Pins, John A. 1863-1947 & Appolonia Umhoeffer Family

PINS, PINNS, UMHOEFFER, GRODA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2024 at 06:03:29

Pins, John A. 1863- 1947 & Appolonia Umhoeffer Family

This family story was take from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church book page 198. 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. Note that some of the descendants choose the surname Pinns.

John A. Pins (also known as “Ed”) was born in New Vienna, Iowa, in 1863 and died in 1948 while staying with his son, Arnold, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. John A. was the son of John Pins who settled in Dubuque County in 1852 from Tondorf in the Rhineland and Elizabeth Kurtenacker for the old State of Nassau in Germany.

John A. Pins married Appolonia Umhoeffer, born in Menominee Falls, Wisconsin, daughter of Joseph Umhoeffer and Anna Marie Groda at St. Mary’s in 1894. Joseph Umhoeffer had moved to Cherokee County from Wisconsin in 1873 and to Alton in 1884. He was born in Bavaria, Anna Marie at Darmstadt on the Rhine. They celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary in 1905 and both died in 1906, he is February and she in June.

John A. Pins had moved to Alton in approximately 1890 and started Kurtenacker and Pins, a farm implement dealer, furniture store, and funeral parlor with this cousin. They began business January 1, 1890 and sold out in 1915, John moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he engaged in the real estate business for a short period and then returned to Le Mars. He ran for County treasurer in 1903 as a Democrat, but was not elected.

Bothe John A. and Appolonia Pins are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. They had five children: Arnold F. (deceased) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois: Edmund (deceased) of Chicago; Hildegarde (Deceased) Schlesser of Maurice; Alex (deceased); and Robert J. of Boca Raton, Florida.

(End of story in St. Mary’s church book)

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

Joannes Adamus Pins was born 7 Oct 1863 New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa died 31 May 1947 Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, His parents were Joannis Pins 1828-1917 and Elizabeth Kurtenacker 1834-1885. He married Appolonia Umhoefer 1894 Sioux County IA.

Appolonia Umhoefer was born 20 Mar 1869 Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County, Wisconsin and died 6 July 1934 Le Mars, Plymouth County Iowa. She was the daughter of Joseph Umhoefer 1830-1906 and Anna M. Grode 1832-1906. John and Appolonia had five children.

CHILDREN From local obits and ancestry.com birth, marriages and deaths. Find A Grave index.

1. Hildagard Catherine Pins born 8 Jun 1895 Alton IA and died 15 Sep 1974 Le Mars, Iowa. She married Henry Schlesser. They were the parents of four daughters, Mrs. Eugene F. (Carmen) O'Brien of East Windsor, N.J., Mrs. Francis (Phyllis) O'Neil of Lemon Grove, Calif., Mrs. Stanley (Darlene) Barkowski of Las Vegas, Nev., and Mrs. Ray (Delores) Arens of Le Mars; a son, Robert of Le Mars.

2. Alexius Joseph Pins born 24 Sep 1896 Alton IA and died 23 Jun 1915 Alton IA. See hid obit on this web page.

3. Edmond Henry Pins born 26 Jul 1898 Alton IA died 4 Nov 1951 Chicago IL, he married Wilhelmina Ann Bechman in 1922. Possible children listed in a partial obit on line as: Kenneth E. Pinns 1923-1995, John Robert Pinns 1928-1997, Annette and Mary Lu.

4. Arnold Francis Pins, Dr. born 28 Jul 1901 Alton IA died 1 Jun 1962 Glen Ellyn IL. His wife was Elizabth M. Berry 1905-1985. Children listed on Find a Grave were: Arnold Francis Pins and Dolores A. Brooker and possibly several others listed as private on ancestry.com public trees.

5. Robert John Joseph Pins born 1 May 1911 Alton IA and died 1 Mar 1999 Boca Raton Florida
Florida marriages index lists Robert John Pinns married 2 Mar 1974 Broward, FL to Blondina Elsie Firnhaber Currie.

OBITUARY of John A. Pins 1863-1947
Source: Sioux County Capital (6-5-1947) Born: October 7, 1863 Died: May 28, 1947
John Adam Pins was born on October 7, 1863 to John and Elizabeth Pins at New Vienna, Iowa. He was baptized "Joannes Adamus Pins" at St. Boniface Church in New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa. He was 83 years, 7 months, 14 days old at the time of his death.
He came to Alton after completing his education, and entered a business partnership with his uncle, the late William Kurtenacker, establishing the firm of Kurtenacker and Pins, dealers in furniture, farm implements, and undertakers.
He was married May 22, 1894, to Appolonia Umhoefer. About 1912 he sold his interest in the furniture business and purchased the Alton Clothing Store, which business he conducted for several years, moving to: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1916, and to Le Mars in 1925. After the death of his wife in 1934 he went to Dubuque and later to Chicago, where he made his home with his sons.
He is survived by four children: Mrs. Henry J. Schlesser (Hilda) of Maurice, Edmund H. of Chicago, Dr. Arnold F. of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Robert J. of Atlanta, Georgia, 13 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Two brothers, Joe and William of Dubuque, also survive. He was preceded in death by his wife, and son, Alex.
Mr. Pins was in good health until about a year ago, when he suffered the amputation of his leg, following an attack of gangrene, and was regaining his usual strength, when he died suddenly of a heart attack. The remains were shipped to Le Mars, accompanied by his sons, and was met by Wiltgens Funeral Service and relatives and friends, and taken to Alton for the final rites.
Funeral services were held Saturday morning, May 31st at 9 o'clock in St. Mary's Church in Alton for John A. Pins, who passed away Wednesday evening, May 28th, in the Oak Park Hospital, Oak Park, Illinois. Requiem Mass was sung by Father Fandel, assisted by the male choir and Margaret Kurtenacker at the organ. Interment was made in St. Mary's Cemetery in the family lot.
Out-of-town relatives here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Edmund H. Pins of Chicago, Dr. and Mrs. Arnold F. Pins of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Robert Pins of Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Kate Pins, Magdalene Pins, and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Siemens-ma, all of Sioux Falls, Joseph Umhoefer of Anthon, James Bernard of Correctionville, Joseph Lampert of Remsen, John Schlesser of Struble. All were guests at dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Schlesser at noon. The pallbearers were John Schlesser of Struble, Joseph Lampert of Remsen, Peter Eulberg, Dominic Hoxmeier, William Kooremen, and George Henrich all of Alton.

OBITUARY of Appolonia Mrs. John A. Pins 1869-1934
Source: Le Mars Sentenial (6-22-1934) Born: March 20, 1869 Died: July 6, 1934
Appolonia Umhoefer was born on March 20, 1869 to Joseph Umhoefer and Anna Maria Grode in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She moved to Cherokee County with her parents when she was four years old and lived there until 1884 when they moved to Alton, where her father was engaged in the lumber business.
She was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with John Adam Pins on May 22, 1894 by Father Peschong at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton, Iowa. To this union five children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Pins made their home in Alton, where he engaged in the furniture business for many years with J. Kurtenacher. They moved from Alton to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1915 and came to Le Mars, in 1923 when Mr. Pins engaged in the real estate business.
Mrs. Pins became very ill in June. Mrs. Henry Schlesser was called to Le Mars last week by the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. J. A. Pins, who is a patient at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Dr. and Mrs. Pins, from Chicago, visited in the Schlesser home Sunday.
At the time of her death she was 65 years, 3 months and 17 days old. Just recently friends and neighbors called to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Pins on their 40th wedding anniversary. For many years Mr. Pins was a member of the firm of Kurtnacker and Pins Furniture and Funeral Directors at Alton, until 1915 when he sold the business and moved to Sioux Falls. There Mr. Pins engaged in the real estate business until moving to Le Mars in 1923 to enter the real estate business here.
Mrs. Pins was a devout member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers Society of that church. She was a kind and loving wife and mother and always displayed great kindness and hospitality to her friends and neighbors.
She leaves to mourn her passing her husband; one daughter, Mrs. H. J. Schlesser of Maurice; three sons, Edmond H. of Minneapolis and Dr. Arnold F. and Robert J. of Chicago; four brothers; 11 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. One, son, Alex, preceded his mother in death while the family resided at Alton.
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Alton with Father M. A. Schemmel officiating and Wiltgen's in charge of funeral arrangements.

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