CATHERINE (nee KOHRS) ROHWER

CATHERINE KOHRS

1828-1910

Born: 24 August 1828 in Wewelsfleth Holstein, Germany- Died: 10 May 1910 in Dixon, California
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Notes for CATHERINE KOHRS:
CATHERINE KOHRS with her first husband HENRY BERWALD were the first of the family members to America and on to Davenport, Iowa in 1853.1 The Berwalds ran a boarding house, and he is listed as a goldsmith in the 1856 City Directory. Mr. Henry Berwald died before 1860 and later Catherine married her second husband, HANS ROHWER. Catherine and Hans moved to California where she died on May 10th 1910 at the age of eighty-two. There were no children of either marriage. According to Conrad Kohrs' autobiography (pg. 83), Catherine and her brother Conrad returned to Davenport, Iowa to be by their mother’s side at the time of her death in May 1886.1 Catherine Kohrs is buried in the Tremont Cemetery, with her second husband Hans Rohwer in Dixon, California.

Notes for HENRY BERWALD:
The occupation of HENRY BERWALD in Davenport, Iowa has varied with the several reports that exist. The family history said he ran a boarding house. The 1856 Iowa Census says, "Merchant" Conrad Kohrs autobiography said he began a dry-goods and grocery store. The 1858-59 City Directory lists him owning a "lager Saloon." The number of people living at his address in the census suggests a boarding house. When he died 13 March 1859, the probate lists a number of unpaid bills for liquor and cigars, as well as an inventory with tables and chairs.
 2

HANS ROHWER

Notes for HANS ROHWER:
HANS ROHWER was born in Holstein, Germany, February 25, 1832. In the spring of 1852 he emigrated to Iowa, and remained there until 1854. In this year he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville October 25th, and engaged in mining until September, 1856, when he settled on the farm where he now resides, about one mile south-east of Dixon. Hans Rohwer owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres east of Dixon.


In his autobiography, Conrad Kohrs mentions visiting his sister in Dixon, California and enjoying grapes. As Conrad writes, “I went to see my sister at Dixon a few days. Her garden was still full of grapes and I never enjoyed anything as much as going out and picking the grapes off the vine. My sister and her husband (Hans Rohwer) accompanied me to San Francisco. We spent about a week there, stopping at the Lick House. I returned to the farm with them and had a very pleasant visit, it being the first time I had seen her since 1862........... After a few more days in Dixon, I returned home the latter part of November 1873." (Conrad Kohrs : an autobiography. Page 62). 1

For more information related to the ROHWER'S of Solano County, California visit the following website:
http://www.cagenweb.com/solano/biorohwerc.html

References

1. Conrad Kohrs : an autobiography. by Conrad Kohrs. Publisher C.K. Warren, ©1977.

2. Prinz, Harvey L. "The Amazing Kohrs Brothers: Climbing the American Dream. Part 1: Roots Up and Roots Down." Infoblat (German American Heritage Center, Davenport, IA), vol. 9, no. 4, Autumn 2004, pp. 6-8, ill.