Henry J Ahrens

AHRENS, MILLER

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 8/17/2011 at 19:15:03

I have found 3 birth dates for Henry J Ahrens, September 1829, 1830 and September 1834, at Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Henry's biography can be found at the Butler County Iowa Gen Web site (here): History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883 Pages 677-678 - HENRY AHRENS - Henry Ahrens resides on section 30 of Butler County, Iowa. His father, Jacob Ahrens, bought the claim of this farm, where he settled, in 1855. Henry came in 1856, and has lived on this farm since that time. His father Jacob died here in 1859; he was born in Germany in 1800, and came to the United States with his family in 1853. He lived at Davenport, Iowa, this State, two years before he came here. His wife still lives with her son. The parents of Henry had five children, two of whom are living -Louise, and sister, wife of George Miller, of Cedar Falls.

Mr. Henry Ahrens was born in Germany in 1830; he was married at Davenport, Iowa to Louise Dahl, born in Germany. (Louise Dahl born 1826 Mecklenberg, Germany, died April 15, 1889 rural Dumont, Pittsford, Butler, IA.) Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens have four sons - Theodore, James, William, and George. They have an adopted daughter, Louise. Mr. Ahrens has 400 acres of land, on which he has made all the improvements. He and his wife belong to the German Evangelical Church.

Found Henry in the 1860 census at Boylans Grove, Pittsford, Butler, IA: Henry Ahrens 30, Louisa Ahrens 31, Theadore Ahrens 3, James Ahrens 1, Maria Ahrens 63. Farmer from Mecklenburg, Germany.
Found in the 1880 census at Pittsford, Butler, IA: Henry Ahrens 51, Lorga (transcription error, should be Louise) Ahrens 53, T.H. Ahrens 23, James Ahrens 21, William Ahrens 19, George Ahrens 10, Loeza Ahrens 8, Eugene Gillet 14, Cora Gillet 7, Mary Ahrens 83, Henry Ahrens 73.

Found in the 1885 census at Pittsford, Butler, IA: Henry Ahrens 56, Louisa Ahrens 54, James Ahrens 26, William Ahrens 24, George Ahrens 15, Louisa Ahrens 13, Cora Jrillet 12, Mary Ahrens 86, Henry Ahrens 77. Louisa Dahl born July 1826, died April 15, 1889 Butler, IA).

After his first wife's death, Henry married Beate Fritsch about 1893 at probably Butler, Iowa. They had two daughters: Beate H (born October 10, 1894, died May 1983) and Elizabeth (born July 1897) (both born at Garner, IA). The couple left Butler County, Iowa and moved to Hancock County, Iowa.

Found in the 1900 census at Madison, Hancock, IA: Henery Ahrens[Henery Aholus]; Madison, Hancock,Iowa; Age 55; Birth Date Sep 1834; Birthplace Germany; Race: White; Gender: Male; Immigration Year: 1855; Father's Birthplace: Germany; Mother's Birthplace: Germany; Spouse's Name: Beote Ahrens; Marriage year: 1893; Marital Status: Married; Years married: 7; Household Members: Henery Ahrens 55, Beote Ahrens 49, Beata Ahrens, 5 Elizabeth Ahrens 2, Clyde Nelson Unkn, Augest Hook 39, (Clyde and August were boarders). Running a retail dry goods and grocery store.

Found in the 1905 census at Hayfield, Madison, Hancock, IA.: Henry, Beate and 2 daughters.

Found in the 1910 census at Madison, Hancock, IA with wife and 2 daughters.

Henry J Ahrens died September 5, 1910 at Hayfield, Hancock, Iowa. He was buried at the Harlan Cemetery, lot # A 44 in Pittsford Township, Butler County, Iowa (northwest of Dumont, IA).

News article/obituary from the Greene Recorder on September 7, 1910:
"The Ahrens boys received news Sunday forenoon that their father, Henry Ahrens, of Hayfield, had died at his home after several weeks of illness caused by stomach cancer. Henry Ahrens was 83 years old and leaves a second wife and two daughters by her and 4 sons living at his place in Butler County, IA. He formerly lived here himself and reared his family here. He came in the summer of 1854 and had been gone about 16 years. The body will be brought down Tuesday evening and the funeral will be here Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.