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Heinrich Sieberns
Mr. Sieberns was born 23 May 1825 at Tettens in
Jever District, Grossherzogthum Oldenburg. He
learned the carpenter trade. In the year 1853
came to America, worked in New Orleans and
Louisville, Kentucky, and in the year 1855 moved
to Preston, Canada. Here he married Miss
Caroline Niegarth, who was also from Rhine
Phaltz. In the year 1858, he established himself
as a merchant in Farnisville, Illinois (today
Congerville). From there he moved in the year
1864 to Gridley, Illinois, and there he operated
for 20 years long a “General Store” with much
success. We take the following from an old
record: “The village Gridley was in the year
1869 incorporated. To be the first president of
the newly-created small town, H. E. Sieberns was
elected.” Mr. Sieberns served later also as
Justice of the Peace and as Postmaster. A main
source of income for Mr. Seiberns was the
development of those areas he thereby acquired,
by the fact that he was first to introduce
draining of farm land with field tile. --Since
the year 1885 Mr. Sieberns lives in Peoria. He
is probably one the largest German land owners
in Illinois and has here in Peoria a respected
position.
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Translated by Harry Lundell |