Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Behrens, Henry 1836 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:49 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

HENRY BEHRENS. The name of this worthy German citizen is familiar to many of 
the residents of Crete Township where he died at his homestead, February 6, 
1880. He left a fine estate including three hundred acres of well-developed 
land, situated on section 30, and which with its improvements stands as a 
fitting monument to his persevering industry. He first came to Will County in 
1850, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Crete Township 
which became the nucleus of the fine property which he accumulated. He labored 
with great patience and economy and as the natural result was in due time 
rewarded with a home and a competence, likewise the respect of all who knew 
him. Mr. Behrens was born in what was then the Kingdom of Hanover, January 9, 
1836, and in accordance with the laws and customs of his native Germany, was 
placed in school at an early age and received a good education in the German 
tongue. About 1850, he set out with his parents for America, the latter being 
Frederick and Mary Behrens who were of substantial German stock for 
generations back. They embarked at Bremerhaven and after a somewhat lengthy 
voyage landed in New York City. Thence they proceeded to Chicago, Ill., and 
shortly afterward to this county settling on land in Crete Township, where the 
father prosecuted farming and where the mother died in 1871. Frederick Behrens 
was subsequently married a second time and removed to Itasca, this State, 
where he died in 1884 when quite aged. He and both his wives were members of 
the Lutheran Church. Mr. Behrens of whom we write remained on the farm with 
his parents in Crete Township until reaching manhood and then purchased land 
on another section of the same. After the death of his parents he became owner 
of the homestead. He was married July 22, 1859, to Miss Sophia Ohlendorf. Mrs. 
Behrens was born in Hesse-Cassel, Octcber 13, 1839, and is the daughter of 
Henry and Sophia (Sene) Ohlendorf, who were natives of Prussia and of pure 
German ancestry. Two of the nine children born to them died in Germany. The 
remaining five sons and two daughters accompanied their parents to America 
about 1850. They were on the ocean seven weeks and landed in New York City, 
whence they came directly to Illinois and settled on a new farm in Crete 
Township, Will County. Mr. Ohlendorf occupied himself in agricultural 
pursuits, but finally removed to another farm in the same township, where he 
died in 1882. He was then about seventy-nine years old. He and his good wife 
joined the Lutheran Church early in life. Mrs. Ohlendorf is still living at 
the age of eighty-three years and makes her home with her son August in Crete 
Township. Mrs. Behrens was a young girl of thirteen years when her parents 
came to America and she remembers many of the incidents of preparation and the 
voyage across the Atlantic. She has a good education in her native tongue and 
remained with her parents until her marriage. Since the death of her husband 
she has managed the farm in an admirable manner. There were born to them 
twelve children, three of whom—Henry, Louisa and Mary died young. The 
survivors are Christina, the wife of John Hartman, who lives on a farm in 
Iroquois County, this State; Sophia M., Henry, Christof, Catherine, Conrad, 
Emma, Willie and Mary. Mr. Behrens was an active member of the Lutheran Church 
to which his wife and children also belonged. In politics he was a Republican 
and his sons in this respect also follow in the footsteps of their honored 
father. Besides the property in Will County, the estate embraces two farms in 
Woodford Township, Iroquois County, one comprising one hundred and twenty 
acres and the other one hundred and sixty acres.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/behrens1457nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 4.5 Kb