Transcribed by Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 373

HENRY E. GERDES

This worthy citizen of Hopkins township, Whiteside county, is a native of Oldenberg, Germany, born January 3, 1830. His father, John H. GERDES, whose birth occurred in the same city February 24, 1797, married Gertie SMITH, who was born in 1796. Of their six children, the eldest, Hilly Maria, died at the age of two years, and Edo died in infancy. Ida C., becoming the wife of John B. EUKEN, of Oldenberg, came to the United States in 1879, and with her five children reside in Cass county, Iowa. Gerhardine, born in 1833, married Meint CARSTENS, in 1854, and has four sons: Folkert, Herman, George and Anton, the latter now living in Cass county, Iowa. George, who was employed in Queen's hospital, in Honolulu, died with the yellow fever. Herman, born February 2, 1836, and now deceased, was married in Germany and reared two sons and a daughter, while two of his sons have passed away. His widow remarried and is now a resident of Nebraska. The father of our subject owned a farm in Germany and continued to dwell there until his death.

The marriage of Henry E. GERDES and Margaret HAYUNGS, who was born October 4, 1833, was solemnized June 17, 1854, in Oldenberg, and shortly afterward the young couple started for the United States. Coming to Illinois, they located near Prairieville, Lee county, residing there for four years. Then, coming to Hopkins township, Mr. GERDES bought a quarter section of school land, which property he later sold. He resided in that township for twenty-five years, and for four years owned and cultivated a farm in Kansas. In 1888 he returned to this county, and after carrying on a farm of one hundred and seven acres in Genesee township for six years he purchased a place in Coleta. This property, comprising a comfortable house and seven acres of land, afforded him a good home for his declining years, but, in addition to this, he owns three hundred and sixty-two acres of excellent farm land - one hundred and thiryt-five acres on sections 30 and 31, and one hundred and seven acres on section 21, Genesee township. As a farmer he has met with well-deserved success, and in all his undertakings has been prospered.

The first wife of our subject departed this life March 26, 1856, and was placed to rest in Brownville cemetery. Their two children, twins, died in infancy. For a second wife Mr. GERDES chose Rebecca M. COHENOUR, their union being celebrated April 25, 1858. Her father, Joseph M. COHENOUR, was born in 1809, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and married Mary MORLAND, of the same state. Theri eldest child, Nancy Jane, born February 5, 1830, married Jacob MYERS, of Genesee towhship, and their four children are: Mary Ellen, Joseph, Ann Eliza and John Andrew. Rebecca M., born December 25, 1831, is the next in order of birth. Peter, born September 23, 1833, married Susan CRUITHERS, now deceased, and makes his home with his six children - Frank, Elizabeth, Samuel, Lydia, Robert and Margaret. Eliza M., born July 31, 1835, is the widow of Joseph MILLER, and resides in Clyde township. Their six children are named as follows: Harvey, Joseph, Mary, Hannah, Alpharetta and John. Thomas, born May 23, 1837, died, unmarried, at the age of eighteen years. Margaret E., born April 22, 1842, died at the age of two years. Catherine, born December 29, 1844, married John REED, and is the mother of four children - Isaac, Maud, Albert and Edmond. Joseph, born April 3, 1847, married Amanda MANN, and their children are Vernon and Hazel. David, born September 1, 1850, married Catherine RUNYON, and has several children. Joseph M. COHENOUR was a machinist by trade, and was active in the afairs of the community. Politically he was a Republican, and religiously a Dunkard. Both he and his wife died in Illinois and are buried in Rock Creek cemetery.

Eight children were born to Henry E. and Rebecca M. GERDES. John H., the eldest, married Mary YEAGER and had the following named children: Henry C.; Mary, deceased; John, who married Dora JOURNEY; Clara, who died at the age of nine years; Ann Eliza died at the age of nine months, and Joseph L., died when about two years old. David E., a minister in the Dunkard church, preaches at Clyde and Rock Creek alternate Sundays. He married Ellen BECHTEL, February 8, 1888, and their five children are named respectively: Ephraim L., Rebecca H., Wayne, Galen Glenn and Henry Ralph. The family reside in Clyde township. Herman E., now living in Arizona, wedded Mary GLAZE in 188, and their children are Ethel, Emma, Isabelle and Lester. Lemuel J., whose home is situated about one mile south of Coleta, in Genesee township, married Lillie HARRISON, December 22, 1896, and their two children are Margaret A. and Elerta Rebecca. Laura Ellen became the wife of J. C. KINGSBURY, February 2, 1892. The young couple who have pleasant home in Coleta, have a little daughter, Olive M. Emma C. resides with her husband, William BECKER, on one of her father's farms in Genesee township. She was married January 11, 1895, and has two sons, Ellery Ronald and Arthur Eden.

In manner, Mr. H. E. GERDES is very quiet and unassuming and has the reputation of being generous to a fault, and ever ready to respond to the call of the needy and destitute. Formerly, he was a German Lutheran in religious, but becoming convinced that the creed of the Dunkard church is the most suited to theneeds of humanity, he embraced it tenets, and has been an active and valued worker in the cause. Politically, he was formerly a Democrat, but the policy of the Republican appealed strongly to him, and he now gives that organization his allegiance.