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Emma Ahrens

Birth	:	11 Apr 1881 Boone County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	8 Sep 1883 Boone County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Elmvale Union Presbyterian Cemetery, Elmvale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate	:	44.5869800, -79.8596400
Plot	:	Section C
Description	:	Burlington Hawkeye Burlington, Iowa September 20, 1883 On the 8th of this month, between 10 and 11 a.m. disappeared from the home of her grandfather, Mr. Herman Toepfer, Dodge Township, Boone County, Emma Ahrens, two years and six months old. The child has flaxen hair and blue eyes and is well built for her age. In the middle of her forehead, there is a strong white mark from chickenpox. Emma Ahrens speaks only German. All search so far has been in vain. In the name of the smitten and afflicted family, all well disposed persons should take care of the child if it should... Read More	Burlington Hawkeye Burlington, Iowa September 20, 1883 On the 8th of this month, between 10 and 11 a.m. disappeared from the home of her grandfather, Mr. Herman Toepfer, Dodge Township, Boone County, Emma Ahrens, two years and six months old. The child has flaxen hair and blue eyes and is well built for her age. In the middle of her forehead, there is a strong white mark from chickenpox. Emma Ahrens speaks only German. All search so far has been in vain. In the name of the smitten and afflicted family, all well disposed persons should take care of the child if it should come in contact with them and send information to Rev. T.P. Guenther, Boone Iowa. Exchanges please copy. The Perry Pilot Perry, Iowa September 26, 1883 $500.00 Reward The above reward will be paid and no questions asked for the safe return, if alive, of the person of Emma Ahrens, two and one-half years old, light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, and quite prominent forehead. Has a small round white scar caused by chicken pox, in center of forehead, near roots of hair. Is quite fleshy and somewhat rosy cheeked. Limbs straight and regular. Dressed in a dark colored dress, white sleeveless apron, and button shoes. Was probably abducted from the farm residence of Herman Toepfer, located in Dodge Township, Boone county, Iowa, at about 11:30 a.m. of Saturday Sept. 8, 1883. Herman Toepfer Louis Ahrens Send any information to S. S. Webb, Sheriff of Boone county, Boone, Iowa. Daily Iowa Capital December 19, 1883 The body of the little girl, Emma Ahrens, lost at Boone early in September, was found last Saturday in a pond of water out on the prairie where in all possibility she had wandered and perished. The body was in a fair state of preservation. Boone County Democrat December 1883 On last Saturday afternoon the body of Emma Ahrens, the two and one half year old child that has been missing since September 8, was found in a slough three and one half miles from the house she was last seen alive in. The discovery was made accidentally, by a couple of hunters, and as we have been unable to see them personally, can give only the generally report current on the street, and no full particulars. The parents were in for the coffin Saturday night and the remains have been buried. Sad as is this finding of the little one, yet the afflicted parents are much better off than they were before. The great agony and suspense is over. They have lost a child, and in a sad way, but time will heal the wounds. They have the sympathy of everyone, but all say it is better now than the way it was before. The mystery is not solved; however, there are many circumstances that are suspicious. The father and other searchers insist they carefully hunted the slough over several times. The weather was dry at the time, and the slough without water. It is three miles east and one half mile north of the house the child disappeared from. Still, searchers might have passed within two feet of the child, and not found her in the tall grass, and that does not count for much. But the child was found without any signs of decay, and undisturbed by animals. It is not believed the body could have been exposed for over three months, most of the time quite warm, and not decompose. Besides, the slough is infested with muskrats, and they would have found and attacked the body if it had been there all this time. Again, the apron of the little one was taken off, and laid by her side. She could not have done this herself, as it was fastened behind and would not have been likely to do so in any event. Many think the child was murdered lately, and placed where found only a short time ago. The mystery is not cleared up by any means, and except the fate of the little one is now known is as deep as ever. Coroner Doran was notified of the matter Monday, and will probably hold an inquest. A post mortem examination would disclose how long the child had probably been dead, and possibly throw some light on the matter. The general decision is that if a crime has been committed it should be ferreted out, no matter what the cost or trouble. Boone County Democrat December 1883 Coroner Doran was up in the Ahrens neighborhood last Monday for the purpose of investigating the finding of Emma Ahrens corpse. As stated in these columns last week, the wildest and most absurd reports prevailed, and investigation proved them to be without the least foundation. It is settled beyond reasonable doubt now that the little one wandered away of her own accord, fell in the slough, and died from exposure. Instead of going east, as first reported, she went west. The story that the remains were found in a perfect or good state of preservation is also incorrect. They were decayed, and had been attacked by animals, and the face had been attacked by birds. They were not as badly injured as might have been expected from the long exposure, but were far from being perfect. Further examination disclosed that the child in its wanderings stepped into a hole made in the soft slough by cattle, and fell down. She probably died from exposure the same night, and was found with her foot still caught in the hole. It now transpires that children saw her going along the road the day she was missed and a cry was heard by some people in a house not far off, but it was not known to be a human cry at the time. It is a relief to be satisfied that there was no foul play, and that all suspicions are set at rest.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Emma Ahrens's memorial?
Emma Ahrens's memorial is located at: Elmvale Union Presbyterian Cemetery, Elmvale, Simcoe County, Canada.
When did Emma Ahrens death?
Emma Ahrens death on 8 Sep 1883 in Boone County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Emma Ahrens's memorial?
Latitude: 44.5869800
Longitude: -79.8596400

Family Members:

Parent

John George Ahrens

(1855 - 1908)

Lilly Annie Toepfer Ahrens

(1857 - 1937)

Siblings

Charles Henry Ahrens

(1876 - 1942)

Sarah J. Arrasmith

(1878 - 1943)

Louis A Ahrens

(1882 - 1959)

Katharina Sophia Ahrens Showers

(1884 - 1914)

Herman Michal Ahrens

(1888 - 1973)

Martin Ahrens

(1890 - 1891)

William Benjamin Ahrens

(1895 - 1987)

Clara Rosina Christina Ahrens Grimm

(1898 - 1966)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Elmvale Union Presbyterian Cemetery
Elmvale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5869800, -79.8596400

2. St. Thomas Anglican Church Cemetery
Allenwood, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5741800, -79.9244200

3. Hillsdale United Church Cemetery
Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5776150, -79.7675010

4. Marlow Family Cemetery
Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5771980, -79.7672330

5. Swan Community Cemetery
Elmvale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5526000, -79.7777700

6. Saint Patricks Catholic Cemetery
Phelpston, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5168300, -79.8503800

7. Allenwood Cemetery
Allenwood, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5747260, -79.9592690

8. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery
Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5723490, -79.7584350

9. Cameron's Langman Cemetery
Springwater, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5291530, -79.9576860

10. Apto Cemetery
Apto, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5082200, -79.7725500

11. Vasey United Cemetery
Vasey, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6672950, -79.7643260

12. Craighurst Presbyterian Cemetery
Craighurst, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5332600, -79.7284300

13. Vigo Roman Catholic Cemetery
Vigo, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.4866430, -79.9228790

14. Mount Saint Louis RC Cemetery
Mount Saint Louis, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6045490, -79.7052020

15. Saint John's Anglican Cemetery
Craighurst, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5283500, -79.7238800

16. William Wilson Cemetery
Midland, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7196900, -79.8965700

17. Hobart Memorial Church Cemetery
Oro-Medonte, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6130520, -79.6685810

18. Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery
Perkinsfield, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7072890, -79.9722090

19. Minesing Union Cemetery
Minesing, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.4386300, -79.8384400

20. Martyrs Shrine
Martyrs Shrine, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7368000, -79.8417000

21. Lakeview Cemetery
Midland, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7408200, -79.8772600

22. Saint Marks Anglican Cemetery
Midland, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7412010, -79.8960030

23. Saint Margarets Cemetery
Midland, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7415250, -79.8952360

24. Ontarajia Burial Site
Midland, Simcoe County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7440800, -79.8807100