Onken, Hajo Eden 1850-1915 & Margaret Ricklefs Family

ONKEN, RICKLEFS, GERDES, HENRICHS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/13/2023 at 06:20:50

Onken, Hajo Eden 1850-1915 & Margaret Ricklefs Family

This story was taken from page 443 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Family author unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Mr. Hajo Eden Onken-born in Leerhafe Ost Freisland Germany, July 15, 1850.

He came to the U.S. in 1868 at the age of 18 and settled in Bathilio, IL. and later moved to Greenview, IL. where his only brother Reiner Onken also settled. Hajo came to Sioux Co. in Iowa in 1878 and settled in Sioux Co., Reading Twp. Sec. 21.

Mrs. Onken, the former Margaret Ricklefs, was born in Leerhafe Ostfriesland Germany, Oct. 2, 1861 and came to the U.S. at the age of 16 to the state of Illinois. She moved to Sioux Co., Iowa and was married to Mr. Hajo Onken in 1878.

Their eleven children were: Herman Onko-died at the age of three; Gerd Onken died at Chester, S.D. in 1969; Reiner Onken-died at Ireton, Ia. In 1977; Mary Onken Toenjes-died at Ireton in 1971; Gesena Onken Johnson-died at Battle Creek, Ia. In 1956; Emelie Onken Schultz-died at LeMars, Ia. in 1978.
Johanna Onken-died in LeMars, Ia. In 1912; Martha Onken Schmidt-lives in LeMars; Louise Hermina (Minnie) Onken Earll-died in Hawarden, Ia. In 1924; Laura Onken Lehrman-lives in Maurice, Ia; Andy Onken-died in Ireton, Ia. in 1973.

Father, Mr. Hajo E. Onken, and Mother, Mrs. Hajo (Margaret) Onken moved to Ireton from their farm in 1914. Mr. Onken passed away on May 15, 1915 as the result of a ruptured appendix. Mrs. Onken lived in Ireton until the spring of 1932 when she went to live in Ireton until the spring of 1932 when she went to live with her daughter, Laura (Mrs. Harold Lehrman) near Maurice, Ia. She passed away on June 4, 1936.

Mr. and Mrs. Onken suffered many hardships in their early years of farming. The prairie sod had to be broken for the first crops only to see them destroyed by grasshoppers. In those early winters, blizzards swept the country, with no trees for windbreaks. Mr. Onken worked to set out a grove, getting the seedling trees from the Sioux River bottoms.

They lost their first born son at the age of three from an attack of diarrhea. The closest doctor was in LeMars and the trip had to be made by wagon.

They owned a great luxury – a rocking chair – which was borrowed out to a neighbor when a new baby was born to them.

Mr. and Mrs. Onken were the first couple married at St. John’s Lutheran Church rural Ireton by Rev. F.S. Buenger. They kept their membership at St. John’s until they moved into Ireton in 1914 when they then transferred to St. Paul’s Lutheran.

RESEARCH NOTES - Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Hajo Eden Onken was born 15 Jul 1850 Leerhafe, Niedersachsen, Germany and died 15 May 1915 Ireton IA. His parents were Harm Onken 1814-1865 and Wiemke Maria Gerdes 1808-1862. He married Margareta Ricklefs 10 Nov 1878 St. John’s Lutheran Church Ireton IA.

Margareta Ricklefs was born 2 Oct 1861 Hannover Niedersachsen Germany and died 4 Jun 1936 Orange City IA buried Ireton IA. Her parents were Gerd ‘Gerhard’ Hinrichs Ricklefs 1835-1911 and Talke Maria Hinrichs 1834-1870.

CHILDREN of Hajo and Margareta Onken:
1. Herman Onken born 10 Sep 1879 Sioux County IA. Died 16 Feb 1882 buried in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery ireton IA. Died from attack of diarrhea as described in above narrative.
2. Gerd Eden Onken born 18 Nov 1880 Ireton IA died 23 Jul 1969 Chester, Lake, SD He married Josephine Dittmer 1884-1955. Two children listed on Find A Grave as Leona Hohwieler and Aleda Anna Emailie Gienapp.
3. Reiner Gerdes Onken born 2 Feb 1883 Ireton, IA died 16 Dec 1977 Hawarden IA he married Zana Twillman They from in the Ireton area, a daughter Mrs. Loren Margaret Rose of Sioux Falls and son Wayne Onken of Garden City SD.
4. Mary Talkia Onken born 27 Jan 1885 Ireton IA died 11 Oct 1971 Ireton IA She married John C. Toenjes Children were Harold of Ireton and Wendell of LeMars, Elvira Mrs. Paul Kadng and Thelma Onken of Ireton.
5. Merke ‘Gesena’ Onken born 27 Sep 1888 Ireton IA died 29 May 1956 CraigIA She married William Richard Johnson 1887-1966. They had children – Marvin W. Johnson 1911-1942, Irene C. Johnson 1912-2004, Myrtle Johnson Lucht 1914-1974, Bernice M. Johnson 1915-1919, Vlema M. Johnson Korneski, 1916-2011, Richard G. Johnson 1918-2006, Virgil E. Johnson 1920-2005 and Shirley J. Johnson Ziss-McAllister.
6. Emilie Margaret Onken born 27 Jul 1889 Ireton IA died 22 May 1978 LeMars IA. She married Herman Edward Schulz 1887-1927 They had children – Helene M. Schulz 1912-2003, Kenneth E. Schulz 1914-1966, Gladys H. Schulz 1917-2004, Melvin L. Schulz 1920-2008, Arlene E. Schulz 1923-2009, and Herman O. Schulz 1928-2012.
7. Johanna Catherine Onken born 12 Jan 1891 Ireton IA died 14 Nov 1912 Ireton IA. Died a 22 years of severe headaches.
8. Martha Adeline Onken born 18 Apr 1895 Ireton IA died 30 Jan 1989 LeMars IA She married Fred J. Schmidt. Children Donald of Le Mars and Wallace of Scramento CA, Ramona Mrs. Les Pecks of LeMars.
9. Louise Hermina Onken born 9 May 1900 Reading Twp, Sioux county IA died 11 Jul 1924 IA She married Wayne Earll, Child a babe born 1924.
10. Laura Jeanette Onken born 13 Jul 1902 Ireton IA died 11 Dec 1999 Hudson SD married Harold Lehrman 1907-1983, two children named as Louise 1931 and Lornetta 1932-2000
11. Andy Harold Onken born 27 Sep 1904 Reading Twp Sioux County IA died Oct 1973 Ireton IA. He married Sidonia W Siege 1906-1964. Find A Grave lists two children – Loyce Andre Onken and Lennis S. Onken

OBITUARY OF HAJO EDEN ONKEN 1850-1915
May 20, 1915 Hawarden Independent
Hajo Onken, a Sioux County Pioneer, Dies at LeMars
Hajo Onken, a pioneer settler of Sioux county, died at the Mosher hospital in LeMars at 6:45 Thursday morning from an attack of acute appendicitis.
Mr. Onken was taken ill Thursday May 11th, and his condition becoming very serious, he was taken to the hospital Wednesday where it was found that he was too weak to undergo an operation.
Hajo Eden Onken, was born in Germany July l5. 1850, and came to this country at the age of eight years. [appears to be in error he apparently came when 18 years old] His parents having died in Germany when he was but a child, he made his home with relatives in Manard county, near Greenview, Illinois, until a young man. When twenty- one years of age he came to Iowa and settled on a farm near Ireton where he lived for over forty years. Retiring in 1912 he moved to Ireton which has been his home since that time.
In 1877 he was married at Ireton to Miss Margaret Ricklefs to which union were born eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving children, all of whom live near Ireton, and their mother are left to mourn his demise. The children are, Gerd, Reiner, Mrs. J. C. Toenjes, Mrs. William Johnson, Mrs. Herman Schultz. Martha, Minnie, Laura, and Andy. Mr. Onken also leaves one brother, Reiner Onken, who lives in Illinois.
Brief funeral services, in charge of Rev. Schmidt, were held from the home at one o’clock Sunday afternoon after which the body was conveyed to the St. John’s Lutheran church, three miles southeast of town, where funeral services were held from the church, in charge of Rev’s Nuoffer and Schmidt, after which the body was laid to rest in St. John’s cemetery. Those here from away to attend the funeral were his brother, R. Onken and daughter Maggie from Greenview IL, and Mr. and Mrs. T. Houseman of Coggon Iowa.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET ONKEN
From the Hawarden Independent, June 11, 1936:
Mrs. Onken Died Last Thursday
Mrs. Margareta Onken passed away on Thursday at the home of her son in law, Mr. Luehrman. Funeral services were held in St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Ireton Saturday, Rev. H. W. Krieger conducting the services. The sermon was based on Isaiah 46:4. The three Ricklefs sisters rendered two anthems. Interment was made in St. John’s cemetery where her husband has slumbered since May 13, 1925.
Margareta Henrich Onken, nee Ricklefs, was born Oct 2, 1861 at Leeraafe, Ostfriesland, Germany. She was baptized there and on April 13, 1876 confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Coming to America she settled in Jones county, Iowa, and later moved to Illinois. In 1878 she came to Sioux county. She was married to Hago E. Onken on Nov 10, 1878. This was the first couple married in St. John’s church and at that time Pastor Buenger served this congregation.
To this union were born eleven children, three of whom Herman, Johanna and Louisa, preceded their mother in death. The children who survive her are: Gerd, Reiner, Mary, Gesene, Emilie, Martha, Laura and Andy. She also leaves 34 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
In the passing of Mrs. Onken this community loses on of its real early settlers, who went through all the early hardships and viccisitudes which came to the early settler of Sioux county. She was devoted to her family and she was loved by all who know her for her kind, patient and tolerant ways.
* * * * * * * * * *
From the Sioux County Capital, June 11, 1936:
Mrs. Onken Dies
Mrs. Onken, formerly of Ireton, who has been making her home with her children Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lehrman for the past several years, passed away early Thursday morning, June 4th at the age of 75 years. She was suffering from leakage of the heart but was sick only a short time. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Harold Lehrman home and at the Lutheran church, with burial taking place at Ireton.
* * * * * * * * * *
From the Alton Democrat, June 12, 1936, Ireton news:
DEATH CALLS MRS. ONKEN
Mrs. Margaret Onken, 74, died at 3 P.M. Thursday, June 4, following a two hour illness at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harold Lehrman, four miles southwest of Ireton. While Mrs. Onken had not been in the best of health the past years she was about as usual Thursday and ate dinner with the family. Shortly after she was stricken and death followed shortly after.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Ireton, with the Rev. H. W. Krieger officiating. Beautiful music was presented by the members of the choir and the grandsons were pallbearers. Mrs. Onken was a life-long member of the Lutheran church and was ever zealous for the welfare of the church.
She was the mother of three children who preceded her in death and the following living children: Gerrit of Chester, S.D.; Reine and Andrew of Ireton; Mrs. Amelia Schultz of Craig; Mrs. John Tonjea, Ireton; Mrs. Fred Schmidt of Le Mars; Mrs. William Johnson of Coon Rapids, Ia. and Mrs. Harold Lehrman of Ireton. The husband preceded her in death 22 years ago. There are 30 grandchildren and 6 great grand children and the following brothers, Herman and George Rickleffs of Ireton, Henry Rickleffs of Sioux City and John Rickleffs of Le Mars.
The remains were laid to rest beside those of her husband in St. John’s Lutheran cemetery southeast of Ireton.
* * * * * * * * * *
RESEARCH NOTES added to posted obituary.
The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Onken, Margaret, b. 1861, d. 1936, Mother, St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Ireton IA.
Marriage records for her children present her name as either Margaret or Margaretha Ricklefs. Her own marriage index record on Ancestry.com has her as Margaret Ricklefs (marrying Hajo Onken in Le Mars, Iowa on 10 Nov. 1878). In the 1900 U.S. census she is Margareta Onken; in subsequent U.S. censuses she is Margaret; in 1880 she is Maggie.
Her death certificate has her as Margaretta Ricklefs-Onken (indexed on Ancestry.com as Ouken), widow of Hago E. Onken; born 2 October 1861 in Germany; parents Garrett Ricklefs and [no forename] Hennrich[?]; died in Maurice at 4 p.m. June 4, 1936; cause, congestive heart failure, onset April 1936; contributory cause arterio-sclerosis.
The Sioux County Cemetery Index spells her husband's name Hajo, as does his obituary (posted separately).

This picture of the H. Onken Family is from page 443 of the Ireton Centennial Book 1882-1982. There is a similar picture in the 1908 Atlas Part IV section 3.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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