Bernhard Vonnahme, 1899 Biography

VONNAHME, EHRIG

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/15/2006 at 13:56:20

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Bernhard Vonnahme

Mr. Bernhard Vonnnahme, whose portrait we present in another place [in this paper], was born on 15 February 1836 in Barkhausen, County of Büren, Westphalia, Germany. He received his youthful education there, but he lost his father when he was only 13 years old. Despite his extreme youth, he tried as much as possible to substitute in the operation of his deceased father’s farm. However, when he barely 18 years old, he also suffered the difficult loss of his beloved mother. In 1860, Mr. Vonnahme was called to military service and assigned as a musketeer in the 15th Infantry Regiment, which at that time was garrisoned at Preusisch-Minden. He was discharged after three years of honorable service, but just a year later the war with Denmark [Danish War] broke out, and he was again called to arms. He distinguished himself as a worthy Son of the Red Earth [a nickname for Westphalian] and was discharged with decorations. He then worked again with his brother at farming and raising sheep, but on 2 May 1866 he was inducted again because the war with Austria had broken out. Mr. Vonnahme took part in the entire campaign and was frequently in the thickest hails of lead, but happily he survived all danger and returned back home uninjured. In August 1869, he emigrated with friends to America. He settled initially in New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa, and married Miss Gertrud Ehrig. In spring of 1871, the young couple moved to Kniest Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where they settled on a farm where Mr. Vonnahme still lives today and, along with his seven children, engages in agriculture and raising livestock on his extensive 400-acre property. The greatest loss that this man has encountered was the death of his dear life’s companion on 17 February 1896. The happy marriage was blessed with 10 children, of which the following are still living: Joseph, Anton, Maria (a nun in the Franciscan convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin), Frank, John, and Heinrich. In 1888, Mr. Vonnahme adopted a four-year-old girl, and she and the other children still today live together on the large farm which they successfully operate under the direction of their father. Mr. Vonnahme is one of the earliest settlers, he has held several offices, and is still today the president of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.