December 19, 1902 — Mourning friends carried to the Ft. Calhoun, Washington county cemetery the body of one of those noble pioneer women who helped to make Washington county and Nebraska great. Grandma Rohwer, twenty one years the widow of Hans J. Rohwer, who was mourned at his death by nearly the entire county, was a worthy wife of such a husband. Carefully she planned and cared for her household from the day when, with her husband in 1857 they began housekeeping in the little log cabin in the wilderness, till the tired hands and tired feet were stayed by her last illness. Nearly thirty years ago this writer began to be a guest at their table and for several years were boarded with them from 40 to 60 days each year, and was surprised how so small a woman could do so much work and do it so cheerfully. It took lots of toil and courage 47 years ago for a woman thousands of miles from her girlhood home, and hundreds of miles from a railroad and when sometimes even money would not buy the necessities of life, to stand shoulder to shoulder with her husband and not lose hope or ambition. Mrs. Rohwer is a sister of Henry Frahm, and for many years has been in comfortable circumstances. She was born in Germany in 1831, married in 1853, came to America in 1855, Ft. Calhoun in 1857, and has lived nearby ever since, except a few years in Blair to school her youngest daughter. Her surviving children are Mrs. Fred Matthiessen of Blair, George Rohwer of Ft. Calhoun, Harry, Annie and Ella, three grown up and unmarried children with whom she made her home in one of the most beautiful residences here. The funeral sermon was by Rev. Cardy of the Congregational church. The flowers were beautiful and attendance large.

#2-25 Dec., 1902 - The Pilot - Mrs. H. J. Rohwer

The funeral of Mrs. H. J. Rohwer of Calhoun took place from the residence last Friday afternoon, and was attended by a large number of old friends and neighbors. As a mark of respect the business houses in Calhoun closed during the funeral. Mrs. Rohwer and husband came to Washington county in the early days when the stagecoach run out of Omaha, and were numbered among the early pioneers. She leaves children, George, Henry, Mrs. F. H. Matthiessen, Annie and Ella, besides a wide circle of friends to mourn her loss.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #18176396