Pick, Adam 1867-1922 & Mary Agnes Rolfes Family

PICK, ROLFES, MUHL, OLBERDING

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/25/2024 at 06:41:40

Pick, Adam 1867- 1922 & Mary Agnes Rolfes Family

This family history was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book of 1883-1983 page 197. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes have been added.

Adam pick was born in Hilfenkirchen, Nassau Germany, February 23, 1867. he came to America in 1871 at the age of four. He married Mary Agnes Rolfes of Petersburg, Iowa on January 6, 1894. They settled in Delaware County near New Vienna, Iowa. Later they moved to Remsen on a farm three and one half miles southeast of there, where Frank was born on December 16, 1894. They moved to Alton two years later to a farm southeast of Alton. Adam died at the age of 55.

Frank lived on the family farm until he served as a licensed engineer at Briar Cliff College, Sioux City for thirteen years. His mother lived with him in an apartment on the college campus. Later his mother and Frank moved to a remodeled schoolhouse northeast of Alton, until she passed away at the age of ninety on October 6, 1965.

Frank’s last years were spent at the Sioux County Home, Orange City, and at Happy Siesta, Remesen. He was 84 years old when he died July 9, 1978.

Other children of Adam and Mary Rolfes were: Henry, born March 16, 1896; Joseph, was one and one and one half years old when he died of diphtheria; Anna born April 9, 1900, married Alton Pottebaum; Mary born March 22, 1902 entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque; Andrew born March 1, 1904, married Mary Poeckes of Remsen; Raymond born January 11, 1906; Regina born July 14, 1908 entered the Sister of St. Francis: Twins Lawrence and Loretta were born April 8, 1910; Josephine born July 25, 1912 also entered the Sisters of St. Frances, as did Loretta; Sylvester born November 4, 1914 married Helen Schnepf; Elmer, born May 1, 1916 married Marvel Hahn. Anthony lived long enough to be baptized, and another child, Joseph was about nine months old when he was fatally stricken with the flu in 1918. Lawrence Pick continues to live on the family farm south east of Alton.

(end of family story in St. Mary’s Church Book)

Research Notes: From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Adam Christian Pick was born 23 Feb 1867 at Helferskirchen, Westerwaldkreis, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and died 3 Aug 1922 Alton Sioux Iowa. His parents were Anton Pick 1830-1896 and Helena Muhl 1833-1907. Adam married Mary Agnes Rolfes on 6 Jan 1894 at Bremen Delaware Iowa.

Mary Agnes Rolfes was born 10 Mar 1875 Bremen Delaware Iowa and died 6 Oct 1965 Alton Sioux Iowa.
Mary was the daughter of Franz Henrich Rolfes 1841-1916 and Maria Anna Olberding 1839-1916. Adam and Mary were the parents of the following children.

CHILDREN: From obituaries in local newspapers, and from births, marriages and deaths on ancestry.com .

1. Frank J. Pick born 16 Dec 1894 died 9 Jul 1978 Remsen, Plymouth, IA See his obit on this web page.

2. Henry Fredrick Pick Rev. born 16 Mar 1896 Sioux County Iowa died 22 Feb 1981 Remsen IA

3. Joseph Pick born 20 Jan 1898 Nassau Twp Sioux County IA died 1 Aug 1899 Alton IA See his obit is on this web page.

4. Anna Verena Pick born 9 Apr 1900 Alton Sioux IA died 31 Jan 1982 Alton Sioux IA She married Anton John Pottebaum 1900-1989. Their children were seven sons, Ivan of Granville, Eugene of Alvord, Howard, Anthony Jr. and Orville, all of Alton, Ike of LeMars and Arlin of Hospers; six daughters, Mrs. Milo (Tarsella) Probst and Mr s. Ray (Florence) Thole, both of of Alton , Mrs. Herb (Berdella) Schueller of Primghar, Mrs. Ambrose (Bernice) Block of Hospers, Mrs. Art (Mary Ann) Walker of Springfield, VA, amd Mrs. Kenneth (Donna Rae) Krogman of Ashton. See her obit on this page.

5. Mary Catherine Pick, (Sister S. Bertilda) born 2 Mar 1902 Alton IA died 2 Feb 1998 Dubuque IA

6. Andrew Joseph Pick born 2 Mar 1904 Alton IA died 10 Jan 1961 Le Mars, IA He married Mary Bertha Poeckes 1907-1997. Their children were: three sons, Marvin, Paul and Kenneth all of Remsen; two daughters Patricia Mrs. Clayton Harnack and Mary Lea Pick both of Remsen. Source of children in obit of Andrew Le Mars Globe Post of Jan 12, 1961.

7. Raymond J. Pick (Father Ray) Born 11 Jan 1906 Sioux County IA died 14 Jan 1963 Fort Dodge IA

8. Regina A. (Sister Marius) Pick Osf. born 14 Jul 1908 died 1987 Dubuque IA

9. Lawrence Philip Pick born 8 Apr 1910 Alton IA died 15 Apr 1990 Alton IA. He married Cecilia Theresa Platchette 1912-2004. Their children were:  five sons: Reverend Anthony of Sutherland, Leander of Avoka, Minnesota, Philip of Sioux City, Ray of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Walter of Alton, one son Adam Peter who died in infancy

10. Loretta (Sister Lea) Pick born 8 Apr 1910 Alton and died 23 Jan 1995 Dubuque IA

11. Josephine Pick (Sister S,Aiden) born 25 Jul 1912 Alton IA died 13 Feb 1961 Dubuque IA.

12. Anthony Pick born 5 Dec 1913 Nassau Twp Sioux County IA died 5 Dec 1913 Alton IA

13. Sylvester Francis ‘Vets’ Pick born 4 Nov 1914 Sioux County IA died 17 Dec 1989 Le Mars IA. He married Helen Schnepf 1919-1982 Their children were : four sons, Tom, Dan and Wayne all of Oyens, and Steve of Des Moines; three daughters Lea Mrs. Ron Reid of Sioux City, Arlene Mrs. Joe Bird of Lincoln NE, and Sue Ann Pick of LeMars. Source Le Mars Daily Sentinel Dec 19, 1989.

14. Elmer Henry Pick born 1 May 1916 Sioux County IA died 30 Jul 2000 Remsen IA. He married Marvel May Hahn 1918-2000. Their children were: five daughters, Mary and her husband, Jim Wagner, of Kingman, Ariz., Joan Pick of Omaha, Neb., Barbara and her husband, Gary Wells, of Le Mars, Connie and her husband, Richard Wanderscheid of Sioux City, Kathy Valentino of Remsen, four sons and their wives, David and Velda of Hammond, Ind, Richard and Ann of Le Mars, Dennis and Rebecca of Oakton, Va, and Guy and Sandy of Remsen. Source for children Marvel’s obit in Le Mars Daily Sentinel Nov 7, 2000.

15. Joseph Pick 1918- died Alton IA 1918

OBITUARY of Adam Pick 1867-1922

Source: Alton Democrat (9-2-1922) Born: February 23, 1867 Died: August 27, 1922
PROMINENT ALTON FARMER IS CALLED BEYOND
Adam Pick Died Sunday From Stroke of Apoplex--Funeral Wednesday--Born in Germany--Settled at New Vienna in 1870--Only 55 Years of Age--Owned Large Farm "Tis the wink of an eye, tis the draught of a breath. From the blossom of health to the palapas of death."

The people of this community were inexpressibly saddened Sunday when they learned that Adam Pick had died at his home southeast of Alton.
About two years ago Mr. Pick suffered a severe illness, and although he partially regained his former health he never completely recovered. He complained of not feeling well the past week but did not take to his bed until Saturday. He seemed much better Sunday morning and partook of a hearty meal but shortly after suffered a stroke of apoplexy and passed away at 1:45 P.M.
The funeral services were held Wednesday morning at nine o'clock at St. Mary's Church Alton. Solemn Requiem High Mass was offered by Very Reverend F. J. Brune, assisted by Reverends Gerlemann of Granville and Rolfes of Oyens. Father Bruce preached a most impressive and counseling sermon. The funeral procession was one of the largest in this region, the members of St. Joseph's Society and the Knights of Columbus (of which the deceased was a member) attended in a body. Many out of town relatives and friends were present.
Adam Pick was born February 23, 1867 at Hilfeskir-chen, Nassau, Germany. He came to this country in the spring of 1870 with his parents and his older brother and sister. They settled at New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa, where he received his education. From the age of 13 to 26 years he was a farm laborer. On February 6, 1894 he was married to Miss Mary Rolfes of Petersburg and they moved to a farm in Plymouth County, two years later moving to a farm southeast of Alton, where they have made their home for the past 20 years.
He is survived by his widow and twelve children: Frank, Henry, Anne, Mary, Andrew, Raymond, Regina, Lawrence, Loretta, Josephine, Sylvester, and Elmer. Three children preceded their father in death.
He was a kind and loving husband and father and very devoted to his wife and children by whom he will be greatly missed. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary (Mrs. B. Haverkamp) of Arendlia, Iowa, Katherine, (Mrs. J. Erinaun) of Milford, and one brother, Joseph of Lismore, Minnesota.
The writer has known Adam Pick for 17 years and sharing that time owning to regard him as a man of startling character. He was always fully and kind hearted. By thrift and industry he became the own-er of 440 acres of Sioux County Land, known as the Hawkeye Steak Farm, thus assuring himself and family a sufficient portion of the worlds goods to provide the family with enough. He had been a devout Catholic all his life and was prepared when he answered the summons of the Brim Reaper.
Relatives and friends from away who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. B. Haverhamp and son Joe, Mr. and Mrs. E. Schroeder and F. Geerken of Arendia. Mrs. C. Pick, Berdig; Mr. and Mrs. J. Erinaserin and son Leads, Milford; Joe Pick and sons Arnold and Isdore and daughter Leola Bismore; Mrs. J. Pick and sons Aloys, Arthur, Gregory and Alphonse and daughter, Myra; Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Pick, Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnson of Rem-sen, Reverend H. Rolfes, Oyens; Mr. and Mrs. F. Rolfes, Petersburg; Mrs. J. Krolage, Estersville; J. Rolfes and Miss K. Rolfes, Oyens; Mr. and Mrs. J. Miebl, Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. H. Henerkes, son Leander, Adrian; H. Hern, W. Lenners, Mrs. F. Reker, J. Recker, Lismore; A. Johnsoning, St. Killian, Minn.; Reverend Gredermann, Remsen; Arthur Poekes, Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. F. Heamann, son Henry and daughter, Mary Dodham and many more friends from Remsen, Granville, Oyens, and Le Mars.

OBITUARY of Mary Rolfes Mrs. Adam Pick 1875-1965
Source: Alton Democrat (10-7-1965) Born: March, 1875 Died: October 6, 1965
Mrs. Mary Pick, 90, Dies At Alton, Funeral Friday Mrs. Mary Pick, 90, a beloved resident of the Alton community since 1896, died at 5:00 a.m. this Wednesday morning, Oct. 6 at the Le Mars Hospital. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. and the wake will be Thursday evening at St. Mary's Parish Center.
Mrs. Pick lived with her son Frank and had been failing in health for some time. Two weeks ago she was taken to the hospital. She was born March 10, 1875 to Frank Rolfes and Ann Scherbering Rolfes at Petersburg, Delaware County, Iowa. Her brothers and sisters, now all deceased, were Rt. Reverend Monsignor Henry Rolfes, Frank, Joseph, Katherine Rolfes, and Mrs. Joseph Kronlage.
She was married to Adam Pick in St. Peter and Paul Church in Petersburg February 6, 1894. They lived in the Remsen vicinity for two years and moved to Alton in March, 1896. Mr. Pick died at Alton August 27, 1922. She was the mother of fifteen children; three dying in infancy. Three of her children who grew to adulthood, namely Andrew, Father Raymond, and Sister Aidan died during the past few years.
Those surviving are Frank of Alton, Father Henry of Remsen, Mrs. Anthony Pottebaum (Anna) Alton, Sisters M. Bertilda and Sister M. Lea Sacred Heart Hospital Le Mars, Sister M. Marius, Mount St. Francis Convent, Dubuque, Lawrence of Alton, Sylvester of Oyens and Dr. Elmer of Remsen. There were 39 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Mary's parish, a member of the Christian Mothers Society of Alton, and a member of the Order of Saint Francis.

Picture of the family on page 197 of St. Mary’s church book, explains Adam and Mary’s pictures were insets.
1st row: Lawrence, Mother Mary, Father Adam, (from Memorial card), Anna, Frank
2nd row: S. M. Lea (Loretta), S. Bertilda (Mary), Rev. Henry, S. Aidan (Josephine), S. Marius (Regina)
3rd row: Andrew, Rev. Raymond, Elmer, Sylvester.

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