Albert J. Behrends

According to the Centennial history of St. John's Lutheran Church,

"In the spring of 1856 a small colony came from Illinois and settled in

Benton precinct. Among them were Albert Behrends Sr. and Harman

Behrends." Albert Jansen Behrends and Johann Harman Behrends were

brothers. They settled by the creek near where Hickory Grove Church is

 now. After four years in Nemaha County, Harman moved to Otoe County.

Albert J. Behrends and Thelka Willms were married April 25, 1861 in

Nemaha County. They lived in a log house for a few years before moving

to the Talmage area. The log house may have been on the same land

where the family moved to from Talmage about 1872. Known as the

"Behrends Home Place", it is located 5 miles west and 3 miles south

of Auburn, Section 34, Washington precinct. A large two story home

was built that is still lived in today. Around 1894, Albert and Thelka

and their youngest children moved to Johnson. Their home was in

west Johnson, on the west side of Maple at 2nd Street. This house was

in rural area so to be a legal voter in Johnson an addition was built

on the east side in the corporate limits of Johnson. Mr. Behrends

owned and operated a general merchandise store on the west

side of main street, Block 10, Lot 11.

Thelka Willms was born in Germany to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard Willms,

October 17, 1843. Her family immigrated to Illinois about 1857 and

came to Nemaha County a few years later. In America, the name

Willms seems to have gradually changed to Williams. Thelka had

a brother, William, and 2 sisters, Wubka (Mrs. Henry C. Bohlken)

and Christina (Mrs. Gerd Frerichs).

Coat of Arms

A silver shield with a black bear standing

beside a green oak tree

Mrs. Thelka Behrends

At her residence in the west part of Johnson last Sunday morning, Mrs. Thelka Behrends quietly passed from this life into the beyond.  Mrs. Behrends was one of our oldest and most respected citizens. Although she had been slightly ailing for several years, her death came very unexpected. None of the family being present except her youngest son, Deidrich, who was the only unmarried one of the children and who still lived in the old home with his mother.

Thelka Willms was born in Ost, Fresland, Germany, October 17, 1813,

and while yet a small girl emigrated with her parents to America and settled

in Illinois. Later in 1857, they emigrated to this county, which she remained

for the rest of her life. At the time of her death, she was 69 years, 5 months and 19 days of age. Fifty-six years of which was spent in Nemaha County.

In 1861, she was married to Albert J. Behrends who at the age of seventy in 1903, preceded her across the river.

She leaves one sister, Mrs. George Frecicas of South Auburn. Five sisters and her only brother have preceded her in the beyond. She was the mother of fourteen children, twelve boys and two girls, eleven of whom survive her, who with twenty-three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren and a large circle of friends remain to mourn her loss.

The children in order of their ages are: Mrs. H. J. Steinman of Byron, Nebraska, George, Ben, William, Albert, Henry and John of South Auburn, Bonnie of Silverton, Oregon; Fred of South Auburn, Deidrich, of Johnson and Mrs. E. F. Walker of Stockham.

Johnson News

Thursday

April 10,  1913

Johnson, Nebraska