Born in: Geiglitz, Kreis Regenwalde, Pommern, Prussia (the area is part of Poland today)

Father: Ludwig Bohn [1825-1870]

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GREAT BEND MAN, PIONEER IS DEAD
William Bohn Funeral is Being Held in Great Bend Today

William Bohn, pioneer of Great Bend, died Monday afternoon, March 12th, following an illness of several weeks' duration.

Funeral services will be held at the Great Bend Lutheran Church Thursday (today). Rev. Rengstorf will conduct the services.

William Bohn was born in Germany on Sept. 26th, 1845, and at the age of 23 years immigrated to the United States, settling at Iron Ridge, WI., later coming to Great Bend. He was united in marriage to Emestina Brendle, and to this union twelve children were born, Richard, Emil, Robert, August, Alfred, Mrs. Chas. Adamson, Mrs. Wm. Behling, Mrs. Alfred Ambach, all of Great Bend, Albert of Aberdeen, SD., Willie, of Lidgerwood, Mrs. John Strege, of Mooreton and Ernest, of Wahpeton, 59 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, who with his good wife survive to mourn their great loss.

Pallbearers will be Ernest Ambach, Robert Beling, Edward Bohn, Walter Adamson, Henry and Robert Bohn, grandchildren of the deceased.
(Hankinson NEWS, March 15, 1934)

[Provided by: NDTerri #47596303-----

Wilhelm Friedrich Bohn (71231217)

Suggested edit: On page 68 in the book "Plains Folk" is this paragraph about William Bohn: "Bohn (Hermann) encouraged his brother William and his family to migrate to Dakota. In the spring of 1873, William and Ernestina, along with their two sons, Richard and Emil, and William's brother Albert, heeded the call and left Iron Ridge. After a two-day rail trip, they arrived in Breckenridge, a frontier town consisting of a depot, restaurant, and several immigrant shacks, across the river from present-day Wahpeton. Unable to reach Herman's homestead because the Red River was flooding, they were taken to an immigrant shack which, surrounded by water, rested on blocks about three feet above the ground. After remaining there for two weeks, they accepted an offer from the military and accompanied a supply train to their destination, which they reached after a difficult two-day journey. Another disheartening incident awaited them there. While inspecting the loft of Herman's sod shanty, which was to serve as their sleeping quarters, they encountered snakes which 'came out of the sod walls from every direction.' His courage broken, William wanted to return to his old job in Iron Ridge, but Ernestina persuaded him to stay, and they filed on a homestead in Brandenburg Township the following spring. Although the one thousand dollars they brought from Iron Ridge could not safeguard them from flood conditions, a difficult overland journey, or from loft snakes, it did enable them to purchase oxen, lumber, and supplies with which to begin their new life on the banks of the Wild Rice River."
Contributor: David Hauschild (51181945)]