George Hoeltzel

George Hoeltzel arrived in America in 1888 with his father, Georg Michel and his brothers and sister, Henry, Phillip, and Magdalena, and settled in Des Peres, Missouri. He married Marie Margaret Mertz who died after the birth of their fourth daughter in 1896. The infant, Emma, was taken by Marie's sister, Lizzie, and her husband Chris Mueller. George though he would have to place the three older girls, Ella, Pauline, and Marie in an orphanage, but his brother Phillip said he planned to get married and if they could move in with George, his wife, Bertha, would look after the girls. Phillip and Bertha were married December 5, 1896. Ella was 5, Pauline was 3, and Marie was 2. They lived together until 1901. 

George and his brother-in-law, Fred Mertz, had heard about the land opening for settlement in Oklahoma and wanted to investigate. They evidently received information about the German Lutheran community near Lahoma, Oklahoma. There is no evidence that they knew anyone in Oklahoma They were both impressed with Oklahoma, especially the cool evening breezes as the weather in St. Louis was hot and very oppressive in summer. Fred Mertz wanted to buy two farms and move to Oklahoma, but his wife did not want to leave St. Louis. George purchased a farm on November 30, 1901. It was purchased from Henry G. Gaede and his wife, Amelia S. Gaede for $3500. At this time this was known as the Territory of Oklahoma. The sale was filed for record on March 26, 1902, at 3:10 pm. and duly recorded in Book 21, page 133 (frank Bradford, registrar of deeds) 

The railroads offered a service known as "Immigrant Moveables". They would loan people a box car and it could be used to carry one's possessions-cows, horses, chickens, furniture, and implements. George used this services to move to Oklahoma. His father, George Michel, came with him and when the train crew came y, he would hide so he didn't have to pay a fare for riding the train. 

When George came to Oklahoma, Phillip and Bertha moved into St. Louis from Des Peres with the three girls. Later George asked them to join him in Oklahoma and his sister Magdalena brought them by train, probably in March of 1902. There were met an brought by wagon to the farm west of Enid. As they approached the farm. they saw several men working, shingling the roof of Trinity Lutheran Church, one quarter mile west of the farm. The family now consisted of George, George Michel, Magdalena, and the three girls, Ella, Pauline, and Marie. 

Martha Krahn came to Oklahoma with the Krahn family and the Rutz and Krienke families from Minnesota. George helped them get settled and met Martha. They were married June, 6, 1907 by the Reverend Phillip Rosel, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. Witnesses to the wedding were Mr. Evalt Krahn and Mr. Richard Westphal.

George and Martha  had  two daughters, DeLores and Irma, five sons, Walter, Robert, Roy, Irwin, and Harold, and baby Wesley and a baby girl, who died as  infants.