Elbert County GaArchives Biography George Conrad Loehr ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Transcribed by Chandler Eavenson April 1, 2005 Biography George Conrad Loehr The following account of the life of George Conrad Loehr was written on 5 Jun 1901 by his son George R. Loehr, a Methodist missionary in China: "China, 5 June 1901 - The sad news reached me yesterday that my dear aged father left his home in Elberton on the morning of April 20th [tombstone indicates April 26] for his heavenly home. Nearly eleven years ago I bade him goodbye for the second time, and left for work in distant China. Hard and sad was the parting and we fondly hoped to see each other again this side of heaven, but God has ordered otherwise. It was my purpose to reach my home in Elberton late in July or early August, when I would again behold the faces of my dear honored, aged parents but one of them is not, for God has taken him to Himself. "My father, George Loehr, was born in Einbeck, province of Hanover, Germany, August 2, 1822. His parents died early in life, leaving him an orphan to be brought up by an Uncle with whom he lived for several years. He learned the cabinet makers trade, and also served in the German army for three years, according to German custom. "As a great many others have done, he let his fatherland and came to the United States of America, arriving in New York 18 July 1848. There he worked at his trade and also as a house carpenter. On 31 January 1849 he was happily married to Miss Henrietta Leopold who was in the company of those who came over in 1848. The young couple lived in New York until the fall of 1849, when they went to Dalton, GA, remaining there until June of the next year, when they went to Elberton, GA, arriving there 11 June 1850. There my father established himself in business and was doing fairly well until the Civil War. Just as soon as he had been in the States the required time, he obtained his naturalization papers, becoming an American citizen, as true and as tried as a natural born one. "When the war began he enlisted in the 15th Ga Regiment and proved himself to be a soldier, brave and true. Camp life, sleeping in the open air and on the damp ground, often in wet blankets, soon undermined his health and he was unfitted for active field duties. He joined the commissary department in which he did most efficient service, remaining in it until the close of the war. Many of his old comrades in arms have told me what an earnest, faithful, successful Commissary he was, always doing his very utmost to supply the soldiers with rations. If there was any food to be had, he was sure to get it in some way for those depending on him. "The war closed and left him in broken health, with a wife and six children to provide for. He earnestly endeavored to get another start in business in Elberton, but did not succeed, owing to the sad condition of the country just after the war. He went to New York in the summer of 1866 to find work there, his family following him in October of that year. He remained there until September of 1868, when he returned to Elberton, for he was always an ardent, true southerner. He remained in Elberton from that time until the day of his translation to heaven, leading an honest, upright, earnest, Christian life. As a citizen he was always on the side of right, so far as he knew the right. In business he was the soul of honesty. His word was as good as his bond. He was a strong advocate of temperance, working for that cause faithfully and heroically. Some years when Old Elbert voted the dry ticket after a hard day's work at the polls, he went home, sat down, in his large rocking-chair and sobbed aloud for joy and gratitude. He often tried to reform those who drank and warned the young men against the danger of strong drink. He was a Lutheran in faith as was natural, until he went South, there being no Lutheran church in Elberton, he at once, united with the Methodist Church, and lived and died a faithful member of that church. At the morning service he was regular in attendance, and until years advanced, he was in his place at the evening service. He loved the Sunday School and when his children were young and small he delighted to go with them to Sunday School where he was an efficient Librarian. With him it was not "go" to church on Sunday, but "come". He always saw to it that the children had prepared lessons, that we stayed at home on Sunday afternoons and read our Sunday School lesson books and Sunday School papers. When we were tired reading he would take us all for a walk, which was always pleasant, and he saw that we did not get into mischief. "He was an ardent Mason. I have heard other masons say that he was a very bright Mason and some younger men have said they wished to be as bright a one as he. As a neighbor, he was kind, friendly, and sociable, sharing with the neighbors the good things he had in the garden, orchard, etc, visiting others and having friends in his home. As a friend he could be trusted, and he was delighted in doing others a kindness. As a husband he was kind, affectionate, devoted, trying always to provide for the wife of his young manhood to the best of his ability. As a father, he was kind, yet strict. His love for his children was very deep, pure and true, and he did what he could for them, in a way of giving them an education, regretting that he could not do all that he wished to do. He tried to teach them by precept and example, and to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The six children all joined the church in early life. All of them have been active in the church, Sunday School and Missionary work. One of them is a missionary sent out to China more than twenty years ago. There are thirty grandchildren, all of those who are old enough are members of the church. There are also a few great-grandchildren. One of his chief pleasures was to have all his children and children's children together. "Two years last January he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary, when all his children were present, except the missionary boy in China. Many of the grandchildren were also there, as well as a number of dear friends. "He lived to a ripe old age. He would have been 79 years old the second day of the coming August. He had been suffering from a bad cold for some time, but was getting better. He had been at work, for old as he was, he worked when he could. My dear, precious mother went to see my sister who lived near by, only being away a short time. When she returned she found him whom she had loved and lived with for fifty two years, sharing his sorrows, trials and hardships, as well as his joys, comforts and blessings 'fallen asleep.' No one was there to be with him as he passed over the river. He died suddenly and unexpectedly. He left no kind, loving message for any of the large family, so devoted to him, nothing as to his departure. He left no dying testimony, but knowing the life that he lived we do not need any. We know where to find him. He has heard, I doubt not, the 'well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of the Lord.' Those who live well, die well, and while we naturally sorrow that one we loved has been taken away, we sorrow not as those who have no hope. I am thankful that he did not have a long, painful, wasting sickness, but I hope, passed quietly and peacefully away. The doctor says that heart failure was the cause of his death. He leaves the aged wife and six children with their families, about fifty in all. We hope to meet him in the Heaven beyond. "Farewell dearest and best of fathers. We will be faithful to the end and meet you in Glory. George R. Loehr" [Submitter's notes: His wife died 30 Apr 1907 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Jane Cornelia Hemminger at Willington, SC. Both George and wife are buried in Elmhurst Cemetery, Elberton. Their children were: (1) Henrietta W. Loehr (1849-1916), married Ceasar Paul Chedel; (2) Cornelia Jane Loehr (1851-1929), married John Oliver Hemminger; (3) Henry J. Loehr (b. 1853), married Martha Hughes "Mattie" Turner; (4) George R. Loehr (b.1855), married Mella Allen; (5) William Brown Loehr (1860-1916), married first to Mattie Campbell, married second to Mamie Lou Taylor; (6) Mamie Loehr (1863-1942), married Howell W. Carithers. The former home of George Conrad Loehr in Elberton is known as the Christmas tree House, he having one of the first Christmas trees sold in Elberton.The home was for a period also the site of the Elbert Co. Historical Society.] Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson