HENRY L. HAHN
Page 483
HENRY L. HAHN
Page 483
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HENRY L. HAHN. One of the finest farms of Mason County is owned and operated by the gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch, and whose efforts have materially promoted the agricultural interests of Havana Township. His life affords an illustration of the results of energetic application, coupled with economy and the exercise of sound common sense. Upon landing in this country, he came direct to Havana, accompanied by his family, reaching this city with a cash capital of $32. Of this amount he spent $30 for a stove, leaving $2 with which to commence housekeeping. In that humble way did Mr. Hahn enter upon life in Mason County, but being a man of energy he did not long remain poor. As time passed, he was prospered in his efforts, and added to his property until he accumulated four hundred and ninety acres of valuable land. This property was purchased as follows: One hundred and twenty acres for $4,000; eighty acres for $3,000; one hundred and forty acres for $5,000; and one hundred and thirty acres for $3,400, making a total of four hundred and seventy acres, for which he paid $25,400. In addition to this, he owns twenty acres of timber land. A native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, our subject was born April 18, 1832, and is a son of Lawrence and Sophia (Kipp) Hahn, both of whom were born in Hanover. After their marriage in that province they moved to Hesse-Cassel, where he engaged in farming. He also served as a soldier in the German army. In 1856 he brought his family to America, and settled in Mason County, Ill., where his death occurred about 1873. His widow still survives (1894), and is now eighty-three years of age. They were members of the Lutheran Church in the Old Country, and transferred their membership to Mason County, Their four sons were, H. L.; William, of Logan County, Ill.; Fred, a resident of Mason County; and August, whose home is in Havana Township. In the excellent schools of Hesse-Cassel our subject gained a good education in the German language. From the age of fourteen years he was employed on a farm in his native province. In 1853 he married Caroline Pfetzing, the sister of Justus Pfetzing, whose sketch is presented on another page. This lady was born in Hesse-Cassel, February 27, 1831, and died in 1856, leaving three children. Caroline, the eldest, is the wife of Herman Hornicamp, of Quiver Township; Lizzie married Gus Glakemyer, a farmer living on Bull's Eye Prairie, and they have four children; and Annie is the wife of Christ Wamsegans, of Quiver Township. Emigrating to America in 1852, Mr. Hahn landed in Baltimore, Md., whence he came to Illinois, and for one year was employed in a warehouse at Havana. Later he and his brother William rented a farm in Matanzas, upon which they incurred an indebtedness of $800 in order to begin and carry on the cultivation of the land. This property they rented for two years, and during the first twelve months made by $300 for both. Afterward our subject rented another farm in the same township for two years, when he bought a partly improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, paying $1,500 for the property. Four year later he sold the place and purchased on hundred and twenty acres, comprising a portion of his present homestead. In 1858 Mr. Hahn married Miss Catherine Schwarz, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 18, 1828. Six children bless the union, viz.: Mary, who married Fred Mauer, of Logan County, and has three children; Sophia; Henry, residing in Havana Township, who married Miss Sophia Tegedes, and they have two children; William, of Havana Township, who chose as his wife Miss Amelia Speckman, and they have one child; Frederick C.; and Fredericka, the wife of George Reichel, of Havana Township. The family is connected with the Lutheran Church at Havana, of which Mr. Hahn is an official member. He supports the principles of the Democratic party, and has held the office of School Director. |