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Dwight, Your great grandfather was the oldest son of Conrad Amend. My grandfather Arthur Amend was the youngest of the family born to Conrad Amend.There were 11 children from this marrage. Only 9 children survived past new borns. My grandfather Arthur does not remember John for he had already passed away. The head of the family Conrad Amend, moved from New Jersey/NY NY TO Des Moines,Iowa 14 years after Des Moines, became chartered as a city in 1849. Conrad Amend came originally from Germany on a cargo ship with his Aunt in 1846 which was the end of the CIVIL WAR he was around 16 years of age. He told my grandfather Arthur he only had 13 cents in his pocket when they landed in NY harbor. This was before the U S IMMAGRATION started Ellis Island that they had to go through customs. I have actually traced this myself in New York City . Conrad stayed in the NY area as a meat buther apprentice for 3 to 4 years to learn a trade. His Aunt stayed in NY,but he traveled west to find his future at the age of 21. He started a small grocery store and slaughtered cows and pig,and poultry behind the store down by the Des Moines river on Court street. Several years later opened another market on Walnut street with the help of his sons John being one. I have news paper articles and pictures to prove this. Conrads first wife Mary who he meet in Des Moines after borring him 11 children died during child birth when my Grandfather Arthur was only 3 years old. Great Grandfather Conrad Amend remarried afew years later to a lady they nick named Red. She gave birth to two children from Conrad, Ralph Amend and Marie Jaeger Amend with afew years of married life, she ran off with one of the stable boys and left not only Conrad with his original family, but two of their own. This was told directly from Conrad himself to my grandfather Arthur who by then remembered the second wife for he was around 9 or 10 years old. I would be happy to give you all the names of Conrad's children. My Grandfather Arthur married Elsie Sradley Amend in 1918 and had my mom Mary Jane Amend in 1920 and a son Conrad Amend born in 1924. My Uncle of course was named after his grandfather. Both my Mom and Uncle knew their grandfather Conrad He died when they both were in their teens. They also heard many historical stories and he was one of the corner stones of developing Des Moines in its beginning years. Conrad Amend past away at 88 years of age and still spoke strong German and helped establish ST. Johns Lutheran Church and built several large homes which where purchased by Drake University as sorority and faternity greek houses which still stand today. Several of these large historical houses were not only his private residence at the time of Conrads death, but as each son was married their father, Conrad as a wedding gift built a new home for the newly weds. My Grandfather Arthur and Elsie were given such a gift.Conrad at one time with his sons owned a chain of grocery stores numbering 7 and a meat packing plant. The last store to close in 1980 was on Beaver Ave. run by a nephew Edward Amend who was the son of Edward, from the original family and I believe the 3rd eldest son and brother to John,Gus,George,Herman,Emma,Albert and Arthur. Edward Amend just passed away this year 2004. During the hay day period of the Amends they purchased several pieces of prime property in the downtown Des Moines area such as the location of the Ruan Center which is still standing today.
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