The Reinert family photos

Through several years of researching the Reinert family, I've added several scanned photos to my library. It's time to share them for the holidays. And also to request family information on dating the photos and identifying the subjects.

If you have the original photo and the subjects are identified or the photographer's studio is named, please leave a comment or email me privately. I've given each photo a unique name to help in writing about them. I plan to add to this post frequently, to incorporate comments and add more photos. So check back often.

I have almost no photos in the Nick Reinert, Mary Gillen, and Gertrude Schandler families. Please send in your old family photos. But do include one or two of you and your family.

First posting 2013.12.03. Updated 2013.12.05, 2014.06.01 (Sr. Anne M. Reinert's information), 2018.05.24 (added photo numbers and captions), 2018.05.25-27 (reorganized by family branch, adds marriage and emigration documents, Ann McCrady's information and pictures).

Unattributed Photos

Photo 80. Family outside German home

Photo 80. "Family outside typical German home"

Estimated 1875-1895, location very likely Germany (Igel, Trier asserted). The photo was provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subjects as the Reinert home at Igel zu Trier. The building is typical to homes in small towns of western-central Germany, with an attached barn. The subjects are likely a single family, including five adults (or nearly-grown children) and five children. 

The adults are, left-to-right, female about age 32, male about age 30, female about age 26, female about age 45, and male about age 42.
The children are female about age 6, female about age 15 months, female about age 3, male about age 14, and male about age 6.

It seems unlikely the photo is only of the John Reinert family. When they emigrated in 1867, their ages were 45 (John), 42 (Katherine), 19 (Susanna), 16 (Nicolaus), almost 14 (Peter), 7 (Maria), and 26 months (Gertrude).

John Reinert's parents had died by 1867, and it's unclear who still lived in Wasserbillig, Luxembourg (John's home town). Katherine Blasius-Reinert's parents had also died by 1867, and three of her siblings had already emigrated to America. Her brother Peter was then living in Igel, married and with five children by 1867. I believe her brother Matthias was also living then in Igel, and unmarried.

Photo 110. "Military Unit"

Photo 110. Military unit

Only this identifying information available: [miltary unit], age, location, occasion, date.

• A family member  is shown, but location and identity are not known.

Photo 105. "Annie Marie Reinert-Jentzen-Stegman"

Photo 105. Annie Marie Reinert-Jentzen-Stegman

Only this identifying information available: Annie Marie Reinert-Jentzen-Stegman, age, location, occasion, date.

• Mary Reinert, a daughter of [father] and [mother], was born [date] in [location]. She is a grand-daughter of [male] and [female].

Photo 108. "Tron Matthew Stegman."

Photo 108. Tron Matthew Stegman

Only this identifying information available: Tron Matthew Stegman, age, location, occasion, date.

• Tron Matthew Stegman, a son of [father] and [mother], was born [date] in [location]. He is the husband of Anna Marie Reinert-Jentzen-Stegman, a grand-daughter of [male] and [female].

Johann Reinert and Ancestors

Photo 75a-b. "Johann Reinert Wedding Entries"

I had failed to find the wedding of Johann Reinert and Katharine Blasius in the microfilmed church registers of Igle (Katherine's home) and Wasserbillig (Johann's home). I searched through about a half dozen registers from nearby churches as well before I asked a genealogist for help in Germany. He found the civil register that documented their marriage. I was advised that more than a few births, marriages, and deaths were left out of the church registers. For only those events that occurred after about 1820, civil registers often provide another source for the documentation.

Text in German:

HEIRATSAKT Nr. 5
“Im Jahre 1847 am 5. des Monats März um 11 Uhr vormittags erschienen vor mir Josef Aldringen, Bürgermeister und Civilstandesbeamten der Bürgermeisterei Igel, Landkreis Trier, Regierungs- und Landgerichtsbezirk Trier
einerseits
JOHANN REINER gemäss vorgelegtem Geburtsakt, alt 24 Jahre, geboren zu Wasserbillig am zwölften des Monats Juni des Jahres actzehnhundertzwei-undzwanzig, Leinenweber von Stand (Beruf). Wohnhaft zu Wasserbillig, grossjähriger Sohn des PAULUS REINER, Leinenweber von Stand, wohnhaft in Wasserbillig, gegenwärtig (er ist bei der Heirat anwesend) und in die Ehe einwilligend und desse Ehefrau MARIA WEIS, ohne Stand, wohnhaft zu Wasserbillig und in die Ehe einwilligend (mit der Heirat einverstanden).
andererseits
CATHARINA BLASIUS, gemäss hier deponiertem Geburtsakt, alt zweiundzwanzig Jahre, geboren zu Igel am zwanzigsten des Monats März des Jahres Tausend achthundertvierundzwanzig (1824), ohne Stand (Beruf), wohnhaft zu Igel, grossjährige Tochter des PETER BLASIUS Ackerer (farmer) von Stand (Beruf), wohnhaft zu Igel, gestorben daselbst (Igel) gemäss hier deponierten Sterbeakten am 2. des Monats März des Jahres eintausendachthunderteinundvierzig (1841) und dessen Ehefrau SUSANNE GRIVER, ohne Stand (Beruf), wohnhaft zu Igel und in diese Ehe einwilligend.

Translation:
MARRIAGE ACT No. 5. In the year 1847 on the 5th of the month March at 11 o’clock appeared before me, Josef Aldringen, mayor and registrar of the city of Igel, county of Trier, government and state district of Trier ...
On the one side :
JOHANN REINER according to the submitted birth record, 24 years old, born in Wasserbillig on the twelfth of the month June in the year eighteen hundred twenty-two, linen weaver by profession. Resident of Wasserbillig, legally-aged son of PAULUS REINER, present and consenting to the marriage, and his wife MARIA WEIS, without profession, resident of Wasserbillig and consenting to the marriage
On the other side:
CATHARINA BLASIUS, according to the deposited birth record, twenty-two years old, born in Igel on the twentieth of the month March in the year one thousand eight hundred twenty-four (1824), without profession, resident in Igel, legal-aged daughter of PETER BLASIUS farmer by profession, resident in Igel, deceased here (Igel) according to the death record deposited here on the 2nd of the month of March in the year one thousand eight hundred forty-one (1841) and his wife SUSANNE GRIVER, without profession, resident in Igel and consenting to the marriage


Page two:

[Text: Es geht um die Eheverkündigung, Aushang und die Erklärung der Verheiratung.]
Zeugen: Keine verwandten der Brautleute.
Die Mutter der Braut und des Bräutigams
erklärten, dass sie nicht unterschreiben
können, weil sie es nicht gelernt haben.
Unterschriften: JOHANN REINER
Pauls reiner ´´
Katharina Blasius

"Dealing with the publication of the marriage, the Aushang, and the declarations of marriage.) [With this summary, Gall dispenses with seven lines at the bottom of page 1 and all of page 2 except for the signatures at the bottom. -tgk]

Witnesses: None related to the couple. The mothers of the bride and groom declare that they cannot sign the document because they have not learned to write.
Signatures: JOHANN REINER [he does not write Reinert], Pauls reiner [he does not write Reinert],
Katharina Blasius .

Photo 76, "Johann Reinert Entlassungs-Urkunde"

Photo 76. Johann Reinert family Entlassungs-Urkunde

This document allowed the Johann Reinert family to emigrate 1867 from Igel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.

Susanna Reinert-Kohn and Descendants

Nicholas Reinert (Maria Simeon) and Descendants

I have almost no photos in the Nick Reinert, Mary Gillen, and Gertrude Schandler families. Please send in your old family photos. But do include one or two of you and your family.

Photo 111. Margie Engelbert

Photo 111. Margie Engelbert

Margaret Reinert-Engelbert (1922-1997), married to William H. Engelbert. She was the primary compiler of The Reinert and Simeon Family.

• Margaret Reinert, a daughter of John Peter Reinert (1884-1966) and Mary Rohlman (1885-1971), was born 28 Aug 1922 in [location]. She married William H. Engelbert (b. 27 Oct 1927) 11 May 1948 in Mitchell county KS. She died 22 Apr 1994 in [location]. She is a grand-daughter of Nicholas Reinert (1851-1933) and Mary Simeon (1861-1960).

Photo 109. "Anna Genevieve Strauss." 

Photo 109. Anna Genevieve Strauss.

Only this identifying information available: Anna Genevieve Strauss, age, location, occasion, date.  Is she in uniform? Date about 1940?

• Anna Genevieve Strauss is the wife of Leo J. Reinert (1909-2001). Her parents are [father, dates] and [mother, dates]. She was born 20 Feb 1917 in Pueblo, Pueblo county CO, and she married Leo 5 Jul 1936 in Denver, Denver county CO. She died 2 May 1991 in Mesa, Maricopa county AZ, and was buried [date] in Northglenn, Adams county CO.

Photo 104. "Leona Reinert-Kogovsek"

Photo 104. Leona Kogovsek-Reinert

Only this identifying information available: Leona Reinert-Kogovsek, age, location, occasion, date.

• Leona Ann Reinert, a daughter of Leo J. Reinert (1909-2001) and Anna Genevieve Strauss (1917-1991), was born 1937 in [location]. She married Frank A Kogovsek (b.1939) 28 Nov 1970 in [location]. She is a grand-daughter of Nicholas Reinert (1851-1933) and Mary Simeon (1861-1960).

Photo 106. "Mary Louise Reinert"

Photo 106. Mary Reinert, date

Only this identifying information available: Mary Louise Reinert, age, location, occasion, date.

• Mary Louise Reinert, a daughter of Leo J. Reinert (1909-2001) and Anna Genevieve Strauss (1917-1991), was born 28 Oct 1937 in [location]. She joined the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Ohio on 8 Sep 1958, and was released from vows Jun 1968. She married Eugene Hansen (b.abt 1935) 9 Sep 1969 in [location]. She is a grand-daughter of Nicholas Reinert (1851-1933) and Mary Simeon (1861-1960).

Photo 107. "Theresa Agnes Reinert"

Photo 107. Thesea Agnes Reinert

Only this identifying information available: Theresa Agnes Reinert, age, location, occasion, date.

• Theresa Agnes Reinert, a daughter of Leo J. Reinert (1909-2001) and Anna Genevieve Strauss (1917-1991), was born 6 May 1944 in Pueblo, Pueblo county CO. She is a grand-daughter of Nicholas Reinert (1851-1933) and Mary Simeon (1861-1960).

Peter Reinert (Catherine Schwinden) and Descendants

I have relatively few photos in the Peter Reinert family. Please send in your old family photos. But do include one or two of you and your family.

Photo 77. Three young women

Photo 77. "Three young women"

Estimated 1899-1905, location unknown (perhaps Germany). This photo was provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subjects as Barbara Mertake, Kätherlina Reinert, and Mary Catherine Reinert. Two colleagues and I estimated their ages as 22, 12, and 17 for Barbara; 24, 32, and 22 for Kätherlina; and 18, 13, and 19 for Mary Catherine.

My data does not include the Mertake family, nor a Reinert woman with the nickname Kätherline.

A known Mary Catherine Reinert was born 21 Jan 1886, the daughter of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert. She married Thomas Thummel at age 19 on 30 August 1905 in St. Boniface church of Tipton, relocated from the Tipton area to Seguin KS in 1906, and died 1 January 1955. No visits to Germany are known.

• Questions:

• Who is Barbara Mertake?
• Who is Kätherline (Ketterlina) Reinert?
• Where was this photo taken?
• Does the original photo provide the photographer or studio name?

Photo 81. Two girls, first communion

Photo 81. "Two girls, first communion"

Estimated 1906-1907. Photo provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subject in the right as Margaret Reinert (married name Neff) at Cawker City, Kansas. The girl on the left is unknown.

Left subject unknown, estimated age 11 years.

Right subject Margaret Reinert-Neff, estimated age 8 years. Margaret was the tenth child of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert (the eighth to survive past infancy). She was born 26 August 1898, married Florentz Neff on 25 August 1925, and died on 4 December 1967.

• Questions:

• Are both girls celebrating the first communion? If yes, why do they have different signifiers of the event (on the left, a white veil with floral wreath, prayer book, and rosary; on the right, a lit candle with handkerchief, no veil)?
• Is the older girl a sister, perhaps Gertrude (born 1896) or Anna Catherine (born 1894)?
• Does the original photo provide the photographer or studio name?

Photos 82a and 82b. "Six brothers"

Estimated date 1911-1915, a formal studio photo of the sons of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert. I have two scans of the same photo, the top from Patricia Thummel, the bottom from Sr. Anne Martin Reinert. The subjects are identified by Sr. Anne:

Photo 82a. Six brothers

Back row, left to right

• Henry (Henry Nicholas) Reinert, 1892-1970. Henry was the 7th child (5th to survive infancy). He married Anna Arendt on 8 September 1920 in UNKNOWN LOCATION, and had 7 children. Age estimates of 24, 17, and 22.

• Ted (Theodore Mathias) Reinert, 1901-1987. Ted was the 12th child (9th to survive infancy). He married Anna Geerdes on 24 April 1929 in Seguin KS, and had 9 children. Age estimates of 14, 15, and 16.

• Will (William Joseph) Reinert, 1883-1982. Will was the 3rd child (first to survive infancy). He married Barbara Deges on 16 April 1912 in UNKNOWN LOCATION, and had 8 children. Age estimates of 21, 22, and 54.

Photo 82b. Six brothers

Front row, left to right

• Doc (Gervase Thomas) Reinert, 1906-1981. Gervase was the 14th and youngest child (11th to survive infancy). He married Ruth Smith on 1 October 1938 in Omaha NE, and had one child. His adult nickname was "Doc." Age estimates of 11, 11, and 12.

• Carl (Carl Mathias) Reinert, 1889-1965. Carl was the 6th child (4th to survive infancy). He married Bertha Holdforth on 6 May 1914 in UNKNOWN LOCATION, and had 8 children. Age estimates of 28, 19, and 33.

• Alex (Alex Gregory) Reinert, 1904-1939. Alex was the 13th child (10th to survive infancy), and he would die at age 35, unmarried. Age estimates of 8, 7, and 9.

• Questions:

• Were all the brothers together to celebrate some specific event?
• Are any other nicknames used?
• Can any locations for marriages be corrected?

Photo 83. "Grandmother Catherine, daughter, grandson, and son"

Photo 83. Grandmother Catherine,
daughter, grandson, and son

Estimated date: perhaps 1939. The photo comes from Patricia Thummel, who identifies the subjects.

• Gertrude Hubertine Reinert (1896-1991) at screen door.

• Grandma Catherine Schwinden-Reinert (1860-1940). Her husband Peter had died in 1934.

• Gerald Reinert (1932-1982). He married Joan Sullivan on 8 June 1955 in UNKNOWN LOCATION, and had 5 children.

• Carl Reinert (1889-1965). He married Bertha Holdforth on 6 May 1914 in UNKNOWN LOCATION, and had 8 children. 

Sr. Anne M. Reinert commented, "I think Carl and Gerald came for Uncle Shorty's (Alex Gregory Reinert, 1904-1939) funeral. The house is the one grandpa Peter and sons built when they moved to Seguin. (The lumber to build the house was shipped by rail from the St. Louis fair.) I have forgotten the spelling of Shorty's name."

• Questions:

• Where are Carl's other seven children?
• Who likely took the photo?
• Was the smock typical for Grandma Catherine?
• Location of this setting?

Photo 84. "Five members of the older generation"

Photo 84. Five members of the older generation

Estimated date: TBD. Patricia Thummel provided the photo, and she identified the subjects.

• Peter Reinert

• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Maria Simeon-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Nicholas Reinert or Steven Schandler

• Perhaps Mary Reinert-Schandler

Photo 85. "Wedding party, bride and groom seated"

Photo 85. Wedding party, bride and groom seated

The men appear to be Will and Carl Reinert. I presume the seated couple are the groom and bride. Date? Location? Photographer?

• Groom identity
• Bride identity
• Bridesmaid identity
• Best man identity

Photo 86. "Farm family of parents and seven children"

Photo 86. Farm family of parents and seven children

Date? Occasion? Identities of people?

• Boy, about 11
• Girl, about 16
• Peter Reinert?
• Boy, about 15
• Girl, about 2
• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert?
• Girl, about 18
• Girl, about 8
• Baby or doll?

Photo 87. "Group at the veranda"

Photo 87. Group at the veranda

The family data compiled by Margie Reinert-Engelbert has this description: "Grandpa Peter Reinert and Grandpa Wilhelm Schwinden on the porch, East side of the house - Grandma Schwlnden next to Catherine Reinert just off the porch."

Date? Occasion? Identities of all people?

• Man, Peter Reinert?
• Man, Wilhelm Schwinden
• Woman
• Female child
• Woman, Catherine Schwinden-Reinert
• Woman
• Female child
• Woman
• Man
• Woman
• Woman
• Boy
• Baby
• Man
• Woman
• Boy
• Woman
• Man
• Boy

Photo 88. "Gervase and Alex Reinert, 1909"

Photo 88. Gervase and Alex Reinert, 1909

April 1909, the two youngest boys of Peter Reinert's family. Occasion?

Gervase Thomas (left) was born 16 Jan 1906, and Alex was born 1 Oct 1904.

Photo 89. "Gervase and Ruth Reinert"

Photo 89. Gervase and Ruth Reinert

Date? Location? Occasion?

Photo 90. "Wedding of Ted Reinert and Anna Geerdes, 1929"

Photo 90. Wedding of Ted Reinert and Anna Geerdes, 1929

At the wedding of Ted Reinert and Anna Geerdes (front), the witnesses were John Geerdes and Gertrude Reinert (back). The wedding occurred on 24 April 1929 at St. Martin Catholic church, Seguin, Sheridan county, Kansas. (The names are corroborated by a photo and text sent by Ann McCrady.)

Any other detail available?

Photo 91. "Communion of Ted and Margaret Reinert"

Photo 91. Communion of Ted and Margaret Reinert

Date? Location?

Photo 92. "Wedding portrait of Tony Feldt and Anna Reinert"

Photo 92. Wedding portrait of Tony Feldt and Anna Reinert, 1919

Formal wedding portrait of Tony (Anton George) Feldt (1890-1973) and Anna (Anna Catherine) Reinert, 1894-1966). The witnesses were Tony's brother Henry Feldt (dates estimated 1885-1975) and Anna's sister Gertrude (Gertrude Hubertine) Reinert, 1896-1991. (The names are corroborated by a photo and text sent by Ann McCrady.)

The wedding occurred 27 May 1919 in Seguin, Sheridan county, Kansas.

Other detail available?

Their marriage certificate, written in German, reads:"Memorial of the blessed sacrament of marriage. In the year 1919, the 27th May, in the St. Merntius' Church of Seguin, Kansas, received the Blessed Sacrament of Marriage Anton G. Feldt and Anna Cath. Reinert. Witness: Heinrich Feldt and Gertrud Reinert." (The original certificate is owned by Audrey Danner.)

Photo 93. "Margaret Reinert-Neff"

Photo 93. Margaret Reinert-Neff

Year? Does this portrait mark an occasion?

Photo 58. "Peter Reinert family, 1929?"

Photo 58. "Peter Reinert family, 1929?" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 59. "Reinert 50th Group"

Photo 59. "Reinert 50th Group" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 60. "Peter Reinert home, rear, 1906"

Photo 60. "Peter Reinert home, rear, 1906" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 61. "Peter Reinert home, front, 1906"

Photo 61. "Peter Reinert home, front, 1906" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 62. "Catherine Schwinden-Reinert Portrait, 1929"

Photo 62. "Catherine Schwinden-Reinert Portrait, 1929" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 63. "Peter Reinert Portrait, 1929"

Photo 63. "Peter Reinert Portrait, 1929" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 64. "Reinert Family Portrait, 1893"

Photo 64. "Reinert Family Portrait, 1893" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 65. "Reinert Family Portrait, 1901"

Photo 65. "Reinert Family Portrait, 1901" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 66. "Catherine Schwinden-Reinert Portrait, 1929"

Photo 66. "Catherine Schwinden-Reinert Portrait, 1929" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 67. "Peter Reinert Portrait, 1929"

Photo 67. "Peter Reinert Portrait, 1929" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 68. "Reinert-Arendt Wedding Portrait, 1920"

Photo 68. "Reinert-Arendt Wedding Portrait, 1920" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 69. "Eleven Family Portrait, 1939"

Photo 69. "Eleven Family Portrait, 1939" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 70. "Reinert-Holdforth Wedding Portrait, 1914"

Photo 70. "Reinert-Holdforth Wedding Portrait, 1914" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 71. "Reinert-Smith Wedding Portrait, 1938"

Photo 71. "Reinert-Smith Wedding Portrait, 1938" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 72. "Reinert-Geerdes Wedding Portrait, 1929"

Photo 72. "Reinert-Geerdes Wedding Portrait, 1929" Photograph provided by Ann McCrady.

Photo 73. "Neff-Reinert Wedding Portrait, 1925"

Neff-Reinert Wedding Portrait, 1925

Photo 94. "Tony Feldt family"

Photo 94. Tony Feldt family, about 1948.

Formal portrait of the Tony Feldt family, about 1948. Does this portrait mark an occasion, perhaps the 50th wedding anniversary? Tony Feldt and Anna Catherine Reinert were married 27 May 1919 at St. Martin Church, Seguin, Sheridan county KS.

Front row, left to right:

• Butch (Anthony Laurence) Feldt. He was born 17 Jul 1934 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; and married Mary Ann Rupp 30 Apr 1957 in Grainfield, Gove county KS. 

• Tony (Anton George) Feldt. He was born 6 Sep 1890 in Sheridan county KS; [no baptism information]; died 29 Mar 1973 in Quinter, Gove county KS; and buried [no date] in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Park, Gove county KS. His parents were John Albert Feldt (est 1865-1930) and Anna Marie Schulte (est 1865-1940).

• Anna Catherine Reinert-Feldt. She was born 19 Apr 1894 in Bloom township, Osborne county KS; [no baptism information]; died 5 Dec 1966 in an auto accident in Salina, Saline county KS; and buried [no date] in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Park, Gove county KS. Her parents were Peter Reinert VII (1853-1934) and Catherine Schwinden (1860-1940).

• Bette (Elizabeth Veronica) Feldt. She was born 25 Oct 1930 in [location]; baptized [date] in [location]; and married LeRoy Richard Younger 5 May 1951 in Sacred Heart Church, Park, Gove county KS.

• Jerome (Jerome Bernard) Feldt. He was born 6 Aug 1920 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; married Elizabeth Czizck 30 Dec 1950 at the Post chapel, Fort Snelling MN; died 13 Oct 1965 in Griffen, [county] GA; and buried [date] in Union Civil War Cemetery, Marietta, [county] GA.

Photo 94. Tony Feldt family, about 1948.

Back row:

• Cletus (? Cletus Nicholas) Feldt. He was born 30 Jul 1932 in [location]; baptized [date] in [location]; married Lois Esther Donovan 16 Jul 1955 in Grinnell, Gove county KS; died 21 Nov 2008 in [location]; and buried 25 Nov 2008 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Park, Gove county KS.

• Teresa (Teresa Catherine) Feldt. She was born 21 Oct 1924 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; married Frederick Benton 1 May 1946 in Sacred Heart Church, Park, Gove county KS; died 8 May 2008 in [location]; and buried [date] in [location].

• Anna Marie Feldt. She was born 17 Apr 1922 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; married Frank Herman Huelsman 28 Oct 1941 in Sacred Heart Church, Park, Gove county KS; died 9 Jun 1998 in Hays, Ellis county KS; and buried [date] in [location].

• Jack (? John Albert) Feldt. He was born 13 Apr 1926 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; married Margaret Ann Beyer 10 Apr 1950 in St. Joseph of Myra Church on 10 Apr 1950; died 1 Jan 1999 in [location]; and buried [date] in [location].

• Pete (? Peter Anton) Feldt. He was born 15 Jan 1928 in [location]; baptized [date] in [location]; and married Margaret L Stithem 16 Apr 1953 in Wakeeney, Trego county KS.

• Norb (Norbert Gerhard) Feldt. He was born 22 May 1929 in Park, Gove county KS; baptized [date] in [location]; and married Louise Goetz 15 May 1951 in Sacred Heart Church, Park, Gove county KS.

[The identification was by Ann Younger-McCrady, who said, "I didn't have this picture, so I'm just guessing on the some of the boys based on their ages/birth order.  I pulled out a binder that my mom created for me with family photos thinking that this one may be included.  It isn't, but I do have copies of a number of other photos that you have with a list of the people below each picture."]

The family data compiled by Margaret Reinert-Engelbert includes this narrative: "Anton Feldt and Anna Catherine Reinert were married May 26, 1919 in Seguin, Kansas. They moved onto the farm one mile west of Park, where his parents had lived. [This implies his parents had died or retired by 1919. Can this be corroborated or refuted?] They had six sons; Jerome, John. Peter, Norbert, Cletus and Anthony. Their three daughters were Anna Marie Huelsman, Teresa Benton and Elizabeth Younger.

"Anna and Tony were involved with the Red Cross, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society and Knights of Columbus. Anna was kept busy raising her family and helping the boys with chores. She loved being on the farm and did not want to move to town, into their nearly completed new home. When she died in a car accident December 5, 1966; she did not have to move to town."

Photo 74. "Schuetz-Reinert Wedding, 1915"

Photo 74. Schuetz-Reinert wedding portrait, 1915

Schuetz-Reinert Wedding. The photograph was provided by Ann McCrady. From left:

• Margaret Reinert
• John Gillen
• Mathias Schuetz (groom)
• Henry Reinert
• Elizabeth Reinert (bride)
• "Palh (from Tipton)"

Photo 95. "Mathias Schuetz family, 1940"

Mathias Schuetz family, 1940

Formal portrait of the Mathias and Elizabeth Schuetz family, 31 July 1940. Does this portrait mark an occasion, perhaps an anniversary?

Back row, from left:

• Isabelle (Isabelle Catherine Schuetz-Peltier, 1917-2000?)
• Henrietta (Henrietta Margaret Schuetz-LaBarge, 1918-2000?)
• Bernard (Bernard Nicholas Schuetz, 1925-2011?)
• Raymond (Raymond William, 1919-2000?)
• Pauline (Pauline Helen Schuetz-Perkins, b. 1921)
• Asella (Asella Marie Schuetz-Lindstrom, b. 1922).

Foreground:

• Mathias Schuetz (1883-1968)
• Josephine (Josephine Ann Schuetz-Goscha, b. 1927)
• Elizabeth (Elizabeth Susanna Reinert-Schuetz, 1887-1981). 

One child died in infancy (Robert Mathias Schuetz, 1931-1931).

Photo 96. "Henry Reinert family, 1945"

Photo 96. Henry Reinert family, 1945

Formal portrait of the Henry Reinert family, 1945. Does this portrait mark an occasion, perhaps an anniversary?

Rear, left to right:

• Vincent (Vincent Leo, 1929-1997)
• Sr. Dorothy Ann (Esther, 1921-1995)
• Francis (Frank Robert, 1926-1996)
• Eldean (Eldean Marie Reinert-Cahoj, b. 1932).

Front:

• Toots (Virginia Elizabeth Reinert-McMahon, b. 1934)
• Aunt Anna (Anna Catherine Arendt, 1896-1945)
• Uncle Henry (Henry Nicholas, 1892-1970)
• Bob (Henry Robert, b. 1936).

Pete (Peter Aloysius, 1923-1972) was in the service, but the family could not wait to take a family picture till he came home, because Aunt Annie was dying of polycystic kidney disease. The plan was to insert Pete when he returned home.

Photo 75. "Douglas Moore, Jr."

Douglas Moore married Marie Diane Reinert.

• Marie Diane Reinert is the daughter of Peter Aloysius Reinert (1923-1972) and Dorothy Rose Kogl (1932-). Marie was born 24 Jun 1954 in Atwood, Rawlins county KS. She is a great-grand-daughter of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert.
  
  She married Richard Alan Braasch (1952-1990)  21 Sep 1974 in [location].
  
  She married Doug [date] in [location]. She died 27 Oct 2004 in Salina, Saline county KS, and she was buried 30 Oct 2004 in St. Thomas cemetery, Stockton, Rooks county KS.

• Douglas A. Moore is the son of [father, dates] and [mother, dates]. He was born 1 Dec 1947 in Mobile AL, died 13 Aug 2013 in Salina, Saline county KS, and was buried 17 Aug in Gypsum Hill cemetery, Salina, Saline county KS.

Photo 97. "Peter Reinert Family"

Photo 97. Peter Reinert family

Date? Location? Photographer? Occasion?

Front row (left to right):

• Female
• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert
• Male
• Peter Reinert

Middle row:

• Male
• Female
• Male
• Female

Back row:

• Male
• Female
• Male
• Male
• Female

Photo 98. "Peter and Catherine Reinert with Family on Fiftieth Anniversary."

Photo 98. Peter and Catherine Reinert
with family on 50th anniversary

Left to right:

• male
• male
• male
• Peter Reinert
• male
• female
• female
• male
• female
• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert
• male
• female
• female

Photo 99. "Full Peter Reinert Family at their 50th Anniversary."

Photo 99. Full Peter Reinert Family at their 50th Anniversary

An undated list of identities exists, which was likely prepared for Margie Reinert-Engelbert's family data The Reinert and Simeon Family. Nick Reinert of Lincoln NE provided additional names and detail, which I've added in red text.  

Peter & Catherine's 50th Anniversary Sept. 1929

Left to Right, Front to Back (age, father) Description

Front Row Left Side
1. Catherine Thummel (17, Beiker) arm on #2
2. Isabelle C. Schuetz (12, Peltier)
3. Catherine Reinert (ll, Carl) cross-legged, big white collar
4. Henrietta Schuetz (11) 4th girl on ground
5. Henry Reinert (6, Carl) boy with loud socks
6. Pete Reinert (6, Henry)
7. Frank Reinert (3, Henry)
8. Crescentia Reinert (3, Ann Uram) girl rubbing eye
9. Bernard Schuetz (4) scratching lip
10. girl
11. Fred Reinert (13, Carl) 1st boy on ground
12. Walter Thummel (13) 2nd boy on ground
13. Lawrence Thummel (15) 3rd boy on ground
14. Felix (Pete) Thummel (20) 4th boy on ground

Second Row Left Side
1. Barbara Hake, From Tipton? Maggie Gillen Lady behind Catherine Thummel
2. Nick Reinert, From Tipton? Man with big mustache
3. Mary Reinert, From Tipton? Lady next to first angel (girl) Nauer - Peter Reinert's sister
4. Teresa (Feldt) Benton (5) 1st girl
5. Asella Schuetz (7, Mathias ) 2nd girl
6. Pauline Schuetz (8, Mathias) 3rd girl
7. Peter Reinert (76) Great Grandpa
8. Catherine Reinert (69) Great Grandma
9. Anna Marie (Feldt) Huelsman (7) 4th girl
10. Ester (Sister Dorothy Ann) (9) 5th girl
11. Christina Reinert (9, Carl's daughter) 6th girl
12. 1st lady sitting
13. Mary Gillen (69, Carl's daughter Peter's sister) 2nd lady sitting
14. Margaret Greiner (Catherine's Sister) 3rd lady w/scalloped collar
15. Geerdes (Ann Reinert's Mother/Sister) Lady standing to far side, behind last boy Rose Rietchect Anna Reinert's sister

3rd Row Left Side
1. Cecilia Reinert (14,Carl's daughter) Girl w/1ong necktie
2. Rose Arendt (Ann Reinert's sister) Girl in light colored dress
3. Gervase Reinert (23) Doc
4. Mrs. Henry Reinert (33, Anna) With glasses
5. Mary Thummel (43) With necktie/scarf
6. Will Reinert (46) Between Peter & Catherine
7. Jerome Feldt (9) 1st boy w/nice hair
8. Wendell Thummel (10) 2nd boy
9. Ray Schuetz (10) 3rd boy
10. Katherine (Kohn) Gasper (Susanna (Reinert) Kohn's daughter)
11. ? Mary Thummel Lutgen, Lady w/square neck collar, behind Mrs. Gillen
12. Mrs. Holdforth (Bertha's Mother) Lady in front of baby

4th row left side
1. William Reinert (1) Child
2. Carl Reinert (40)
3. Alex Reinert (25)
4. Anna (Geerdes) Reinert (25,Ted's Wife) Behind Gervase
5. Ted Reinert (28)
6. Henry Reinert (37) With glasses
7. Clementine Reinert Baalman? (Tony Feldt's sister) Girl between Mary & Will
8. Margaret Neff (31) Behind Will's shoulder w/g1asses
9. Florentz Neff (30)
10. Gertrude Reinert (33)
11. Josephine Schuetz (2) Baby
12. Elizabeth Schuetz (42)
13. Anna Feldt (33)
14. Mrs. Mannebach (Joe's mother) Shorter lady behind women
15. ? Lady next to man w/baby, in front of blond haired man
16. Anton (Tony) Feldt (39) Man w/baby
17. Peter Feldt (1) Baby

5th Row Left Side
1. Bertha (Hodforth) Reinert (39, Carl's wife) Gir1 behind Alex
2. John Feldt (Tony's dad) Man w/hat on
3. ? Ho1dforth (Bertha's brother) Man between Ted & Henry
4. Phil Gaspar, Man w/moustache, corner of house
5. Felix Reitcheck?, Man w/necktie
6. Man w/hat on, in front of window
7. William Thumme1 (23) Face behind Will & Margaret
8. Henry Geerdes, Sr., Man w/white driving hat
9. Matt Schuetz (46) Tall man at left edge of porch
10. Mrs. John Feldt? ("She wore her hair like that"), Lady's head behind E1iz. & baby
11. Tall man w/center part
12. George Geerdes (Ann Reinert's brother) Man w/moustache (Rhett Butler?)
13. Pete Feldt, ("He always wore a hat") Dark man in hat
14. Pete Lutgen, Man w/white hair & moustache

Photo 100. "William and Barbara Reinert at their Golden Jubilee" 

Photo 100. William and Barbara Reinert
at their Golden Jubilee

Left to right:

• Dr. Gervase Reinert
• Margaret
• Theodore Reinert
• Gertrude
• William
• Anna
• Henry
• Elizabeth
• Carl

Photo 101. "Peter Reinert and son William in the General Store"

Photo 101. Peter Reinert and son William
in the General Store

Seguin KS. Year? More detail about the General Store?

Photo 102. "Peter Reinert family when departing farm in Tipton area"

Photo 102. Peter Reinert family
when departing farm in Tipton area

No identifying information available: for example, date, building purposes, where are other children, size of home interior, type of farming done.  Left to right:

• Peter Reinert
• daughter
• son
• horse
• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert
• child
• boy
• horse
• Who is operating the camera?

Photo 103a-f. "John Vernon Reinert."

Photo 103b. John Vernon Reinert, 1968

Photo 103b. No further identifying information available: John Vernon Reinert, age 6, location, occasion, 1968. 

• John Vernon Reinert, son of Vincent Leo Reinert (1929-1997) and Lorene Heim (1931-), was born 1 Mar 1962 in [location unknown]. He has seven brothers and sisters. He is a great-grandson of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert.

Photo 103c. John Vernon Reinert, 1991

Photo 103c. No further identifying information available: John Vernon Reinert, age 29, location, occasion, 1991.

Photo 103f. John Vernon Reinert, date

Photo 103f. No further identifying information available: John Vernon Reinert, age [about 7], location, occasion, 2002-2004.

Photo 112. Sr Anne Martin Reinert

Sr. Anne Martin Reinert

Sr. Anne Martin Reinert (Irene Katherine Reinert, b. 1931) informal portrait about 1997, location?, occasion?.

• Mary Reinert, a daughter of Theodore Mathias Reinert (1909-1987) and Anna Geerdes (1904-2007), was born 13 Aug 1931 in Seguin, Sheridan county KS. The Sisters of St. Joseph received her final vows 19 Mar 1951 in Nazareth Motherhouse, Concordia, Cloud county KS [?]. She is a grand-daughter of Peter Reinert and Catherine Schwinden-Reinert.

Mary Reinert-Gillen (John) and Descendants

I have almost no photos in the Nick Reinert, Mary Gillen, and Gertrude Schandler families. Please send in your old family photos. But do include one or two of you and your family.

Photo 79. Two young women, empty chair

Photo 79. "Two young women, empty chair"

Estimated 1875-1883, location uncertain (Germany asserted). The photo was provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subjects as Mary Reinert and Gertrude Reinert. Two colleagues and I estimated their ages as 16,15, and 17 for Mary; 15, 16, and 19 for Gertrude.

Mary Reinert-Gillen was born 27 January 1860, emigrated at age 7 from Germany 9 February 1867, settled in Caledonia MN 1867-1872, resettled to Tipton KS area Autumn 1872 (age 12), married 24 April 1887 (age 20), and died 26 July 1939 (age 79).

Gertrude Reinert-Schandler was born 9 December 1864, emigrated from Germany at age 2 on 9 February 1867, settled in Caledonia MN 1867-1872, resettled to Tipton KS area Autumn 1872 (age 8), married 26 January 1887 (age 22), and died 24 September 1913 (age 49).

• Questions:

• Does the empty chair signify some fact?
• Do the braids indicate some aspect, perhaps unmarried and not engaged?
• Does the original photo provide the photographer or studio name?
• Do clothing styles indicate some facts?

Photo 78. Two young women, flower sprigs

Photo 78. "Two young women, flower sprigs"

Estimated 1880-1902, location unknown (Trier, Germany noted). This photo was provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subjects as Mary Reinert with a relative. Two colleagues and I estimated their ages as 20, 42, and 32 for Mary and 16, 15, 15 for the relative.

Mary Reinert-Gillen was born 27 January 1860, emigrated at age 7 from Germany 9 February 1867, settled in Caledonia MN 1867-1872, resettled to Tipton KS area Autumn 1872 (age 12), married 24 April 1887 (age 20), and died 26 July 1939.

No visits to Germany are known.

• Questions:

• Do the flower sprigs in their left hands signify some event?
• Who is the relative?
• Does the relative's pose, holding to Mary's arm, indicate a weakness or need for support?
• Does the original photo provide more text at the bottom than “Photogr TRIER”?

 

Photo 84. Five members of the older generation

Photo 84. "Five members of the older generation"

Estimated date: TBD. Patricia Thummel provided the photo, and she identified the subjects.

• Peter Reinert

• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Maria Simeon-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Nicholas Reinert or Steven Schandler

• Perhaps Mary Reinert-Schandler

Gertrude Reinert-Schandler (Stephen) and Descendants

I have almost no photos in the Nick Reinert, Mary Gillen, and Gertrude Schandler families. Please send in your old family photos. But do include one or two of you and your family.

Photo 79. Two young women, empty chair

Photo 79. "Two young women, empty chair"

Estimated 1875-1883, location uncertain (Germany asserted). The photo was provided by Patricia Thummel, who identified the subjects as Mary Reinert and Gertrude Reinert. Two colleagues and I estimated their ages as 16,15, and 17 for Mary; 15, 16, and 19 for Gertrude.

Mary Reinert-Gillen was born 27 January 1860, emigrated at age 7 from Germany 9 February 1867, settled in Caledonia MN 1867-1872, resettled to Tipton KS area Autumn 1872 (age 12), married 24 April 1887 (age 20), and died 26 July 1939 (age 79).

Gertrude Reinert-Schandler was born 9 December 1864, emigrated from Germany at age 2 on 9 February 1867, settled in Caledonia MN 1867-1872, resettled to Tipton KS area Autumn 1872 (age 8), married 26 January 1887 (age 22), and died 24 September 1913 (age 49).

• Questions:

• Does the empty chair signify some fact?
• Do the braids indicate some aspect, perhaps unmarried and not engaged?
• Does the original photo provide the photographer or studio name?
• Do clothing styles indicate some facts?

Photo 84. Five members of the older generation

Photo 84. "Five members of the older generation"

Estimated date: TBD. Patricia Thummel provided the photo, and she identified the subjects.

• Peter Reinert

• Catherine Schwinden-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Maria Simeon-Reinert

• Unknown, perhaps Nicholas Reinert or Steven Schandler

• Perhaps Mary Reinert-Schandler

 Photo 110
[No photo at present.]

The John M. Kohn family photos

Yesterday, I received two family photos from my 3rd cousin-once-removed Barbara Schuh. Her father Robert Schuh received them from his godmother Marie Irsch.

The family is the John M. Kohn family, my great grandfather. He was born 1839 in Wasserliesch, Germany; his wife is Susanna Reinert, who was born 1848 in Igel, Germany. These two towns are across from each other on the Mosel River, a few miles upstream from Trier. The couple likely knew each other in Germany before they emigrated—he in 1865 and she in 1867, and they lived 30 miles from each other in Minnesota and Wisconsin from 1867-1872. John M. followed Susanna when she moved with her mother and siblings to Kansas. They married at Waconda, Kansas in 1874.

This photo was taken about September 1881 to June 1882. Susanna likely was pregnant with her 5th child (the 4th child to live through infancy). The children in the front row are Mike J. (born 1879), Peter (born 1877), and Katie (born 1881) . The family had moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin in late 1880--the couple and two sons were in the June 1880 census of Kansas, their daughter Katie was born January 1881 in La Crosse.

This photo was taken about 1887-1889. The children (left to right: Katie (born 1881), Mike J. (born 1879). Ben (seated, born 1884), Peter (born 1877), and Annie (born 1882)) have recently experienced the death of their youngest brother Joseph (born March 1886, died November 1886) and mother (died August 1887). John M. and family moved to a farm near Cawker City, Kansas in 1887 or 1888.









 

Only a guess, but this photo comes from about 1890, when Katie was about nine years old. Annie was eight in that year, so the other girl seems a bit small to be Annie.

This photo must come from about 1904. The family moved to a livestock farm in Bloom township, Osborne county, Kansas after they resettled from La Crosse. The youngest boy, Ben (left) was born 1884 and appears to be ten to twelve years old here. The two sisters Katie and Annie would be about twelve to sixteen. The older boy, either Peter or Mike J., would be in his late teens. The photographer is likely the other older boy. The father John M. (1839-1919) lived on the farm until his death at age 80.



Other researchers also document some of the family.

• Peter Kohn (1875-1941) married Elizabeth Ottley (1880-1947) and had a family of 7 children (a sixth child did not survive infancy).
• Mike J. Kohn (1879-1965) married Louise Ohnsat (1875-1959) and had a family of 8 children (two others did not survive infancy).
• Katie Kohn (1881-1955) married Phillip Gasper (1877-1964) and had a family of 8 children (a 9th child did not survive infancy).
• Annie Kohn (1882-1956) married Frank Streit (1881-1951) and had a family of 10 (an 11th did not survive to childhood).
• Ben Kohn (1884-1955) married Barbara Streit (1887-1974) and had a family of 9.

• The two deceased infants were John Nicholas (1875-1875) and Joseph (1886-1886).

Finding the correct town and parish for your German ancestors

For the genealogist, it's easy to get bogged down in adding information from family births, marriages, and deaths among the many cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Usually a family member who knows of your interest sends a note that Uncle Junior has died. It's up to you to find the obituary and document the date and location for the death and burial, corroborate what you already know with the list of survivors and the biographic details.

But keeping track of your contemporaries isn't really enough. You know that a dedicated family researcher goes back toward the beginnings of the family. And often seeks information about parents and siblings of those who have married into the family.

At some point, the family researcher comes to the first immigrant from another country. The research becomes multi-national and usually multi-lingual. That jump across the ocean gets harder and harder for each generation removed from the immigrant. More to the point, it's more difficult to find the town that a family member emigrated from.

Accumulated research can turn up information about the other country in several locations.

• Civil records (birth, marriage, divorce, or death) that name the parents or spouse and identify the person's home
• Civil records for an immigrant that identify the country of birth or former citizenship
• United States federal census enumerations, which ask the place of birth, year of birth or age, and place of birth for each parent
• Church records (baptism, confirmation, wedding, or funeral) that may name the parents, spouse, or previous church that documents the person's baptism or marriage
• Anecdotes from contemporaries or children of the immigrant
• Biographical sketches from contemporary newspapers
• Tombstone entries
• Memorial cards from funeral services
• Obituary notices and biographical sketches

Only on occasion do these sources certainly identify the town of emigration. And even if they do, the information must be met with some suspicion. After all, most of the sources contain information provided second-hand, from relatives of the immigrant. And memory fades, even for the immigrant, who may have left at an early age.

My experience in finding the town of emigration includes great ease and great difficulty.

• My great grandparents John M. Kohn and Susanna Reinert were part of a family that already has many family researchers. Even before I began to research, their towns of origin in western Germany, close to the Luxembourg border, were known to be Wasserliesch and Igel.
• My great grandparents Robert Ohnsat and Leopoldina Salinger were ciphers. An elderly cousin had some anecdotes that placed his home at Nysa or on the Nysa River in Silesia and her home at Frankfurt. This was partially true for my great grandfather, but not even close for my great grandmother.
• My great grandparents Anton Deneke and Maria Anna Stephan had passed on information about their homes of birth, but not much more. His birthplace was known as Hannover, and hers as Königheim in Baden. Both turned out to be correct, though Hannover was the seat of the district government, and his actual birthplace was Brakel in Kreis Höxter.
• My great grandparents Richard Butler and Mary Ellen Cummings were part of a family that includes several family researchers. As I began my work, I soon found the researchers who had information back to the generation that lived in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Especially for the Ohnsat, Salinger, Deneke, and Stephan families, I found the International Genealogical Index (IGI) to be of some help. This aid allows you to enter a person's name and other data, which can search information for matches. You can then look through the matches for a likely location to research. I have provided more information in another post, the International Genealogical Index (IGI).

If you have a reliable town name, you can use the FamilySearch Catalog to enter the country name and town name. The catalog will list the corrected country, district, and county in addition to the town. If the town had a church that allowed its parish registers to be microfilmed, the catalog connects to a record that identifies the microfilms. With the microfilm numbers, you can order the microfilm at your local LDS genealogy library.

If you have a town name that is less reliable, you should use a couple of these online sources to find a corrected spelling or a correct district for the town.

• Contemporary online mapping, such as Google Earth. This can provide a search for the town name, though it does not typically offer alternatives to misspelled names.
• A listing of town names by country and area, such as the Global Gazetteer. Select a country, and then select a region or begin searching right away for the town name.
• Go to a version of Wikipedia for a specific language (for example, French, German, Irish, Italian, or one of nearly 50 others) and enter the town name. Wikipedia provides a large number of alternatives if the spelling is not exact.
• Try to find a web page for the town by using the format www.TOWN.COUNTRYCODE (for example, www.Wasserliesch.de).
• Try to find the town name from a web page for the region or state by using the format www.REGION.COUNTRYCODE (for example, www.trier-land.de, www.hessen.de, or www.deutschland.de).

Happy hunting!
Tom
© Thomas G. Kohn, 2013.

Notes for further additions to this post

The records that cite Mesenich, Igel and Igel, Trier are listing the community (or parish), followed by the next higher level of church or civil government. In the opening pages of a microfilm of parish records, you would see listings of towns for Parish, Deaconate, Community, Civil Region (Pfarrei, Dekonat, Gemeinde, Regierungsbezirk). Also the microfilm's first pages would identify the archive (for example, the Trier Bistumsarchiv).

Mesenich and Metzdorf, being smaller towns that didn't (ever? occasionally?) have a parish church of their own, would be documented in the parish records of the next larger, nearer community where the family went for church services. This could be Langsur, Griwenich, Wasserbillig, or even Igel. If you go to Google Earth, you can see that all of these towns are within easy walking distance; none more than perhaps 5 miles distant, even by a winding road along the river.

So if you start searching microfilms of parish registers, you have a bit of duplicated effort, until you find the first entry of relevance for your Konzemn ancestors. From that point on, you might assume that at least for a couple generations, the family wouldn't change its choice of parish.

I do have a few of the many church records of which parishes were aligned with a deaconry. Their information is pretty well represented by the catalog structure of the LDS microfilm library.

Houston County, Minnesota—Catholic parishes in Caledonia

First publication 2013.11.14. © Thomas G. Kohn, 2013.

In 1867 to 1871, the Reinert family likely were members of St. John the Baptist church in Caledonia. Other Catholic churches in the county were more distant, in Hokah, Brownsville, and La Crescent. The St. John church was built in 1857 on the site now occupied by Merchant's Bank at Washington and Kingston streets. The church was rebuilt in stone in 1862. The church served the Irish, German, and Luxemburg Catholics who settled in the Caledonia area until 1870 when a second, German-speaking parish formed. Both parishes used the same cemetery, which is named Calvary Cemetery and located on Route 249, about 3/4 mi southeast of the Catholic church.

Figure 5. St. Peter Catholic church,
Caledonia, about 1900.

The German parish constructed St. Peter’s Church from Brownsville limestone, hauled by wagon 14 miles uphill over rough roads. Primary construction was completed in 1872, a bell tower was completed in 1873, and three bells were installed. In 1925, the bell tower was replaced with the current structure. In the early 20th Century, St. Peter’s church was renowned in the region for its large and densely planted gardens.[5]

After a fire destroyed part of the St. John church in the 1950s, the two congregations merged instead of rebuilding the Irish church. The St. Peter’s church was renamed St. Mary’s in 1976. The history of these parishes are documented in the painted glass windows: John the Baptist is on the north side, St. Peter on the south side, and St. Mary is between them in the apse.

Figure 6. St. Mary Catholic church, Caledonia.

In 2002 St. Mary’s received a major refurbishment. Two transepts were added and the altar was moved forward. A foyer was added to the front of the church, as well as a corridor to Holy Family Hall. In 2004 the parish of St. Patrick’s in Brownsville joined St. Mary’s in a diocesan clustering plan. The churches have separate pastoral offices, but they share a pastor, who currently is Matthew Fasnacht.[6] The St. Mary’s Bazaar usually falls on the last Sunday of October.

The parish records from 1866 (marriages), 1868 (baptisms), and 1874 (burials) through the present are handwritten. They are neither microfilmed nor duplicated in the diocesan archives in Winona, Minnesota. I have seen the parish records and photocopied several pages. Two loose, unnumbered sheets are inserted before the bound pages.

Figure 7. First unnumbered page,
St. Mary parish register.

These sheets document baptisms from mid-1868 on one sheet (Figure 7) and from late 1868 through February 1869 on the other. The handwriting differs from handwriting on the numbered, bound pages, and the entries are not signed. I infer that the two loose sheets indicate another parish register existed, perhaps to document the acts performed in St. John parish. More research is needed to find the missing parish register, which might document the burial of John Reinert. Neill’s statement that the sacraments were performed as early as “1855, when itinerant missionaries from Wisconsin, and perhaps Winona, visited the settlement, and held mass at private houses” and identifies the priest Michael Pendergast.[7]

Figure 8. Marriages, pages 2 and 3,
St. Mary parish register.

The bound and numbered pages begin with marriages of 1866, 1867, 1868, and 1869 on pages 2 and 3 (Figure 8).

Figure 9, Baptisms, page 35,
St. Mary parish register.

Page 35 is the next I have photocopied. The handwriting is the same as on pages 2 and 3, and its baptismal entries of 1868 have the pastor’s signature, Mathias Hurenberg. Page 51 is the fourth page I have, and its baptismal entries of 1870 are signed by pastor K. Körbel. The remaining photocopied pages 56-59, 61, 62, 68, 70, 71, 75, 76, 78, and 70 also contain baptisms 1870 to 1873 entered by Körbel.

Previous sections: Background for family history
Next sections: Local Development, History, Reinert History in the Area, Travel to Kansas in 1872, Tipton KS, Seguin KS, La Crosse WI

Notes

5

Neill, Rev. Edward D., History of Houston County including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota and Outline History of the State of Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society, 1882. pp. 360-361: “The present pastor [of St. John the Baptist] is Rev. Father Shanahan, who has a residence near the county buildings on Marshall Street. The building ... was erected during the earlier years of the [Civil War]. the Rev. Charles Koeberl being the resident priest at the time. The earliest meetings in town must have been held in 1855, when itinerant missionaries from Wisconsin, and perhaps Winona, visited the settlement, and held mass at private houses; the first of these remembered was Michael Pendergast. ... Rev. Father F. Essing was the first regular priest here, and he was followed by Rev. Mathew Sturenberg, who was familiarly called Father Mathew; Rev. Father Muchelberger, and then Rev. Charles Koeberl. The language using in this church, aside from the Latin ritual, is the English, as most of the congregation have this as their mother tongue.
“St. Peter’s Church.—This congregation and church is made up of those Catholics in Caledonia and vicinity, who use and understand the German language. A separation was made in the year 1873, when the present church was completed. ... In connection with the church is a parochial school under the charge of the Sisters of Notre Dame. There are about 100 pupils. The Rev. Charles Koeberl was in charge when the church was built. Rev. John Zuzek has been the pastor since June, 1878, and the congregation now numbers 165 families.”

6

The church is located at 513 S. Pine St. The parish office is immediately north of the church. Enter from the parking lot at the corner of South and Pine Streets. Addresses: P.O. Box 406, 453 S. Pine St., Caledonia MN 55921-0406. Bookkeeper and secretary: stmaryschurch@acegroup.cc. Phone 507-725-3804. Hours: Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Current information at their website.

7

Neill, p. 361.

Houston County, Minnesota—local development

First publication 2013.11.15. © Thomas G. Kohn, 2013.

As part of southeastern Minnesota, the county is in the “Driftless Zone,” which is marked by the absence of glacial drift[8] and presence of bedrock cut by streams into steep hills. The plateau that surrounds Caledonia includes flat, fertile farm land and hilly, verdant pasture land.

Figure 10. Mississippi transportation, undated.

Navigation up and down the Mississippi encouraged growth of the county (Figure 10). Records of river transport document shipping from as early as 1844. The shipping season typically opened in April, after the river is free from ice. In 1855, a ferry from La Crescent to La Crosse was licensed. Named the “Wild Kate,” it operated without a regular timetable from its normal berth at La Crosse (Figure 11). Two horses powered a treadmill for the crossing. An unreliable steam ferry named “Honey Eye” soon replaced Wild Kate. However, its steam engines had little capacity, and often the ferry “had to tie up to an island, let the steam go down, take off the safety valve, and with buckets fill the boiler, then get up steam again and finish the trip.”[9] After two years of such service, the ferry was abandoned and another company provided better service through 1878.

Figure 11. Mississippi ferry at Redwing, about 1900.

Railroad companies were provided bonds for building by the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1857, in the face of popular and legislative opposition. However, referenda and laws were passed that obstructed state bonds for railway development through 1860. Although the battle over state funding of railway building raged until 1881, the private companies began to install their lines. “A part of the great St. Louis and Minneapolis line runs through the county north and south near the Mississippi River. Another road runs in the valley of the Root River east and west, connecting with the Mississippi road at the river. The third railroad in the county is the ‘Caledonia and Mississippi,’ which, from the junction on the river, follows up the Crooked Creek in a northerly direction to Caledonia, the shire town, where it deflects toward the south, and passes through Spring Grove, and thence on to Preston, its present terminus. This line was undertaken by local enterprise and is of the standard narrow gauge.”[10]

Figure 12. Harvesting flax.

It is possible that John Reinert brought tools of his trade with him to pioneer America, where there would be a ready market for both linen thread and cloth. This hypothesis may be hard to prove, since tax records have not been found to date. Writing in 1882, Neill reported that flax cultivation had begun with one acre in 1878, which produced four bushels of seed.[11] Even through the 20th Century, Minnesota was one of several states that devoted many acres to flax.[12] Flax had become competitive in northern states like Minnesota because these states need fast maturing, cool season crops. Flax can be planted in April, as soon as the soils begin to warm, and it can be harvested in August (Figure 12), well before early frosts.[13] However, since about 1970, American flax production has failed to compete with imported textiles, whether as raw materials or as finished goods. The plat maps of 1931[14] report that neighboring farms to the Reinert home had cattle, hogs, chickens, and geese. An average 120 acres of each farm supported the livestock with grain and pasture.

The county population grew quickly in the 1860s, decreased slightly from 1900 to the 1930s, and gradually grew to the 2010 population of 19,000.[15] The town of Caledonia has grown steadily, although slowly. La Crescent growth began only in the middle of the 20th Century, and its growth has been the driver of county growth since then. Of the other villages and townships, only Spring Grove village, Houston village, and La Crescent township have 1000 residents or more. The remaining 19 villages and townships have not grown much beyond populations of 500 each.

Figure 13. Root river in Houston county.

The Root River and its broad floodplain (Figure 13) divide the county into a north third and a south two-thirds. In the north are the villages of Money Creek (unincorporated), Pine Creek (unincorporated), Houston (population 979 in 2010), Hokah (population 580), and the largest town of the county, La Crescent (population 4,830). La Crescent overlooks the Mississippi floodplain and slow-moving river, almost directly west from La Crosse, Wisconsin. South along the Mississippi are the towns of Brownsville (population 466) and Reno (unincorporated).

The southwestern two-thirds of the county populate the rolling plateau above the Mississippi. Caledonia (population 2,868) sits in the center. The other towns on the plateau are Yucatan (unincorporated, township population 351), Sheldon (unincorporated, township population 289), Black Hammer (unincorporated, township population 326), Riceford (unincorporated), Newhouse (unincorporated), Spring Grove (population 1,330 and Spring Grove township population 422), Wilmington (unincorporated, township population 472), Eitzen (population 243 and Winnebago township population 257), and Freeburg (unincorporated, Crooked Creek township population 323).

Figure 14. Map of Caledonia, 2001.

The town of Caledonia is a typical American small town (Figure 14). The streets are broad and mostly planned in a matrix of parallels and right angles. The businesses form a tightly-knit downtown that has stood for one hundred years or more (Figure 15). The largest buildings in Caledonia are the county courthouse, which was built in the 1890s, and St. Mary Catholic church, which was originally built in the 1880s. Both are located in the southern central area of town, within a few blocks of each other. The brick or stone buildings that date from before 1885[16] have weathered well, although some façades have received incongruent modernizations. A line of newer businesses skirts the western edge of town along Highway 44-76.

Figure 15. Caledonia downtown, 1907.

The homes developed clearly in separate additions: a few frame homes from the end of the 19th Century still stand, a group of homes built in the 1920s occupies one section of town, more modest homes built after the Great Depression are in another pocket, and in several groupings are the homes built to house the smaller families that formed after soldiers returned from World War II. Here and there, you can find homes built in the 1960s through the 1990s that fill in vacant lots left during the other periods of development. Along State Route 44-76 are the most recent businesses that include gas stations, motels, fast food, and restaurant-bars. The nearest city for movies and other entertainment is seventeen miles away: La Crosse, Wisconsin.[17]

Previous sections: Background for family history, Parish
Next sections: History, Reinert History in the Area, Travel to Kansas in 1872, Tipton KS, Seguin KS, La Crosse WI

Notes

8

See Coulee Region, accessed 2013.10.22.

9

Neill, p. 285.

10

Neill, p. 258 (writing in 1882 about the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul company).

11

Neill, p. 292.

12

378,000 acres in 1920 Minnesota, 1.6 million acres in 1943, and diminishing lately to only 10,000 acres, as cited in a Minnesota farms publication.

13

Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, in their online essay on flax.

14

Unattributed, Atlas and Farmers’ Directory of Houston County,. Webb Publishing Company (St. Paul MN), 1931. Personal copy available as scanned images.

15

Population figures cited in Wikipedia's article on Houston county and linked entries for each township and town.

16

Neill, p. 271.

17

Nine years after Susanna Reinert had left the Caledonia area for Tipton, Kansas with her mother, sisters, and brothers, she moved to La Crosse with her husband John M. Kohn and three children. They had moved there at the encouragement of her brother-in-law Mathias Kohn, who had owned and operated a well-respected and successful saloon and boarding house in La Crosse since 1864.