Biographical Sketch of Capt. Frank H. Hoelscher, Franklin County, MO

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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Capt. Frank H. Hoelscher, of Washington, is a native of Germany, born
September 25, 1838, the son of Frederick and Kate (Kappelmann) Hoel-
scher.  The parents came to America in 1841, and settled on Boeuf 
Creek, in Franklin County, Mo.  The father was a farmer by occupation.
He died in 1855, while yet in the prime of life.  His wife died in
1856.  Of their five children, three are now living: Charlotte (wife
of John F. Neimeyer), Herman and Capt. Frank H.  The latter was a
small boy when his parents died, and after that was thrown upon the
world to fight the battle of life as best he could.  He commenced to
learn the carpenter's trade when sixteen, and followed this seven
months, at Augusta, St. Charles Co., Mo.  His employer failing in
business, he was thrown out of employment.  He then came back to 
Washington, and for three weeks lived upon apples in the citizen's
orchards.  He then hired out to drive horses on a ferry-boat, and
afterward went on the "Wide Awake" steam ferry-boat, as "roustabout"
and soon became engineer.  He followed this for about seven years, 
when he was promoted to clerk and conductor.  In two years he was
made pilot, and yet retained his clerkship for ten years.  At the 
same time he was made captain, thus being pilot, clerk and captain
at the same time.  For the past eighteen years he has been pilot and
captain, and has his thirteenth issue of license as pilot and captain.
He has run on "Mill Boy," "Bright Star," "Evening Star," "May Bryan,"
steamers "Aggie" and "Dora".  The Captain now owns one-fourth interest
in the "May Bryan."  Capt. Hoelscher has run as far up the river as
Omaha, and as far down as Helena, and up White River as far as Duall's
Bluff.  In 1861 he married Miss Genavafa Arbeiter, who was born in
Germany, on the Rhine, in 1842.  Six children were born to this union:
Kate (wife of Henry Moore), Edward, William, Frank, Louis and August.
The Captain has passed his life on the river since he was a boy, with
the exception of two years, when he farmed in Warren County.  He is a
Republican in politics, and a member of the A. O. U. W.  His wife is
a member of the Catholic Church. 

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