Margaretha Paasch was born September 11, 1854, Klein-Wittensee, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Died March 22, 1923, Avoca, Iowa, USA. Just how Margaretha spent her early years is not known. She apparently discussed her childhood very little, as non of the grandchildren recall hearing their parents discuss her early life. Since she was not a learned woman it is well to assume that soon after her confirmation into the Lutheran faith, she set out to work in homes or 'Gastwirtschaft' which was usually the case n those days. It is also well remembered that Schleswig-Holstein area was often the battle grounds for the Danes and Germans and therefore under those conditions it is not hard to believe that the economy of the province suffered. In 1870 the land conflict had left the province again in the hands of the German Empire.

Margaretha emigrated from Germany in 1876 arriving in Walnut, Iowa area. Whether she came alone or her 2 sisters came with her is not known. Her brother Heinrich had preceded her. It is not hard for young maidens from the "Old County" to find work upon arriving in the new land. Western Iowa was teeming with excitement of new towns being built, new sod being broken for farming and new railroads being laid. The greater percent of the populations was German and from the Schleswig-Holstein area so language was not a problem. The story is often told that when word came that several young ladies would be arriving from the homeland, the love starved young men would line the train station awaiting their arrival. A hand in marriage was almost a forgone conclusion.

Margaretha Paasch married Johan Fredrick August Kohlscheen who was born in Damlos, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on January 3, 1843. August had left his homeland March 25, 1870 and arrived on American soil April 12, 1870. He apparently went directly to Davenport, Iowa, arriving with $40 in his pocket. Many German immigrants were in Scott Co. and so language was not a barrier. He immediately sought employment, working as a farm hand for 1 year, then moved to Johnson Co. where he again worked on a farm for 1 year after which he rented land and began raising onions and potatoes. He was very successful in the venture, producing large crops and after carrying on gardening for 2 years he purchased a team and came to Pottawattamie Co. in the spring of 1874. Since Walnut was a very new town at that time it is well to assume he walked, rode or drove his horses to Walnut or perhaps even helped other pioneer families move westward.

He invested his earnings in 80 acres at $13 an acre - Knox township, section 25 and in the summer of 1874 formed a partnership with Mr. Russmann of Layton Township and during that year he had someone break 50 acres of sod on his prairie farm. Apparently, the Kohlscheen-Russman partnership was not lasting. As it is stated in "1907 Pottawattamie County History" in spring of 1875 in partnership with Nick and John Sievers he built a shanty on their land and for 2 years they kept bachelor's hall and cultivated their fields. Elsewhere it is stated the Shanty was of sod and was built for $65. The long low shanty was promptly named "Der Schloss" , meaning 'the castle'. According to early plat books it shows that each man farmed his own 80 acres.

A few months after the arrival of Margaretha to the Walnut area, she and J.F. August Kohlscheen were married on February 8, 1877. August promptly rented an adjoining 809 acres to the west of his place. A home of 2 to 3 smallish rooms. Here Gustav was born April 20, 1878; Emma,April 18, 1889 and Ferdinand, May 28, 1882. In the fall of 1881 he purchased 200 acres about 1/2 mile south of the first farm. In 1883 he built a large 8 room home on this farm and the family moved into the new home. Bernhardt was born September 9, 1884. August Heinrich, December 9, 1886; Amanda, September 12, 1889; Alma, May 10, 1894 and Herbert, June 8, 1897.

Margaretha and J.F. August Kohlscheen continued to reside there until in early 1910 when they bought a home in the northeast part of Avoca and moved there. The couple was a hard working thrifty farm family and he was able to acquire a total of 867 acres of land of which 360 acres lay in 2 parcels in Knox Township, 240 acres in Lincoln Township, 200 acres Pleasant Township and 67 acres in James Township.

Margaretha passed away following a bout with pneumonia on March 22, 1923. J.F. August Kohlscheen lived 9 years longer. Tho he was already loosing his sight at the time of her death, he had been able to enjoy a daily game of Schafskopf down at the Claus Grote Hall. He spent his remaining years in the home of his eldest daughter, Emma and her husband Henry Matthies on their farm east of Hancock. Within a few years he was totally blind and deaf. He died quietly on September 1, 1931. Both Margaretha and husband are buried at Graceland Cemetery, Avoca. (Submitted by Alta Kohlscheen Fischer - 1984 Paasch Family History)