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From: "Thomas Dirksen" <>
Subject: [OSTFRIESEN-L] Ailts, or maybe even, Eilts
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 10:44:03 -0500


The Ailts and also the Eilts name has arisen. I mentioned yesterday that Grandmother Antje CONRADY had married first a Bernhardt AILTS from Ostfriesland when in Pekin, Illinois and both were founding members of Second Reformed Church.

I have a bit of information on Bernhardt, taken from an old family reunion write up on the CONRADY family some 30 years or more ago. As follows:

Ben Ailts Dies, January 4, 1892
Bernhardt Ailts died on Monday morning, the fourth of January at the age of forty-five years, four months and seventeen days. Funeral services will be held January 7th at 2 p. m. in the German Reformed Church at Pekin, Illinois. Surviving him are his wife, Antje and two sons, John and Henry.

NOTE: 1. I presume this was taken from a Pekin Daily Times obit page--- which I have not seen.
2. They had other children but they died, maybe still born---this information from the Reformed Church records. I have several pictures of "people" taken by Coles Studio (long out of business) in Pekin with name "Mrs. Ailts" written on the back. I do not know who these folks are but suspect one to be Bernhardt and maybe some of the others the younger children who died. One picture almost looks like a post mortem picture--did folks take such pictures back then? 3. son John died of TB before I was born, he was married and had a step daughter. I knew Henry (rather Uncle Heinie) as he lived up into my college days. Henry had three children but I have long lost contact.

Also from the same Conrady source:

Antje, also born in Loquard, Germany came to America in 1874. She settled in Pekin and spent the rest of her life there. She was first married to Bernhard Ailts, who died in 1892, leaving her with two sons. Mr. Ailts was also of German descent and was employed as a grocery clerk.

Then later in a list of persons:

Bernhardt Ailts 1846 - 1892
Antje Conrady 1/23/1853 - 12/7/1923
John F. Dirksen 1842 - 1905 Note: Second husband of Antje and my grandfather.

My luck in finding Ailts names has been most meager, could Eilts and Ailts be a mix up in immigration. Any help on the Ailts origins in Germany will be most appreciated. Thanks, Tom

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