Henry Hahn

Henry and Anna Hahn

Henry and Anna (Hoops) Hahn were both born in Hanover, Germany, and were married there in 1860. In 1873, with their seven children ranging in age from twelve down to a few months, they came to Henry County and lived first in Freedom Township for about 10 years. Their children were Katharine, Anna, Henry, Harmon, Wilhelmina, Ferd, and John.

Then they moved to Monroe Township where they bought some heavily wooded land which must have been very hard to clear. They lived in a two-room log cabin which was later made part of a larger two-story house by covering the log walls with lath and plaster, making fairly thick walls. They were charter members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, on Route 109.

Among the stories that can be collected of the early log-cabin days is one of the boys sleeping in the loft and finding snow on their beds in the mornings. A test of whether the boys had recovered from an illness would be they would jump out of bed and if their knees didn't buckle, they were well enough to get up.

There is an account of "ship-timbers," presumably oak, being logged and hauled through "Peper's Woods" and on to the nearest point on the Maumee and floated to Toledo. The proceeds from this venture would be used to buy needed supplies and more land.

One of the older daughters, who was working, bought her mother a drop-leaf walnut table on which to do her ironing. This table survives as a prized heirloom, in good condition, and used daily.

In those early days, fire was greatly dreaded. The children were told that in case of a fire, if there was time to save anything, they were to throw as much bedding out of the windows as they could.

John and Ida Hahn

It is said that there was still some swamp fever around and that it was customary to take a little whiskey to ward it off. This was readily available for 50 cents per gallon.

I had read that the state had dug the ditches that drained the Black Swamp. However, I was told that the settlers had to dig their own ditches, perhaps to lead to the deeper state ditches.

By the time Henry and Anna Hahn died, in 1897 and 1899, they had the satisfaction of seeing their children well established in their new land.

Their youngest son, John, married Ida Rohrs, daughter of Christoph and Anna Rohrs, in 1899, and they lived in the house his parents had built. They had seven children: Rudolph, Raymond, Alvin, Arnold, Laura, Elda, and Alma.

In 1903 they went to the St. Louis World Fair, which must have been a big event for them.

For their children there are many early recollections: The first car, a 7-passenger Mitchell with jump seats, which traveled at a "great speed" but whose tires were hung up on the garage walls during the winter because the roads were impassable.

Also, the flu epidemic of 1918 when a living room was turned into a sort of hospital ward to make it easier to care for all the sick members of the family.

There were the very special, church Christmas programs with real candles on a tall tree. There were men on fire-prevention duty, with wet sponges on the ends of long poles.

There was the excitement of going to the Depot in Napoleon to meet Rudolph and Arnold who were going to Concordia College in Fort Wayne.

John and Ida Hahn, 50th anniversary

In 1926 Raymond was married to Laura Freytag. The parents moved into a new home on Welsted Street in Napoleon, while the young couple took over the' farming. They have one son, Daniel. In 1955 they built a new house and the old house, log walls and all was moved to Route 109, south of Malinta. Raymond died at the age of 60 in 1961 and Laura continues to live on the home farm.

Rudolph married Emelie Kolbe; they have one son, Rudolph Jr., and live in St. Louis.

Alvin married Charlene Reiter and they have two sons, Vinton and Victor. They are well known residents of Napoleon and active in many community affairs.

Arnold married Dorothy Wolf of St. Louis, where he had gone to Concordia Seminary. They have five children: Roy, Lois, Paul, Donna, and Charleen. After serving many years in the Lutheran ministry, part of those years at St. John's near Ridgeville Corners, he is now retired and living in Columbus.

Laura never married and she died in 1965.

Elda married Robert Harders; they have one daughter, Sharon, and after living many years in the Pittsburgh area have now retired and are living in Phoenix, Arizona.

Alma married Norman King and they have one son, Norman Jr. They are living in Napoleon.

John and Ida Hahn, after moving to Napoleon in 1926, supposedly to retire, lived for many active years. They continued their interest in farming. He was very interested in beekeeping for many years. They coped with the Depression, traveled quite a lot, were active in the St. Paul Lutheran Church, celebrated their 50th anniversary and their 60th. John died in 1962 and Ida in 1964.

Submitted by Alma King