Henry Ehrensberger, b. 19 Mar 1828

EISLER, LONG, HEINRICHS, ALLSON, HAGENBECK

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/8/2004 at 13:02:59

There is not within the limits of Van Buren Township a man more popular or deserving of the good will of his fellow-citizens than he with whose name we introduce this sketch. His home is finely located on section 27, and his time and attention are largely devoted to grape culture and bee keeping. He is now comfortably fixed financially, but has arrived at his present prosperity only by the exercise of the greatest diligence, economy and perseverence. The fact that he is highly spoken of by his neighbors is sufficient indication of his standing in his community.

Our subject was born in Switzerland - the land of Tell - and grew up with the love of liberty which has always characterized his countrymen. He was born March 19, 1828, in the village of Dynhard, Canton of Zurich, where he was reared to man's estate, and received the advantages of both the common and the high school. He also attended "Die Secunda Schuls" for some time, where he studied French and the higher branches. At the age of fourteen he was confirmed in the Zwinglian Church, after which he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving a thorough apprenticeship. He followed this in his native country a period of twenty years. He was first married there in 1853, to Miss Susannah Eisler, a native of his own canton. He accumulated some property during those years, but met with the misfortune of having his house destroyed by incendiary fire.

Our subject was thus left almost destitute, and in his case the adage was fulfilled that "troubles never come singly." There had been born to him and his estimable wife three children - Bertha, Henry and Emil. The latter accidently shot himself when fifteen years old. His wife died in the year 1864, at the age of forty years. In the year 1864 Mr. Ehrensberger set out for America. Securing passage on board a sailing vessel, he, after a voyage of six weeks, first set foot upon American soil in the City of New York, and coming directly to Illinois, established himself at Savanna, where he occupied himself at his trade for a time, and then removed to Mt. Alger, in Van Buren Township, where he secured, in time, some property. Later he exchanged this for a part of his present farm, where he took up his residence. He set up a shop in Preston, and walked to and from his work, mornings and evenings, for a number of years. He contracted a second marriage in 1865, at Savanna, with Mrs. Margaretta Long. This lady was born in Wittenberg, Germany. Of this union there have been no children. Bertha, the only daugher of our subject, is the wife of Henry Heinrichs, of Van Buren Township. His son Henry married Miss Gertrude Allson, and is farming in Thomson, Ill.

The parents of our subject were Jacob and Anna (Hagenbeck) Ehrensberger, who were also natives of the Canton of Zurich, and the father a weaver and cloth manufacturer. They spent their entire lives in their native country, the mother dying in 1850, when fifty-five years old, and the father in 1865, when past sixty-three. Of their children, three are now living - Jacob, a machinist, and a resident of Wisconsin; Ulrich, who is following the tailor's trade at Fremont, Neb., and Henry, our subject. Mr. Ehrensberger has become thoroughly Americanized and deeply attached to the land of his adoption. He is in sympathy with the Democratic party, and by a course of reading has kept himself well posted upon governmental affairs, both in this country and in Europe, and has written at different times able articles for the press in relation thereto, and also concerning horticulture. He now has a fine vineyard, and dispenses the pure wine which he manufactures, with a generous hospitality to his friends. Aside from serving as School Director in his district, he has carefully avoided the cares of office. His farm embraces 120 acres of good land, forty acres on section 27 and eighty on section 26. He may most properly be called a self-made man - one who has risen by his own efforts to a good position, socially and financially - who battled with many discouragements; but it may truly be said he seems to have come out with flying colors. Mrs. Ehrensberger died at their home, May 5, 1889, and is buried at Preston.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)