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Louisa F. Rehfeld

 Louisa F. Rehfeld
Louisa F. Rehfeld

Eminent Homemaker

County: Brown

The story of Louisa F. Rehfeld, Warner, is one of courage. In 1927, her father and her 20-year-old daughter died.

“The depression and drouth years followed,” Rehfeld said. “With those years many thousands of dollars also went because of poor investments. Conditions became so bad that my husband was forced to sign a mortgage on our farm in 1936.

“Two days later he died. I had no finances and more debts than the farm was worth. I hired help to do the chores and put in the crops. I sold eggs, dressed chickens, made butter and cottage cheese to take care of the most urgent bills.

“But God blessed me and in time the mortgage was paid together with the feed loan and the livestock loan.  Our farm is all clear today.”

Rehfeld was born as Louisa Krause in Saxon, Germany. She came to Rochester, New York, with her parents when 4-years-old. Later her parents moved to a farm near Mansfield in Brown County.  There she grew to young womanhood and married Christian F. Rehfeld in 1898. The young couple purchased the present Rehfeld farm a mile and a half south of Warner.

Rehfeld had six children. Several of them were 4-H club members. Rehfeld has been a charter member of the Warner Merry Workers home demonstration club for many years.

The Rehfeld farm which Rehfeld saved with her little produce checks consists of 533 acres. It is one of the show places in Brown County with a 100x40 foot barn, sixteen room house, completely modern with electricity and running water. It is beautifully furnished and decorated. Rehfeld landscaped the yard with trees, shrubs and flowers.

Rehfeld is a member of the Christian Science Church of Aberdeen, a chorus club and an Extension club. After her children were grown, she fulfilled a life-long ambition by taking piano lessons.

In 1949 a son took over the farm and Rehfeld moved to Warner.