Alvin Gustav Lewis Roehr was born August 12, 1867 at Rotenberga, Saxony, Germany, the son of Lewis Frederick and Caroline (Pohinoe) Roehr. In 1870 he came with his parents to Baraboo County Wisconsin and in 1872, to Cedar Township, Mitchell County Iowa.

May 28, 1891 he married Katharine Erbe. Katharine was born in Vermont Township, Dane County Wisconsin on March 17, 1873, the daughter of August Benhardt and Anna Christina (Klinzing) Erbe, who had come from Barchfeld Germany in 1852 aboard the ship "Peter"

Katharine moved to Mitchell County Iowa in 1890, joining relatives who had moved there earlier. Following their marriage, Alvin and Katharine resided in Meroa where Alvin worked as a buttermaker. June 8, 1894 he was awarded a bronze medal and a certificate for his skill as a buttermaker at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois.

The following year Alvin and Katharine moved to the family farm of his aging parents, Lewis and Caroline, and Katharine cared for Caroline who was ill with tuberculosis. Katharine contracted the disease and on June 1, 1906 she died leaving motherless the three young children that had blessed her marriage to Alvin; Elsie Bertha, Loren August Herman, and Ella Minnie.

On July 10, 1907 Alvin married Emma Troge who had been employed to care for Katharine while she was ill. To this union were born Leonard Gustave Lewis, Donald Edward Alvin, Helen Caroline Elizabeth, and Alvin Dale Russell, joining Emma's first born Clyde.

In 1908 Alvin became a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church.

Feeling the need for more land to provide for the needs of a larger family, Alvin and Emma sold the 160 acres in West Cedar Township and purchased 284 acres, with modern improvements, in Section 4 of East Cedar Township.

Alvin, best known as A.G. took an active interest in the community and

Alvin Gustav Roehr and three children by his first wife, Katherine. The Children are Loren, Elsie and Ella.

was sought after for advice and counsel. He served as Cedar Township Assessor many years as well as Township School Secretary.

On Friday evening, September 12, 1941, at the age of 74 years, he fell from his farm tractor while plowing and was run over by it. Found by his hired hand, he was taken to Savre Hospital in Osage where he died the following morning.

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Written by Rollin K. Howell
Submitted to IaGenWeb by Kathy Pike (April 2005)