Dietrich Gebers

Dietrich Gebers was born on July 16, 1852 in Kettenburg, Amt Fallingbustel, Hanover, Germany. When he was sixteen years old he came to America all by himself. As a young man his first job was in Toledo. He later worked on Kelly's Island. Later he bought a farm in Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio. He also was one of the partners of the Gerald Elevator Company Limited.

On November 14, 1882 he married Maria Twiefel. This marriage was blest with nine children: Heinrich, Doris, Kathryn, Sophia, Mary, Caroline, Martha, Carl and Ida. There was one daughter, Elizabeth, by a previous marriage.

Deitrich Gebers and his wife, Maria, lived on the farm in Freedom Township until his death in 1930. After Mr. Gebers died, his wife Maria lived with their son, Carl, until 1952 when she went to live with her daughter Caroline.

Dietrich and Maria Gebers were members of St. John's Lutheran Church until the day of their death. They are both buried on St. John's cemetery.

Heinrich Gebers married Dora Mohring and they were both killed in an auto accident. They had no children.

Doris Gebers married Herman Witte and they had six children: Alvina, Ferdinand, Pauline, Edna, Sophia and Donald.

Kathryn Gebers married Floyd Henning. They had three children: Eugene, Oscar and Frances. Floyd Henning died and years later Kathryn married Carl Bruse. They had one daughter: Joan.

Sophia Gebers married Henry Mohring. They had six children: Eldor, Laura, Leola, Loretta, Luella, and Lucille. Henry Mohring died and years later Sophia married Otto VonDeylen.

Mary Gebers married Frank Helmke. They had eight children: Lawrence, Esther, Beulah, Lillian, Harold, Gloria, Ernst, and Virgil.

Caroline Gebers married Carl Riefers. They had three children: Elfrieda, Welma, and N. Arlene.

Martha Gebers married George Weirauch. They had nine children: Thelma, Lyal, Raymond, Richard, Rose Marie, Lemonyne Donald, Ruth, Orville and Lawrence Paul.

Carl Gebers married Emma Sonnenberg. They had two children: Arleta and Marvin.

Ida Gebers married Arthur Heiberg. They had five children: Lois, LouAnn, Lillian, LeRoy and Karen.

Elizabeth Gebers married Fred Meyer. They had five children: Josephine, Lufina, Richard, Fritz and Carl.

Three of the ten children in the Dietrich Gebers family are the only survivors. They are Martha Weirauch, Caroline Riefers, and Ida Heiberg.