The John Claus Rohrs Family

John Claus Rohrs was born on January 15, 1863, in the village of Riepholm in Hanover, Germany. His father was Frederick Rohrs, who was born on September 15, 1820, and died on December 30, 1878. His mother was the former Kathryn Schroeder who was born on April 4, 1821, and died on April 16, 1888. John C. Rohrs had three brothers and two sisters. His oldest brother was Henry A. Rohrs, who was born on January 31, 1850. The rest of the brothers and sisters in the order of birth were Fred, Will, Catherine (Plassman), and Minnie (Schuette). John was the youngest of the children.

His parents and forebearers for generations back were Lutherans and were substantial farmers. His parents had a good farm in Hanover. When John was six years old, the family decided to come to America, landing on May 26, 1869. They intended to homestead in Iowa and on the way stopped in Freedom Township, Henry County, to visit friends who had come to America ear lier. While here, they changed their plans and settled here in Freedom Twp., where they rented a farm. At this time much of the land was still wild and unimproved and many families lived in log houses. His home conditions were practical, with their economic conditions being moderately wealthy.

John C. Rohrs became a citizen of the United States on April 10, 1870. He was educated in the local schools, where he got a typical education for those days. He was educated in both the German and English languages. He had the usual tasks of helping with chores around the farm. He belonged to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon Twp. (American Synod). He was confirmed at this church and later became one of its officials.

After going to the local schools, John C. Rohrs turned his attention to improving and cultivating the soil, and soon took up the livestock industry. He cleared much of the land on his farm and constructed all the buildings. When he started farming, he bought part of the land. He later bought more land until, combined, it eventually amounted to one hundred and twenty acres. On the average, his land produced forty bushels of wheat to the acre, sixty-five bushels of oats, and about the same amount of barley, and eighty-five bushels of corn. He had all the necessary mechanical facilities and building equipment then used.

John and his brother Henry imported Percheron horses for breeding purposes in the 1880's from France. They imported five the first time and three the second time. Again in 1911, John bought two registered Percherons from a Mr. Denhums, from Wayne, Illinois, who imported horses from France. In 1916 John bought two spotted Poland China hogs from a man at Ossian, Indiana, which were from one of the two breeders of this particular breed in the United States at that time.

John traveled very little after coming to the United States, but he did go to the state fair in Springfield, Illinois, and he went to Chicago to a livestock show. He also went to Ossian, Indiana, when he bought his hogs. In 1918 John bought 150 acres in Liberty Twp. for $190. and $200. per acre. These farms were occupied by two sons, Carl and William.

On April 11, 1889, John C. Rohrs married a neighbor girl, Mary Hahn at her home. She was born in Napoleon Twp. on October 15, 1866, and was the daughter of Herman and Margaret Hahn. The Rohrs lived in Section Twenty-three of Freedom Twp. Their farm was known as Whitehall Stock Farm. They lived there until 1924 when he retired and moved to Ridgeville Twp. Nine years later on January 2, 1933, he died in the Heller Memorial Hospital in Napoleon, Ohio. He had had an operation for cancer of the stomach, but actually died of pneumonia. He was buried in the church cemetery at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon Twp. The following year his widow moved to Napoleon. She died of cancer on June 25, 1943, and was buried in the same cemetery.

Politically, John Rohrs was an independent democrat.

John and Mary Rohrs had seven children: Carl H. Rohrs, born April 9, 1890; died January 2, 1974; William Rohrs, born July 3, 1892; died April 30, 1965; Altha (Rohrs) Rickenberg, born January 18, 1895; living at Route 4, Napoleon, Ohio; Herman Rohrs, born February 20, 1897; living at Route 4, Wauseon, Ohio; Alvina Rohrs, born May 1, 1899; living in Napoleon, Ohio; Emma (Rohrs) Buchhop, born April 25, 1901; living in Wauseon, Ohio; Valeta (Rohrs) Freytag, born September 9, 1903; living in Napoleon.

Submitted by Arthur C Rohrs