HELEN (nee KOHRS) GEHRMANN

HELEN KOHRS

1863-1954

Group portrait of a family of four. The parents are seated in front of two teen or young adult boys. All are wearing dark clothing. The father has on eyeglasses and is wearing a bow tie. Location Depicted: Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
Subject: Helen Gehrmann and William H. Gehrmann, (Front Row), John Harry Gehrmann and William Conrad Gehrmann (Back Row). From the Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive (http://www.umvphotoarchive.org/)

HELEN KOHRS was born to HENRY and JOHANNA KOHRS on April 23, 1863 in Davenport, Iowa. She married WILLIAM GEHRMANN on September 07 1887 in Davenport, Iowa, son of DIETRICH GEHRMANN and ANNA (DIECKMAN) GEHRMANN, who were natives of Germany. When Helen Kohrs was a small child, she lived with her family above the Bielenberg-Kohrs meat market at 312 West Second Street. She attended Davenport schools. Helen attended Business College and "kept the books" for the Kohrs Packing Company until she married William Gehrmann, who had come from Germany in 1875. While living in St. Louis, William Gehrmann decided to become Gymnastic teacher and went to Milwaukee, where he entered a training course. "Will" then taught gymnastics in the Toensfeldt Institute in St. Louis. He was sent to Davenport to enroll boys in the school, and called on the Kohrs family to interest the four boys in the Institute. Apparently he became more than interested in Helen Kohrs than enrolling the four Kohrs boys in gymnastic classes. Mr. Gehrmann left St. Louis and was engaged in the cattle business in Walkerville, Montana. He returned to Davenport to marry Helen. After their marriage, they returned to Walkerville where he was associated with Con Kohrs and Marcus Daily. Both of their children WILLIAM CONRAD GEHRMANN and JOHN HENRY GEHRMANN were born in Montana. Augusta Kohrs was present at the birthings. In 1897, the Gehrmann family returned to Davenport, Iowa for a visit, at which time Henry Kohrs convinced them that they should return to Davenport to live. Mr. Gehrmann became general manager of Kohrs Packing Company. In 1898, upon returning from Montana, the Gehrmanns' made their first visit to Germany. The two children were left in Mary Kohrs’ care at their grandparents home and William took Helen to visit his parents for the first time. On their return to Davenport, they lived at 313 West Second with grandfather Bielenberg, since his housekeeper had just left him to get married. They rented a home at 2337 West Third Street, and grandfather Bielenberg lived with them until he died in 1901. Shortly thereafter they purchased a lot in the McManus Addition and built their home. The Gehrmann's loved to travel, and quite often sister Bertha Kohrs would accompany them. On these trips to Germany genealogical information was collected, and Helen carefully preserved it.1

Helen Kohrs Gehrmann 91, a long time resident of Davenport died in San Diego, California where she had made her home with her sister Bertha Kohrs. Funeral services were held in the Hill and Fredericks Chapel with the Very Reverend Russell K. Johnson. Burial held in the Oakdale Cemetery.2


Children of William H. Gehrmann and Helen (nee Kohrs) Gehrmann

WILLIAM CONRAD GEHRMANN (1889-1965)
JOHN HENRY GEHRMANN (1892-1985)

References

1. The ancestors and descendants of the Bettendorf-Kohrs and related families : a memorial to William Edwin Bettendorf, 1902-1979 by Darlene Ward Paxton; L T Sloane. Decorah, Iowa : Anundsen Pub. Co., 1984.

2. Davenport Democrat 11 Sept 1954, page 6.