Kass, Peter 1857-1947 and Mary Didier Family

KASS, DIDIER, WEBER, BODVIN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/18/2024 at 17:16:19

Kass, Peter 1857-1947 and Mary Didier Family

This family story was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Church Book of 1883-1983, page not numbered. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research note were added. The spellings of names and dates were left as found in the cited sources.

Peter Kass Family

Peter Kass and Mary Didier were married October 10, 1881 at Elba, Minnesota. Peter Kass, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kass born December 3, 1857, in St. Donatus, Iowa. He died February 3, 1947. [For more Kass family information see the BIOS on his parents on this page] Mary Didier was born Jun 21, 1861 in Chicago, Illinois. She died July 11, 1930.

Peter moved his family to Alton, in 1886, after visiting his sister , Mrs. Matt Bamber. He opened the Blacksmith Shop in 1886, and operated it until 1910. He then sold the shop to Nick Schumacher. Peter was well known in his retirement for his hobby of wood working. He made many beautiful Black Walnut desks and chairs, which are still in the McWilliams and Henrich families.

Peter and Mary had three children: Clara (Mrs. Pat McWilliams) Odilo, and Olge (Mrs. Oscar Henrich) (End of the family story in the church book)

RESEARCH Notes: Gathered from obituaries on this web page and from family reports on ancestry.com. The public member tree on ancestry were done by other that this submitter.

Parentage of Peter Kass can be seen in the Bios on this web site for his parents, John Kass 1832-1902 and Anna Mary Weber 1833-1922 family. Peter married Mary Didier on 1 Oct 1881 at Elba Houston MN.

Mary Didier born 21 Jun 1861 Chicago IL died 11 Jul 1930 Alton IA. She was the daughter of Jean ‘John’ Didier and Mary Bredion (Bodvin). In 1880 census of Caledonia, Houston MN Mary Diddier was 18 yrs old born Luxembourg and a servant (maid). Her parents were hard to trace in their trek from Chicago to Minnesota through the census records. They had Mary Didier 1861-1930. Found an entry for Jean Pierre ‘John’ Didier born 19 Sep 1828 Beckerich, Redange, Diekirch Luxembourg died Jun 8 1873 Brownsville, Houston, Minnesota, son of Michael Didier 1796-1876 and Catharina Dondelinger 1783. Jean married Mary Bodvin 1833-1913, beside Mary Didier Kass 1861-1930 they had a son, Dominick 1862-1920. Also referenced in Mary Kass’s obit there was a sister who was Sister Agnetis of Wilmette. May have been more children.

CHILDREN of Peter Kass and Mary Didier. From ancestry.com reports and obits posted on this web page.

1. Clara Kass born 9 Sep 1883 Elba MN died 31 Aug 1963 Cherokee IA married 20 Jan 1909 to Patrick O. Mc Williams of Cherokee. Find a Grave lists Patrick O’Connell Mc Williams Sr. born 1 Mar 1881 died 1961 Cherokee IA. Children: Harold Jsoeph Mc Williams, Patrick O. Mc Williams, Milo O. Mc Williams, Virgina M. Van Lent, William P. Mc Williams.

2. Odilo Kass born about 1894 died Aug 1975. He married Mina Sauer and they had children Donald Kass of Sioux City and James Kass of Minneapolis MN, and a daughter Mary Ann Mrs. Ray Tritz of Tuscon AZ. See his obit on this web page.

3. Olga Kaas born May 16, 1897 Alton IA and died 2 Apr 1993 Tucson AZ. She married Oscar S. Henrich of Alton. They had two sons and their wives, Walter and Phyllis Henrich, and David and Marge Henrich; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Roger (Virginia) Henrich, and a son-in-law, Carl Homan; 15 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Roger; a daughter, Jean Homan; a brother, Odilo Kass, and a sister, Mrs. Pat (Clara) McWilliams.

OBITUARY of Peter Kass 1857-1947

PETER KASS, EARLY ALTON BLACKSMITH, CALLED BY DEATH. Funeral Today for Outstanding Alton Citizen.
Peter Kass, well known retired blacksmith and early resident, died at his home in Alton Monday evening, Feb. 3 at the age of 89. He had been in failing health for a year. He was one of Alton's finest citizens, upright and square dealing, and will be missed by hundreds of friends.
He was the eldest of nine children born Dec. 3, 1857 to Mr. and Mrs. John Kass of St. Donotus, Iowa. When he was seven the family moved to Caledonia, Minn., and at the age of 21 he learned the blacksmith trade in the iron foundry at La Crosse, Wis.
Oct. 10, 1881 he married Mary Didier and for four years the couple lived at Elba, Minn., where Mr. Kass owned his first blacksmith shop.
After visiting with his sister, Mrs. Matt. Bamberg at Alton he decided to move to Alton and came here with his family in March, 1886. He operated his blacksmith shop here until 37 years ago when he sold the shop to Nick Schumacher and retired from business, having in the meantime invested in farm lands in this vicinity. Mrs. Kass preceded her husband in death July 11, 1930.
Three children survive their father, namely Mrs. P. O. McWilliams (Clara) of Cherokee, Mrs. O. S. Henrich (Olga) of Alton and a son, Odilo; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Mr. Kass, or Grandpa Kass as he was known to many, was a staunch patriotic citizen and well informed on world affairs, devoted to his family. His hobby since retirement was constructing fine furniture in his basement shop where he worked from early morning late into the night. His pride was his walnut kneehole desks, of which he made more than forty. At Christmas time his shop was known as the "Santa Claus" shop because of the innumerable sets of children's chairs and tables which he made.
He has been confined to his home since November but on Sunday was at the breakfast table with the family. At noon he was taken very ill and early Monday passed on, surrounded by his family.
Also surviving Mr. Kass are seven brothers and sisters, a remarkable family of octogenarians, all being over eighty years old and five of the family have celebrated their golden weddings. One sister, Mrs. Matt Bamberg of Alton, preceded him in death.
Funeral services are at 9:30 Thursday morning at St. Mary's church. Six grandsons will act as pallbearers.

OBITUARY of Mary Mrs. Peter Kass 1861-1930
Source: Alton Democrat, Feb. 6, 1947. Mrs. Peter Kass, long-time resident of Alton, passed on at her home here Friday morning [July 11], after an illness of many years duration. She had a very severe attack in March and failed gradually since that time. A sudden heart attack caused her passing Friday morning, while her physician was making his regular call. Up to that time she had seemed in her usual condition and was able to visit with her children and family.
Mary Didier was born in Chicago, June 21, 1861. She moved to Caledonia, Minn., with her parents at the age of seven. On October 10, 1881 she was married at Caledonia to Peter Kass. Three children were born to them: Clara (Mrs. P. O. McWilliams) of Cherokee; O. N. Kass of Omaha; Olga (Mrs. Oscar Henrich) of Alton. There are ten grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Kass came to Alton in March, 1887, among the very early residents here, where they have continued to make their home for the past forty-two years. In two more years they would have celebrated the golden anniversary of their marriage. In the departure of one who was ever a devoted wife and mother, the husband and children have the sympathy of a host of friends.
Mrs. Kass is also survived by one sister, the only member of her parents' family now surviving. She is Sister Agnetis of Wilmette. The rules of her order would not permit her to attend her sister's funeral.
Mrs. Kass was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic church and for many years a member of the Rosary society. She was a highly respected member of the community and in her lifetime of 69 years and 19 days made many friends. Hers was a social disposition and she greatly enjoyed the companionship of her family and friends.
Among the relatives and friends here from away for the services, which were held Monday morning at Saint Mary's church, in charge of Reverend Schoepner of Granville, were Mr. and Mrs. Nic Delperdang of Remsen; Mr. and Mrs. John Kass of Tracy, Minn.; Mrs. F. F. Young, Minneapolis; Mrs. Herbert Brimeyer, Slayton, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Henrich, Lennox, S.D.; Misses Mayme and Gertrude Weber, Mrs. Orlando Young, Mrs. P. Molitor, Slayton, Minn.; Mrs. M. Puhl, Wilmont, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Lubbehusen, Harrisburg, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. P. Delperdang, Mrs. A. Delperdang, Mrs. K. Northern, Remsen; Mrs. H. Quirin, Marcus; Mrs. J. J. Detterman, Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. J. List, Granville; Messrs. and Mesdames H. J. McWilliams, H. H. Schmidt, Frank Muriaue, Mr. C. Goeb of Cherokee; Mrs. C. Hollenbeck, Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. N. Didier, Miss M. Didier, Mrs. P. Misch of Granville.
Source: Alton Democrat, July 18, 1930.

Picture of family in the Alton St. Mary’s church book.

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