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June 12, 1930
RANDOLPH - Henry Plohn, Randolph’s oldest citizen, and possibly the oldest man in Cedar County, celebrated his 92nd birthday in a quiet way at his home in this city last Friday, June 6. All of his five children and all but one of his grandchildren were present that day. There was a family dinner, and it was a day of pleasure for all.
Henry Plohn was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on June 6, 1838. He grew to manhood in his native country, and engaged in farming. He was married in Germany and all of his children except the youngest, Mrs. Emma Allender of Lincoln, were born there.
Mr. Plohn lived just half his life in Germany, and half in America, for it was in 1884 when he was 46 years old, that he came with his family to America, settling in Cass County, Iowa, near Atlantic. He farmed there for eight years. By thrift and hard work he prospered in America, became a citizen and has never returned for a visit to his native soil.
In 1893, or 37 years ago, Mr. Plohn moved with his family to Randolph, and farmed the place now owned by C. J. Ellis, 3½ miles southeast of town. Here the family lived for six years, when in 1899 he bought and moved to the home farm 5½ miles southwest of Randolph. This was the family home for ten years, he and his wife retiring from active work in 1909 and moving to Randolph, where Mrs. Plohn died in November 1915, and where Mr. Plohn has since lived with his daughters Maggie and Christine.
Mr. Plohn is remarkably active and in fine health for a man of his years. He was hoeing in his garden when the Times reporter called on Monday. He has a fine garden and tends it himself.
