Ferdinand Heritage - Echoes From The Past by Pat Backer The Ferdinand Historical Society has chosen to honor Ida P. (Hagen) Whitaker as one of Ferdinand's distinguished citizens. Her photograph will soon be added to "Kundek's Corner" in the Ferdinand Library, along with those of Fr. Joseph Kundek, J. Herman Beckmann, Florenz Kitten, Albert Sonderman and Henry F. Haake. Ida Hagen was born in Huntingburg on May 24, 1888 to Ben Jr., and Millie (Pinkston) Hagen. By the time Ida started school, the family had moved to a log cabin on the Emanuel Pinkston, Sr. home place. (Emanuel Senior was Ida's great-grandfather; he founded the Colored Freedom Settlement in 1840, and was the acknowledged patriarch until his death in 1885). The home place farmed by Ben Jr. for corn, potatoes, vegetables and melons is now the site ofthe Huntingburg Conservation Club. This farm lies in Ferdinand Township just across from Cass. Ida attended school at the Gehlhausen Country School, located at the intersection of county roads near the old Roman Begle farm. (This school, now demolished, was still standing about five years ago). Ida was evidently an industrious student. She received county honors in 1901. She was the first black person to graduate from a common (grade) school in Dubois County. Ida finished one year at Huntingburg High School in 1904. That same year, at age 16, Ida Hagen was sworn in as a clerk at the Ferdinand Post Office. Dr. Aloysius G. Wollenmann, doctor and surgeon, was also serving as Ferdinand Postmaster. There were probably several reasons for Ida's appointment. The most obvious reason is political. Dr. Wollenmann was one of the few Republicans in "the banner Democratic township," and the Negroes of the Freedom Settlement generally followed the party of Abraham Lincoln, their "Great Emancipator." Ida Hagen as she appeared Another reason might be the nature of the relationship that existed between the Negroes of the Freedom Settlement and the surrounding farmers and the townspeople of Ferdinand. The historical record gives us only examples of cooperation and expressions of mutual respect. In order to get at the last reason, it is necessary to review the history of Dr. Aloysius G. Wollenmann. A.G. Wollenmann was CARCUI Werner and Max Wollenmann in front of their fathers his own way followed hisfather's tradition, Werner becoming the Ferdinand Postmaster and Max becoming a doctor for the Army and then the Veteran's Administration). In 1903 Fidelia delivered a girl, Mary Margaret, but tragically both mother and daughter were lost. Now what was Dr. Wollenmann to do, with his many duties, with meals to be prepared and cleaning to be done," with two young boys to raise? It was about this time that Dr. Wollenmann first asked Ida Hagen and a Pinkston woman to help him out. They would stay the week in Ferdinand helping him, and on weekends they would return to the Freedom Settlement. Then, as previously stated, Ida Hagen was given the job as clerk in 1904. During Ida's leisure time after post office hours, she studied the German language (probably also picking up a great deal from her post office acquaintances), and took a home study course in pharmacy under the patient tutelage of Dr. Wollenmann. Ida also helped in the doctor's office, and even on house calls. Ida graduated from the pharmacy course in June 1906 and passed the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy examination for full license. Dr. Wollenmann decided to take an extended trip back to his native Switzerland, and Ida was sworn in as assistant postmaster in charge during his absence. Dr. Wollenmann died in 1912, and Ida was appointed acting postmaster. Altogether, she worked eight years in the Ferdinand Post Office, she spokefluent German and she was extremely well liked by the Ferdinand citizens. Ida left Ferdinand in 1912. For a short time she practiced pharmacy in Indianapolis. She then accepted a position as manager/ pharmacist of a pharmacy in Gary, IN. She was baptized into the Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, 1912. worked in Ferdinand's Post Office. - -Photo courtesy of Jackson Meyer born in Neuenkirch, Lucerne, Switzerland in 1864. He received most of his education in Europe. In 1889 he came to America, learned English at the seminary at St. Meinrad, and in 1892 he set up his practice in Ferdinand as surgeon-doctor and pharmacist. Dr. Wollenmann called his establishment the Adler Apothek (Eagle Apothecary). It was located on the eastern side of Main between 11th and 12th. (The foundations ofthis building were recently rediscovered as some grading was done on the bank there.) This building also became the U.S. Post Office when Dr. Wollenmann took on the additional duties of Ferdinand Postmaster in 1897. Dr. A.G. Wollenmann had married Fidelia Kempf, daughter of Dr. Matthew Kempf. Werner was born to them in 1894 and Max: in 1898. (Each son in lanes lie 1898 Class at Gehlhausen School including Ida Begle, Henry Hackman, Henry Hovels, Hagen's fourth grade picture. Pictured front row, from and Frank Hovels. Third Ida row: left: Pauline (Ahmerkamp) Braunecker, Regina Bertha (Neusche) Meyer, Mayme (Gehlhausen) Brace, Emma (Lange) Hackman, Cecilia Elizabeth (Hovels) Verkamp, Nicholas (Schwartz) Hopf, Katie (Gehlhausen) Lange, Leo Ne- trustee), Join usche, Lange, Edward Hackman, Otto Gehlhausen William Peter ship Hoeing (teacher), Lange, Joseph Lange, Edward and Leo Lange. Second row: Clara (Ahmerkamp) Edward Hembrock. Grahler, Margaret (Neusche) Wink, Josephine Gehlhausen, Matilda Lange, Carolina (Gehlhausen) - Photo courtesy of Irv THE FERDINAND NEWS... The Ferdinand News P.O. Box 38 Ferdinand, IN 47532-0038 Since 1906 Name in Dubois, Spencer, Perry, Orange, Crawford, Warrick, Daviess, Address $15.00 Pike or Martin counties; $17.00 anywhere else in Indiana, $20.00 outside $10.00 College subscription (thru April) Phone Indiana, Ida Hagen married Sidney J. Whitaker on Sept. 29, 1926 in Indianapolis. They were living in Detroit in 1955. Ida Whitaker was very active and well known in civic and religious groups. There is a photograph of Ida posing with the Michigan governor's wife. We have no certain news of Ida since the 1950s. However, one friend of the family, Sgt. Richmond Price (Ret.), told me that he thought Ida had died 15 or 20 years ago. Ida Hagen was a young woman of spirit and determination from Ferdinand Township who set high goals for herself - and achieved much against great odds. Note: The Ferdinand Historical Society is indebted to Albert Sonderman for most of the facts about Ida Hagen and the Freedom Settlement. Dr. A.G. Wollenmann pictured in his office. - - Photo courtesy of Leander Wollenmann Next will be a short history of the Ferdinand Freedom Settlement. Anyone with information or pictures relating to the Freedom Settlement are asked to call Pat Backer at 367-1226. * Joseph Hackman (Hagen) Whitaker, (Witte) Gehlhausen, Senninger (townWilliam Hembrock, Gehlhausen and and Mary Verkamp
