The Christoph Rohrs Family

Christoph and Anna Rohrs, both born in Hanover, Germany, in 1837 and 1839, were married there in 1863 and had eleven children, losing five of them in infancy. Their oldest son, Fred, came to America with an uncle and aunt from the New York City area, then to Henry County and bought some land near Elery. There were no roads here at that time and when he would walk to Napoleon, he blazed trees to mark his way. He married Anna Cordes in 1886 and urged the rest of his family to come to America. They came in 1887 and bought land near their son.

The other children were Anna, who married Henry Schuette, was widowed and married William Korte. They lived in Monroe Township.

William, who married Emma Meyer and owned the Racket Store in Napoleon for many years.

August was a Lutheran school teacher in Detroit and married Ida Paschke of Detroit.

Emma married Henry Arps. They farmed in several areas of Henry County.

Ida, who married John Hahn, lived on a farm in Monroe Township and then in Napoleon for many years.

Christoph and Anna Rohrs

The Albert Roehl Family in 1930. Back row, left to right: Arnold, Bill, Albert, Emma (nee Shroeder), Emilie, Dorothy; front row: Lounz, Arthur, Lorna, Alvina. Homeplace was in Monroe Twp. on St. Rt. 281.

Christoph and Anna lived near Elery until 1903. One well remembered principle they undoubtedly lived by and taught their children was "Don't buy what you need - only what you can't do without." They moved to Napoleon and lived there until 1909 when Anna died. He then made his home with his children until he died at the age of 91 in 1928.

The sons of the family and their wives all had the pleasure of going back to Germany to visit their relatives there.

Submitted by Alma King