John and Phelappena, grandparents of George and Charlie, left Holland, going 
to Germany. The Achenbachs were weavers by trade. They left Germany in 1853 for 
the United Sates. The children coming with them were Jake, John, Philip, and Henry.
They settled in Illinois and farmed.
     In 1910 Charlie (b.1880) with his wife, Nellie Aymer (b.1881) Achenbach and 
their son, Aymer (b.1908), came to Hardtner to take over the Hardtner Supply Store,
as Uncle Jake wanted to retire.
     Philip Achenbach, Jake's brother, was the father of Charlie and George. In 1961
Charles and Nellie had a son, Donald. He was a prisoner in Germany during his war 
service.
     Ayner married Freda Seiger, and their three daughters were Delores, Annette, 
and Pam. He managed the store after Charlie's death in 1931. Aymer and his family 
moved to Wichita after the store was sold.
     Donald married Phebe Flowers, their home is in Salina. Their two children, a
son Grege who is a doctor in Denver, and a daughter, Ann, who with her husband Dan 
Gard and baby daughter, lives in Salina. Phebe died in 1975.
     George (b.1874) and Bessie Blackburn (b.1882) Achenbach came to Hardtner in 1912
to go into business with Charles and Nettie. George didn't like the inside work, so
in 1919 he bought a farm northwest of Hardtner. He farmed and bought and sold cattle.
     Bessie was appointed Postmistress when W.H> Dennis moved to Winfield. She served
about 15 years and retired to take care of George who was ill. He passed away in 1939. 
Bessie remained in Hardtner until her health failed. She moved the farm house to a
farm north of Alva, Oklahoma, the home of her daughter and her husband. She lived
there until her death in 1969.
     Wayne Achenbach (b.1900) was the son of George and Bessie. He married Sadie Hanson,
lived in Wichita and worked at Fourth National Bank until his death in 1972.
     Velma, George and Bessie's daughter, was born in 1902 in Illinois. She married
Archie Elmore in 1925.
     They had two children. Doris May was born in Hardtner in 1925. She married Bob 
Kimmell. They live in North Carolina. Their son Mark married Ruth Kleinecke and lives
in Oklahoma City.
     The Elmore's son, Kenneth (b.1930), married Rose Darr. Kenneth and Rose live on 
a farm north of Alva with their two children, Jim and Connie.


               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 78 
     Submitted by: Velma Elmore