Kellen, Nicholas 1824/1831 -1884 & Catherine Kuntzinger Fam.

KELLEN, KUNTZINGER, KUNTZIGER, KINTIGER, THILL, WAHL

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/22/2024 at 07:10:07

Kellen, Nicholas 1824/1831-1884 and Catherine Kuntzinger Family

The family story of Nicholas and Catherine Kellen 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. There are several Kellen family stories in the church book. Noted are also stories for their sons, Matthias and Peter, which will be summarized in this biography. Some research notes have been added. Information and spellings were transferred as written in the cited sources.

NICHOLAS KELLEN FAMILY (story in church book)
Nicholas Kellen was born August 8, 1831 to Mathias and Catherine Wahl Kellen at Niederpal, Luxemburg. He was married to Catherine Kuntzinger on December 11, 1850 at Becherich and lived at Nordingen until bringing his family to the United States in 1864.

Their children included Mathias, William, Dominic, Margaret, Mary, Peter and Carmel. While living at Caledonia Minnesota, a son Edward was born to them.
In 1871 the family moved again this time to Sioux County, Iowa. They homesteaded south of Alton, where a daughter Catherine was born in 1874 and a son, John the following year.

Death came to Catherine on April 28, 1883, and Nicholas followed in death on October 15, 1884. Both are buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Le Mars Iowa.
(end of family story in the church book)

RESEARCH Notes: From family reports on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter. The reports in the public member trees on ancestry.com have quite a few discrepancies: For instances they had Nicholas who died 1884, married three times, confusing him with another Nicholas Kellen who died 1895 at Oyens IA.

Nicholas Kellen born 28 Aug 1824 in Beckerich, Diekirch, Luxembourg and died 15 Oct 1884 Alton IA .
The family reportedly lived in Houston County MN in 1870 but no census record found after doing an every name search for the whole county of Houston MN. In the Sioux County IA 1880 census Nicholas Kellen was 52 years old so that would indicate he was born abt 1828.
Now, have three birth years 1824,1828, and 1831. Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars lists Nicholas Kellen born Aug 24, 1824 died Oct 20, 1884 in Section B and wife Catherina ‘Katy’ Kintziger Keller born Nov 16, 1829 and died Apr 29, 1883 . All the reports agree on Nicholas’s parents as Mathias Kellen 1782-1868 and Catherine Wahl 1787-1857.

Catherine ‘Kate’ Kuntziger / Kuntzinger / Kintiger / Wentziger was born 16 Nov 1829 Noerdange, Redange, Diekirch, Luxembourg and died 24 Apr 1883 Alton Sioux Iowa. Parents indicated as Jacob Kuntziger 1792 and Mary Anne Thill 1791. Catherine married Nicholas Kellen 11 Dec 1850 Beckerich, Redange, Diekirch, Luxembourg on 11 Dec 1850. Nicholas and Catherine Kellen had the following children.

CHILDREN: Since not all the children remained in the Sioux County IA area, thus having only access to local records the submitter depended on ancestry.com family report that were submitted by others and not always correct. Hopefully, the data on the children is correct herein, however, if you have proof otherwise contact our page coordinator.

1. Mathias ‘Matt’ Kellen born Nov 24, 1851 Luxemburg, died Apr 6, 1935. He married Susan Hansen, she died Jun 15, 1897 . They had eight children: Anna, Clara, William, Johanna, Martha, Cecelia, Frances, and Eleanor. Matt Kellen then married Mrs. Mathilda Schaul on Feb 9, 1904 and moved to Alton in 1909. One child was born to this union, Mrs. Maurice Marcella Smith. Mathilda died Oct 2, 1942.

2. Dominic Kellen 1854 Luxembourg died 1856 Luxembourg

3. William born 24 May 1856 Redingen,Noerdange, Luxembourg died 6 Nov 1940 Salem SD. He married Helena ‘Lena’ Werner 1863-1906 Their children were – Christina Anna Kellen Wilhelmi 1884-1972, Nicholas Joseph Kellen 1887-1962, Mathias Kellen 1889-1939, John Joseph Kellen 1892-1957, Frances Ann Kellen 1894-1983, Catherine Christine Kellen 1896-1971, William Alexander Kellen 1898-1963

4. Margaret Kellen born Jan 3, 1859 Luxembourg died 10 Feb 1899 Granville IA. She married Mathias Reith.
Their children were Emma Holles, Mary Martha Penning, Peter Reith, Elizabeth Thorman and John Mathias Reith.

5. Peter Kellen born Nov 15, 1861 at Nordinger, Luzemburg. Died 12 Jun 1934 Alton IA. He married Elizabeth Martin at New Holstein WI. She died Aug 26, 1955. Their children were Mathilda Kellen Mrs. Nicholas Henrich, Otto Kellen married Irma Brown, Henry married Korothy Kokenge, Johanna married Aloysius Stabb, Laura at home, George married Martha Schneider, Edwin married Genevieve Taylor.

6. Dominic Kellen 1864-1865

7. Carmillus ‘Carmel’ Kellen born 28 Jun 1866 Beckerich, Redange, Diekirch, Luxembourg died 27 Jan 1928 Faulkton, SD He married Carolina Sauer 1872-1938. Their children – Angelina Mary Kellen 1892-1965, Leo M. Kellen 1894-1900. Raymond Joseph Kellen 1896-1955, Arthur Kellen 1898-1898, Aloysius Stephen Kellen 1901-1954, Cordella W. Kellen 1903-1973, Ruth Margaret Cerona Kellen 1908-1996, Evelyn Veronica Kellen 1912-1985, Harriet Martha Kellen 1916-1982.

8. Edward Kellen born 9 Sep 1870 Caledonia MN died 4 Nov 1941 Iona Murray MN. On the site Find A Grave lists Edward Kellen born 9 Sep 1870 Caledonia Mn died 4 Nov 1941 Iona Murray MN. Wife Eva Wilhelmi 1874-1941. Their children - Mary Catherine Thraen, Ted Kellen, Peter N. Kellen, Clara Voss, Margaret Breitbarth, Joseph Mathias Kellen, Leona Onken, and Nicholas Marcalenus Kellen.

9. Catherine ‘Kate’ Kellen born 19 Dec 1873 Alton IA single, died 25 Dec 1947 Des Moines Polk IA

10. John Kellen born 7 Aug 1875 Alton IA died 21 Apr 1950 buried Donnelly, Stevens, MN His wife was Josephine Steinfort 1877-1940. Their children were – Camillus Leonard Kellen, Alexander Peter Kellen, Cletus M. Kellen, Ambrose William Kellen, Veronica Mary Quaal and Cyril Joseph Kellen.

Found homestead record of Nicolas Kellen, issue date 30 Jul 1878 Sioux County Iowa, Land Office Sioux City, Meridian 5th PM, Township 94-N, Range 44-W, Section 24, Accession Number IA2880__.489, Document Number 4476.

OBITUARY of Nicholas Kellen 1831-1884, cemetery record has birth 1824.
Kellen, Nicholas born Aug 8, 1831 Luxembourg died 15 Oct 1884 buried Le Mars IA. Alton Review of Oct 24, 1884
Nicholas Kellen, a prosperous German farmer who settle in East Orange Township, four miles southeast of Alton, some years ago. He came to town in a lumber wagon Tuesday and started home shortly after dark. One of his neighbors was just ahead of him, and when near J. Pieffer’s place noticed that Mr. Kellen was no longer near by. Thinking something was wrong, he tied his team, walked back a short distance and found Mr. Kellen lying dead in the road at a point where a sharp curve is made. It is supposed that in turning this corner the driver lost his balance and fell out of the wagon. Being a large heavy man, falling from a spring seat on top of a double wagon box and striking on his head, he received injuries which must have caused death instantaneously. A jury was impaneled which rendered a verdict of accidental death. The deceased was probably near 50 years of age and leaves a large family of children alone, the mother having died in the spring of 1883. The funeral was held on Thursday.

DEATH of Catherine Kuntzinger Mrs. Nicholas Kellen abt 1838-1883.
Source Sioux county death records. Kellen, Catherine age 45 yrs died Apr 6, 1883 buried in St. Mary’s cemetery Alton IA.

In the 1880 census of Nassau Tap. was living Nicolas Kellen age 52 a farmer born in Luxembourg, with wife Kate age 45 born in Luxembourg. They had children William 21, Peter 17, Kenneth 12, Edward 7, Kate 5, and John 3.

The Alton papers didn’t start until after 1883 so no obit was found.

This picture of the Nicholas Kellen family is from the St. Mary’s church book.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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