Joens, H.J.

HAMM, BRANDT, HARMENING, OBERHEU, BERGMANN, OBERHEU

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/20/2010 at 11:00:53

H.J. Joens, living on section 16, Douglas township, has an attractive and well improved farm of eighty acres which he is successfully operating. He was born in Germany, May 15, 1867, a son of Jurgen and Amalia (Hamm) Joens, also natives of Germany. The father was born November 10, 1832, and died April 26, 1904, while the mother was born December 1, 1836, and died January 18, 1898. In 1870, they came to the United States and crossed the country to Iowa, settling on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Douglas township, Bremer county. The tract was wild land, but with characteristic energy Mr. Joens began to break the sod and prepare the fields for cultivation. In course of time he added an eighty acre tract to the farm and made it one of the well-developed properties of the county. Mr. Joens erected a house and other buildings and both he and his wife spent their remaining days upon the old homestead, being well known and highly respected people of the community. They were members of the Evangelical Association and their lives were at all times upright and honorable.

In the family were seven children. Margaretha, born in Germany, May 30, 1865, married Ernest Brandt, of Waverly, Iowa, and has six children, Anna, Emma, Wilhelm, Henry, Ferdinand and Sophie. H.J., of this review, is the next in order of birth. J.G., born in Germany, June 25, 1869, remained on the home farm until fifteen years of age, when he began learning the carpenter's trade, but is now engaged in agricultural pursuits in Douglas township, where he owns a farm of eighty acres. In 1896 he was elected assessor for four years and has now served as township clerk for twelve successive years. He married Sophie Harmening and has a daughter, Elda. Henry, born in Douglas township, this county, November 27, 1872, is a carpenter by trade, but now owns and operates a farm of eighty acres on section 9, Douglas township. He married Lena Oberheu. Fred, born in Douglas township, August 15, 1874, married Louise Bergmann and has four children, Herbert, Malinda, Adela and Edwin. They live on the home farm with H.J.Joens. Anna, born in Douglas township, September 17, 1879, is the wife of William Oberheu, who owns and operates a farm of eighty acres on section 19, that township. They have five children, Arnold, Wilbert, Lina, Ida and Theodor. Ferdinand, the youngest of the Joens family, died in infancy.

H.J. Joens was reared upon the old home farm and pursued his education in the district and German schools. He early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Following the death of his parents he came into possession of eighty acres of the old homestead, including the buildings. A new house has since been erected and additions and improvements have been made on the other buildings. H.J. Joens has never married, his brother, Fred and wife living with him. Fred Joens owns eighty acres adjoining and twenty acres across the road and carries on general and dairy farming. For twenty years H.J. Joens has been engaged in the jewelry business, having a stock of jewelry at his home and doing repair work. He is an expert in that line and has mastered the business alone. For six years he was assessor of Douglas township and he is one of the stalwart supporters of the democratic party in his locality. He also belongs to the Evangelical association and honorable and commendable are the principles which govern his life and which make him one of the respected citizens of Bremer county.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol II 1914