Sullivan-Philadelphia County PA Archives Biographies.....BEHR, Frederick August 1823 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 19, 2007, 11:36 pm Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) FREDERICK AUGUST BEHR, father of Herman and Otto Behr, of the firm of Behr Brothers, who are prominent lumbermen and millers in Colley township, is one of the leading German-American farmers of Sullivan county. He was born in the province of Piess-Schleic, Germany, June 25, 1823, the son of John A. Behr, a draper and cloth manufacturer. The mother was Christina Marie Oelert, who was born in the same village as her husband. John Behr's family comprised eight children, one of whom died in childhood, the others being: Antonia, Wilhemina, Frederick August, Caroline A., Edward, Adolph and Anton. The parents were Lutherans in their religious belief and both died in their native land. The subject of this sketch received a good education in the public schools of Germany and when fourteen years old entered college, where he remained three years. At the age of twenty-four he sailed from Hamburg on the ship Caroline Marie and was forty-five days making the voyage to New York City. From the latter place Mr. Behr went to Philadelphia, where he resided for thirteen years, carrying on a manufactory of picture and mirror frames. He was united in marriage, in Philadelphia, 1852, to Ottline Foerster, a native of that city, who bore him one child, now deceased, named Alvina, who died in 1855. Mr. Behr was subsequently married, on November 13, 1857, to Miss Anna Huch, a native of the duchy of Brunswick, Germany, whose parents were Carl and Sophia (Vendenburg) Huch, both born in the same village as their daughter, where the father was a custom-house officer. The family came to Philadelphia in 1855, and there the father died in 1858, the mother in 1873. Their children were four in number: Carl F., who is proprietor of a large type foundry at Philadelphia; Anna (Mrs. Behr), Helen A. and Hermina. Frederick A. Behr came to Sullivan county in 1860 and purchased five hundred acres of land, on which no clearing had been made. He at once began its improvement and by unceasing industry and a thorough knowledge of the art of agriculture he has succeeded in converting the one-time wilderness into fertile fields, green meadows, and orchards bearing luscious fruits. Here he has a beautiful residence, with grassy lawns, large barns and out-buildings and everything necessary to a well kept farm. He also has an extensive park, in which deer roam at pleasure, and in fact nothing is wanted to make this an ideal place. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Behr consists of seven children: Hedwig Sophia, wife of Ernest Troeger, living in Philadelphia; Otto Frederick, a lumberman and prominent business man of Colley township, who has held township offices for a number of years; Bertha, wife of Lowe Werner, of Philadelphia; Hermann August, one of the firm of Behr Brothers, of Lopez; Sophie, wife of August Kramer, of Denver, Colorado; Helena, wife of Adolph Otten, of Wyoming county; and Minna, who is at home. They also have an adopted daughter, Frances, whom they took when a babe two months old. Mr. Behr is a Republican in his political views, as are all his sons, and he has held nearly all the township offices, to the satisfaction of the public. He was one of the founders of the Republican party among the Germans of Philadelphia, and was a valued counselor among Republican leaders. The firm of Behr Brothers is composed of Hermann August Behr and Otto Frederick Behr, and owns thirteen hundred acres of land. They do an extensive business in lumbering and milling, employing from six to twenty-five men, and having a high reputation for honesty and fair dealing. They received an excellent education in Philadelphia, are men of culture and are noted for their frank and genial disposition, their hospitality and for the interest they take in all that affects the growth and welfare of the community. They are both honorary members of the Delaware Ornithological Club, of Philadelphia, which is connected with the American Academy of Natural Sciences, and are highly interested in the workings of this body. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/pafiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb