Stolte in Lengerich, North Rhine-Westphalia

According to Gert Schumann, Lengerich genealogist, in correspondance the Stoltes go back to the 13th or 14th century in the area around Wechte, Lengerich when there was a Colon Stolte. The main branch of this family died off, but several branches exist. They were scattered primarily in Lengerich, but also Lienen, Ladbergen, Tecklenburg, Ledde, and Hohne. At least five lines came to America during the nineteenth century.

In 1591 a Stolte is listed in the Wechte tax inventory (Gert Schumann, Lengerich/Westfalen im 30jaehrigen Kriege 1618-1648). The International Genealogical Index (IGI) for Lengerich starts with the marriage of Severin Stolten and Trineke Kineman 22 Sep 1661 (M952771) and the christening of Clauss Stoldten, father Stoldten, on 24 Apr 1664 (J952771). There are two listings for Stolte and Alert Stolte as Rademacher/wheelwrights in 1725 (Gert Schumann, Geschichte der Stadt Lengerich).

The first branch coming to America appears to be Johann Heinrich Stolte and Maria Elsabein Westhoven (or Hoven, Howen, Howe--all variations show up on the baptismal records) who were married in Lengerich 7 Aug 1799. Their sons Friederich Wilhelm and Friederich Rudolph arrive in 1836 and are in Franklin and Warren Counities, Missouri about 1840. A daughter Sophie Fredericke married Friederich Rahmeier in Lengerich and arrive together in 1845. Parents and children die in Warren County, Missouri.

Three branches from children of Johann Eberhard Wilhelm Stolte and Catharine Elisabeth Luebke, married 14 Dec 1814 in Lengerich, arrive in Madison County, Illinois. Their parents died in 1829 and 1831 in Lengerich probably pushing the emigration of some of their children. Hermann Heinrich Friedrich Stolte arrived near St. Louis, Missouri in 1853. He begins farming in Pin Oak township, Madison County, Illinois. His brother Eberhard Rudolph Stolte followed in 1854 and took up farming west of Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois. Two children of a three brother Wilhelm Friedrick Stolte (that is the family listing by his descendants, but his christening name may be Johann Wilhelm Friederick? Philipp Stolte) arrived in 1868. They are Friedrich Heinrich and Catharina Bernhardine Stolte. They migrate to Strasburg, Shelby County, IL. Friedrich moves on to near Brownstown, Fayette County, IL. Bernhardine marries Johann Herman Ebmeier in St Louis, 14 May 1871 (Missouri Marriage Records 1803-2002 on Ancestry.com).

A fifth branch comes out of Ladbergen and enters Indianapolis, Indiana, then moving to Ft Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Adolph Heinrich Stolte of this line arrives in America in 1853.

  --Urset 14:30, 9 April 2007 (MDT)