Sophia Ahr

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 22, 1942
Page one and four

Mrs. C.O. Lenzner, Pioneer Resident, Died Here May 15

Mrs. C.O. Lenzner, a resident of Cass City for over 70 years, passed away Friday morning, May 15, at the home of her son, H.F. Lenzner, here after a two weeks' illness. Funeral services were conducted at the McPhail and Keehn Funeral home on Sunday afternoon by Rev. Stanley P. Kirn, pastor of Salem Evangelical Church. Burial was made in Elkland Cemetery.

Sophia Ahr was born in Philadelphia, Pa.,on April 12, 1857, and came to Michigan in the early sixties. Her parents, the late Gottlieb and Fredericka Ahr, were members of a cooperative colony by the name of Ora Labora, near Bay Port, where Mr. Ahr was the colony's shoemaker. Following six years residence at Ora Labora the family left there in 1868 to become residents of the pioneer settlement with later developed into the village of Cass City. Sophia Ahr attended school here with other children of the early settlers of this community.

On March 1, 1879, she was united in marriage with Christian Oscar Lenzner, Jr, and she has resided here continuously with the exception of two winters spent with her sister, Mrs. George MAST, in Sebewaing, and the past 17 months when she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. H. Lee POCKLINGTON, of Algonac.

On April 26, Mrs. Lenzner came to Cass City to spend several weeks at her son's home. After a delightful week spent visiting old friends here, she became suddenly ill and passed away Friday, Mar 15, after two weeks's sickness. Her husband died on June 2, 1927.

Mrs. Lenzner was a member of the Evangelical Church in Cass City for more than 60 years.

Besides her two children, she leaves seven grandchildren and seven great granchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. George MAST of Sebewaing and Mrs. Lydia ROYER of Waynesville, Missouri.

Relatives and friends who came from a distance to attend the funeral include Mrs. Wesley Moody and Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Pocklington, Algonac; Miss Shirley Anne Lenzner, Wayne; Mrs. William Moreton, Mrs. Tyler Wood and Mrs. George Bortz, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. A. Muellerweiss, Sebewaing; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Striffler, Mr. and Mrs. Burnell Holden and Mr. and Mrs. O.K. Janes, Caro; Dr. and Mrs. G.F. Lenzner, Bad Axe; Mrs. F. Klump, Mrs. K.M. Morris, Mrs. Clyde Fox and Mrs. A.B. Haist, Saginaw.

Because she was ill, Mr. H. Lee Pocklington was unable to attend the funeral of her mother.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Sophia married Christian Oscar "C.O." Lenzner, Jr. on 1 Mar 1879 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Christian (son of Christian Oscar Lenzner, Sr. and Susanna Catharina Striffler) was born on 30 Oct 1854 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 2 Jun 1927 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Herbert Frank Lenzner was born on 13 Dec 1879 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 7 Feb 1953 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 10 Feb 1953 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
2. Clara Viola Lenzner was born on 15 Mar 1888 in Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 3 Jan 1944 in Algonac, St. Clair County, Michigan.

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, February 3, 1911

Resident of This Place 42 Years

Gottlieb Ahr Passed Away Tuesday Morning

In 1863 With Other Germans Founded a Colony Near Bay Port

Gottlieb Ahr, for 42 years a resident of Cass City, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.O. Lenzner, on Tuesday morning, Jan. 31, the day preceding the 87th anniversary of his birth. Mr. Ahr has been an invalid since May, 1903, but his illness did not reach the serious stage until last Friday when lagrippe combined with heart trouble caused his death in the last five days.

Gottlieb Ahr was born in Graefenhausen, Wuertenberg, Germany, on Feb. 1, 1824. He came to the United States Apr. 23, 1847, and ten years later on July 8 was married to Friedericke Stoll in Philadelphia. Leaving that city after a short residence there, they lived in Bridgeport, Conn., and Hazel Green, Wis., coming to Michigan in 1863 and seeking their fortune with other German acquantinces in a German colony near Bay Port.

Mr. Ahr and his family moved to Cass City in 1868 when the town was in its infancy. Here he erected a residence and fitted up one room for a shoe repair shope and followed his occupation as a cobbler until June 19, 1901, when his companion passed away. He had since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. C.O. Lenzner.

Mr. Ahr embraced the Christian life with in Bridgeport and there joined the M.E. church, later uniting with the Evangelical society when he moved to Cass City. He was an industrious and hard working man, and as a citizen respected honesty as one of the best possessions of life.

He was the father of seven children, five of whom survive him: Mrs. H.S Gamble of Sebewaing, Mrs. S.W. Striffler of Argyle, T.H. Ahr of Ferrell, Idaho, Mrs. D.F. Royer of Northview, Mo., and Mrs. C.O. Lenzner of this city.

The funeral service will be held in the Evangelical church this (Friday) afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. Interment will be made in the family lot in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Fall 2007)

The July/August 2011 issue of the Cass City Area Historical and Genealogy Society, Volume 16, Number 4, featured an article about the Ahr family, and noted that the name of the Religious society where the Ahr's worked and lived prior to moving to Cass City was called Ora Labora, which means pray and work, and which was an offshot of Harmony, a religious commune located at Economy, PA. It was also reported that Ora Labora met with many problems, one of which was the constant sickness caused by malaria, which was common in the whole area for many years. They were other setbacks in the commune, and by 1871 the colony was completely abandoned.

Another interesting fact in the article was that Gottlieb at one time teamed up with P. T. Barnum, repairing and making shoes for the circus people, including a pair of shoes for the tiny "Tom Thumb."

(Research):Census Information:

1870 Census

Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, P.O. Elkland
Enumerated 26 July 1870
99-99
Ahr, Gottlieb 46 Shoemaker $650 $250 Germany Wurt.
Ahr, Fredericke 49 Keeping Hous Germany Wurt.
Ahr, Sophia 13 At School Pa
Ahr, Emma 10 At School Ct
Ahr, Pauline R 9 Ct
Ahr, Theopholus 7 Wisc
Ahr, Lydia 4 Mich

1880 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Cass City
FHL Film 1254607 NA #T9-0607 Pg 98D
Gottlieb Ahr 56 Wertenburg Shoemaker Wertenburg Wertenburg
Joan F. Ahr 59 Wertenburg Keeping House Wertenburg Wertenburg
Paulina Ahr 19 Conn Without Occupation Wertenburg Wertenburg
Theopolus Ahr 17 Wisc At School Wertenburg Wertenburg
Lydia Ahr 13 Mich At School Wertenburg Wertenburg

Gottlieb married Johanna Friedericke Stoll on 8 Jul 1857 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Johanna was born on 8 Aug 1820 in Vaihingen, Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Neckarkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 19 Jun 1901 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Tri-County Chronicle
Friday, Jun. 21, 1901

Friedericke Ahr
Died at the Home of her Daughter, Mrs. C.O. Lenzner
Long and Favorably Known
Closely Identified Many Years with the Evangelical Church and Was Highly Respected by All

From the handle of the front door of Gottlieb Ahr's home on Seeger Street a streamer of crepe was seen on Wednesday morning which told the passerby that Grandma Ahr had passed into eternity. Mrs. Ahr was one of Cass City's oldest settlers. In 1868 she came here with her husband from the so-called German colony which was a German settlement near Bay Port. Cass City was then in its infancy, there being only a few holdings which formed the nucleus of the village.

From the first Mrs. Ahr asserted a beneficial influence in the community. She was always admired for her strong common sense and helpful disposition, which characterized her entire life. Especially was she a strong factor in church life. She was one of the charter members of the Evangelical Church of this place. For many years the services were held in the Walmsley schoolhouse one and one-half miles from the village. Mrs. Ahr took a leading part in all these services. Being musically inclined she led in song in every service. Through all kinds of weather, in summer or winter, the good woman journeyed to the little schoolhouse and became a source of inspiration to all. She was active in her sphere of work up to a few weeks ago, when she took to her bed never to rise again. Seven years ago the deceased wrote the following short sketch of her life, which we have translated from the German language:

"I, Johanna Friedericke Ahr, nee Stoll, saw the light of this world at Vaihingen, Kingdom of W?rttemberg, August 8, 1820. I came to this land in the year 1854 and entered into wedlock with Gottlieb Ahr in 1856. I was born into eternal life in 1859 and joined the German Methodist Church. After a period of nine years I came to Cass City where I became a member of the Evangelical Church in 1868. For a long time I had a hard battle with Satan who tried to rob me of my experiences as a child of God; but after much prayer and by the assistance of the Holy Spirit I gained the victory. I expect to leave one son, four daughters and -- grandchildren. I have nothing to glory in myself, but in the grace of God I do glory, for He has done great things for me. To Him be all honor and praise now and throughout all eternity. Amen."

At the close of this remarkable document she makes the request that the following words should be used as her funeral text: "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rom. 5:20. She also chose the hymns which were sung at the funeral service. The funeral was held to-day. The pastor, Rev. L. Brumm preached a powerful sermon to a large congregation.

Mrs. Ahr leaves an aged husband, and five children, Mrs. C.O. Lenzner, Mrs. H.S. Gamble of Sebewaing; Mrs. S. Striffler of Argyle; Mrs. F.D. Royer of Northview, Mo.; and Theophilus Ahr, her only son.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Fall 2007)

The July/August 2011 issue of the Cass City Area Historical and Genealogy Society, Volume 16, Number 4, featured an article about the Ahr family, and noted that Frederica hauled her piano all the way from Pennsylvania to Ora Labora and then on to Cass City. She was the only person in the whole village at the time who had or could play the piano and she was in much demand for church services, weddings, and funerals, no matter the denomination.