HENRY L. FAHRENKROG, who is engaged in farming and dairying on section 36, Hilyard Township, is of German birth. He was born in Holstein, June 30, 1831, and is a son of Henry and Christina Fahrenkrog, who were also born and reared in the same province where they began their domestic life and resided until the death of the husband and father, which occurred in 1833. His widow was a second time married, becoming the wife of Henry Kardell, an ex-Prussian soldier, with whom she afterward came to the United States in 1855. They first settled in Cleveland, Ohio, but after two years took up their residence in Madison County, Ill., where Mr. Kardell died at the age of sixty years. His wife survived him some years and passed away at the age of seventy-three. She was the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, all born of her first marriage.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native province and when about twenty-two years of age started for America, determined to seek his fortune in the New World. He has never had occasion to regret so doing for he has prospered and acquired a good property. He sailed from Hamburg and after a long and tedious voyage of eleven weeks landed in New York City from whence he made his way to Cleveland, Ohio, in August, 1855. The following spring witnessed his arrival in Macoupin County, and shortly afterward in the city of Bunker Hill he led to the marriage altar Miss Fredericka Herbst, who was born in Holstein, Germany, January 28, 1841. Her parents lived and died there, her mother departing this life when Mrs. Fahrenkrog was quite young. Her father was married a second time and died at an advanced age.
The wife of our subject was only sixteen years of age when she and an older sister started alone for America. They came to Macoupin County, settling in Bunker Hill, where two years later she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Fahrenkrog. They have resided upon their present farm since 1868, covering a period of twenty-three consecutive years. Before that time Mr. Fahrenkrog worked as a farm hand and lived upon rented land until by his industry and economy he had acquired a sufficient capital to purchase his present homestead. His landed possessions aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. He raises such cereals as are adapted to this climate and in addition does quite an extensive business as a dairy farmer, keeping about twenty-five milch cows for this purpose. He also raises other stock of good grades and is regarded as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the township. He has ever been true to his duties of citizenship and takes a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community. In politics he is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenkrog have been born the following children: William J. H., who aids his father in operating the home farm and has served as Township Assessor and Collector for two years, being a leading citizen of the community; Augusta L. M., wife of Andrew Huber, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Dora J. F., at home; Henry L. F., who is employed as salesman in the mercantile establishment of Andrew Huber; Joseph F. W. and Amelia W. F., who are still under the parental roof. They have lost two children, Bertha and Charlie, both of whom died in childhood.