Hinrich Klassen (Henry) Pruin was born in Schirumer-Leegmoor, Niedersachsen, Germany to Klaas Johannes and Fentje Peters (Saathoff) Pruin on September 27, 1901. Henry was the youngest of seven siblings and was raised in part by his older sister Catharina who was 11 years his senior. Around 13 years old Henry was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He eventually moved with his parents to Walle, Niedersachsen, Germany near Aurich.
As a young man, Henry became a joiner's apprentice to Master Joiner Revert Tunder in Aurich until 14 July, 1923 when Henry boarded the SS Yorck in Bremen, Germany, bound for America, to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bernhard (Ben) and Gepke Jurrens (Godeken) Pruin at 1664 Ironwood Ave, George (Grant Twp), Iowa, which is still standing but abandoned as of this writing in 2022. His Uncle Bernhard and Bernhard's brother Dirk had immigrated to Iowa in 1891 where they both owned and operated farms directly across the road from each other. We can assume that Henry's early days in the states were largely filled helping his Uncles on their farms.
It's unclear exactly how Henry met his wife Anna van Hove, because there are a couple of potential connections. Anna's family had resided near George, Iowa and appear to have attended the same First Baptist Church near George as Henry's Uncles Bernhard and Dirk. We know this because one of Anna's brothers (Tidde, 1886-1897) is buried in the same First Baptist cemetery as Bernhard and Gepke. However, the 1905 Census shows that Anna's family was already living in Rheiderland Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota well before Henry arrived in Iowa in 1923. There's a likelihood that Henry and Anna's introduction was brokered by Henry's Great Uncle and Aunt, Capitain Heertjen and Fentje Janssen (Pruin) Dinkela in Germany. Heertjen is Anna's Mother's father and Fentje is Henry's Grandfather's sister. As well as the fact that Henry's Uncles in America probably knew the van Hove family through church. In any case, Henry and Anna were married on January 27, 1927 in Chippewa County, Minnesota.
The 1930 census shows Henry and Anna on the farm they purchased at 4020 90th Ave NE in Stoneham Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota.
On October 5, 1930, Henry and Anna's only child, Claus Henry Pruin, was born. Claus was their only child.
On 17 January, 1947 Henry became a naturalized United States citizen. Henry never returned to Germany, even for a visit, in his lifetime, but he did maintain a close relationship with his sister Catharina through letters exchanged between the United States and Germany. Although Henry never passed on much information about his early life in Germany to his grandchildren, it was discovered years later that he had sent many photographs of his life in Minnesota with Anna, son Claus, and even his grandchildren, to his family in Germany over the years.
In 1959, Henry and Anna sold their farm and moved into Raymond, Minnesota where they bought a house in town at 210 Emerson Ave N. Henry's time in retirement was spent taking care of Anna who was largely bed-ridden beginning in the early 1960s. He also did odd jobs as a handy man including painting houses and meticulously maintained a large garden for many years.
In his later years, Henry's grandchildren knew him as a fairly quiet, devout Christian man. We still remember Henry and Anna's "discussions" in German during our visits.
Anna preceded Henry in death. She was a resident of the Cosmos nursing home when she passed on September 13, 1980. Henry also later resided in the Cosmos Nursing home in the last year or two of his life until his passing on May 13, 1989 at the age of 87 years old.
As a young man, Henry became a joiner's apprentice to Master Joiner Revert Tunder in Aurich until 14 July, 1923 when Henry boarded the SS Yorck in Bremen, Germany, bound for America, to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bernhard (Ben) and Gepke Jurrens (Godeken) Pruin at 1664 Ironwood Ave, George (Grant Twp), Iowa, which is still standing but abandoned as of this writing in 2022. His Uncle Bernhard and Bernhard's brother Dirk had immigrated to Iowa in 1891 where they both owned and operated farms directly across the road from each other. We can assume that Henry's early days in the states were largely filled helping his Uncles on their farms.
It's unclear exactly how Henry met his wife Anna van Hove, because there are a couple of potential connections. Anna's family had resided near George, Iowa and appear to have attended the same First Baptist Church near George as Henry's Uncles Bernhard and Dirk. We know this because one of Anna's brothers (Tidde, 1886-1897) is buried in the same First Baptist cemetery as Bernhard and Gepke. However, the 1905 Census shows that Anna's family was already living in Rheiderland Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota well before Henry arrived in Iowa in 1923. There's a likelihood that Henry and Anna's introduction was brokered by Henry's Great Uncle and Aunt, Capitain Heertjen and Fentje Janssen (Pruin) Dinkela in Germany. Heertjen is Anna's Mother's father and Fentje is Henry's Grandfather's sister. As well as the fact that Henry's Uncles in America probably knew the van Hove family through church. In any case, Henry and Anna were married on January 27, 1927 in Chippewa County, Minnesota.
The 1930 census shows Henry and Anna on the farm they purchased at 4020 90th Ave NE in Stoneham Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota.
On October 5, 1930, Henry and Anna's only child, Claus Henry Pruin, was born. Claus was their only child.
On 17 January, 1947 Henry became a naturalized United States citizen. Henry never returned to Germany, even for a visit, in his lifetime, but he did maintain a close relationship with his sister Catharina through letters exchanged between the United States and Germany. Although Henry never passed on much information about his early life in Germany to his grandchildren, it was discovered years later that he had sent many photographs of his life in Minnesota with Anna, son Claus, and even his grandchildren, to his family in Germany over the years.
In 1959, Henry and Anna sold their farm and moved into Raymond, Minnesota where they bought a house in town at 210 Emerson Ave N. Henry's time in retirement was spent taking care of Anna who was largely bed-ridden beginning in the early 1960s. He also did odd jobs as a handy man including painting houses and meticulously maintained a large garden for many years.
In his later years, Henry's grandchildren knew him as a fairly quiet, devout Christian man. We still remember Henry and Anna's "discussions" in German during our visits.
Anna preceded Henry in death. She was a resident of the Cosmos nursing home when she passed on September 13, 1980. Henry also later resided in the Cosmos Nursing home in the last year or two of his life until his passing on May 13, 1989 at the age of 87 years old.
Hinrich Klassen (Henry) Pruin was born in Schirumer-Leegmoor, Niedersachsen, Germany to Klaas Johannes and Fentje Peters (Saathoff) Pruin on September 27, 1901. Henry was the youngest of seven siblings and was raised in part by his older sister Catharina who was 11 years his senior. Around 13 years old Henry was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He eventually moved with his parents to Walle, Niedersachsen, Germany near Aurich.
As a young man, Henry became a joiner's apprentice to Master Joiner Revert Tunder in Aurich until 14 July, 1923 when Henry boarded the SS Yorck in Bremen, Germany, bound for America, to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bernhard (Ben) and Gepke Jurrens (Godeken) Pruin at 1664 Ironwood Ave, George (Grant Twp), Iowa, which is still standing but abandoned as of this writing in 2022. His Uncle Bernhard and Bernhard's brother Dirk had immigrated to Iowa in 1891 where they both owned and operated farms directly across the road from each other. We can assume that Henry's early days in the states were largely filled helping his Uncles on their farms.
It's unclear exactly how Henry met his wife Anna van Hove, because there are a couple of potential connections. Anna's family had resided near George, Iowa and appear to have attended the same First Baptist Church near George as Henry's Uncles Bernhard and Dirk. We know this because one of Anna's brothers (Tidde, 1886-1897) is buried in the same First Baptist cemetery as Bernhard and Gepke. However, the 1905 Census shows that Anna's family was already living in Rheiderland Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota well before Henry arrived in Iowa in 1923. There's a likelihood that Henry and Anna's introduction was brokered by Henry's Great Uncle and Aunt, Capitain Heertjen and Fentje Janssen (Pruin) Dinkela in Germany. Heertjen is Anna's Mother's father and Fentje is Henry's Grandfather's sister. As well as the fact that Henry's Uncles in America probably knew the van Hove family through church. In any case, Henry and Anna were married on January 27, 1927 in Chippewa County, Minnesota.
The 1930 census shows Henry and Anna on the farm they purchased at 4020 90th Ave NE in Stoneham Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota.
On October 5, 1930, Henry and Anna's only child, Claus Henry Pruin, was born. Claus was their only child.
On 17 January, 1947 Henry became a naturalized United States citizen. Henry never returned to Germany, even for a visit, in his lifetime, but he did maintain a close relationship with his sister Catharina through letters exchanged between the United States and Germany. Although Henry never passed on much information about his early life in Germany to his grandchildren, it was discovered years later that he had sent many photographs of his life in Minnesota with Anna, son Claus, and even his grandchildren, to his family in Germany over the years.
In 1959, Henry and Anna sold their farm and moved into Raymond, Minnesota where they bought a house in town at 210 Emerson Ave N. Henry's time in retirement was spent taking care of Anna who was largely bed-ridden beginning in the early 1960s. He also did odd jobs as a handy man including painting houses and meticulously maintained a large garden for many years.
In his later years, Henry's grandchildren knew him as a fairly quiet, devout Christian man. We still remember Henry and Anna's "discussions" in German during our visits.
Anna preceded Henry in death. She was a resident of the Cosmos nursing home when she passed on September 13, 1980. Henry also later resided in the Cosmos Nursing home in the last year or two of his life until his passing on May 13, 1989 at the age of 87 years old.
As a young man, Henry became a joiner's apprentice to Master Joiner Revert Tunder in Aurich until 14 July, 1923 when Henry boarded the SS Yorck in Bremen, Germany, bound for America, to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bernhard (Ben) and Gepke Jurrens (Godeken) Pruin at 1664 Ironwood Ave, George (Grant Twp), Iowa, which is still standing but abandoned as of this writing in 2022. His Uncle Bernhard and Bernhard's brother Dirk had immigrated to Iowa in 1891 where they both owned and operated farms directly across the road from each other. We can assume that Henry's early days in the states were largely filled helping his Uncles on their farms.
It's unclear exactly how Henry met his wife Anna van Hove, because there are a couple of potential connections. Anna's family had resided near George, Iowa and appear to have attended the same First Baptist Church near George as Henry's Uncles Bernhard and Dirk. We know this because one of Anna's brothers (Tidde, 1886-1897) is buried in the same First Baptist cemetery as Bernhard and Gepke. However, the 1905 Census shows that Anna's family was already living in Rheiderland Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota well before Henry arrived in Iowa in 1923. There's a likelihood that Henry and Anna's introduction was brokered by Henry's Great Uncle and Aunt, Capitain Heertjen and Fentje Janssen (Pruin) Dinkela in Germany. Heertjen is Anna's Mother's father and Fentje is Henry's Grandfather's sister. As well as the fact that Henry's Uncles in America probably knew the van Hove family through church. In any case, Henry and Anna were married on January 27, 1927 in Chippewa County, Minnesota.
The 1930 census shows Henry and Anna on the farm they purchased at 4020 90th Ave NE in Stoneham Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota.
On October 5, 1930, Henry and Anna's only child, Claus Henry Pruin, was born. Claus was their only child.
On 17 January, 1947 Henry became a naturalized United States citizen. Henry never returned to Germany, even for a visit, in his lifetime, but he did maintain a close relationship with his sister Catharina through letters exchanged between the United States and Germany. Although Henry never passed on much information about his early life in Germany to his grandchildren, it was discovered years later that he had sent many photographs of his life in Minnesota with Anna, son Claus, and even his grandchildren, to his family in Germany over the years.
In 1959, Henry and Anna sold their farm and moved into Raymond, Minnesota where they bought a house in town at 210 Emerson Ave N. Henry's time in retirement was spent taking care of Anna who was largely bed-ridden beginning in the early 1960s. He also did odd jobs as a handy man including painting houses and meticulously maintained a large garden for many years.
In his later years, Henry's grandchildren knew him as a fairly quiet, devout Christian man. We still remember Henry and Anna's "discussions" in German during our visits.
Anna preceded Henry in death. She was a resident of the Cosmos nursing home when she passed on September 13, 1980. Henry also later resided in the Cosmos Nursing home in the last year or two of his life until his passing on May 13, 1989 at the age of 87 years old.
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