Henry Ahrens

Other Events:

• Business: Elmira Agricultural Works Co. Limited, Elmira, Ontario; Klinck and Ahrens
• Interesting: business, pioneer, story
• Name: Heinrich Ahrens
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-198119
• Immigration: MAYBE 1863, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1907, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; hardware merchant
• Occupation: 1911, Klinck and Ahrens Hardware Store, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant, Hardware Store
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Elmira Pioneer, Mr. Henry Ahrens, Ninety Years Old.

Another grand old man of Elmira celebrated a great milestone in his life on Tuesday of this week. Mr. Henry Ahrens, 47 King street, Elmira, was 90 years old on March 20. Born in 1866 on a farm in Grey County near Hanover, Mr. Ahrens worked on the home farm for some years before taking a business course in the year 1897 at the age of 31. Mr. Ahrens came to Elmira in 1904, built his home here in 1906 and moved into it in 1907 and has lived there ever since. For 14 years, after coming to Elmira, he was a partner in the hardware business and the first store was located where Blow's Meat Market now stands and the firm was known as Klinck and Ahrens. Mr. Ahrens became ill in 1918 and sold out his partnership until he regained his health. In 1920, he started working as office manager for what was then known as the Creamery Co-Op and later became the Silverwood Dairy. Mr. Ahrens remained there for 22 years and was with Silverwoods for 15 years until he retired in 1942.

It was wartime then and good bookkeepers and office managers were scarce and he worked for a few more years in St. Jacobs at the hardware store there. He finally retired 11 years ago in 1945 to his King street home. His wife, Sarah, passed away four years ago. Mr. Ahrens has one son, Fred who is a professor at the university in Gettysburg, Pa. A staunch Lutheran, Mr. Ahrens has been a member of St. James' Church since coming to Elmira 52 years ago. He has been an active member of the church was on the board of managers for 18 years as well as acting treasurer of the church. For 39 years he taught Sunday school here. Mr. Ahrens is in excellent health except for some arthritic trouble in his right leg. A jolly, personable gentleman, his hearing and eyesight are fine and except for his leg, he is as spry as a youngster of 60, as he says. "The building in town started right after the last war and the town hasn't stopped growing since," stated Mr. Ahrens. "I have seen a lot of changes in Elmira."

Elmira Signet, Thursday, March 22, 1956

_______________________

Henry's parents were John Christian Theodore Ahrens who was reportedly born in Windisch Muslow, Mecklenburg, Germany & Sophia Voss both buried in Old Hanover Cemetery, Hanover, Ontario.

email from Jean Howson

Henry married Sarah Riechen 1 May 1907, Hanover, Bentinck Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada. Sarah was born May 1874, , Wisconsin, USA; died 1952; was buried , Saint James Lutheran Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Professor Frederick Christian Ahrens was born Oct 1908, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2000; was buried , Saint James Lutheran Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-126591