HAREN, Henry C. 1847-1937

HAREN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/9/2016 at 20:52:30

Henry Claus Haren was born Dec. 25, 1847, in Alsum, East Friesland. In his native city he received a good school education and at the required age was confirmed, thus becoming a member of his home church. Under the conscription law of the Fatherland he entered the military service, joining the Dragoons, a division which took a prominent part in the German-Franco War in 1870-71. This regiment saw the most bloody action in the great cavalry battles at Mars La Tour and Vionville, of whose participants he was one of the last, if not the very last veteran living.

Shortly after the war in 1873 he emigrated with his parents to America, where two brothers had previously found a home of economic and political freedom. He arrived with his parents at Ackley, moved from there to Grundy Center, where he farmed until 1894. Giving up farming for a while, he returned to, until in 1901 he came to Holland, staying with Mr. and Mrs. Harm Itzen until 1932, and after their death went back to Grundy Center for a period of two years. On his return to Holland he made his home with the family of his nephew, Joe Itzen, where he was well cared for as the "beloved uncle" until his peaceful departure.

For many years he operated a hardware store, where he made numerous friends by his strict honesty in business and his kind, sunny disposition as a man and citizen of sterling qualities of mind and heart.

He died at the exceptionally high age of 89 years, 1 month and 2 days, on January 27, 1937, shortly after midnight. He leaves three nephews, Joe and Willie Itzen of Holland and John Haren of Sibley, Iowa; 7 great-nephews and nieces, 2 great-nephews and 1 niece, children of Willie Itzen; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Harm Haren and nine children of Grundy Center, and vicinity.

He was laid to rest in Grundy Center cemetery after funeral services were held at the Holland Lutheran church, Rev. Dr. P. Ilgen officiating.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 4 February 1937, pg 9