Johann Heinrich GREFE

Henry Grefe's parents and family:

Henry's father, Herman Grefe, Sr. was born in Hanover, Germany May 17,1831, the son of John Henry Grefe who was born in 1802 and died in 1877. Herman, Sr. married Mary Clasen who was born near Hanover, Germany, Feb. 24, 1836 and died August 1889. He farmed with his parents on a farmthat was in the family possession for over two hundred years.

Herman and Mary were parents of the following children: Louise, Herman,Henry, Dick and William. Louise and Wilham remained in Germany, Henrycame to America in 1882 and died in 1904, Dick came to America in 1887.William was an officer in the German Army in 1916.

Herman Grefe first worked in Kansas after his arrival to America, and in 1895 came to Otter Tail County where he farmed three hundred acres ofland in Sec. 10 and I I of Ottertail Township. It was here that he married Sophia Misegades, a native of Hanover, Germany, in May 1896. Sophia was born in 1876 and came to this country early in life. They are parents of the following children; Katherine, Herman D., Rebecca, Wilham and Lorine. The family devoted much time and energy to the development of the wilderness into valuable farming land. They built their farmsteadgradually as needs arose for extra buildings.

Herman and Sophia were members of the German Lutheran Church, being active in church and community affairs. Herman devoted time as Secretary and treasurer of the Farmers Society of Equity, the creamery and the shipping association at Otter Tail. Herman died in 1963 at the age of 98 and Marie died in 1965. They are buried in St. John's Lutheran Cemeteryat Ottertail.

Henry and Anna Wiebe Grefe came from Germany in 1882 and settled in Ottertail Township. Henry died in 1904 at the age of 22 years, and left his widow (who died in 1920) and their four children: Louise Dreyer, Clara Husfeldt, Henrietta Heinecke and three year old Henry, Jr. Henry Sr.was postmaster for a few years when they brought mail from Perham to Battle Lake.

Henry Jr. was born in 1901 and married Alma Heinecke on Nov. 19, 1925.Alma is the daughter of Henry and Sophia (Schwartz)Heinecke. She was born in Hegbert, near Appleton, Minnesota on May 6, 1904. To this union two sons were born; Melvin in 1927 and Lawrence in 1938. Henry and Almafarmed until 1971 in the areas of Ottertail, Henning and Deer Creek. They are retired to Henning, MN. Melvin lives in St. Paul where he is a sheet metal worker. wrence is employed by the American Linen Company ofSt. Paul.

Henry Jr. was town clerk of Inman Township for 18 years. They were allmembers of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Henning.

From East Otter Tail County History Volume I 1977

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