My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS LERCH, tobacco raiser and dealer, Augusta, Ky., is a son of Philip and Maria (Lyh) Lerch, she of English extraction, and he of German. They both lived and died in Germany, their native country. They were the parents of five children, three of whom, viz., Augustus, our subject and one sister, came to America in 1847. The two former purchased eighty acres of land opposite Augusta, Ky., being land originally settled about 1800, by one Bonde, after whom the original landing was named. Subsequent to their purchase, Augustus married and afterward died, leaving his widow and children, who make their home with Louis, who was born in the city of Darmstadt, Germany, in 1827. He grew to manhood and was educated in his native country. He has been a resident of Lewis Township since 1847, and in 1849 married Miss Fredricca Weber, who was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1829, and came to America in 1848. They have three children living, viz.: Mary, Alexander and Robert Lee, the latter now in the United States Naval Academy. The early part of Mr. Lerch’s American life was somewhat devoted to raising grapes, but since 1874, this has given way to the cultivation of tobacco, and he now annually raises from six to eight acres, and has a farm well adapted to the purpose. He and his son have a tobacco warehouse. They are connected with Augusta, Ky., by a ferry line, which adds to their pleasure and convenience.