Even today, Legden, Germany is a small farming village of less than 1,600 hundred residents. Located about 35 kilometers (21 miles) West of Munster and less than 15 km (9 miles) southeast of the Netherlands border.

In 1927, a book entitled “Geschichte der Germeinde Legden” translated “The History of Legden, Germany” was written by a J. Fleikig of Coesfeld. Much of the information presented here comes from a few parts of that book that have been loosely translated into English. Another resource used was the book written in 1992, “900 Jahre Legden und Asbeck 1092-1992 Ein Blick in Geschichte und Gegenwart” translated “900 Years of Legden and Asbeck, 1092-1992, A View of Past and Present”

In the registers of the Bishop of Munster for the years 1364 to 1378, is listed “Guter zu Welpscholt (Welpholt in Wehr)” The name Welpscholt was an early spelling of what became known as Welpholt. This meant that the farm was actually owned by the bishop and the family who lived on the land were just tenant farmers.

In the “Das Schatzungsregister von 1498” there are the following listings in Legden;

Johan ten Wilpeshote 4…………….4 adults residing on the farm headed by Johan Wilpesholte.

Schulte Elpertinck 4 ……………….4 adults residing on the farm headed by Schulte Elpert.

In the “Verzeichnis der vorhandenen Pferde und Grundherren der einzelnen Hofe 1679/80.” Translated “Directory of the available horses and basic gentlemen of the individual yards 1679” is listed in Legden

Welpholt – Herrn Dr. Ham eigen –1. This means the family had 1 horse to help with the farming but it was actually owned by Dr. Ham.

The map below is from a local map printed in 1842. The Wilphold farm (A) was the largest in the area. Herman Wilpolt’s father Johann Gerhard Hermann Elpert was most likely born on the Elpert farm (B). His mother was born in the small village of Holtwick about ten miles away. The Huning farm (C) has since been passed down to part of the Kerkhoff family, who were first cousins to Herman Wilpolt. His second cousin Johann Bernard Herman Leus was born on the Leis farm (D) and he was one of the first relatives of Herman to immigrate to the United States in 1860. Herman would follow him 2 years later and Homestead a farm just a few miles away from his cousin, in the area of St. Mary’s Ridge in Monroe County, Wisconsin.