Caroline Behrend Ahlers, born June 6, 1839; deceased, March 17, 1923. The funeral service was held at the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the deceased had long been a member, Tuesday afternoon, March 20 at 2 o'clock, A quartet from the Methodist choir furnished the music. The pulpit and chancel were decorated with many beautiful flowers. E.C. Erb, Hiram Howe, J.H. Jennings, Charles Brown, C.H. Meyers and Charles Steaffens acted as pallbearers. Dr. A.J. Northrup, her paster, in conducting the service, spoke feelingly and appreciatively of the devoted Christian life of Mrs. Ahlers, taking from his text, Proverbs 16:31; "The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness." Mrs. Ahlers was reared under the best of pioneer conditions. In 1854 the Ahlers family, as emigrants from New York state came up the river as far as Red Wing and settled in what was to be the Hay Creek settlement. Two years later, the Behrend family from Illinois settled in the same place. These two families were determining factors in that new community. A boy, Charles Ahlers, and a girl, Caroline Behrend, were destined to share together those influences to love each other and to become man and wife. Conditions then were indeed primitive. The horse had not yet arrived. Men used oxen, or went afoot. The elder Behrend, Caroline's father, was by nature and endowment a builder. Early in the history of the settlement, he began to erect substantial buildings. He also made machinery, notably the first thresher used in all this part of the country, the machine being constructed almost entirely of wood. He joined the Ahlers family in the conviction that religion should have place in this new empire which they were building in the wilderness. A missionary was sent for. At first, services were held one a month and in the Ahlers home. Sometimes the creek was swollen and the Methodist missionary swam the stream in order to keep the appointments. Under these conditions, Caroline and the man who was be her husband were reared. This in a measure accounts for the quiet strength, the dependable loyalty and the deep piety of Mrs. Ahlers. On Oct. 18, 1857, she was married to Charles Ahlers. During almost the whole of their married life they were residents of Red Wing. In October 1891, they transferred their membership from the German Methodist Church of Hay Creek to the First Methodist Church of Red Wing. June 1, 1898, Mr. Ahlers died. From that time until her death, a period of almost a generation, she lived on quietly a sweet spirited devoted life rich in faith and in the love of her children. She is a worthy representative of a noble company of pioneers who established the best traditions of Red Wing. There are six surviving children; Edward J. Ahlers of Stewart, Mrs. Wm. M. Meyers and A.B. Ahlers of Minneapolis, Charles J. Ahlers, Mrs. F. J. Scoville and Amelia Ahlers of Red Wing. One sister, Mrs. A. Harmenn, is still living. Mrs. Ahlers leaves ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Servant of God, well done ! They glorious warfare's past, The battle's fought, the race is won, And thou art crowned at last."