Christina Munsch, daughter of Adam Munsch 1789-1815 and Marguerita Barbe 1789-1817, on 20 March 1834 at a church in Eckartswiller, France. Christina Munch was born on 12 April 1812 in Alsace. At the age of 27, he and his wife immigrate to the United States. They left from the port of Le Havre, France and sailed on the ship Pierre Corneille (usually a forty day trip) arriving in New York City in 1834. They traveled by boat and canal boats up the Hudson River, the New York Canal system, and through Great Lakes Ontario and Erie to reach Ohio. Congress owned all the land in Ohio which was sold for $1.25 an acre. Ludwig Helmlinger purchased land in 1834. He built a log home and began clearing the trees away for farming. He was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered he added land holding until he became owner of 420 acres. This land was later divided up among his children. On 16 February 1835, their first of eventually 9 children was born there in Auglaize County. When of age, the children attended school in an old log house called Eheman School. Across the road from their home, Ludwig donated some of his land in 1834 so St Marks Lutheran Church could be built. The first church was a log building with no steeple. Ludwig's first son was the first person baptized in the church. Later, land for the church cemetery was bought from Ludwig for $10.00. The church cemetery is nick-named the "Helmlinger Cemetery." Christina Helmlinger died on 29 September 1880 and Ludwig "Louis" Helmlinger died 03 October 1884. Both are buried in this cemetery, near Geyer, Ohio.


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