Biography - HENRY W. BEHRENS

The years immediately following the Civil war witnessed the arrival in America of thousands of ambitious young men of German birth who felt that under the stars and stripes they could find better opportunity for the exercise of their energy. Many of them succeeded even beyond their early dreams and in this number may be named Henry W. Behrens, who for thirty-six years has been a resident of Mount Olive. He was born in Gross Herzogthum, Oldenburg. Germany, April 30, 1847, a son William and Talke Catherine (Hanssen) Behrens, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany. The father was a weaver by trade.

Mr. Behrens of this review was reared at home and acquired his preliminary education in the excellent schools of his native land. In 1866, at the age of nineteen, ambitious to secure the advantages which are denied poor men in the long settled countries of Europe, he went aboard a vessel bound for the new world and landed at New York city about the middle of September. He came directly west to Macoupin county, Illinois, and found employment on a farm near Gillespie, where he continued for six or seven years. In 1871 he associated with Weye Schmidt and they purchased a steam thresher, which was one of the first machines of the kind seen in Macoupin county. They operated the thresher for four seasons and then disposed of it. In 1873 Mr. Behrens entered the liquor business at Gillespie and continued there until May 1, 1875, when he removed to Mount Olive, where he has ever since been engaged in the same line.

In 1872 Mr. Behrens was married to Miss Martha Arkebauer, a daughter of George Arkebauer, a pioneer settler of Mount Olive. Three children were born to this union, two of whom survive: William J., who is now engaged in farming in South Dakota; and Gretha, who is the wife of Fred Backer, of Springfield, Illinois. The mother of these children died October 24, 1881, and in 1883 Mr. Behrens was married to Miss Mary Tobias, of Bunker Hill. Two children were born to them, both of whom died from diphtheria and were buried at the same time. Mrs. Mary Behrens died August 30, 1887, and Mr. Behrens was married in February, 1889, to Miss Louisa Kuehne, who is a daughter of Henry Kuehne, a retired farmer of Mount Olive. To this union four children have been born, Mathilda, Flora, Arthur and Theodore, all of whom are at home.

Politically Mr. Behrens is independent, preferring to cast his ballot for the individual rather than in support of any party. He has not been a seeker for public office but served for two terms most acceptably as member of the town council. A man of pleasing address and generous nature, he has a host of friends in Mount Olive and Macoupin county. He was reared in the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran church and holds membership in that denomination, being one of its most liberal supporters.

Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 295-296.