Herman Mehrens Dead

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Herman Mehrens, one of the old, well known and highly respected pioneers of Washington county passed peacefully away at this home north of Blair, Friday, June 19th at 4:15 p.m., surrounded by many friends and loved ones. He was a great sufferer for five weeks before the end came, with that terrible malady, cancer of the stomach. He realized that death was near and expressed his readiness and willingness to go.

Herman Mehrens was born in Oldenburg, Germany, Sept. 27, 1840 and was therefore 73 years, 8 months and 23 days of age at the time of his death. He came to Iowa with his parents in the spring of 1854. His father died there that same summer and two years later he came to Cumming City. In June, 1861 he enlisted in the First Nebraska volunteers and served three years in the Civil War.

In 1865 he filed on a homestead five miles north of Blair where he has since resided.

He was married to Miss Josephine Boice at Omaha, March 28th, 1866. Eight children were born to them, seven of whom are left to mourn the loss of a loving father. Mrs. F. E. Mead, of Vermillion, Alta, Canada, John H., of Munday, Texas, George W., of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Mrs. J. W. Grimsley, of Crocker, Mo., Mrs. Nell Mead, Mrs. Fred Hurdum and Mrs. Harvey Krogh, of this county. All except Mrs. F. E. Mead were present when the end came and saw his loved remains laid peacefully away.

Besides the children he leaves 25 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also three brothers, Henry, Gerhardt and Chris, all of this county.

A great sorrow came into his life when his beloved wife died about eighteen months ago, since which time he has not been well and this along with his suffering later and the consciousness that his peace was made with God, made death really welcome. He was brought to the light of the truth under the preaching of W. P. Shockey, in the year 1868 and in all the years that have followed he has been a member of the Church of God.

The funeral service was conducted Sunday at 2 o’clock from the Methodist church, Rev. Adams, of Omaha, preaching a very appropriate and consoling sermon and the remains were followed to the Blair cemetery by a large number of sorrowing friends and relatives.

Enterprise 26 June 1914

Death Of A Pioneer

Henry Mehrens A Highly Respected Man Dies June 22

Settled At Cuming City In 1856

Passed Away on the Homestead on Which He Settled in 1856 – Leaves Seven Children

The passing of Herman Mehrens closes one of the interesting chapters of Washington county’s history, as he was a man who has been considered one of the landmarks since early pioneer days.

Herman Mehrens was born in Oldenberg, Germany, in 1840 and came to American with his parents in 1854, located at Cuming City, this county, in 1856, and in 1865 filed on a homestead five miles north of Blair, which had since been his home.

He served three years and five months as a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in the 1st Nebraska Volunteers, and was mustered out at the grand review.

He was married to Miss Josephine Boice, March 28, 1866, and was the father of eight children, seven of whom survive him. They are: Mrs. F. E. Mead, of Alberta, Canada; John H. of Texas; Mrs. Nellie Mead, Blair; George W., Santa Rosa, Mexico; Mrs. Fred Hurdum, Blair; Mrs. J. W. Grimsley, Crocker, Mo., and Mrs. Harvey Krogh, of Blair.

The funeral was held at the Methodist church in Blair on Sunday afternoon, conducted by Almus Adams, state evangelist of the Church of God, of which denomination Mr. Mehrens had been a member for nearly fifty years. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in the city and more than fifty carriages and automobiles followed the remains to the Blair cemetery where they were laid to rest beside those of the wife who preceded him across the dark river nearly a year ago.

Tribune 24 June 1914

Herman Mehrens

Herman Mehrens died at his home north of Blair, Friday, June 19, 1914, of cancer of the stomach. He had been bedfast about a month previous to his death. In the passing of Mr. Mehrens, Washington county looses another of its pioneers who have helped build up this country.

Herman Mehrens was born in Oldenberg, Germany, September 27, 1840, and came to America and settled in Iowa with his parents in 1854. In 1856 they came to Washington county, Nebraska, settling in Cuming City township. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Nebraska regiment and served in the Civil war for three years and five months. After the war he homesteaded his present farm in 1865, and on March 29, 1866, he was married in Omaha to Miss Josephine Boice.

Mr. Mehrens leaves seven living children. They are Mrs. Frank E. Mead of Alberta, Canada; George H. Mehrens of Munday, Texas; Mrs. Nell Mead of Blair; G. W. Mehrens of Santa Rosa, N.M.; Mrs. Fred Hurdum of Blair; Mrs. J. W. Grinsby of Crocker, Mo., and Mrs. Harvey Krogh of Blair. All the children were present at the funeral with the exception of Mrs. Frank Mead.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal church Sunday afternoon at three o’clock, Rev. Amos Adams of Omaha, conducting the last sad rites. The remains were laid to rest beside those of his wife in the Blair cemetery.

Blair Democrat 25 June 1914

The Reaper’s Harvest

Herman Mehrens, an old and respected farmer living a few miles north of Blair, died last Friday from cancer of the stomach, and the funeral was held Sunday from the M. E. church in this city, with Rev. Amos Adams, of Omaha, in charge.

Mr. Mehrens was born in Oldenberg, Germany, September 27, 1840, and came to Iowa with his parents in 1854. In 1856 he moved to Cuming City, this county. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. E 1st Neb. regiment, serving three years and five months. He homesteaded the place on which he died in 1856, and on March 26, 1866, was married to Miss Josphine Boice in Omaha.

Besides the aged wife there are seven children living: Mrs. F. E. Mead, Alberta; John H. of Mundy, Texas; Mrs. Will Mead who made her home with her parents; G. W. of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Mrs. Fred Hurdum of Blair; and Mrs. J. W. Grimsley of Crocker, Mo., and Mrs. Harvey Krogh of this city, all of whom with the exception of Mrs. Frank Mead were here during their father’s last illness and at the funeral.