We were given two very old, fragile autograph books by Karol Calabro of Walnut. One belonged to Mary Lensch and one to her sister Meta. They were the daughters of Hans and Sophia Lensch. In the back of Mary’s book is a list of family members with birth dates and a few death dates. The autographs in Mary’s album were dated 1888 – 1895. Those in Meta’s were dated 1902 – 1905. Their father wrote in German, as did several others.
The names of those signing Mary’s album were: Ida Hansen, Sister Anna Preuss, Stena Mikkelsen, Sister Minnie Lensch, Sister Lena Lensch, Brother Henry Lensch, Aunt Louisa Schriefer, ? Hanson, Jennie Hansen, Kathi Schriefer, Ida Simonsen, Agatha Lebeck, Katie Christensen, Mary Hoogensen, Lena Hess, George Hanson, Paulina Johannsen, Clara Lensch, Emily Hess, Nellie White, Annie Hoogensen, Annie Otzen, Christina Johannsen, Dora Lorentzen, Carrie Christensen, Mary Larsen, Tina, Katy Hansen Simonsen, Alwine Hansen, Tilla Alwill, Sadie Buss, Ella Hamdorf, Aggie Griffin, and Ethel.
The names of those signing Meta’s album were: Sister Minnie, CiCilie Ohms, Dora B. Johannsen, Carrie Wulf, Sena Behrens, Sister Anna, Grover Hoogensen, Teacher P. F. Vincent, Sister Lena, Minnie Jave, E. H., Brother Julius, Elsie Behrens, Dora Hennings, Cecile Cobb, Sister Minnie, Jessie White, Orphie Replogle, Mary Hess, Jane Hess, Annie Ohms, Pauline Johannsen, Teacher Ruth Thompson, Teacher Isabelle Dunnington, Sister Mary, Niece Ella Preuss, Mary Schack, and Aunt Maria Voss.
Copenhagen is mentioned as the address in several autographs. It was the southwest corner of Jackson Township, Shelby County, Iowa. This area includes rural school #9.
It has been fun to read and type the sayings. Some of them are: “Remember me now, Remember me ever, Remember the days, We have spent together.” “When rocks and hills divide us. And you no more I see, just take your pen and paper and write a line to me.” “When you get married, And your husband gets cross, Come to my house and eat applesauce.” “Not like the rose, May our friendship wither, But like the evergreen, Live forever.” It was also fun to find an autograph from Ella Hamdorf of Kirkman, Iowa. She is my husband, Jim’s, first cousin twice removed. She even drew a small picture. There were many pretty cutouts in the books. These are some of them:
We also received two small photo frames with covers with unidentified tin type photos. If anyone can positively identify, please let me know. I posted on Facebook and in our city newsletter about the Lensch items and have been contacted by many relatives. What a pleasant surprise!
Mary Magdaline Lensch was born in Johnson County, Iowa on Feb. 22, 1881. The following month, the family moved to a farm one and three-fourths mile southeast of Walnut. In March, 1885, she moved to Monroe Township, Shelby County and lived there on the home place until 1920, when she, her parents and brother Henry moved to a farm north of Walnut. In 1942, they retired and moved to Walnut. Miss Mary Lensch died at the age of 75, following a long illness from cancer. Her funeral services were held on Dec. 31 at the Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church in Walnut and burial was in the Walnut Cemetery.
Meta Christina Lensch was born in Monroe Township, Shelby County, Iowa on Jan. 7, 1894. She was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Walnut. She lived with her sister Alma and brother Julius most of her life on the same farm where she was born. In May 1980, they moved to Harlan. She had been a resident of the Baptist Memorial Home since June 23, and died there on Nov. 8, 1980 at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 1 day.
Mary and Meta Lensch were members of the Peace Church Women’s Guild. Meta was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a charter member and first president of the Monroe Friday Club. She was active in the building of Peace Haven Retirement Home, serving on the Building Committee. Her funeral services were held on Nov. 11, 1980, at the Peace United Church of Christ in Walnut and burial was in the Walnut Cemetery.
Hans and Sophia Schriefer Lensch were the parents of Mary and Meta and 11 additional children. The 13 were Anna Preuss, Caroline Andresen, Henry, Mary, Clara, August, Herman, Minnie Koos, Meta, Julius, Herb, Alma, and an infant.
Hans Detler Christian Lensch was born on March 30, 1846 in Holstein, Germany and immigrated to America, arriving at Davenport, Iowa, on June 23, 1867. He married Sophia Schriefer on January 24, 1874. Sophia, second daughter of Henry and Caroline Schriefer, had been born on August 28, 1854 at Davenport, Iowa. After their marriage, Hans and Sophia farmed at Davenport for two years and then worked on a farm between West Liberty and Iowa City for four years. In 1881 they came to Walnut, and bought a farm in 1885, 10 miles northeast of Walnut, where they lived 35 years. In 1920 they retired, making their home with Henry and Mary Lensch, 2 miles north of Walnut. Sophia died on March 17, 1922 from Sarcoma of the right lung. Hans Lensch died on May 18, 1939 at 700 Atlantic Street in Walnut, the home of Henry and Mary; he was 93 years, 1 month and 18 days old. Surviving him were 9 children, 21 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. There are 15 members of the Lensch family buried at the Walnut Cemetery.
KH