Charles "Karl" Heinrich von Ahrens was the son of a Danish nobleman from Schleswig-Holstein, but he dropped his title in Canada finding no use for it in his new country. Schleswig was the Danish speaking part of Denmark and Holstein was the German speaking part of Denmanrk. About 1865, Prussia took over these provinces and since then they have been classified as Germany. Since that hadn't happened yet, Karl was a Dane. Because he was from Holstein, he could speak German fleuently, nad so fit in well in his new home in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario.
Karl may have left Germany when he did because the Napoleanic wars had devastated Europe, there were other wars threatening, and the economic situation was bleak. He may have been involved with emancipation work when former slaves started coming to Berlin around 1854. An ex-slave owned the barbershop next door to their general store. Karl's partner, Henry Huber helped to settle the negros in Peel Township north of Waterloo, from whence they gradually moved northward to Owen Sound.
In 1840, Karl went into a partnership with Henry (Heinrich) Huber and began operation of a foundry on Foundry (now Ontario) Street in Berlin,, Ontario. By 1851 it was steam powered and employed 11 people. There were four buildings 30 or 40 feet back from the King Street line.
Berlin's first fire pumps were made in the Huber and Ahrens Foundry.
His grave is a quite elaborate black obelisk tombstone in Kitchener's Mount Hope Protestant Cemetery. He was originally buried at the Swedenborgian Church on Church Street but the grave was moved in 1874.
Karl was the grandfather of Carl Henry Ahrens (1862-1936), a prominent Canadian landscape painter.
Karl may have left Germany when he did because the Napoleanic wars had devastated Europe, there were other wars threatening, and the economic situation was bleak. He may have been involved with emancipation work when former slaves started coming to Berlin around 1854. An ex-slave owned the barbershop next door to their general store. Karl's partner, Henry Huber helped to settle the negros in Peel Township north of Waterloo, from whence they gradually moved northward to Owen Sound.
In 1840, Karl went into a partnership with Henry (Heinrich) Huber and began operation of a foundry on Foundry (now Ontario) Street in Berlin,, Ontario. By 1851 it was steam powered and employed 11 people. There were four buildings 30 or 40 feet back from the King Street line.
Berlin's first fire pumps were made in the Huber and Ahrens Foundry.
His grave is a quite elaborate black obelisk tombstone in Kitchener's Mount Hope Protestant Cemetery. He was originally buried at the Swedenborgian Church on Church Street but the grave was moved in 1874.
Karl was the grandfather of Carl Henry Ahrens (1862-1936), a prominent Canadian landscape painter.
Charles "Karl" Heinrich von Ahrens was the son of a Danish nobleman from Schleswig-Holstein, but he dropped his title in Canada finding no use for it in his new country. Schleswig was the Danish speaking part of Denmark and Holstein was the German speaking part of Denmanrk. About 1865, Prussia took over these provinces and since then they have been classified as Germany. Since that hadn't happened yet, Karl was a Dane. Because he was from Holstein, he could speak German fleuently, nad so fit in well in his new home in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario.
Karl may have left Germany when he did because the Napoleanic wars had devastated Europe, there were other wars threatening, and the economic situation was bleak. He may have been involved with emancipation work when former slaves started coming to Berlin around 1854. An ex-slave owned the barbershop next door to their general store. Karl's partner, Henry Huber helped to settle the negros in Peel Township north of Waterloo, from whence they gradually moved northward to Owen Sound.
In 1840, Karl went into a partnership with Henry (Heinrich) Huber and began operation of a foundry on Foundry (now Ontario) Street in Berlin,, Ontario. By 1851 it was steam powered and employed 11 people. There were four buildings 30 or 40 feet back from the King Street line.
Berlin's first fire pumps were made in the Huber and Ahrens Foundry.
His grave is a quite elaborate black obelisk tombstone in Kitchener's Mount Hope Protestant Cemetery. He was originally buried at the Swedenborgian Church on Church Street but the grave was moved in 1874.
Karl was the grandfather of Carl Henry Ahrens (1862-1936), a prominent Canadian landscape painter.
Karl may have left Germany when he did because the Napoleanic wars had devastated Europe, there were other wars threatening, and the economic situation was bleak. He may have been involved with emancipation work when former slaves started coming to Berlin around 1854. An ex-slave owned the barbershop next door to their general store. Karl's partner, Henry Huber helped to settle the negros in Peel Township north of Waterloo, from whence they gradually moved northward to Owen Sound.
In 1840, Karl went into a partnership with Henry (Heinrich) Huber and began operation of a foundry on Foundry (now Ontario) Street in Berlin,, Ontario. By 1851 it was steam powered and employed 11 people. There were four buildings 30 or 40 feet back from the King Street line.
Berlin's first fire pumps were made in the Huber and Ahrens Foundry.
His grave is a quite elaborate black obelisk tombstone in Kitchener's Mount Hope Protestant Cemetery. He was originally buried at the Swedenborgian Church on Church Street but the grave was moved in 1874.
Karl was the grandfather of Carl Henry Ahrens (1862-1936), a prominent Canadian landscape painter.
Inscription
Charles H. Ahrens
Died August 21, 1854
Ages 51 years, 7 months and 8 days
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
