75 Year History of the Kohrs Packing Company

The Atlantic Cable had bridged the gap between Old World and New, the Union-Pacific Railroad had linked East to West, and the nation was beginning to think in terms of celebrating the one hundredth year of its independence at Philadelphia when a determined man of forty-two, a highly respected citizen of Davenport, Iowa, realized the ambition which had fired his dreams since boyhood. The year was 1872; the boy grown man was Henry Kohrs; the ambition was the establishing of a meat-packing house bearing the name Kohrs. 1

75 Year History of the Kohrs Packing Company

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Reference
1. Kohrs Packing Company, 75 Years, Davenport Iowa, Bawden Brothers. 1947. Published by Bawden Bros., Inc. Davenport, Iowa.

The Amazing Kohrs Brothers

Recounts the stories of the Kohrs brothers, Johann Heinrich Luetje and Carsten Conrad, who were born in Wewelsfleth, in the province of Holstein. Johann settled in Davenport, Iowa, and built a "noted regional pork packing business," while Conrad journeyed far and wide before becoming "well known in the West as the 'Cattle King of Montana.'"

Reference
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.

Prinz, Harvey L. "The Amazing Kohrs Brothers: Climbing the American Dream. Part 2: Immigrant Advantage." Infoblatt (German American Heritage Center, Davenport, Iowa), vol. 10, no. 2, Spring 2005, pp. 5-8, ill.

"THE AMAZING KOHRS BROTHERS"

To download both Part 1 and Part 2 of "The Amazing Kohrs Brothers: Climbing the American Dream" , click the link above
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Wewelsfleth, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Aerial View of Wewelsfleth, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Wewelsfleth, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany is the birthplace of many of the our ancestors. On the Stör River, just upriver from its confluence with the Elbe River, lies Wewelsfleth. Founded about 1238 A.D., this town in southwest Holstein is located northwest of Hamburg and Glückstadt, not far from the North Sea. Wewelsfleth takes its name in part from "fleth," a natural watercourse of the marshes. The marshlands of this lower Elbe River region have been reclaimed for farmland with dikes and ditches.

For an excellent overview of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany visit the following website: http://www.answers.com/topic/schleswig-holstein

JOHN JACOB KRAUSE: Descendants Chart

This descendants chart begins with JOHN JACOB KRAUSE, the father of GESHE KRAUSE. The chart outlines the descendants of GESHE KRAUSE, including the both the KOHRS and BIELENBERG families.

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JOHN JACOB KRAUSE: Descendants Chart

You can save the file to disk, then take the disk to a quick copy shop like Kinkos and print it on their plotter.

Kohrs-Bielenberg Family in the United States of America

Click on the Above Image to Enlarge

GESCHE (nee KRAUSE) KOHRS

GESCHE KRAUSE

1804-1866

Born: 6 May 1804, Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany- Died: 17 Mar 1866 Davenport, Iowa


About 1826, GESCHE KRAUSE, the daughter of John Jacob Krause and Gresche Dauman married CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS, the son of Luetje Kohrs and Anna Katherine Venk, in Germany.

Children of Carsten Conrad Kohrs and Geshe (nee Krause) Kohrs

CATHERINE KOHRS (1828-1910)
JOHANN HEINRICH LUETJE (HENRY) KOHRS (1830-1917)
PETER HEINRICH KOHRS (Born about 1832. He died as a small child)
CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS (1835-1920)

CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

1804-1835

Born: 9 Nov 1804, Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany- Died: 2 Oct Mar 1835 Hanover, Germany

CONRAD CARSTEN KOHRS was born on the 9th day of November 1800 in Holstein Germany. He was the son of Luetje and Anna Katherine (Venk) Kohrs. About 1826, he married GESHE KRAUSE the daughter of Johann and Geshe (Daumann) Krause. Conrad Carsten Kohrs, a farmer and a distiller of Hanover, Germany, died at the age of thirty-five on the 2nd of October 1835, a few months after the birth of his son Carsten Conrad Kohrs.

Children of Carsten Conrad Kohrs and Geshe (nee Krause) Kohrs

CATHERINE KOHRS (1828-1910)
JOHANN HEINRICH LUETJE (HENRY) KOHRS (1830-1917)
PETER HEINRICH KOHRS (Born about 1832. He died as a small child)
CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS (1835-1920)

CATHERINE (nee KOHRS) ROHWER

CATHERINE KOHRS

1828-1910

Born: 24 August 1828 in Wewelsfleth Holstein, Germany- Died: 10 May 1910 in Dixon, California
.
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.

JOHANN HEINRICH LUETJE KOHRS

JOHANN HEINRICH LUETJE KOHRS

1830-1917

Born: 15 November 1830 in Wewelsfleth Holstein, Germany- Died: 31 December 1917 in Davenport, Iowa.

Notes for JOHANN HEINRICH LUETJE KOHRS (HENRY):
When he was fifteen years of age, the year of his father’s death, he was apprenticed to a relative in Altona (a suburb of Hamburg) to learn the butcher's trade. At age nineteen, both he and his step-father, Claus Bielenberg, were conscripted into the German Army to serve in the war between Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark. Henry, as Johann was called, was wounded and nursed back to health by a Mrs. Kruse, an army nurse. Mrs. Kruse had two daughters, one of whom being Augusta Kruse, who would, in later years, would marry Henry's younger brother, Conrad Kohrs

After the war Henry followed his sister Catherine and her husband, Henry Berwald to America. Henry Kohrs landed in New York on June 11, 1853 with only $5.00 in his pocket. He worked as a helper in a grocery store until he had saved enough money to join his sister in Davenport, Iowa. He then came West reaching Davenport March 13, 1854 and began clerking in a dry goods store on a salary of $25 per month. His mother and step-father, with their three sons, John, Charles, and Nicholas Bielenberg also arrived in Davenport in 1854. For about a year Henry worked in a store owned by Phillip Stein that was located on Western Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets. In 1857, Henry opened a meat market on Harrison Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets supplied from a small slaughterhouse on West Second. This land and slaughter house was later purchased by Henry and it was here that he established the Kohrs Packing Plant. Meanwhile at the market on Harrison Street, he began making his rounds in an old horse drawn wagon to serve local customers. Henry continued this for almost twenty years, and in 1875 he branched out into the business of packing and shipping meats, establishing the Kohrs Packing Company. 1

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.

PETER HEINRICH KOHRS

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

Peter Heinrich Kohrs born about 1832. He died as a small child.

CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS

CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS

1835-1920

Born: 5 Aug 1835, Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany- Died: 20 July 1920, Helena, Montana

Apparently, Conrad Kohrs was the first member of this family who had a wondering spirit and went in search of fortune beyond Davenport, Iowa. He initially left Iowa for the California in search of gold in 1857. Unfortunately, that trip did not pan out to well and he returned to the family in Davenport only to strike out again a few years later. In 1862, he joined the next western gold rush and headed for western Montana, where rich gold deposits had been found in the Grasshopper Creek of Bannack, Montana. It was here that Conrad Kohrs realized that he could make more money mining the miners than mining for gold. He established a butcher shop in the rugged mining town of Bannack and began to prosper. By early 1864 Conrad had established a working relationship with Ben Peel & formed “Con & Peel” partnership based in Deer Lodge, Montana. The partnership involved the establishing and maintaining of butcher shops positioned in various mining camps as well as establishing cattle ranching efforts. This would be just one of a number of partnerships Conrad Kohrs would establish throughout his life. It wasn’t much later that each of the three Bielenberg boys, John, Charles and Nickolas (1864-1865) individually headed for Montana and joined in with their half brother Conrad Kohrs butcher shop and cattle ranching efforts. Johney Bielenberg supervised the shop at Last Chance Gulch (today's Helena), and Nickolas ran the Blackfoot City shop. Charles, known as Charley, managed the Silver Bow shop first and then moved to Deer Lodge to manage the shop there. Kohrs would remain close to them for the rest of his life in Montana and enter partnerships in mining, sheep, and cattle deals with each of them from time to time. In 1866, Conrad Kohrs purchased the John H. Grant ranch, with its stock, and there continued the extended efforts of Con Kohrs, the Bielenberg brothers and a whole suite of other pioneering characters. This ranch exists today as the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site and is a working cattle ranch that preserves these symbols and commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history.

The Grant-Kohrs ranch can be visited at the following website http://www.nps.gov/grko/

GESCHE (nee KRAUSE) BIELENBERG

GESCHE KRAUSE

1804-1866

Born: 6 May 1804, Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany- Died: 17 Mar 1866 Davenport, Iowa

GESCHE KRAUSE married CLAUS BIELENBERG seven years after her first husband, CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS died. Geshe Krause emigrated to America with her family in July 1854 and settled in Davenport, Iowa. Gesche died in the house at 312 West Second Street on May 17, 1886 at the age of eighty-two. Burial: Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa.

Children of Claus Bielenberg and Gesche (nee Krause Kohrs) Bielenberg

JOHN N. W. BIELENBERG (1846-1922)
CHARLES PETER HENRY BIELENBERG (1846-1924)
NICHOLAS JOHN BIELENBERG (1847-1927)

CLAUS BIELENBERG

CLAUS BIELENBERG

1818-1901

Born: 7 May 1818, Holstein, Germany- Died: 28? June 1901, Davenport, Iowa

CLAUS BIELENBERG was born May 7, 1818, in Holstein, Germany. His parents were Henry and Geeha (Wickman) Bielenberg, natives also of that country. Claus Bielenberg left Hamburg for America on May 1, 1854. He landed in New York after a journey of 38 days, and from there came directly to Davenport Iowa, arriving the 21st of June, 1854. In the fall of 1855 he embarked in the butcher business and engaged in that occupation until 1866, then turned his attention to farming. His marriage to Gesche Kohrs took place in Holstein, Germany, July 5, 1843. Their union was blessed with three children, John, Charles and Nicholas Bielenberg. The family were members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. Bielenberg voted with the Republican Party (Scott County). When the family came to Davenport in 1854, Claus found work as a gardener and "layer of brick walks". Claus and Gesche Bielenberg lived at 312 West Second Street. Grandfather Bielenberg (as he was called by the Kohrs grandchildren) died at the home of William H. Gehrmann, 2311 West Third Street, after reaching the age of 83. He was a butcher by profession and owned a farm in the Sheridan Township. He left behind his three sons, living in Deer Lodge, Montana and three stepchildren, Henry Kohrs of this city, Conrad Kohrs of Deer Lodge and Mrs.Katherine Rohwer of California. The funeral was held at the residence of William H. Gehrmann at 2311 West Third Street with burial at the Oakdale Cemetery. The pallbearers were H. J. Witt, P. J. Paulson, John Hill, Fred Kruse, Henry Schroeder and Hermann Steffens. 1

Children of Claus Bielenberg and Geshe (nee Krause Kohrs) Bielenebrg

JOHN N. W. BIELENBERG (1846-1922)
CHARLES PETER HENRY BIELENBERG (1846-1924)
NICHOLAS JOHN BIELENBERG (1847-1927)

References

1. Davenport Democrat (30 June 1901, Obituary, pg 6)

JOHN (JOHNEY) BIELENBERG

JOHN BIELENBERG

1846-1922

Born: 1 May 1846 in Holstein, Germany- Died: 16 June 1922 in Helena, Montana.

From: National Park Service: Grant-Kohrs Ranch: History & Culture: John Bielenberg:


JOHN BIELENBERG, the younger half-brother Conrad Kohrs, was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1846. Like the rest of his family, he emigrated to America in the 1850s. He was eighteen years old in 1864 when he came to Montana Territory to assist Kohrs with his gold camp butcher shops. It was the beginning of a partnership which lasted for over a half-century, and encompassed a vast cattle empire, highly productive mining ventures, advances in horse breeding, and a mutual commitment to public service. Those who judge a book by the cover might dismiss his contribution to the Kohrs & Bielenberg operation, but Kohrs never did. Johney had no time or patience for the outer show of wealth. His dress was that of an outdoorsman who preferred comfort to style. His contributions to the livestock industry were many. Among them was his development of the Big Circle horses. Breeding thoroughbred studs to hardy native mares, Bielenberg bred cow ponies which could do a twenty-mile circle in half a day during the roundup. This was a huge territory to cover in trailless, broken country, where cattle scattered over two million acres within a single grazing district. These forerunners of today's quarter horses were in high demand throughout the territory. Johney occasionally raced his thoroughbreds against those of other prominent breeders, including copper king Marcus Daly. Kohrs and Bielenberg made copies of all their outgoing correspondence. Though Kohrs was popularly known as "the cattle baron," nearly all the hundreds of letters about cattle were in fact written by Johney Bielenberg. Ironically, more letters written by Kohrs involved mining ventures and investments than they did cattle. The two men complemented each other. Their mutual trust was implicit and abiding. Together they ran a mainly steer operation, buying and grazing two-year-olds on the open range, before shipping them to market as three- and four-year-olds. With the close of the open range, Johney oversaw the gradual transition to a cow/calf operation, with a breeding herd providing new stock to replace cattle shipped to Chicago. In a 1900 letter, Johney correctly predicted "Herefords are the coming breed for Montana." His correspondence written prior to his death from cancer at age 74 shows he was still actively engaged in marketing and sale of Kohrs & Bielenberg cattle. Like his brother, Bielenberg was active in Montana territorial and state legislatures and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. With his death in 1922, the last tie to the open range was cut. The home ranch entered an uncertain caretaker era, managed as a component of the Kohrs Trust. 1

1. National Park Service: Grant-Kohrs Ranch: History & Culture: John Bielenberg: Retrieved March 29, 2009 from
https://www.nps.gov/grko/historyculture/johnbielenberg.htm

CHARLES PETER HENRY BIELENBERG

CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG

1846-1924

Born: 1 May 1846 in Holstein, Germany- Died: 31 Oct 1924 in Deer Lodge, Montana.

When CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG was eight years old, he emigrated with his parents to the United States and located to Davenport, Iowa where he attended school. In 1861, he enlisted in the 8th Iowa Infantry. Near the close of the Civil War, Charles became ill and was furloughed to his home. In the spring of 1865, he came to Fort Benson, Montana and walked the distance to Helena, Montana. In 1866, he came to Deer Lodge, Montana and opened the City Market, which continued in business for many years. On 31 Oct 1869, he married MARY WILHELMI, in Davenport Scott County Iowa.

Colonel Charles P. H. Bielenberg, Noted Character, is Dead.
OBITUARY NOTICE: Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana. November 2, 1924.

Colonel Charles P. H. Bielenberg, after an illness of nearly two months, crossed the last divide at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Warren E. Evans, Friday evening about 10 o'clock. Everything that medical science and skillful and loving nursing could do for him was done but as he had been watching the sun sink behind the mountains for more than a year, the loving care and medical attention were of no avail and he peacefully went to sleep. Early In September he contracted a cold, which developed into pneumonia. His sturdy and rugged system threw this off but the task was too great and complications incident to old age and gradually day by day he grew weaker, but before passing into unconsciousness he glimpsed the beauty his sunset regretting not that the last divide was just before him and that he was crossing it to solve the mysterious country beyond.

Colonel Bielenberg was born at Wevelsfleth, Holstein, Germany on May 1, 1846. He came to the United States with his parents about 1853. The family located in Davenport, Iowa, and when a boy about 14, Mr. Bielenberg ran away from home to join the army during the Civil War. At the close of the war after being honorably discharged he decided to come west to seek his fortune in the country to which his half-brother, the late Conrad Kohrs, and his twin-brother, the late John N. Bielenberg and his youngest brother, Nicholas J. Bielenberg had already come. He came by way of Fort Benton. For a number of years, he was a partner with his brother Nicholas in the butcher business in Pioneer and in Deer Lodge from which he retired to become associated with his twin brother in the cattle business and continued in that until his brother's death in June 1922. 

Colonel Bielenberg was well known throughout the state as an advocate of patriotic instruction in the public schools. He was responsible for the placing of the American flag in many of the rural schools and in the rooms of the grade schools in many of the larger cities especially in those sections where there was a foreign element. Each year just before Memorial Day when the schools of the state held patriotic exercises Col. Bielenberg, in his Grand Army uniform, and carrying his flag was one of the conspicuous figures. He taught the boys the proper method of saluting the flag. Mr. Bielenberg was a member of the G. A. R. of which he has been patriotic instructor for several years and the Montana Society of Pioneers, the Elks, No. 289 of Anaconda and the Kiwanis club of this city. His position as patriotic instructor of the Grand Army was a beloved duty to him. Having the financial means he considered himself better able to bear the expenses of spreading patriotic doctrine around the state than the Grand Army with its dwindling membership.

Coming to Montana before he had reached his majority he became a cattle man with his twin brother John W. Bielenberg. For 60 years he had ridden the range in the rain, through blizzards that filled the 'eyes and cut the cheeks like sand blasts and for nearly a third of that period he rode “Badger,” his cattle pony. When lowering night and slashing rain sheets confused the rider and robbed him of his land marks in the wide stretches of the valley or on the foothills, favorite horse could be relied upon to take its rider to the home corral. The Colonel in speaking of Badger and himself, when the picture of the horse and rider appearing in this story was taken, said: We are both on the retired list now. To the stable Badger' goes at night. In the daytime he will find exercise enough in the corral. He has done his part in the work of his day and has earned his rest. It is beyond the understanding of ordinary men to appreciate the reciprocal affection that develops between a dumb animal and its master. Only those who have enjoyed such love and admiration of a horse or a thoroughbred dog can realize the feeling that Colonel Bielenberg had for "Badger" at the time when he last rode that splendid cow pony.

Colonel Bielenberg was a most kindly and charitable man. He I made it a practice during the latter years of his life to remember the schoolteachers, the girls in the post office and the telephone operators at Christmas time by presenting each of them with a pound box of the finest chocolate candy. He followed out the Bible teachings when it came to charity in not letting the right hand know what the left hand did. In his going he will be missed not only by his family but also by the people of this community and in many other sections of the state where be was a familiar figure.

The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church and was conducted by the Rev. J. E. Groeneveld of the First Presbyterian church of Butte, who did his first ministerial work in Montana in the church of that denomination in this city. Rev. Groeneveld was assisted by the Rev. F. C. Phelps of the local church. “Rock of Ages” and “Abide With Me” were sung by a special choir. Many beautiful floral tributes surrounded the casket which was draped with the flag which he loved so much on which was placed a simple evergreen wreath. A firing squad from the local American Legion Post fired the last salute over his grave, thus ending the impressive service.

Charles P. H. Bielenberg, city market, Deer Lodge City, was born at Hamburg, Germany, May 1, 1847. His parents moved to the United States when be was 8 years old, settling at Davenport, Iowa. Here he attended school until 14 years of age. In 1861 he enlisted in the 8th Iowa Infantry. Toward the close of the war, being taken sick at Mobile, Alabama, he obtained a furlough and returned home. In the spring of 1865 be came to Fort Benton, Montana and walked to Helena, having no money to pay expenses. He went to Virginia City and was employed in a butcher shop for three months, and in the fall of 1866 came to Deer Lodge City and opened the City Market. This business has carried on to the present time. In 1873 he engaged in the stock business, raising horses and cattle. The firm of Bielenberg & Brothers is known all over the Territory. Their stock is of the highest grade, and always brings the best prices in Chicago, to which they ship each year several herds. Mr. Bielenberg was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Wilhelma, of Iowa, and has three children: Clara, Katie and Charles O. Bielenberg.1

References
1. Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana. November 2, 1924.

Children of Charles P. H. Bielenberg and Mary (nee Wilhelma) Bielenberg:

CLARA EMILY BIELENBERG (1870-1950)
KATHERINE ADELL BIELENBERG (1873-)
CHARLES OSCAR BIELENBERG (1882-1949)

CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG

1846-1924

NICHOLAS JOHN BIELENBERG

NICHOLAS JOHN BIELENBERG

1847-1927

Born: 08 June 1847, Holstein, Germany- Died: 06 July 1927 Deer Lodge, Montana

The following paragraphs are from the book titled: A History of Montana. Volume 2. Helen Fitzgerald Sanders, Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co., 1913.

Nicholas J. Bielenberg is one of Montana's foremost citizens, not only from the conspicuous character of his identification with the state's development and up-building, but from his long residence therein and the various channels of progress through which his influence, progressiveness and public spirit has been felt. He was but a boy of seventeen when he came to Montana in the spring of 1865, with no other capital than a stout heart, an industrious nature and habits of frugality that his excellent German parentage had naturally endowed him with, yet from this modest equipment he has, by dint of his own efforts, been for years accorded a foremost position among the substantial, high class citizens of the state.

Mr. Bielenberg was born in Holstein, Germany, June 8. 1847, and was but a youngster of four years when his parents, Claus and Margaret (sic (Geshe (Krause)) Bielenberg, with his two brothers, Charles H. and John N., immigrated to the United States. They settled at Davenport, Iowa, where they engaged in farming, and in that state passed their remaining years. The elder Bielenberg was an intelligent, well-educated man who had done military service in his native country. He and his sons swiftly adapted themselves to American ways, and the latter, particularly, became superior American citizens. Claus Bielenberg was of the Lutheran religion, and all of his family inherited his high moral principles. He built and owned business property in Davenport and its vicinity, and was one of its most highly respected townsmen.

Nicholas Bielenberg was given the usual public school privileges, but his lively interest in all practical affairs led him to shorten his period of study in order to join in the vocational activities in which his father and brother were engaged. The details of the butchering trade were learned by him in Davenport and when sixteen years of age he went to Chicago, where he was employed through the winter of 1865. For his first month 5 work he received only three dollars and board. The following spring he returned to Davenport, and made preparations to seek his life's success in the new west.

His trip thither was a most memorable one and worth relating in brief detail. From Davenport the young Bielenberg took a river boat to St. Louis, where he stopped for a few days, after which he took passage on "The Bertrant" up the Missouri river en route to Fort Benton, Montana. About thirty miles above Omaha the boat sank, and although no lives were lost all had to submit to the inconvenience of camping twenty days on the bank of the river while waiting for another boat of the same line. Continuing the voyage neither boat nor passengers met with difficulties until interrupted by a herd of buffalo crossing the stream. This necessitated their waiting for eighteen hours. Their next mishap was occasioned when, having reached a point below the Dry Fork of the Missouri, they struck a sand bar, and in the process of extricating the vessel a spar was broken. The delay thus occasioned was fraught with the most serious circumstance of the entire trip. The party was attacked by Indians, who, in the encounter killed one man, wounded another and carried away two, of whose lives they disposed in the most horrible manner. In sight of the stranded passengers of the Bertrant watching from the deck in desperate helplessness, the Indian squaws carried dry wood, with which they surrounded the captives, held in durance by the male savages. With the victims securely bound in the center, the wood was set aflame and the other voyagers saw them thus pitilessly destroyed. It is hardly to be wondered at that Mr. Bielenberg has ever since had an insuperable aversion for the Indian race. The Bertrant was presently started on her way once more and on June 18, 1865, arrived at Fort Benton, having taken a number of deer and elk on the route and having heard of the close of the war when passing one of the river forts.

After arriving at Fort Benton, Mr. Bielenberg proceeded to consider his immediate future. His objective point was Helena. But, on landing, his exchequer, which had suffered unexpected depletion because of the exigencies of the voyage, amounted to exactly thirty-five cents. On the boat which had brought him to Fort Benton was his supply of butcher's tools, but he was at a loss to defray the cost of transporting them. Youth and ambition often meet with kindly consideration, as the young man found on this occasion. The captain of the boat, to whom he explained his dilemma, gave him clearance for his tools, and instructed the boat's steward to supply him with the necessary provisions for his journey to Helena, free of all charge. Young Bielenberg then loaded his belongings on a mule wagon, at the side of which he walked to his destination, arriving on the first of July. At Helena he learned of a business in his line which was to be bought from Henry Edgar, the first discoverer of Alder Gulch, the richest gulch in Montana. The butcher's establishment was in Blackfoot, Montana, and to that place Nicholas Bielenberg went to buy out the Edgar meat business, his two brothers agreeing to "stake" him. Here he engaged in the butchering business until 1870, when he removed to Helena, and was there identified with the same line of trade until 1872, when he located at Deer Lodge.

About this time Mr. Bielenberg became connected with the line of business that started him on the road to the great success that he has achieved, the stock business. Here he engaged in stock-raising, and in buying cattle for the Chicago market, which was reached by driving the stock through to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and there shipping by rail to Chicago. For several years he carried on an important business in this connection. In 1877 he established a meat business in Butte, which became one of the leading industries of its kind in the northwest. A modern cold storage plant was erected, and a large wholesale trade was thus supplied. The growth of the business was substantial, and eventually assumed such proportions that it was deemed advisable
to incorporate it, which was done, the name given to it which concern has being the Butte Butchering Company since directed the enterprise.

About 1884 Mr. Bielenberg became associated with his half-brother Conrad Kohrs, in an extensive cattle business. Shortly afterward he carried on the same line of business as an individual, but later became interested with Joseph Toomey, and they developed, in this line an enterprise of immense proportions for that time. They handled more than one hundred and thirty thou-sand head of sheep in one year, and their flocks were to be found in various parts of Montana, while they also transacted a large business in buying and shipping sheen and cattle from the northwest, their operations extending from Washington to North Dakota, and contributed largely to the development of the live-stock industry in this section of the country.

We quote from an appreciative article previously published: "It can be safely said that Mr. Bielenberg and his associates were the fathers of the sheep industry in northern Montana, and their operations were the first of any importance in the state. Mr. Bielenberg was the first shipper to discover the value of screenings in the feeding of sheep in transit, and his discovery has grown to be a valuable industry in the handling of mutton for the eastern markets."

For more than forty years Mr. Bielenberg has been identified with the stock-raising industry of Montana, and probably no other man in the state has given greater impetus to an industry that has brought equal renown and distinction to the Treasure state. His interests are varied and extensive, including valuable mining, real estate and industrial holdings. His investments have been made with discrimination, showing marked business capacity and foresight. Interested in any movement of benefit to the community, and always on the side of progress and advancement, there is no better example of the type of men, who have not only lived to see Montana take her place among the great western states, but have largely contributed to the transformation.

Mr. Bielenberg from the time of casting his first vote up to 1912 was one of the staunch supporters of the Republican Party, taking a prominent part in its councils, and was one of its advisers in his section of the state. In 1892 he was a delegate to the national convention at Minneapolis, and many times served in similar capacities in state and county conventions. In 1912 he joined the Progressive movement, and at once took a prominent place among the organizers of that party in Montana. The principles of the Progressive party were only those with which he had been in sympathy for a long time. His influence has been strong in this movement toward cleaner politics in state and nation. Mr. Bielenberg presided at the mass convention meeting held in Helena July 29, 1912, for all people of the different counties of Montana whose third party sentiments were strong and clearly defined. He was a delegate to the National Progressive Convention at Chicago in August, 1912, that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president.

Mr. Bielenberg has been a resident of Deer Lodge for over forty years, completing his beautiful modern home in this city in 1910. It was here that he married, on the 14th of March, 1872, Miss Annie Bogk, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Augustav and Margaret Bogk, natives of Germany, who came from Wisconsin to the Deer Lodge Valley in the early days, and passed the remainder of their lives in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Bielenberg have been the parents of five children. The eldest. Alma Margaret, born July 15, 1874, is now Mrs. W. I. Higgins, of Deer Lodge. Howard Zenor, born on the 26th of November. 1876, married Annie Winkelman, engaged in the garage business in Deer Lodge, and they have one son, John Howard. Augusta Kohrs, who was born on the 16th of December, 1880, died on January 4. 1901. Anne Marie, who was born on April 16, 1883, attended the Deer Lodge schools and schools in the east for two years, and now resides with her parents. Claude Nicholas, whose birth took place on the 26th of October, 1888, is engaged in the ranching and stock-raising business. He was married on September S, 1912, to Ethel Catherine Marcum.

Mr. Bielenberg is one of the extensive owners of high-class ranch property in the Deer Lodge Valley. He is president of the Deer Lodge Water Company, and was one of the builders of the magnificent hotel property in Deer Lodge, a structure that would do credit to a city many times the size of Deer Lodge. Among his other executive offices he is president of the Butte Butchering Company, vice-president of the Tuolme Mining Company, and is a director in the Pilot-Butte Mining Company.

Mr. Bielenberg has been a successful man, not only as regards the accumulation of property, but as a citizen of high character and a business man of strict integrity and fairness. He enjoys the comforts and pleasures of life, has reared an excellent family in keeping with a high social standing, and has contributed liberally to all worthy projects, whether of a charitable, civic or religious character. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, affiliating with the Helena Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar, and Algeria Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Helena. He is also a member of the Elks.

His acquaintance includes many of the prominent men of the state, not only of today but for the past twenty-five years. Few men in this section of Montana are better known than "Nick" Bielenberg, as he is called, not from any lack of respect but from a most friendly and jovial disposition, and the faculty of making and retaining friends.1


Obituary Notice:

Nicholas J. Bielenberg, pioneer of Montana for 62 years, well known all over the state as a highly successful business man and livestock grower, early resident of the Deer Lodge valley, died at his home at Deer Lodge on the night of died 06 July 1927 at 9 o'clock after a short illness. He was over 80 years of age, and had been active nearly all of his long life. News of his death was received by The Independent by telephone last night. Mr. Bielenberg had been often in Helena, and had many acquaintances here. At the time of his death, the surviving relatives include two sons, Claude and Howard Bielenberg of Deer Lodge, and two daughters, Mrs. W.I. Higgins of Butte and Miss Annie Bielenberg, who is in California. The wife of the deceased pioneer died in 1917. The funeral will take place at Deer Lodge from the family home on Milwaukee Avenue at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. He was in the stock business there for a while, then in the meat business at Butte, and in 1884 went extensively into cattle raising with his half-brother, the late Conrad Kohrs. Later he and Joseph Toomey were associated, and their business became one of the largest in the northwest. They handled 130,000 head of sheep in one year. Mr. Bielenberg and his associates have been called the fathers of the sheep industry in northern Montana.

Mr. Bielenberg was prominent in republican part councils in his part of the state, and was delegate to the republican national convention at Minneapolis in 1892. Since early days Mr. Bielenberg was a leading citizen of Deer Lodge, and leaves many friend s there (obit).

He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, in all of its bodies; also of the Elks. In the Masonic Order he was a member of Deer Lodge, lodge No. 14, Valley Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar and Algeria Temple of Mystic Shrine. He was the first treasurer of the Ivanhoe Commandery, when chartered in 1916. He was also a member of the Society of Montana Pioneers.

References

1. A History of Montana. Volume 2. Helen Fitzgerald Sanders, Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co., 1913.

Children of Nicholas J. Bielenberg and Annie (nee Bogk) Bielenberg

ALMA MARGARET BIELENBERG (1874-1962)
HOWARD ZENOR BIELENBERG (1877-1953)
AUGUSTA KOHRS BIELENBERG (1880 -1901)
ANNE MARIE BIELENBERG (1883-1960)
CLAUDE NICHOLAS BIELENBERG(1887-1955)

JOHANN (HENRY) & JOHANNA KOHRS

Henry & Johanna (nee Lohmann) Kohrs with great grandson Don Lambert, son of Juanita (nee Phillipson) and Emil Lambert

Children of Henry & Johanna (nee Lohmann) Kohrs

EMILIE (1858-1943)
MARIE (1860-1930)
HELEN (1863-1954)
BERTHA (1865-1961)
CONRAD CARSTON (1868-1908)
HENRY (1870-1925)
JOHN LUETJE (1872-1954)
FRANK L. (1876-1956)

From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S.
J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago.

Surnames: Kohrs, Phillipson, Lohmann, Gehrmann.

Henry Kohrs, whose foresight enabled him to realize the possibilities of Davenport as the center of many industries and a prominent shipping point for the west, was born in Holstein, Germany, November 15, 1830, a son of Carsten and Gesche (Krause) Kohrs. The father was born in the same place as his son and died there in 1835. The education of Henry Kohrs was received in the excellent schools of Germany and there learned the butcher's trade. When twenty-three years old he came to the United States and for a short time was in New York city but soon removed to Davenport, landing here March 13, 1854.

Being a hard-working and industrious young man, he soon secured employment in a dry goods and grocery store, from which he went to a clothier's, and in this way became acquainted with the language and customs of his new home. In 1855, he was able to start in business in a humble way, opening a market on Western between Fourth and Fifth streets. In 1857 he removed to Harrison avenue, and in 1858 erected a building at Nos. 310 and 312 West Second street, where he carried on business until 1874. During all this time he worked very hard, making every change pay, and carefully saving all he could, so that in 1874 he was able to embark in the pork packing business in a small way and so laid the foundation of his present immense establishment. The plant stands on its original site, but there have been many changes, not only in the buildings, but the methods. As his business grew, Mr. Kohrs also grew, eagerly seizing upon any improvement that would be profitable for him to introduce into his establishment. For years he continued alone and then took his sons into partnership with him. In 1898 W. H. Gehrmann became a member of the firm, which is now known as the Kohrs Packing Company. Of late years Mr. Gehrmann has relieved Mr. Kohrs of much of the active work.

On Christmas Day, 1857, Mr. Kohrs married Johanna Lohmann, a native of Germany, who came to Scott county in 1855 and like her husband is still in excellent health and in possession of all her faculties. Eight children were born to them: Amelia, now Mrs. Phillipson; Mary; Helen, now Mrs. William H. Gehrmann; Bertha; Conrad, who died in 1908, aged forty years; and Henry, John and Frank who are members of the firm.

While a good republican, Mr. Kohrs time has been so occupied with business cares that he has had but little leisure to give to politics, but in the '80s he served his ward as a member of the council and was chairman of the committee on streets. He is a member of the Turner and Shooting Clubs. Although in his eightieth year, Mr. Kohrs spends several hours each day at his business, and is hale and hearty, enjoying the companionship of his wife and children and the esteem his success has won for him.

Aside from his material prosperity, Mr. Kohrs is worthy of all confidence and friendship he has evoked, for he possesses those sterling traits of character that make for the most desirable citizenship and which all captains of industry do not possess. As a business man he has prospered, but it is as the good citizen, the kind and loving husband and father that he will best be remembered. His children have been carefully reared by himself and wife to be a credit to any community, and thus in another way he has served his adopted country by giving it honorable citizens, carefully trained to recognize the law and its restrictions.

Scott County, Iowa USGenWeb Project: Retrieved on 11 April 2009 from http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/1910vol2bios16.htm

EMILIE (nee KOHRS) PHILLIPSON

EMILIE KOHRS

1858-1943

Johann & Johanna Kohrs, their daughter Emilie (nee Kohrs) Phillipson, granddaughter Juanita (nee Phillipson) Lambert and their great grand son Don Lambert on his knee.

EMILIE KOHRS married WILLIAM PHILLIPSON on January 2, 1883. She was the first child born of Henry Kohrs. She lived most of her married life in Chicago. In November of 1925, she and her sister Bertha Kohrs and the Gehrmanns, completed an "around the world" tour. Emilie died at the home of a daughter, Juanita (nee Phillipson) Lambert (Mrs. Hill Griffith in Hartford Connecticut) at the age of eighty-four. The funeral was held in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Surviving were four children, Mrs. Griffith, Hugo Phillipson of New York City, William and Mrs. Nita Lambert, both of Milwaukee (obit)

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.

CONRAD CARSTON KOHRS

CONRAD CARSTON KOHRS

1868-1908

Born: 20 June 1868 in Davenport, Iowa-Died: 17 December, 1908 in Davenport, Iowa

CONRAD CARSTON KOHRS, as a young man, was employed by his father and became part of the Kohrs Packing Company. He and ANNA (MATTAUSCH) KOHRS lived the first part of their married life, within the "compound", 1347 West Second Street until moving to 2016 West Fifth Street. In 1908, Conrad developed pneumonia and died on the December 17, 1908. Conrad Kohrs had been ill but one week and had only been moved to Mercy Hospital the day prior to his death. Anna and the children Johanna and Harry continued living in the family home at 2016 West Fifth Street, for many years. Conrad was originally buried in the Henry Kohrs family plot, but his body was later moved to an Oakdale Cemetery plot where his family, Anna, Johanna (Dolly) and Harry are buried near him.1 The funeral for Conrad Carston Kohrs was conducted privately from the residence and the remains take to Oakdale Cemetery for interment. 2

Children born to Conrad Carson Kohrs and Anna (nee Mattausch) Kohrs:

JOHANNA KOHRS (1899-1970)
HARRY C. KOHRS (1904-1960)


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-Obituaries: 17 December 1908, pg 11.

HENRY JOHN KOHRS JR.

HENRY JOHN KOHRS

1870-1925

Born: 15 June 1870 in Davenport, Iowa - Died: 19 July 1925 in Davenport, Iowa.

HENRY JOHN KOHRS married (1) LAURA SCHRODER 03 Jan 1895. LAURA (SCHRODER) KOHRS was born 24 May 1870, and died 31 May 1898. HENRY JOHN KOHRS then married (2) MINNIE GOETCH 10 Jan 1900.

Notes for HENRY JOHN KOHRS: Henry and Laura lived in the Kohrs "compound". Laura and Henry had one son, Robert Kohrs. Several years after Laura’s passing, Henry married second, Minnie Goetch and the family moved to a house at No. 6 Rivers Bend Road. Henry J. Kohrs was associated with Kohrs Packing Company, but had retired in 1913. Funeral services were held at his home with the Rev. B. F. Martin, Pastor of Edwards Congregation Church provided the services at the home and Trinity Lodge No. 208 A.F. & A.M. conducted services at the Davenport crematorium where incineration occurred. Friends were invited to view the body at the chapel of Hill & Frederick Davenport Iowa. J. Kohrs was a member of Davenport’s Masonic Trinity Lodge No. 208 A. F and A.M; Simon and Cyrene Commandery, Knights Templar and the Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine.1


Child born to Henry John Kohrs Jr. and Laura (nee Schroder) Kohrs:

ROBERT (1896-1935)

Reference

1. Davenport Democrat and Leader 20 July 1925 (obituary- page 12).

JOHN LUETJE KOHRS

JOHN LUETJE KOHRS

1872-1954

Born: 26 June 1872, Davenport, Iowa - Died: 28 June 1954, Davenport, Iowa

JOHN LUETJE KOHRS married HULDA SCHMIDT November 18, 1896, daughter of KARL SCHMIDT and SOPHIE MOELLER. John Kohrs was the first child born to Henry and Johanna (Lohmann) Kohrs after their move to 1343 West Second. John, as a youth, helped his father in the "meat business" and later became a partner in the Kohrs Packing Company. He was a tall man, about six foot two, with dark hair and eyes. After their marriage they lived in the "compound" at 1349 West Second in Davenport. In 1908, John and Hulda built a home on Clay Street, overlooking the city of Davenport, Iowa. It was several years before father Henry came to visit his son and family, but seeing the beautiful view, he conceded that John had made the right move. John continued with the Kohrs Packing Company for many years, and after it was sold to the Oscar Mayer Company, he was a partner in the Kohrs Cold Storage Company. He died suddenly from heat exhaustion on 28 June 1954 in Davenport, Iowa. Hulda survived her husband and died on February 1, 1969. Both are entombed at Fairmont Mausoleum in Davenport. 1 
Funeral services were held in the Runge Chapel for John L. Kohrs, 81 former president of the Kohrs Packing Co., Davenport, who died in Mercy hospital after a short illness. The Very Reverend Russell Johnston officiated. Entombment was at the Fairmount Mausoleum. The family requested flowers be omitted and contributions given to the Visiting Nurses Association or any other charity. Mr. Kohrs, who lived at 1519 Clay Street, was president of the Kohrs firm until it was sold to Oscar Mayer and Company. He was a partner in the Kohrs Cold Storage Company. He had retired from active employment several years prior to his death. Mr. Kohrs was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, the Davenport Outing Club, Central Turners, Modern Woodmen of America and the Unitarian Church. 2

Children born to John Luetje Kohrs and Hulda (nee Schmidt) Kohrs:

HAROLD KOHRS (1898-1955)
EDWARD FRANK KOHRS (1900-)
HELEN KOHRS (1903-2000)
MARTHA ELFRIDA KOHRS (1912-2007)


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. The Davenport Democrat, 29 June 1954 (Obituary - page 6)

FRANK L. KOHRS

FRANK L. KOHRS

1876-1956

Born: 24 February 1876, Davenport, Iowa - Died: 11 March 1956, Davenport, Iowa

FRANK L. KOHRS was employed by his father, as were his other brothers, and in 1898 he became Secretary-treasurer of Kohrs Packing Company. He and Hilda lived in the "compound" at 1337 West Second for a few years and then moved to Clay Street, near brother John and his family. On November 18, 1922, tragedy struck-- Hilda was accidentally overcome by gas, while sprinkling clothes. In tossing the clothes a gas jet was opened, and she was found dead a few hours later. Hilda was thirty-seven years old at the time of her death. Frank and Hilda had adopted two children, Frank and Frances. After Hilda's death, her sister Mrs. Chatfield, came to live with the family and cared for the two children. Frank loved to fish and hunt. He owned a summer home on the Mississippi, near brother Henry, and later owned a lodge in Wisconsin. He also loved antiques and filled his lodge with them. Frank Kohrs was living at his Mercer Wisconsin address when he died at the age of eighty on March 11, 1956. 1

Frank Kohrs, 80 President of the Kohrs Cold Storage Co. Davenport, and member of the Davenport Scott County Family died at the home of his son Frank Kohrs Jr. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida following an eight-month illness. Mr. Kohrs attended Davenport Schools and Kemper Military Academy. He entered the packing business with his father and his brothers in1896. He was one of the founders of the Kohrs Cold Storage Co. He was a former Director of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce. The family home is at 1024 Marquette Street, Davenport. The family requested that memorials be in the form of contributions to Friendly House. 2


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 Morning Democrat, Tuesday March 13, 1956 (Obituaries).

WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN

WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN

1858-1933

Born: 15 MARCH 1858, Uetersen, Germany- Died: 16 FEB 1933 Davenport, Iowa

WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN was born in Uetersen, Germany, March 15, 1858, the son of DIETRICH and ANNA (DIECKMAN) GEHRMANN, also natives of Germany. Dietrich Gehrmann was a manufacturer of chicory, a root treated and used as a substitute for coffee. Dietrich and Anna Gehrmann was quite a prominent citizen of his native country, in which both he and his wife spent their entire lives. WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN married HELEN KOHRS, daughter of HENRY and JOHANNA (LOHMANN) KOHRS on September 07, 1887 in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Gehrmann was connected with the Elks and the Masons and was prominent as a club man in the city of Davenport. He took an active interest in all public affairs as one of the leading representatives of trade interests in Davenport. He also figured in financial circles as a director of the Iowa National Bank. He was prominent among the German-American citizens as the president of the Davenport Turner Society and was interested in the educational progress of the city, doing effective work in behalf of the public schools as a member of the board of education since 1901. His record was characterized by continuous progress along every line to which he directed his activity and most of all he is known as a representative and prominent business man who accomplished what he undertook by reason of well formulated plans and close and unremitting application.

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

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

WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN

THE GEHRMANN FAMILY

Subject: HELEN GEHRMANN and WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN, (Front Row), JOHN HARRY GEHRMANN and WILLIAM C. GEHRMANN (Back Row).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
Source: From the Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive (http://www.umvphotoarchive.org/)

The biography below was from the following "Volume 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago

WILLIAM H. GEHRMANN, starting in business life in America at a salary of eight dollars per month, rose to become the vice president and general manager of the Kohrs Packing Company of Davenport, in which connection he was active in the control of one of the leading enterprises of the city. His business affairs were so carefully managed that success placed him in a prominent position among Davenport's representative men. William Gehrmann was educated in the private schools of his native town of Uetersen Germany and afterward learned bookkeeping, which he followed for two years. In 1875, when a youth of seventeen years, he sailed for America, making the voyage alone as a passenger on the steamship Schiller. This was the last complete trip which the steamship Schiller made, as she was lost at sea on her return trip, being wrecked on the Needles off the English coast. Mr. Gehrmann landed at New York City and soon afterward started for the Midwest, going to St. Louis, Missouri, where he secured a place in a grocery store at a salary of eight dollars per month. He afterward was employed in a wholesale grocery house of that city, with which he was connected until 1879, when he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and entered the training school of the Truners Academy for the training of teachers of gymnastics. Following his graduation in 1880 he returned to St. Louis and accepted a position as teacher in the gymnasium of the Toensfeldt Institute and St. Louis Turn Verein. There he continued until the spring of 1887, when he went to Walkerville, Montana, and with the capital he had saved from his earnings engaged in the butchering business on his own account. In this undertaking he prospered but in 1895 he sought a broader field of labor in Anaconda, Montana, where he organized the Montana Meat Company in connection with Marcus Daly and Conrad Kohrs. In 1898, however, he sold out his interest to his partners and came to Davenport, where he assumed the management of the interests of the Kohrs Packing Company, which had been established in 1874 by Henry Kohrs. He became the vice president and general manager of what, in its day was one of the extensive business concerns of the city, employing about one hundred people. The output of the Kohrs Packing Plant was known throughout Iowa, Illinois and Missouri and all points in the south. They did their own killing, dressing and packing and the establishment was under government inspection. Everything was conducted with the strictest regard to sanitation and the excellence of the products insures a continuance of a liberal and growing patronage.1

References

1. "From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago


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

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

WILLIAM CONRAD GEHRMANN

WILLIAM CONRAD GEHRMANN

1889-1965

Born: 15 April 1889, Walkerville, Montana- Died: 25 May 1965, Davenport, Iowa

WILLIAM CONRAD GEHRMANN was the first son born to WILLIAM and HELEN (KOHRS) GEHRMANN. At the age of 10, William, returned from living in Montanato Davenport, Iowa, with his family. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1907, and from Stanford University in 1912. In 1912, he went to Venezuela with a company that was exploring for oil. At the beginning of World War I in Europe, he returned to Davenport, and to the Kohrs Packing Company. He married ANITA HANSSEN on 15 Feb 1920, daughter of CHARLES HANSSEN and MARIE BRUHN. William Conrad Gehrmann was a member of the Masonic Trinity Lodge #221. At the time of his death, William C. Gehrmann was seventy-six years old, William and Anita are buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport Iowa.


Child born to William Conrad Gehrmann and Anita (nee Hanssen) Gehrmann:

JEANNE MARIE (1921-2007)

____________________________
PUBLICATIONS
[Map and field reports from the 1912 field season, Mt. Hamilton and San Jose quadrangles]
Stanford Geological Survey

Organization: Stanford Geological Survey.
Title: [Map and field reports from the 1912 field season, Mt. Hamilton and San Jose quadrangles] / W.C. Hammon, H.W. Parmalee [et al.], Stanford Geological Survey.
Other title: California, Mt. Hamilton sheet : [geology]
Other title: Mt. Hamilton sheet, California
Other title: California Mount Hamilton sheet
Mathematic map data: Scale 1:62,500. (W 121⁰45ʹ00ʺ--W 121⁰30ʹ00ʺ/N 37⁰30ʹ00ʺ--N 37⁰15ʹ00ʺ).
Imprint: 1912.
Physical Description: 1 map : col. ; 45 x 36 cm. + 22 field reports.
Note: Map by H.W. Parmalee.
Note: Relief shown by contours and spot heights.
Note: Annotated and hand colored copy of U.S. Geological Survey Mt. Hamilton quadrangle 1:62,500.
Note: Accompanied by 22 field reports.
Note: Includes SR no. 20, "Catalogue of note-books on field geology. Feb. 4, 1912." With note: "Put the note-books back in their proper places. J.C. Branner."
Note: Includes SR no. 21, "Record sheet and section of Pleasanton sheet by Mr. Hook 1911-12."
Subject (LC): Stanford University--Maps.
Subject (LC): San Jose (Calif.)--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (LC): San Jose (Calif.)--Maps, Topographic.
Added author: Ambrose, A. W.
Added author: Anderson, R. E.
Added author: Andreen, H. M.
Added author: Beckwith, H. T.
Added author: Branner, J. C.
Added author: Burrell, Logan.
Added author: Cooper, W. G.
Added author: Dietrich, W. F.
Added author: Erb, B. E.
Added author: Gehrmann, W. C.
Added author: Hall, M. L.
Added author: Hammon, W. C.
Added author: Hook, Joseph Stanley.
Added author: Jenkins, O.
Added author: Lantz, G. B.
Added author: Lasky, B. H.
Added author: McCann, R. J.
Added author: Nobs, W. R.
Added author: Parmalee, H. W.
Added author: Peake, A. W.
Added author: Remington, A. E.
Added author: Stewart, E. J.
Title: Thesis on San Jose and part of the Mt. Hamilton quadrangle.

______________________________________
Hacienda area topography and geology
Stanford Geological Survey.

Jump to call number/location/availability
Organization: Stanford Geological Survey.
Title: Hacienda area topography and geology / surveyed by L.C. Decius, W.C. Gehrmann [and] W.C. Hammon, L.S.J.U. Geological Survey.
Mathematic map data: Scale 1:4,800 (W 121⁰47ʹ/N 37⁰11ʹ).
Imprint: 1912.
Physical Description: 7 ms. maps : some col. ; 40 x 36 cm. and 34 x 34 cm.
Note: Relief shown by contours and spot heights.
Note: Various maps of the same area.
Note: No. 2-7 include cross section.
Note: No. 1 shows triangulation, contours and spot heights. No. 2 [drawn by] W.C. Hammon. No. 4 [drawn by] L.C. Decius, no. 5 [drawn by] W.C. Gehrmann, no. 6 uncol. on cloth.
Note: Pen-and-ink and watercolor.
Note: Accompanied by field notebooks.
Subject (LC): Geology--California--Santa Clara County--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (LC): Santa Clara County--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (Other): NGMDB
Subject (Other): Geology California Calero Reservoir Region Maps, Manuscript.
Added author: Decius, L. C.
Added author: Gehrmann, W. C.
Added author: Hammon, W. C.

______________________________________
California, Mt. Hamilton sheet: [geology]
Stanford Geological Survey.

Jump to call number/location/availability
Organization: Stanford Geological Survey.
Title: California, Mt. Hamilton sheet: [geology] / A.W. Ambrose [et al.]
Other title: Mt. Hamilton sheet, California
Other title: California Mount Hamilton sheet
Mathematic map data: Scale 1:62,500. (W 121⁰45ʹ00ʺ--W 121⁰30ʹ00ʺ/N 37⁰30ʹ00ʺ--N 37⁰15ʹ00ʺ).
Imprint: [Stanford, Calif. : L.S.J.U. Geological Survey], 1912.
Physical Description: 21 maps : col. ; 45 x 37 cm.
Note: Relief shown by contours and spot heights.
Note: Annotated and hand colored copies of U.S. Geological Survey Mt. Hamilton quadrangle 1:62,500.
Note: Sheet 19 includes 2 cross sections.
Note: Accompanied by 19 field notebooks.
Note: 18 field notebooks on "San Jose quadrangle" record.
Note: Dietrich text on "Quarry area geology and topography" record.
Contents: Maps by: [1] A.W. Ambrose -- [2] R.E. Anderson -- [3] H.M. Andreen -- [4] George Casper Branner -- [5] Logan Burrell -- [6] H. Crandall -- [7] W.F. Dietrich -- [8] B.E. Erb -- [9] A.D. Fyfe -- [10] W.C. Gehrmann, partner R.J. McCann -- [11] M.L. Hall -- [12] W.C. Hammon -- [13] Olaf Jenkins -- [14] G.B. Lantz -- [15] B.H. Lasky -- [16] W.R. Nobs -- [17] A.W. Peake -- [18] A.E. Remington -- [19. Anonymous, showing] Schist -- [20] E.J. Stewart -- [21] E.C. Templeton.
Subject (LC): Geology--California--Santa Clara County--Maps.
Subject (LC): Geology--California--Alameda County--Maps.
Subject (LC): Santa Clara County (Calif.)--Maps, Topographic.
Subject (LC): Santa Clara County (Calif.)--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (LC): Alameda County (Calif.)--Maps, Topographic.
Subject (LC): Alameda County (Calif.)--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (Other): NGMDB
Added author: Ambrose, Arthur Warren.
Added author: Anderson, R. E. (Robert Edward)
Added author: Andreen, H. M.
Added author: Branner, George Casper, 1890-1967.
Added author: Burrell, Logan.
Added author: Crandall, H. (Hector)
Added author: Dietrich, W. F.
Added author: Erb, B. E.
Added author: Fyfe, A. D.
Added author: Gehrmann, W. C.
Added author: Hall, M. L.
Added author: Hammon, W. C.
Added author: McCann, R. J.
Added author: Jenkins, Olaf Pitt, 1889-
Added author: Lantz, G. B.
Added author: Lasky, B. H. (Bernard H.)
Added author: Nobs, W. R.
Added author: Peake, A. W.
Added author: Remington, A. E.
Added author: Schist.
Added author: Stewart, E. J.
Added author: Templeton, E. C.

______________________________________
San Jose quadrangle : [geology]
Stanford Geological Survey.

Jump to call number/location/availability
Organization: Stanford Geological Survey.
Title: San Jose quadrangle : [geology] / R.E. Anderson, [et al.]
Other title: California, San Jose quadrangle
Other title: San Jose sheet
Other title: Geology of the San Jose quadrangle
Mathematic map data: Scale 1:62,500. (W 122⁰00ʹ00ʺ--W 121⁰45ʹ00ʺ/N 37⁰30ʹ00ʺ--N 37⁰15ʹ00ʺ).
Imprint: [Stanford, Calif.] : L.S.J.U Geological Survey], 1912.
Physical Description: 23 maps : col. ; 45 x 37 cm.
Note: Relief shown by contours and spot heights.
Note: Annotated and hand colored copies of U.S. Geological Survey San Jose quadrangle 1:62,500.
Note: Titles vary; some on verso.
Note: Accompanied by 22 field notebooks.
Note: Ambrose and Dietrich texts on "Quarry area geology and topography" record.
Contents: [1] Field work on San Jose quadrangle / R.E. Anderson -- [2] Area worked during May-June 1912 by Arthur Warren Ambrose -- [3] San Jose quadrangle / H.M. Andreen -- [4] San Jose sheet / H.T. Beckwith -- [5] San Jose quadrangle / George Casper Branner -- [6] Field work summer 1912 / by Logan Burrell -- [7] San Jose quadrangle / W.G. Cooper -- [8] San Jose sheet / H. Crandall -- [9] San Jose quadrangle / L.C. Decius -- [10] San Jose sheet / W.F. Dietrich -- [11] San Jose sheet / B.E. Erb -- [12] San Jose quadrangle / A.D. Fyfe -- [13] Geology of the San Jose quadrangle / M.L. Hall -- [14] Field work of summer 1912 / W.C. Hammon -- [15] Field work during the summer of 1912 / by Olaf Jenkins -- [16] San Jose sheet / G.B. Lantz -- [17] San Jose quadrangle / B.H. Lasky -- [18] San Jose quadrangle W.C. Gehrmann, partner R.J. McCann -- [19] San Jose sheet / W.R. Nobs -- [20] San Jose quadrangle / H.W. Parmelee -- [21] San Jose sheet / A.W. Peake -- [22] San Jose quadrangle / A.E. Remington -- [23] Geological field work summer of 1912 / by E.J. Stewart.
Subject (LC): Geology--California--Santa Clara County--Maps.
Subject (LC): Santa Clara County (Calif.)--Maps, Topographic.
Subject (LC): Santa Clara County (Calif.)--Maps, Manuscript.
Subject (Other): NGMDB
Added author: Ambrose, Arthur Warren.
Added author: Anderson, R. E. (Robert Edward)
Added author: Andreen, H. M.
Added author: Beckwith, H. T.
Added author: Branner, George Casper, 1890-1967.
Added author: Burrell, Logan.
Added author: Cooper, W. G.
Added author: Crandall, H. (Hector)
Added author: Decius, L. C.
Added author: Dietrich, W. F.
Added author: Erb, B. E.
Added author: Fyfe, A. D.
Added author: Gehrmann, W. C.
Added author: Hall, M. L.
Added author: Hammon, W. C.
Added author: Jenkins, Olaf Pitt, 1889-
Added author: Lantz, G. B.
Added author: Lasky, B. H. (Bernard H.)
Added author: McCann, R. J.
Added author: Nobs, W. R.
Added author: Parmalee, H. W.
Added author: Peake, A. W.
Added author: Remington, A. E.
Added author: Stewart, E. J.

JOHN H. GEHRMANN

JOHN H. GEHRMANN

1882-1985

Born: 24 March 1882, Walkerville, Montana-Died: 31 Jul 1985, Davenport, Iowa

JOHN H. GEHRMANN was the second son born to WILLIAM and HELEN (KOHRS) GEHRMANN. The Gehrmann family returned from living in Deer Lodge, Montana to Davenport, Iowa when Harry was six years old. John Gehrmann graduated from Davenport High School and from University of Wisconsin in 1915 with a Chemical Engineering Degree. After graduation, he was employed by Hammond Standish (meat packers) in Detroit, but in 1916 he returned to the Kohrs Packing Company in Davenport, Iowa. He married EDNA MARIE HANSSEN 10 Jan 1929, daughter of CHARLES HANSSEN and MARIE BRUHN. After the Kohrs Packing Company was sold to Oscar Mayer in 1948, William and Harry Gehrmann, and John and Frank Kohrs were partners in Kohrs Cold Storage. In later years, William and Anita Gehrmann, and Harry and Edna Gehrmann decided to retire to smaller homes, and built neighboring homes on Clay Street in Davenport Iowa that provided magnificent views of the Mississippi river.1

Services for J. H. “Harry” Gehrmann, 93 of 2538 Hayes Street, Davenport, Iowa were held at the Weerts/Hills and Fredericks Funeral Home, Davenport. The body was cremated. Memorials were be made to a favorite charity. Mr. Gehrmann died on a Wednesday at Davenport Lutheran Home. He founded and was former president of the Kohrs Cold Storage Company, Davenport. Mr. Gehrmann married Edna Hanssen in 1929 in Davenport. He was a member of the Davenport Outing Club and former member of Arsenal Golf Club and Davenport Park Commission. Survivors include his wife; sons, William, Burlington, Iowa, and Carl, Davenport; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.2

Children of John H. Gehrmann and Edna M. Hanssen

WILLIAM HENRY GEHRMANN (1929-)
CARL HARRY GEHRMANN(1930-)


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. Quad City Times, Thursday, August 1, 1985)

JOHNEY BIELENBERG & GEHRMANN BOYS

John Bielenberg and Gehrmann boys, (William C. Gehrmann & John H. "Harry" Gehrmann) on Horseback (circa 1904). Front yard of Grant Kohrs Ranch House, (Deer Lodge, Montana).

Source: Grant Kohrs Ranch NHS Archives

CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS

AUGUSTA & CONRAD KOHRS

CARSTEN CONRAD KOHRS

1835-1930

Born: 5 Aug 1835, Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany- Died: 20 July 1920, Helena, Montana

The following paragraphs are from the book title Progressive Men of Montana.

Progressive men of the state of Montana. A.W. Bowen & Co. Chicago : A.W. Bowen & Co., [1903?]

HON. CONRAD KOHRS.— No man in Montana is more appropriately entitled to prominent mention than Hon. Conrad Kohrs, because of his varied, enterprising, yet successful career. He is probably the largest cattle owner in Montana, and was born at Holstein, Germany, on August 5, 1835, the son of Carston Kohrs, a farmer and distiller, of Hanover, who died when Conrad was seven months old. His mother was Gesehe Krause, a native of Wevelsfleth, Holstein, Germany, who came to the United States in 1854 and located at Davenport, Iowa, where she died on March 17,1886. By her first marriage she had two sons, who are now living.

Conrad Kohrs, when fifteen, began life as a sailor, which career he followed many years, visiting the principal ports of the world. In 1850 he came to the United States and for two years sailed from New York to South American ports. He then came west to Iowa and for several years was engaged in rafting and steamboating on the Mississippi, after which he was in the meat business until 1856. He then went to California by the Panama route and engaged in mining in Siskiyou county. The Fraser River excitement drew him thither in 1858 and he mined successfully, averaging $14 per day. Returning to California in the fall Mr. Kohrs engaged in different mining enterprises and all of his money. He then returned east and in 1862 started for Montana and arrived at Deer Lodge in July. This journey was attended by the hardships and perils so vividly remembered by the ever -dwindling band of the surviving pioneers. He prospected and mined near Deer Lodge until the discovery of gold at Bannack. In this new camp of great activity he was employed in the meat business by "Hank" Crawford, at a salary of $25 per month. In June, 1863, occurred the stampede to Alder gulch, and Air. Kohrs joined in the procession and engaged in a successful meat business until 1865.

Those familiar with the early history of Montana know that civil law was preceded by the more rapid operations of the Vigilantes. "Road agents" were numerous, and desperadoes who recognized no law but force, and knew no pity. Like all good citizens Mr. Kohrs aided in ridding the country of these evil men. There was a strong personal incentive on his part to become an active factor in this work, for he once came very near falling a victim to their rapacity and greed. While on his way to Deer Lodge, in the fall of 1863, he stopped for the night at Camp Creek. In the early morning, while looking for a horse that had strayed away, he met a friendly halfbreed, a herder for Fred. Burr, of Big Hole bridge, who was stopping on the ranch now owned by Hon. Joseph Brown, who said: "Kohrs, I think you had better get out of here. Two of the boys were at the house last night. They were after some one, and I think you are the man." Mr. Kohrs replied that he would get out if he could find his horse. The half-breed said he would get the animal and brought it to Mr. Kohrs, who had $5,000 in gold dust with him. He hastily mounted and dashed away toward Deer Lodge. Two horsemen soon came galloping after him and he gave his horse the reins, hoping to outride them, and he threw away his overcoat and blanket to lighten the load. The two desperadoes continued in hot pursuit and it was a race for life. The distance to Deer Lodge, sixty-one miles, was made in six hours and Mr. Kohrs reached the town fifteen minutes ahead of his pursuers. He had the pleasure later to assist in the capture of these very men at Big Hole, Missoula county, and one of them, Bill Bunting, paid the penalty of his numerous crimes on the gallows.

Mr. Kohrs made his home in Deer Lodge in 1864, purchasing his present ranch, with its stock, of John H. Grant on August 23, 1866. It was started in 1863 by Mr. Grant and is a very handsome property, lying less than a mile north of Deer Lodge. He widened his operations and soon became one of the largest stock purchasers in the valley. In 1865 he began the breeding of cattle and he has so extended his operations that he now has a national reputation as the "Cattle King of Montana." He was pioneer in the introduction of shorthorn cattle, purchasing his first herd in Illinois in 1871 and in 1890 he introduced the Herefords into Montana. He is also a member of the Pioneer Cattle Company, organized in 1885. Although these vast operations would seem to occupy all of one man's time. Mr. Kohrs is also interested in mines and mining. In 1867, in company with W. H. Irwin, F. H. Irwin, Christopher Horn, E. S. Newman and John C. Thornton, he constructed the Rock Creek ditch, which is thirteen miles long and carries over 3,000 inches of water. In the same year J. W. Bielenberg became his partner in this and since 1885 they have owned the entire property. They own nearly all the mining ground at Pioneer and are largely engaged in hydraulic mining. Mr. Kohrs also owned a 10,000-acre ranch at Deer Lodge, considered one of the finest in the state, which now contains 30,000 acres. Mr. Kohrs is an influential factor in councils of the Republican party. He has served as a county commissioner, as a member of the Fourteenth Montana territorial legislature, and as a member of the constitutional convention of 1889. Socially he is a Freemason.

On February 23, 1868, Mr. Kohrs was married to Miss Augusta Kruse, a native of Holstein, Germany. Their four children are Anna, now Mrs. J. M. Boardman ; Catherine, now Mrs. Dr. O. Y. Warren, of Warren Springs, Mont., and William, who died March 20, 1901, while attending Columbia College, and John.


Children of Carsten Conrad Kohrs and Augusta (nee Kruse) Kohrs

ANNA CATHERINE KOHRS (1868-1958)
KATHERINE CHRISTENE KOHRS (1870-1958)
WILLIAM KRUSE KOHRS (1879-1901)

Reference

1. Progressive men of the state of Montana. A.W. Bowen & Co. Chicago : A.W. Bowen & Co., [1903?]