John F. Ahrens, a prominent and respected citizen of
Gillespie, Macoupin County, where he is postmaster, was born at Staunton,
this county, March 16, 1855, and is a son of Peter J. and Maria M. (Ruther)
Ahrens.
Peter J. Ahrens was born in Germany about 1826, and came to
America in 1848, a poor boy seeking his fortune. He was educated in the
German schools and after coming to this country learned the English
language. He engaged in a mercantile business at Staunton, Illinois, until
1856, and then retired to a farm until 1861, in which year he resumed his
former business at Staunton which he continued until he permanently retired
in 1890, selling his business to his son, John F. Mr. Ahrens was a very
strong supporter of the Republican party and was one of the party's three
adherents in the town at the time he settled in Staunton. He was a man of
such upright character that his fellow citizens elected him to office on
many occasions and he served as justice of the peace for two terms, for 16
years was township treasurer and for 15 years was a member of the School
Board. He was prominent also in religious matters and belonged to the
Methodist Church, to which he was a liberal contributor and of which he was
a regular attendant. At the time of his demise, April 10, 1901, he left a
large estate which he had accumulated through his own efforts. He married
Maria M. Ruther, who was born near Hanover, Germany, and came with her
parents to Illinois. They had 10 children born to them, the six survivors
being: John F.; Mrs. Christine Golightly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
George C, connected with the Wabash Railroad at St. Louis, Missouri; Karl
W., of Gillespie, Macoupin County; Fannie L., who is attending a commercial
college at St. Louis, Missouri; and Rosa L:, also a student in a business
college at St. Louis, who had been connected with the Gillespie post office
for four years. The mother of this family died in 1902, at the age of 66
years. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and a woman of
most beautiful, amiable character.
John F. Ahrens completed the
common school course and had an ambition to go to college, which his father,
needing his services at home, could not gratify at that time. He assisted in
the store and then spent 10 years on the farm, two years in an elevator
business and several years in insurance and other lines, and purchased his
father's mercantile business in 1890. Prior to this he had served four years
as deputy-sheriff under Sheriff Davenport. In politics he has always been
actively identified with the Republican party and has faithfully served in
local- offices, at present being chairman of the street commissioners of
Gillespie. For 12 years he was a notary public, and since October, 1898, he
has been the popular postmaster of Gillespie. Fraternally Mr. Ahrens is
connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. He
is unmarried.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 289-290.
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