Source: "History of Sheboygan County Wisconsin, Vol II, Carl Zillier, Editor, S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912" Page 172

John Ahrens, who owns and operates the `Lake View Stock Farm,' which is located two miles north of Sheboygan, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on the place where he now resides on the 5th of January, 1861. He is a son of Henry and Dora (Fendt) Ahrens, natives of Mecklenberg, Germany, who emigrated to the United States in their early life and located in Sheboygan county. Very soon after their arrival the father acquired the farm now owned by his son and assiduously applied himself to its development during the remainder of his active life. He passed away in 1887, but the mother is still living and now makes her home with our subject. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens numbered six, as follows: Christ, who married Anna Kanaba, and resides in Mosel township; Henry, who is married and residing in Brillion, Wisconsin; William, who is married and living in Sheboygan; Minnie, the wife of Peter Schmitt, of Clark county, Wisconsin; Louisa, now Mrs. Theodore Lillewell, of Chicago; and John, the subject of this sketch.

In the acquirement of his education John Ahrens attended the district schools in the vicinity of his home. After mastering the common branches he terminated his student days and gave his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits, assisting his father until he was twenty-five years of age. He then left home and during the succeeding four years engaged in railroading as section foreman of the Lake Shore but at the expiration of that time he returned to the farm, and resumed the work of the fields. In 1909 he bought the old home place, which contains ninety acres of fertile land. His energies are largely devoted to dairying and stock-raising, but he also owns a threshing outfit, which he operates during the season. Mr. Ahrens is a diligent and enterprising man, of practical ideas and clear judgment, as is manifested in his methods of conducting his undertakings. He is widely known in Sheboygan county and has a large circle of friends, many of whom were his boyhood comrades.

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