Peter Lohr was born May 3, 1830 in Blankenheim, Hesse Kassel, Germany. When fifteen yours of age he was apprenticed to his trade as a joiner and served three yeas as a cabinet maker.
Peter emigrated to America on the ship "Agnes." He left from Bremen, Germany in the company of Georg Lohr, a shoe maker at age 21 and Nicolas Lohr, a tailor at age 18. Peter, Georg, and Nicolas Lohr arrived in New York on May 26, 1851. Peter, Georg, and Nicolas set out for Ohio. Peter settled in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1853, Peter Lohr married Anna Eva Apel, daughter of Georg Apel and Anna Martha Vollmer Apel of Blankenheim, Hesse Kassel, Germany.
Peter and Anna had six children:
NAME
BIRTH
DEATH
I.
William F. Lohr
August 25, 1854
January 1, 1905
II.
George C. Lohr
August 2, 1856
III.
Charles H. Lohr
February 27, 1859
September 17, 1907
IV.
Amelia C. Lohr
December 12, 1860
April 20, 1959
V.
Frank S. Lohr
November 13, 1862
VI.
Frederick W. Lohr
January 23, 1866
May 4, 1953
In May, 1856 Peter Lohr and his family moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Osage, Iowa. It was in 1856 that Peter Lohr established the first furniture store in Osage. He began in a limited way, purchasing a small stock, and using a foot lather, gradually increased his stock until it reached $3,000. He manufactured much of the stock he handled. He had a large and increasing business and had the reputation of being a splendid workman. George W. Ferguson started the second furniture store, in 1868 occupying a building east of the library. Mr. Ferguson ran it for a few years, then sold it to Peter Lohr.
Peter and Anna Lohr were members of the German Reformed Church. He was a republican and had cast his first vote for Fremont. By his industry he had secured a comfortable property, and was classed among the well-to-do business men of the city.
Peter Lohr died April 21, 1902. Anna Eva Lohr died May 4, 1906. Peter and Anna are buried in the Osage City Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa. At the time of Anna's death, the addresses of the heirs were:
Charles H. Lohr
Estilline, South Dakota
George C. Lohr
Estilline, South Dakota
Amelia C. Lohr
Osage, Iowa
Frank S. Lohr
Osage, Iowa
Frederick W. Lohr
Sioux City, Iowa
Transcribed by Neal Du Shane 08/25/2004
HTMLization by Kermit Kittleson 08/29/2004