From Butler County Gen Web: "The History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa", Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883 Pages 677-678 - biography for Henry J Ahrens:

Henry Ahrens resides on section 30 of Pittsford Township, Butler County, Iowa. His father, Jacob Ahrens, bought the claim of this farm in 1855 where he settled. Henry came in 1856 and has lived on this farm since that time. His father died here in 1859; Jacob (Jochim H) was born in Germany in 1800 and came to the United States with his family in 1853. They emigrated to and lived at Davenport, Iowa, this State, two years before he came here to Butler Co. His wife Louisa still lives with her son. The parents of Henry had five children, two of whom are living - Henry J, subject of this story, and Elizabeth Louise, his sister, wife of George Miller, of Cedar Falls.

Mr. Henry J Ahrens was born in Germany in 1830; he was married at Davenport, to Louise Dahl, born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens have four sons - Theodore, James, William, and George and an adopted daughter, Louise. Mr. Ahrens has 400 acres of land, on which he has made all the improvements. He and his wife belong to the German Evangelical Church. (Sometimes referred to as James Ahrens)

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Found various births for Henry J: October 31, 1828, September 1829, 1839, & 1834.

Believe he came to America in 1855.

Henry married twice.

First to Louisa Dahl on December 26, 1854 at Davenport, Scott, Iowa.

Second marriage to Beate Frisch April 6, 1892 Butler County, Iowa.

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News article found in the Greene Recorder September 7, 1910: "The Ahrens boys received news Sunday forenoon that their father, Henry Ahrens, of Hayfield, had died at his home after several weeks of illness caused by stomach cancer. Henry Ahrens was 83 years old and leaves a second wife and two daughters by her and 4 sons living at his place in Butler County, IA. He formerly lived here himself and reared his family here. He came in the summer of 1854 and had been gone about 16 years. The body will be brought down Tuesday evening and the funeral will be here Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.

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Found in the 1860 - 1885 censuses at Boylans Grove, Pittsford, Butler, Iowa:

1860: Henry Ahrens 30, Louisa 31, Theadore 3, James 1, Maria Ahrens 63. Farmer from Mecklenburg, Germany

1870: Henry Ahrens, 40, Louisa 42, Theodore 14, James 11, William 9, George 9 mos, Margerite 71

1880: Henry Ahrens 51, Louisa 53, Theodore H. 23, James 21, William 19, George 10, Loeza 8, Eugene Gillet 14, Cora Gillet 7, Mary Ahrens 83, Henry Ahrens 73

1885: Henry Ahrens 56, Louisa 54, James 26, William 24, George 15, Louisa 13, Cora Jillet 12, Mary Ahrens 86, Henry Ahrens 77

Found in the 1895, 1900 censuses at Madison, Hancock, Iowa:

1895: Henry J Ahrens 61

1900: Henry Ahrens 55; Birth: Sep 1834; Birthplace: Germany; Race: White; Immigration Year 1855. Head-of-house; Father's Birthplace: Germany; Mother's Birthplace: Germany; Spouse's Name: Beate Ahrens; Marriage year: 1892

Henry Ahrens 55, Beate 49, Beata 5, Elizabeth 2, Clyde Nelson Unkn, Augest Hook 39 (Clyde and August were boarders) . Running a retail dry goods and grocery store

Found in the 1905 census at Hayfield, Madison, Hancock, Iowa with wife Beate and 2 daughters: Beate and Elizabeth

Found in the 1910 census at Madison, Hancock, Iowa: Henry Ahrens 87[81] , Beate 53, Beata 15, Elizabeth 13