THELEN

The Breda Centennial Book, Older Days Renewed, page 127

John Thelen was born in Germany in 1837. He was married to Anna Koll who was born in Germany in 1842. They purchased an acreage northeast of Breda in 1892, and continued to add small tracts of land to their farm until 1890.*

They were the parents of Joseph, Anton, Mike, Peter, Nick, and one daughter who died in infancy. The sons all lived and farmed on places adjacent to the Thelen farm and later sold those farms to others. The John Thelens also lived in the house in Breda which is now occupied by Rev. J.P. Hausman.

Nick Thelen, (1875-1954) and Katherine Julich Thelen (1873-1942) lived on the family farm. They were the parents of twelve children: John, Julia (Mrs. Ed Neppl), Martha (Mrs. Leo Heinrichs), Math, Appolonia (Mrs. Engelbert Neppl) Paul, Fred, Hilaria (Mrs. Al Bernholtz), Marie, Helen (Mrs. Roy Kelly), Engelbert, and Leon (Mrs. Don McCaffery).

They retired from the farm in 1939, and moved to the property in Breda.

Fred Thelen and Mathilda Boes were married in 1935 and live on the family farm, which they purchased in 1955. The buildings on this farm are the original set of buildings.

* I think this must be typographical error, but this is what is printed in the book. (Comment by Anita Henning)

Submitted by Anita Henning - Lemon Grove, CA