JOHN HENRY KREILING
Page 685

JOHN HENRY KREILING is a well known farmer of Sherman Township, Mason County, now living on section 4, and we feel assured that this record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers. His father, Bernard Henry Kreiling, was a native of Germany, born in Hanover in 1813. Having attained to man's estate he married Miss Mary Landwehr, who was also born in Hanover. In 1850 they bade adieu to friends and native land and crossed the wide Atlantic to the New World. The landed on the 11th of January, 1851, and coming to the west, Mr. Kreiling rented a farm in Bath Township, Mason County, Ill., for one year. The then removed to another farm in the same township, upon which he lived for three years, when in 1855 he took up residence on section 26, Forest City Township, the farm now occupied by his son, John F. He at first purchased one hundred acres of raw prairie land, but to this he added from time to time, as his financial resources were increased, until at his death he had five hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which was under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Kreiling was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at their home in Bath Township. On the 22d of November, 1852, he was united in marriage with Helene Catherine Witte, by whom he had four children, three sons and a daughter, who are yet living. There were four children of the first marriage. Harmon G., of Manito Township, was born April 28, 1839, and wedded Mary Budke, by whom he has five children. Mrs. Justus Pfetzing is mentioned on another page of this work. John H. is the next younger, and Mrs. George Furrer is also represented elsewhere. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Kreiling served as one of its Trustees. He was interested to some extent in the ditch building in Forest City Township. His life was a busy and useful one, and his earnest and industrious efforts overcame the difficulties in his path and won him a handsome property. We now take up the personal history of John Henry Kreiling, who was born in Hanover on the 7th of September, 1845. When a child of five summers he accompanied his father to America, with him remained until after he had attained his majority, and then engaged in operating a part of his father's land. From an early age he was inured to the arduous labors of the farm, and soon became familiar with the work in all its departments. In 1869 Mr. Kreiling was united in marriage with Miss Hermiene Christena Aufdem-Brinke, a native of Hanover, Germany, born July 13, 1849. With her sister, Annie, who is now deceased, she came to America on the 9th of September, 1867. Another sister Dorothy, is now the wife of August Sasse, a resident of Harlan County, Neb., and they have eight children. Her sister Elizabeth is the wife of William Ahland, of Oldenberg, by whom she has three children. Her husband served in the Germany army, and is now one of the railway officials of Germany. The parents both died in the Fatherland. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kreiling has been blessed with four children, three of whom are now living, Lydia Anna Helene, born December 30, 1869; August Carl Henry, born December 3, 1871; and Edward Herman George, born May 20, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Kreiling began their domestic life upon the farm which has since been their home, and our subject has given his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his land. He now has two hundred and fifty acres, and his fields are well tilled, yielding to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He has improved his farm by remodeling his home, and in 1888 he erected a fine barn at a cost of $1,000. He has also built other outbuildings to the value of $400. He is widely recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the community, and as such deserves mention in this volume. A Democrat in politics, he has served as Road Commissioner of his township and is now School Director. Both he and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church, and throughout the community in which they make their home are held in the highest regard.

1894 Biography Index

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