Family/Spouse: Alice Anne Haymann. Alice was born in Private. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Don Harlan Dehaan was born in Private.
2. Lynn Mardell Dehaan was born in 1950; died in 1977.

Notes:

Birth:
Date taken from headstone.

Died:
On 22 March 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak, Shirlee DeHaan recounts this about John's death:

March 1919, this man-John DeHaan-became a victim of the Flu of 1918 (Spanish flu). He left behind his wife and two young sons, ages 3 and 4.5 years. He was the grandfather we never knew...He was recovering and went out to do chores; relapsed, caught pneumonia and died. Grandma would talk to mom when they were alone. She never talked about him to us kids or in front of grandpa Ben.

John married Mabel Adelia Schlotfeldt on 14 Jan 1914 in George, Lyon County, IA. Mabel (daughter of Henry Hans Schlotfeldt and Gesina M. Scherff) was born on 4 Nov 1894; died on 12 Jun 1970. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Possibly born in 1867 as tombstone states.

John Haan changed his name to DeHaan due to mail delivery confusion. The 1910 shows another John Haan family a few houses down, likely the cause of the confusion.

From www.alaska.net/~dsewell/:

According to a article that I have called "A Short Survey of Friesian History by Bernard J. Fridsma, Sr.", the first recording of the Friesians was about 1,000 years ago when they were living on the coast of the North Sea between the Ems and Rhine Rivers. Where they came from is pretty foggy but that they started reclaiming the muddy land from the sea is evident. Eventually the country called Friesia covered the whole coast of what is now The Netherlands and Germany. For centuries they fought off invaders. Unfortunately when they weren't fighting with others they fought with each other over control. (Sound familiar?) Finally, after a series of name changes and being divided and re-divided between 1798 and 1810 under Napoleon, Friesia lost it's ancient name. It now remains only in the province (state?) of Friesia in the north west corner of The Netherlands and in our beloved Ostfriesland (East Friesia) in Germany.


IN THE USA
From 1850 to 1900 there was a mass immigration from this the Ostfriesland area of Germany due to war and wide spread hunger. It was a chance for the common man to improve his families lot in life. Most of this group settled in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin. In some of the German villages over half of the population departed. The port of entry for a large percentage of the immigrants was New Orleans. They then traveled up the Mississippi River to the Heartland of America.

For the settlement of the farm country of Illinois timing was everything. Much of this area was sparsely settled because the land was wet, heavy black gumbo, covered with deep rooted prairie grass. It was impossible to plow without stopping every few feet to clean the blade. Then the curved "self cleaning" plow was invented and perforated tile was installed around the fields and the land rush was on. A far seeing man named Scully bought a huge portion of the land and paid the fare for families from his native land to come and be tenant farmers. Of course many paid their own way and worked in other jobs.

This was an industrious group and they did well in their new land. For many years they kept their old customs and spoke Low German so named for the low, flat terrain of their native land, reclaimed from the North Sea. Then came WW1 and to be German was shameful in America. Everyone was anxious to appear patriotic so much of our heritage was lost. The few that appeared too loyal to Germany had their houses and fences painted yellow by "real Americans" in the middle of the night. My grandfather was one of them but his reaction was not of fear but of defiance (or stubbornness, depending on how you look at it). "If a yellow house means I'm German then I will show that I'm proud of it." he said (in German, of course). He painted the rest of the house yellow and that is the color it stayed until he died.

____
John took the surname "DeHaan" when he arrive at Rock Rapids, IA. The story was passed down that this was done due to mail delivery problems with another John Haan family down the road. The census data confirms this was his first cousin married to Bessie Rieman.

______
From "In and Around George" 1871-1912
John De Haan -- and his wife lived here from 1890 (perhaps earlier) until 1895. At. that time they lived near Lyon County First Presbyterian Church and near Rev. Henry Wortman's home. The children remember how often the Wortman children would stay with them when their parents were busy. In 1895 they moved to Riverside Township, and later they returned to George, living at 107 West Indiana Avenue. Their children were John (married Mabel Schlotfeldt); Ella (Mrs. Harm Meester); Agnes (Mrs. Harry Cone); Helen (Mrs. Charley Busch); Anna (Mrs. Charley Harms); and Elizabeth (Mrs. Elmer Williams).

On the picture with Mr. and Mrs. De Haan is their grandson Win Harms.

Johann married Hilka Garrels on 18 Aug 1887 in Grundy Center, IA. Hilka (daughter of Garrett F Garrels and Antje Klingenberg) was born on 23 Jun 1867 in Germany (Most Likely Ostfriesland); died on 6 Jul 1937; was buried in Colfax Center Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Grundy, IA USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• : 16 May 1984, Grundy Center, IA

Notes:

1895 Census confirms birth year. 1915 Iowa census shows an HL Garrels from Canaan, Henry Iowa at about the same age. It is possible he is a brother. He lists Germany as his birth place. Also listed in Henry, IA is an Albert L Garrels in 1930 census (about same age).

Iowa Death Records show her mother's name is Aije, not Antje as it appears on the ship's passenger manifest. It seems to indicate her maiden name was Klingenborg

Garrels were also present in Ireton, IA. The earliest known from 1839 could have been her mother. At least one of Hilka's children was born in Matlock, Sioux County, IA, which is very close to Ireton. Appears to be many Haans in the area as well, so this is likely the family that appears to be related to Hilka.

1880 Census shows a Harmon Garrels and siblings living with Weert and Sara Garrels in Franklin, Des Moines, IA. His birthplace is listed as Ostories Laduch.

1920 Census confirms German heritage. So does her obituary.

It is unclear at this point the exact location from which Hilka emigrated. Census data and her obituary shows she came from Germany, and her name is spelled "Hilke", the German form. According to her obituary she is from the Emden area, Ostfriesland, Germany. Emden may have been her port of departure. Most immigrants from Germany at that time came to the US through New Orleans.

Lana Kratz, a decendent of Hilka, stated in an email that her mother told her that Hilka was from Emden. It is unknown as to where her mother received that information. It was possibly passed down from generation to generation. It is confirmed by information of Familysearch.org.

There is another family from the same area (Theodorus Garrels and Hilke, or Hilka according to census, Harms) who came from Germany. Hilka came from Ostfriesland, but it is unclear the origin of Theodorus. In any case, their families have many similarities. Birth dates of the children are within 2 years from each other. Their childrens names are Trientje (Trina), Agnes (?), Harm, Elske (or Elka), Helen (Hilka). Theodorus and Hilke Harms were married in Parkersburg, Butler County, IA. You will find Haan's and Garrels both in that county. In fact, there was a Bena Garrels born in Emden who immigrated with her parents, Jacob Sluiter and Anna Garrels.

From Appledorn genealogy:
[387] Theodorus Garrels married Hilke Heren Harms in 1885. Mrs. Garrels was born Hilke Heren in Ogle County, llinois. Her parents died when she was very young and she lived with the Wesley Harms family. At the age of eight 8
moved with her foster parents to near Parkersburg, Iowa where she lived for many years. Here she met Mr. Garrels. They were married and soon after that moved to Lyon County. The Garrels farmed until they retired to George many years later.


[386] [SOURCE] "In and Around George, Iowa 1871 - 1912" [GEO 0148]
Cresent Publishing Company, Hills, Minnesota, 1971
reprinted: Kruger Office Supply, George, Iowa, 1998

[384] [SOURCE] 1900 USA Census - Iowa (Lyon County), Wheeler Township
Supervisor District No.: 11; Enumeration District No.: 57
Page 74A; Sheet: 10; Line: 46

[385] [SOURCE] Germans to America, Ira A. Glazier and P. William Filby, Scholarly Resources
listed as Garrels, Theod., age: 22; ship's name: Weser
manifest ID: 36138, embarkation: Bremen, debarkation: -

Henry married Gesina M. Scherff on 3 Dec 1889 in Rock Rapids, Lyon County, Iowa, USA. Gesina (child of John Jacob Scherff and Maria Steinke) was born on 29 Jun 1869 in Hannover, Germany; died on 14 Jan 1915 in Alvord, Lyon County, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Sena
• : 1878
• : 29 May 1886; Castlegarden.org shows a Gesina immigrating from Lankenburg (likely Blankenburg) Germany on SS Hermann.

Notes:

Other Scherff individuals nearby:
Gired (or Jired) Scherff on 1900 Rock Rapids Census, page 38 - born 1877
John Scherff on 1900 Lyon County (Cleveland Township), page 12 - born 1877
John Scherff on 1900 census, probably Lyon county.
John Scherff on 1870 census from Polk County, IA, page 245

Aeisse married Aaltje Janssen-Bruuns on 20 Mar 1853 in Hamswehrum, Hannover, Germany. Aaltje (daughter of Jan Berends Bruuns and Aafke Nankes Hinderks Terviel) was born on 5 Jan 1825 in Germany; died on 10 May 1899 in Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Garrett married Antje Klingenberg. Antje was born on 18 Jan 1825 in Germany; died on 24 May 1884 in Grundy County, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There are many Klingenberg individuals listed in 1905 IA Census for both Grundy County and Lyon County. Those listed in Grundy County are Klas, Ettier, Habbe, Klass, Maggie, Peter, Tennie. Those listed in Lyon County are Hilka, John, Katie, Klass, Nancy, and Nickoley.

There is a Antje Garrels with daughter Hilka who arrived on a ship called "Main" from Bremen.

AIJE Garrels buried in Grundy, IA. She died 24 May 1884, just 8 days after arriving in the US. The birth years match. Her maiden name was Klingenberg. Grundy is where Hilka found her husband.

Aije is also the name used on the marriage certificate. The passenger manifest showing Antje is difficult to read and was probably spelled incorrectly.

Henry married Margaretha Catharina Christiana Kroeger on 16 Nov 1859. Margaretha (daughter of Hans Kroeger and Margaretha Dorothea Christiana Kluever) was born on 18 Mar 1843 in Schleswig Holstein, Germany; died on 29 May 1905 in Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[schlotfeldt.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 6, Ed. 1, Tree #3710, Date of Import: Jan 30, 2001]

A Johannes Kroeger, spoke at the funeral services for Ernestine Denker
at Davenport, Iowa in 1908. He is listed in the German writing of the
church paper as a "truen" (father?) He has no know direct relationship
with Ernestine, but Ernestine's daughter Selma (German article lists as
Zelina), married the grandson of Margaret Kroeger, wife of Henry F.
Schlotfeldt. Margaret's Father's name is not known as of 1996, but
it is doubtful that a Great-grandfather Kroeger who would have been
born about 1820, would have been around in 1908 to give "deeply
moving speeches at the family home and gravesite". But it's
not impossible, that would put him in his 80s.

From Fay Schlotfeldt:
Chain: Hans Henry>Henry F.& wife Margaret "Anna" Kroeger. This is Margaret's sister. We have been lucky enough to find a picture of Hans Henry Schlotfeldt, born 1808 in Klein Flintbek, and his wife Catherin Margaret Stoltenberg. We also have pictures of many of their Grandchildren, but NONE of their children. In this case, the missing child photo would be of my Great Grandfather Henry F. Schlotfeldt (who came to the U.S. with Hans and Catherine) and his wife Margaret "Anna" Kroeger. We are still searching and hope that time hasn't escaped us with folks throwing away photos they couldn't identify. BUT...Thanks to SHIRLEY PATRICK who found us while chasing down the Kroeger family, we now have a picture of Margaret's sister, DORIS. (Shirley is descended from Doris and has been a Great! help in research of this branch.) Doris Kroeger, immigrated to Davenport, Iowa from Postfeld, Preetz,Germany with her family. Naturally, she is very good looking, as are all women who marry into the Schlotfeldt family, their daughters, mothers, sisters, cousins and friends! :-) This photo at least gives us an inside look at Margaret's family. Margaret's father died shortly after they arrived, her mother died in Germany 11 days after she was born. Her stepmother, Dora (nee Sievert)came to America with Hans and the family, She remarried and had additional children, so we have additional half-cousins from that side of the family. Their searching turned up this picture for us. If any of you have any leads for a picture of Henry F. & Margaret or the other kinder, please pursue them. Thanks so much, we keep hoping. (The quality of this picture suffered in cropping. If you e-mail us, We will send you an unedited .jpg copy of this photo

Other Events:

• : 1881, Hannover, Germany; 1900 Federal Census Shows John Immigrated before Maria or children. Passenger List "Strassburg" from Bremen to Baltimore in Oct 1881 shows family immigrated together. The father may have returned for the family. They are listed with the surna

Notes:

CastleGarden.org shows a Scharff family arriving on 9 Oct 1881 with ultimate destination of Iowa. Members of the family are Gesine, Jacob, Johann (father), Johann, Johanne, Maig, Maria. Many of the birth dates match. The ship's name was the Strassburg (Bremen).

Immigrated from Hannover, Germany area to Holstein, IA. Moved to Doon, IA in 1900 and had 11 children. Hannover may have been their city of departure, not hometown. - Excellda Watke Shaw

Felix Meier Tree on Ancestry.com shows immigrated Oct 1881 on Strassburg from Bremen to Baltimore.

From http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialyon/bankingtwo.htm:
Temperatures were unseasonably cold the early months of 1907 and there was considerable fear that the crop could not be gotten into the ground soon enough. In April temperatures were dropping below freezing almost every night. Vegetables that had been planted were lying dormant. Fruits were damaged and early seeded cereals were in great danger. Some reseeding was being started.

A bad electrical storm hit the week of June 27 and many barns were struck, several destroyed. At the John Scherff farm the house and barn burned down as the result of lightning and five horses and a colt in the barn were destroyed.


John's name may have been Johann Jochim Heinrich Scharf, born in Mecklenberg to Friedrich Ludwig Scharf and Maria Dorothea Engel. The Friedrich listed as his brother may actually be his father in Wisconsin! Also possible is that he is the son of Friedrich Scherff and Maria Best of Plaggenburg Aurich, Hannover. Hannover is their likely birthplace according to most records.

me of Scharff.

John married Maria Steinke about 1869. Maria was born on 5 Apr 1848 in Hannover, Germany; died on 27 Jun 1935 in Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• : 1882

Notes:

Some of the Steinke family changed their name to "Miller" because the English pronounciation sounded like "Stink Cat" or "Stinky". - email on 24, April 2002 from Fay Schlotfeldt based on information from Leona Andresen.