My Genealogy Hound

HENRY FIRST. Of that sturdy and independent class, the farmers of Michigan, none are possessed of more genuine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He has risen to more than an ordinary degree of success in his calling as an agriculturist, and wherever known he is conceded to be an energetic and progressive tiller of the soil, imbued with all those qualities of go-ahead-ativeness which have characterized his ancestors.

Our subject’s birth occurred in Berrien County, Mich., in 1859, and he is the son of Fred and Louisa (Kukelhan) First. The grandparents of our subject, Fred and Angeline First, were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. At an early date they emigrated to the United States and located in Berrien County, Mich., where they became the owners of large tracts of land, seven or eight hundred acres. The grandfather was a man of means when he came to this country, and he lost nothing by setting his feet on American soil. He followed the occupation of a farmer principally, and all his operations were attended with success. His marriage resulted in the birth of four children, who are in the order of their births as follows: Fred, the father of our subject; Henrietta, Mrs. Fred Kukelhan; Angeline, wife of William Krohne; and Sophia, the wife of Henry Horseman. Mr. First was a Lutheran in his religious views, and, in politics, was a Republican. All his children were natives of the Old Country, and came with him on the voyage across the ocean.

When about fourteen years of age, Fred First, Jr., started out for himself and began working by the month on a farm. After working several years he married Miss Louisa Kukelhan, a native of Ohio, and shortly afterward bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Berrien County, where he has since lived. He has added from time to time to the original tract of land until he now has about nine hundred acres, part in Berrien and the remainder in Cass County. Although he began at the foot of the ladder, he worked steadily away, and has now almost reached the topmost round. His chief occupation has been farming, and in that he excels. The fruits of his union were nine children, three of whom died young, the others being Sophia, who married Herman Grabemyre; Henry, our subject; Lizzie, who married Fred Filling; Lewis; Frank; and Emma, who became the wife of Fritz Woolf, but is now deceased.

Our subject with his parents holds membership in the Lutheran Church, and all are highly respected as worthy and exemplary members. The father was an ardent Republican in his political views. Henry First remained under the parental roof until his marriage, and received a good practical education in the common schools. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Anna Varnau, daughter of Fred and Caroline Varnau. Four children were the result of this marriage, and are named as follows: Freddie, Eddie, Clara and May. Like his father, our subject is a strong supporter of Republican principles, and has been Township Clerk two years. At the time of his marriage his father gave him one hundred and forty acres, on which he is now living, and on which he has made many great improvements.