Ehlers, Peter

EHLERS

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/26/2008 at 13:43:49

Peter Ehlers

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.176, Minden Twp.)
Peter Ehlers, grain-dealer, Minden, was born in Oldenburg, Holstein, Germany, April 4, 1838. He is the son of Jorgen and Dores (Landt) Ehlers, both natives of Oldenburg, Germany. His father is a farmer, and is still living. His mother died in June, 1879. They had five children - three boys and two girls. Our subject received a good education in his native country, and started for America in 1852. He came at once to Davenport, this State. In 1858, he went to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to Mississippi and Louisiana, returning to Davenport in 1860. He came to Minden Township in the spring of 1874, and built a house, into which he, with his family, moved the following year. Our subject began life as a farmer; was in the stock business for a number of years and has been a grain-dealer for about twenty years. He has been Township Treasurer and Township Trustee, which latter office he holds still. His efforts in the interests of the town of Minden have been no small factors in the growth and prosperity of that thriving little place. He was married, in Davenport, this State, in 1867, to Mary Louis, born in Germany near Hamburg. Her parents were born in the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Ehlers have had nine children - six sons and three daughters - of whom three of the boys are dead. The names of the remaining children are August, Adolph, Louis, Sophia, Minnie and Emma. Our subject belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and in politics he is a Republican.