My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Greene County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Joseph Bleier, proprietor of the Vienna Bakery, at Paragould, was born in Bohemia, Austria, December 17, 1846, and is the son of Ignatz and Anna (Freitle) Bleier, also natives of Austria. The parents are still living in their native country, and the father follows the occupation of a farmer. In their family were eight children: Joseph, Frank, Robert, Ignatz, John and Otto (twins), Barbara and Anna. Joseph Bleier received his education in Austria, and remained on the farm with his father until fourteen years of age, when he began learning the baker’s trade. In 1867, when in his twentieth year, he took passage from Bremen to America on the steamer “Ocean,’’ which was stranded one year later, and landed at New York City. He came on to Cincinnati, where he worked for about eight years in and around the city. He then went to Chicago, remained there about three years and then engaged in business for himself at Joliet, Ill. In 1886 he came to Paragould and immediately engaged in his present business, at which he has been very successful. He is an excellent baker and keeps a good stock of everything carried in his line. He was married in October, 1873, to Miss Mary Gaker, a native of Hamilton County, O., and a daughter of John and Rosa (Schleer) Gaker, who were natives of Germany and early settlers of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Bleier have been born five children, three now living: John K., Frank and Joseph E. The two deceased were Robert and Mathew. Mr. and Mrs. Bleier are members of the Catholic Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Greene County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Greene County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Greene County, Arkansas family biographies here: Greene County, Arkansas Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.