Henry was born Heinrich Dietrich Harms in Prussia/Germany and brought to the USA as a small child. His father and stepmother raised him in Missouri. He entered the Civil War on the side of the Union while his brother Charles Havens (born Charles Harms) entered on the side of the Confederacy. In his youth he went by the name Dietrich Harms and it is under that name that his military records are found. He was taken prisoner of war and spent a short time in Libby prison. After the war he homesteaded in Clackamas County, Oregon. At that time he Americanized his name to Henry D. Harms and it is under that name that his pension records are found, with notations for the alias Dietrich. His close family called him "Dick". He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Veterans organization and they performed his burial ceremony. However, a gravestone was never installed at Henry's grave in the years after his death.
Henry married Joanna Wolpers in Missouri before they moved to Oregon. She died first, possibly in childbirth, in 1887 and Henry purchased a family plot in what was then the Stafford German Baptist cemetery; later the upper portion was renamed Robert Bird cemetery. Their son Joseph died in 1899 at age 14 and Henry died in 1918. All three (and possibly an infant child) are buried in the family plot and as of 2018 their graves were unmarked. A stone for Henry's son Joseph was known to exist at one time, but it was destroyed or lost decades ago.
In 2019 application was made to the Veteran's Administration for a Civil War monument stone for Henry D. Harms. It was installed April 15, 2019.
A special thank you to F.A.G. member #48603904 for reaching out to offer to assist with obtaining a headstone. Her fantastic detective work also led to the biography written above.
*****
Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony to Henry Dietrich Harms
February 7 1843- May 22, 1918
On August 28, 2020 several living ancestors of Henry Dietrich Harms traveled from as far away as Florida, Arizona, Washington, and California to attend the Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony at the Robert Bird Cemetery and to thank those who found our oldest family burial plot and for obtaining the actual headstone, that was delayed 102 years after his death.
We the Harms family wish to thank the following people for making this possible: A special Thank You to Shirley Herrick for spearheading this endeavor! Thank you Barb Ledbury, Aimee Landis, and June Neilson Harms for signing the forms to allow this to become a reality. Thanks to the Veteran’s Administration for the beautiful “Grand Army of the Republic", Civil War ERA headstone and the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Commission.
The following was read out loud by Brad Harms before a wreath was placed on Henry Dietrich Harms headstone by Chuck Harms:
“Dear Great or Great Great or Great, Great, Great Grandpa Henry Dietrich Harms, although none of your dependents here today ever met you or knew you, simply because you departed this earth 102 years ago, we still gather today, on August 28, 2020 to honor you. We gather to celebrate this fine headstone and thank you for “Standing Up” and joining in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Because of your decision to join the union, over 150 years ago, at the start of the Civil War when you were a very young man, we the Harms family can proudly stand on the right side of history. You were in several Civil War battles and captured at least once, yet never relinquished or faltered. To us, you exemplify justice and righteousness. To quote another person who pursued those virtues was Martin Luther King, who himself quoted the ancient prophet Amos and said in 5:24 “ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” It is hard to believe that mankind is still trying to find those virtues, when you yourself found them over 150 years ago. Your sacrifice and memory will not be forgotten in our lifetime. Thank you Henry Dietrich Harms."
Contributor: Shirley H (48603904)
Henry married Joanna Wolpers in Missouri before they moved to Oregon. She died first, possibly in childbirth, in 1887 and Henry purchased a family plot in what was then the Stafford German Baptist cemetery; later the upper portion was renamed Robert Bird cemetery. Their son Joseph died in 1899 at age 14 and Henry died in 1918. All three (and possibly an infant child) are buried in the family plot and as of 2018 their graves were unmarked. A stone for Henry's son Joseph was known to exist at one time, but it was destroyed or lost decades ago.
In 2019 application was made to the Veteran's Administration for a Civil War monument stone for Henry D. Harms. It was installed April 15, 2019.
A special thank you to F.A.G. member #48603904 for reaching out to offer to assist with obtaining a headstone. Her fantastic detective work also led to the biography written above.
*****
Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony to Henry Dietrich Harms
February 7 1843- May 22, 1918
On August 28, 2020 several living ancestors of Henry Dietrich Harms traveled from as far away as Florida, Arizona, Washington, and California to attend the Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony at the Robert Bird Cemetery and to thank those who found our oldest family burial plot and for obtaining the actual headstone, that was delayed 102 years after his death.
We the Harms family wish to thank the following people for making this possible: A special Thank You to Shirley Herrick for spearheading this endeavor! Thank you Barb Ledbury, Aimee Landis, and June Neilson Harms for signing the forms to allow this to become a reality. Thanks to the Veteran’s Administration for the beautiful “Grand Army of the Republic", Civil War ERA headstone and the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Commission.
The following was read out loud by Brad Harms before a wreath was placed on Henry Dietrich Harms headstone by Chuck Harms:
“Dear Great or Great Great or Great, Great, Great Grandpa Henry Dietrich Harms, although none of your dependents here today ever met you or knew you, simply because you departed this earth 102 years ago, we still gather today, on August 28, 2020 to honor you. We gather to celebrate this fine headstone and thank you for “Standing Up” and joining in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Because of your decision to join the union, over 150 years ago, at the start of the Civil War when you were a very young man, we the Harms family can proudly stand on the right side of history. You were in several Civil War battles and captured at least once, yet never relinquished or faltered. To us, you exemplify justice and righteousness. To quote another person who pursued those virtues was Martin Luther King, who himself quoted the ancient prophet Amos and said in 5:24 “ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” It is hard to believe that mankind is still trying to find those virtues, when you yourself found them over 150 years ago. Your sacrifice and memory will not be forgotten in our lifetime. Thank you Henry Dietrich Harms."
Contributor: Shirley H (48603904)
Henry was born Heinrich Dietrich Harms in Prussia/Germany and brought to the USA as a small child. His father and stepmother raised him in Missouri. He entered the Civil War on the side of the Union while his brother Charles Havens (born Charles Harms) entered on the side of the Confederacy. In his youth he went by the name Dietrich Harms and it is under that name that his military records are found. He was taken prisoner of war and spent a short time in Libby prison. After the war he homesteaded in Clackamas County, Oregon. At that time he Americanized his name to Henry D. Harms and it is under that name that his pension records are found, with notations for the alias Dietrich. His close family called him "Dick". He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Veterans organization and they performed his burial ceremony. However, a gravestone was never installed at Henry's grave in the years after his death.
Henry married Joanna Wolpers in Missouri before they moved to Oregon. She died first, possibly in childbirth, in 1887 and Henry purchased a family plot in what was then the Stafford German Baptist cemetery; later the upper portion was renamed Robert Bird cemetery. Their son Joseph died in 1899 at age 14 and Henry died in 1918. All three (and possibly an infant child) are buried in the family plot and as of 2018 their graves were unmarked. A stone for Henry's son Joseph was known to exist at one time, but it was destroyed or lost decades ago.
In 2019 application was made to the Veteran's Administration for a Civil War monument stone for Henry D. Harms. It was installed April 15, 2019.
A special thank you to F.A.G. member #48603904 for reaching out to offer to assist with obtaining a headstone. Her fantastic detective work also led to the biography written above.
*****
Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony to Henry Dietrich Harms
February 7 1843- May 22, 1918
On August 28, 2020 several living ancestors of Henry Dietrich Harms traveled from as far away as Florida, Arizona, Washington, and California to attend the Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony at the Robert Bird Cemetery and to thank those who found our oldest family burial plot and for obtaining the actual headstone, that was delayed 102 years after his death.
We the Harms family wish to thank the following people for making this possible: A special Thank You to Shirley Herrick for spearheading this endeavor! Thank you Barb Ledbury, Aimee Landis, and June Neilson Harms for signing the forms to allow this to become a reality. Thanks to the Veteran’s Administration for the beautiful “Grand Army of the Republic", Civil War ERA headstone and the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Commission.
The following was read out loud by Brad Harms before a wreath was placed on Henry Dietrich Harms headstone by Chuck Harms:
“Dear Great or Great Great or Great, Great, Great Grandpa Henry Dietrich Harms, although none of your dependents here today ever met you or knew you, simply because you departed this earth 102 years ago, we still gather today, on August 28, 2020 to honor you. We gather to celebrate this fine headstone and thank you for “Standing Up” and joining in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Because of your decision to join the union, over 150 years ago, at the start of the Civil War when you were a very young man, we the Harms family can proudly stand on the right side of history. You were in several Civil War battles and captured at least once, yet never relinquished or faltered. To us, you exemplify justice and righteousness. To quote another person who pursued those virtues was Martin Luther King, who himself quoted the ancient prophet Amos and said in 5:24 “ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” It is hard to believe that mankind is still trying to find those virtues, when you yourself found them over 150 years ago. Your sacrifice and memory will not be forgotten in our lifetime. Thank you Henry Dietrich Harms."
Contributor: Shirley H (48603904)
Henry married Joanna Wolpers in Missouri before they moved to Oregon. She died first, possibly in childbirth, in 1887 and Henry purchased a family plot in what was then the Stafford German Baptist cemetery; later the upper portion was renamed Robert Bird cemetery. Their son Joseph died in 1899 at age 14 and Henry died in 1918. All three (and possibly an infant child) are buried in the family plot and as of 2018 their graves were unmarked. A stone for Henry's son Joseph was known to exist at one time, but it was destroyed or lost decades ago.
In 2019 application was made to the Veteran's Administration for a Civil War monument stone for Henry D. Harms. It was installed April 15, 2019.
A special thank you to F.A.G. member #48603904 for reaching out to offer to assist with obtaining a headstone. Her fantastic detective work also led to the biography written above.
*****
Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony to Henry Dietrich Harms
February 7 1843- May 22, 1918
On August 28, 2020 several living ancestors of Henry Dietrich Harms traveled from as far away as Florida, Arizona, Washington, and California to attend the Cemetery Headstone Dedication Ceremony at the Robert Bird Cemetery and to thank those who found our oldest family burial plot and for obtaining the actual headstone, that was delayed 102 years after his death.
We the Harms family wish to thank the following people for making this possible: A special Thank You to Shirley Herrick for spearheading this endeavor! Thank you Barb Ledbury, Aimee Landis, and June Neilson Harms for signing the forms to allow this to become a reality. Thanks to the Veteran’s Administration for the beautiful “Grand Army of the Republic", Civil War ERA headstone and the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Commission.
The following was read out loud by Brad Harms before a wreath was placed on Henry Dietrich Harms headstone by Chuck Harms:
“Dear Great or Great Great or Great, Great, Great Grandpa Henry Dietrich Harms, although none of your dependents here today ever met you or knew you, simply because you departed this earth 102 years ago, we still gather today, on August 28, 2020 to honor you. We gather to celebrate this fine headstone and thank you for “Standing Up” and joining in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Because of your decision to join the union, over 150 years ago, at the start of the Civil War when you were a very young man, we the Harms family can proudly stand on the right side of history. You were in several Civil War battles and captured at least once, yet never relinquished or faltered. To us, you exemplify justice and righteousness. To quote another person who pursued those virtues was Martin Luther King, who himself quoted the ancient prophet Amos and said in 5:24 “ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” It is hard to believe that mankind is still trying to find those virtues, when you yourself found them over 150 years ago. Your sacrifice and memory will not be forgotten in our lifetime. Thank you Henry Dietrich Harms."
Contributor: Shirley H (48603904)
Family Members
Siblings
