Henry Steffens

For more than forty years Henry Steffens has had his home in Henry County. Now in his seventy-fourth year, he can look back upon many substantial accomplishments and has the satisfaction of having acquired a liberal competence and having provided well for his children, giving each a good start in life. He himself came to northwestern Ohio with very little of this world's goods, and none of the older residents have spent their years more industriously and more uprightly, and has deserved a greater share of public esteem.

Mr. Steffens was born in Hanover, Germany, February 15, 1843, a son of Minik and Rebecca (Bruhns) Steffens. They were substantial farming people of Hanover, members of the Lutheran Church, and spent their lives there. His father died at the age of eighty-one. He had given three years to the military service of his empire. Henry Steffens himself, after being reared and acquiring a common school education, served three years in the army and spent nine months and three days in the army of the empire during the Franco-Prussian War. For a number of years he followed the sea as a marine, and for several years after the Franco-Prussian War was on a government mail vessel, both on the Bremen and Donau steamships.

In 1874 Mr. Steffens, leaving the service of his native country, came to America and located at Napoleon. Immediately after his arrival he married Miss Johanna Lindemann. She was born in Altenburg, Germany, November 3, 1838, and she came to America on the same vessel with her prospective husband. After their marriage they lived in Okolona, where he spent one year as a workman with the Wabash Railroad. He then turned to farming, buying forty acres in Section 24 of Freedom Township. For this land he paid $1,540. After clearing it up and making many improvements, he bought twenty acres more.

Mrs. Steffens died on the old homestead in Freedom Township in November, 1914. Both she and her husband were active members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Steffens now lives retired with his son, John H. Steffens at the home on North Ridge Road in Freedom Township. Politically he is a Democrat.

Of his children the first born, Henry, died in infancy. John H., the oldest of the living children, was born May 21, 1876. Henry and Minnie, twins, born August 11, 1878, Henry dying June 15, 1901, unmarried, while Minnie is the wife of Fred Meyers of Toledo.

John H. Steffens, the oldest son of Henry Steffens, grew up in Freedom Township, received his education in the local schools and the high school at Ridgeville Corners. He applied himself industriously and successfully to the work of farming. He married Miss Caroline M. Oberhaus.

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Steffens are the parents of two children: Frederick, born in December, 1902, and John F., born January 7, 1904. Foster daughter, Ella May Klein born May 18, 1906. John F. Steffens is Gertrude Wenzinger's father. Gertrude married Mathias Wenzinger Nov. 17, 1909.

Submitted by the Family