James Benjamin Ahrens

AHRENS, DAHL, MESSERSCHMIDT, MURPHY

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 2/14/2012 at 11:01:51

James Benjamin Ahrens was born January 13, 1858 at Pittsford, Butler, Iowa to Henry Jochim Ahrens and Louisa Dahl, the second of five children. He had 3 brothers, Theodore Henry (born September 1856); William Walter (born January 16, 1861); George Jochim (born August 1869); and an adopted sister, Louisa (born October 1871).

James grew up on the farm his parents owned in Pittsford, Butler, IA. He married Alvena Messerschmidt 1889 at Butler, Iowa. (Alvena born 1867 Missouri).

James and Alvena had seven children, all born at Pittsford, Butler, IA:
1. Verne Ray (born September 3, 1889, died 1971, married Margrete); lived entire life at Pittsford, Butler, IA.

2. Leota F. (born 1896)

3. Albert A. (born May 1, 1896, died February 4, 1944 Des Moines, IA).
Obituary from Mason City Globe Gazette: Dumont: Military services were held Sunday afternoon, February 6, 1944, at Salem Evangelical Church, for Albert Ahrens of Hampton, IA who died Friday at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moine, IA where he had been a patient for the past 6 weeks. The Reverend E M Miller, pastor of the United Brethren Church and chaplain of the American Legion, officiated. Albert was born May 1, 1896 at Dumont, IA, the son of James and Alvina Ahrens. He grew to manhood here. He enlisted in WW1 July 20, 1918. On January 12, 1921, he was united in marriage to Rose Murphy. To this union were born 7 children. Following their marriage, he worked on a small farm at Sheffield, IA and they have resided at Hampton, IA the past 11 years.

4. Henry A.(born abt 1899/1900)

5. Earnest(born 1901/1902)

6. Leland (born 1907)

7. Glen Ahrens (1909 -1975)

Family found in the 1860 through 1930 censuses living at Boylans Grove, Pittsford township, Butler County, IA:
1860: Henry Ahrens 30, Louisa Ahrens 31, Theadore Ahrens 3, James Ahrens 1, Maria Ahrens 63.

1880: Henry Ahrens 51, Lorga (Louisa) Ahrens 53, Theodore H. Ahrens 23, James Ahrens 21, William Ahrens 19, George Ahrens 10, Loeza (Louisa) Ahrens 8, Eugene Gillet 14, Cora Gillet 7, Mary Ahrens 83 (James' grandmother), Henry Ahrens 73 (brother of James' grandfather Jochim Jacob Ahrens).

1885: 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.

1895: James B Ahrens 36.

1900: James R Ahrens 41, Elvina S Ahrens 32, Verna Ahrens 10, Leora L Ahrens 6, Albert L Ahrens 4, Henry L Ahrens 1.

1910: James B Ahrens 52, Vena Ahrens 42, Vern Ahrens 20, Leota Ahrens 16, Albert Ahrens 13, Henry A Ahrens 11, Earnest Ahrens 9, Leland Ahrens 3, Glen Ahrens

1915: James B Ahrends, age 56, 8th grade education, can read and write, owns farm, Evangelical Church.

1920: James B Ahrens 62, Alvina Ahrens 52, Vern R Ahrens 30, Albert A Ahrens 23, Henry L Ahrens 20, Earnest Ahrens 18, Leland Ahrens 13, Glen Ahrens 11. 1925: James Ahrens 67, Suma Ahrens 58, Henry Ahrens 25, Ernest Ahrens 23, Glen Ahrens 16. (Son Verne and his wife Margrete are listed right before James)

1930: James B Ahrens 71, Elvina Ahrens 62, Henry Ahrens 30, Valma H Ford 20. *****James Benjamin Ahrens died July 1930 at Butler Co, IA. Buried at Dumont Cemetery, Dumont, Butler, Iowa.

(Note: Censuses transcribed as found, obvious spelling errors not corrected.)