Obit: Audorff, Johannes (1819 - 1923)
Poster: Stan

Surnames: AUDORFF AMMERMAN

Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 03/15/1923

Audorff, Johannes (26 MAY 1819 - 7 MAR 1923)

At the age of 103 years, 9 months and 11 days Johannes Karl Audorff was found dead in his rocking chair at 6:20 a.m. on March 7th, 1923.

Captain Johannes Karl Audorff was born aboard an English man-o-war at sea on May 26, 1819. His father was a captain in the British Navy. At least part of his schooling was had in Germany, where he became acquainted with Doris Frehling, who in 1845 became his wife. They lived together for fifty-three years and had a family of three boys. All of these boys died in one day while the father was serving in the British Army in the East Indies during the Sepoy Rebellion in 1858. This caused his wife to lose her mind. They traveled for some time at the queen's expense that she might regain her reason. During this period they were ship wrecked and were rescued by an American warship bound for New York. The excitement of the ship wreck caused his wife to regain her mind and they then settled in America. They lived in New York until she died in 1898.

On August 23, 1899 he was married to Meta Ammerman of New Haven Conn. In 1902 they came west and settled on the farm in the town of Butler, Clark County Wis., where they lived ever since.

Mr. Audorff was the veteran of five wars. He served in the war between Denmark and the German Federation in 1848 and 1849, in the Crimean War, 1854-56. During this struggle the entire regiment of which he was colonel was wiped out with the exception of five men. He served in the British Army in the East Indies during the Sepoy Rebellion in 1858. He was captain of Co. E. of the 54th New York Cavalry during the Civil War and acted as drill sergeant of the volunteers during the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The funeral was held at the Butlerville Schoolhouse on Friday, services being conducted by Rev. Paul Mao-Kinney, and interment taking place in the nearby cemetery. Members of Cold Harbor Camp, Sons of Veterans acted as pallbearers.

He is survived by his wife and five children, Ludwig (b. 1901 ca.), August, Johannes, Phoebe and Ernest.

Over fifty wars have occurred during the lifetime of the deceased and he has had a share in one of every ten. Mid scenes of death and carnage and in the peace of the retirement of his later life, he has been a very religious man and maintained family prayers with great regularity.

Family Notes

Phoebe Audorff was born September 25, 1908

Source: Clark Co., WI Birth Records, vol. 5, pg. 724.