Maria Sonksen was born March 30, 1872, at Langenhorn, Germany, the daughter of Anna Ingeburg Hansen and Boyd Sonksen.

Her parents came to America from Germany in 1892 bringing with them their children Jens, Maria, Katie, and Boyd, Jr.
Christina had remained in Germany. Their sons John and Ingwer had previously arrived in America in 1887.

Maria Sonksen was first married to Willy Simon in 1892. He died in 1893, leaving her with one daughter, Wilhelmine.

Maria married Henry Carl Mathias Rohr on February 16, 1895. He had been previously married to Anna Kelting who died in 1894 leaving him with two daughters, Frieda and Jessie.

Henry and Maria Rohr had two sons and seven daughters: Karl, Alma, Martha, Helene, Della, Henry, Elsa, Marie, and Lucia.

Maria died March 6, 1950, with burial in the Manning Cemetery.

Mrs. Rohr, 77, Dies at Manning
Mrs. Maria Rohr, widow of Henry Rohr, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H.C. Pahde, after a long illness. Mrs. Rohr would have been 78 years old, March 30.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

Mrs. Rohr's husband operated the Green Bay Lumber company here for many years.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Della.

Ten children survive: Mrs. Helmuth Wenzel (Frieda), Westside; Mrs. Alfred Kuhl (Jessie), Mrs. Ernest Kuhn (Wilhelmina), Karl Rohr, Mrs. Lester Rowedder (Elsie), and Mrs. Pahde (Alma), Manning; Henry Rohr, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Victor Schultz (Helen), Lytton; Mrs. Marion Lund (Lucia), Yetter, and Mrs. George Fieseler (Martha), Iowa City.

Also surviving ate 24 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two brothers, John and Jens Sonksen, both of Manning.

Mrs. Rohr was a member of the Lutheran Church.