The Weis Family - Part 4

CAPESIUS, DONDLINGER, ETRINGER, GOSCHE, JACOBS, MATHIEU, REISTROFFER, RITTER, SCHILTZ, SCHIRMER, SCHWAGER, THOMA, WAGNER, WALTER, WEIMERSKIRCH, WEINSCHENK, WEIS

Posted By: Lorraine Weis Houghton (email)
Date: 4/14/2010 at 18:54:10

The Weis Family of Jackson County, Iowa

Part 4

Compiled by Lorraine Weis Houghton

Weis, Theodorus – Rivers Margaretha children born in Berbourg, Luxembourg

Special thanks to Nancy Norgaard and Jane M. Miller for their help with this family.

Weis, Mathias – Schiltz, Maria
Weis, Barbara – Walter, Mathias
Weis, Michael – Schiltz, Catherine
Weis, Peter
Weis, Gertrude – Capesius, John
Weis, Bernard – Thoma, Magdalena
Weis, John – Schirmer, Aephorosinia

Weis, Mathias – Schiltz, Maria

Mathias Weis was born about 1825 in Berbourg, Manternach, Luxembourg. He married Maria Schiltz on January 23, 1866 in Berbourg, Luxembourg. There is a strong possibility that Maria Schiltz is a sister of Catherine Schiltz, who married Mathias’ brother, Michael. They had a son, Mathias Weis, who was born in Berbourg in 1877. We believe this family remained in Luxembourg. Mathias is not shown on the 1843 census from Luxembourg, as living with Theodore Weis, but we assume he may have been working as a hired hand for another family.

Weis, Barbara – Walter, Mathias

Barbara Weis was born March 16, 1826 in Berbourg, Manternach, Luxembourg. She married Mathias Walter on June 26, 1854 in St. Donatus, Iowa. Mathias died September 2, 1920 in Norton, Kansas and is buried in Norton, at the Norton Cemetery. Their children were Theresa who was born in 1857 and died March 26, 1874 and is buried in Bellevue at St. Joseph's Cemetery; John, who was born July 25, 1858 or 1859 and died in 1924 and is buried in Bellevue at St. Joseph's Cemetery; Michael was born June, 1862 or 1864; Maria next with no dates, Peter, who was born August 1863 or 1864; Rose who was born November 14, 1865 (F. Marion Lockard) and Annette (Nettie) Walter (H. M. Thompson) who was born in St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa in 1869. Rose died July 15, 1893 and is buried in Norton, Kansas at the Norton Cemetery. Also had a daughter, Barbara died December 8, 1895 in Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa and is buried in the St. Joseph’s cemetery in Bellevue, Iowa.

Weis, Michael – Schiltz, Catherine

Michael Weis, also known as Michel Weis, was born May 25, 1827, in Berbourg, Luxembourg. He died June 27 1895, in Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa. He married Catherine Schiltz October 15, 1851 in Berbourg, Manternach, Luxembourg. She was the daughter of John Schiltz and Gertrude Haag. She was born October 15, 1829 and died February 11, 1899 and is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Bellevue, Iowa. According to Catherine's obituary, they first lived in Cottonville, then Springbrook and then moved to Bellevue, Iowa. Their children were: Theodore, 1852; John Heinrich "Henry", 1853 (Mary Reistroffer); Catherine, 1855 (Frank Sommer); Mary "Mae", 1857 (Henry Budde); John Henry, 1857 (Theresia Kleine)(Nancy Norgaard noted in acknowledgements is a descendant of this family); Elizabeth, 1858 (Henry Scholtes); Mathias, 1860 (Sarah Develin); Marie, 1862; Nicholaus, 1864 (Christina Schwirtz); Michael, 1866, (Maria "Mary Lou" Neu); Nicholas, 1869 (Hannah C. Ernst) and Theresa, 1870 (Nicholas Neu). Michael and Catherine are buried in the St. Joseph’s cemetery in Bellevue, Iowa. Records indicate that the families of both Henry and Mathias moved to South Dakota. Mae and her husband, Henry Budde, moved their family to the state of Washington.

According to Nicholas Gonner's "Luxembourgers in the New World", page 152, it states, (With regard to Bellevue, Iowa) "The first Luxembourger settler was Michel (1) Weis from Berbourg, who arrived in 1853. He was followed later in the same year by J. Even from the Schanz (Altrier) near Echternach and in 1856 by Jacob Manderscheid from Contern. The price of land in the town varies from $14.00 to $35.00 an acre.

Nancy Norgaard checked the immigration record for "Michel Weiss" who according to the manifest #00007336, arrived on the ship Caroline in New York on May 31, 1853. In addition to Michael, those making the trip were, (his siblings,) Barbara Weiss, born about 1826; Bernard Weiss, born about 1833; Catherine Weiss, (Michael’s wife) born about 1829; Gertrude Weiss, born about 1829; Jean Weiss, born about 1835 Pierre Weiss, born about 1828; Theodor Weiss (Michael’s father), born about 1799; and Theodore Weiss, infant (son of Michel Weiss.)

According to his obituary, "for a few years Michael Weis lived in the Mill Creek area. Then he moved to Springbrook where they lived on the farm, he himself, however, worked as a brick and stone mason. He lived in Bellevue the last 12 years and his last work which he had undertaken was the construction of the Lutheran Church, which work, however, he was not able to see completed."

Weis, Peter

Peter Weis was born about 1828 in Berbourg, Luxembourg. According to Nancy Norgaard - Pierre (Peter) Weis is shown on the ship record of Michael Weis with arrival date of May 31, May 1853. He is shown as being 25 years old at the time. He is not shown on the census from 1843 as living with Theodore Weis, however we believe he is another child of Theodore Weis. He would have been 15 or 16 years old at the time, and was probably "working for another family in Luxembourg."

According to the 1893 plat map of Jackson Township, Jackson County, there is a P. Weis owning land in section 15, on the north side of the road going west out of Springbrook. It is my feeling that this is the Peter Weis, but of this I am not sure.

Weis, Gertrude – Capesius, John

Gertrude Weis was born October 18, 1829 in Berbourg, Luxembourg. She married John Peter Capesius about 1850. Their children were John, 1855 (Catherine Trautman); Catherine, 1856 (Schultes); Kate, 1857 (Rettler); Mary, 1858; Elizabeth, 1859 and Peter, 1863. Gertrude and John Capesius are buried in the St. Nicholas Catholic cemetery, north of Bellevue, Iowa, which is in the process of being restored. The old church still stands, but the entire site had been abandoned for quite some time.

Weis, Bernard – Thoma, Magdalena

Bernard Weis was born November 10, 1831, in Berbourg, Luxembourg. He married Magdalena Thoma (Lena or Laura Thomas). Their children, listed in the 1900 census were Anna, 1859 (Henry Giese); Michael, 1860 (Elizabeth Brothers); John Peter, 1862 (Mary Waudercoecken); John M., 1864 (Anna Wagner), Margaret, 1866 (Isaac Barrett); Nicholas, 1869; Jacob F., 1871 (Mary); Catherine "Kate", 1875 (Peter Waudercoecken) and William, 1881 (Helena Catherine Clara Haerling Kaiser). Bernard Weis is buried in the Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springbrook, Iowa. Bernard’s wife’s name is not on the stone.

It looks like Bernard lived near Andrew and Springbrook at different times. In an article found at the Jackson County Historical Society written by Connie Ray Schuler it reads "(As recalled by Lena Weis, wife of Arch Wray and granddaughter of Bernard Weis). I recall when we'd come to Andrewtown, thought it great to sit on the front steps of the old Courthouse when I was three or four. I visited here in 1976 and was happy to see that the old building is still standing and hope it is never torn down. I remember living on a farm in a brick house with a white picket fence. My parents told of living across the road from each other, and when they got older courted in the orchard. I wish, by coming to Andrew today (fall of 1976) I might find someone who might remember the Brothers family. My father told of swimming in Brush Creek near Andrew, IA".

Connie Schuler wrote that "Berney Weis owned and lived in the old stone three story building that stands in Andrew and was once used as a Court House. They lived on the second floor, first floor being used as a saloon, third for dancing. It was there that Mike Weis and Elizabeth nee Brothers held their wedding dance about 100 years ago." (Mike and Elizabeth Brothers were the parents of Lena Weis Wray.)

This courthouse was used only a short time, as there was a disagreement as to where the courthouse in Jackson County should be. It was in Andrew, Bellevue and finally in Maquoketa, where it still is today. This is the courthouse in Andrew, Iowa that was built by Bernard’s cousin, John Weis, a stone mason). This building is no longer there, but is pictured in volume I of The Weis Family compiled by Jane M. Miller.

Weis, John – Schirmer, Aephorosinia

John Weis was born January 01, 1834 in Berbourg, Luxembourg and died January 11, 1899 in Dubuque, Iowa. He married Aephorosinia (Rosina) Schirmer July 26, 1868 in James Harding House, Jackson County, Iowa. She is the daughter of Fabian Schirmer and Anna Conrad. She was born February 17, 1847 in Wittenberg, Germany. Their children are as follows: Katherine, 1869 (William Calvert); Sebastian, 1870-1874; Cornelia (Nelia), 1871 (Charles Calvert); John M, 1872 – 1874; Mayme Gert, 1875; Bertha, 1876 (George E. Lomen); Charles A, 1879; Cecelia 1880 – 1880; Amelia 1881 (William Wren); Laura 1884 (Theodore Martin) Florence 1886; Henry (Harry) 1886; and Clarence 1890. Florence and Harry were twins.

According to the obituary of their son, Charles A Weis in the Bellevue Leader - February 8, 1945, Charles was never married. His brothers, Harry and Clarence and sister Florence stayed around Bellevue, IA. Kathleen, Mildred and Mayme moved to San Francisco. Nelia moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and Laura moved to Lamoille, Ia. The family of John and Euprosina were shown as living in Bellevue township, Jackson County in the 1880 census. According to the Jackson County Iowa directory 1878, Euphronia Weis (Mrs. John) owned land in sec 29, Bellevue and 159A Bellevue.

John Weis, at the age of 24, enlisted and served in the military for three years during the civil war. He returned to Bellevue and opened a saloon. About two years later, he married and continued in the saloon business, later adding a grocery store and continued in this business for 35 years. In the meantime, he invested his money in a farm of 131 acres in section 23, two miles west of Bellevue on the Cottonville road. John Weis retired in Dubuque, Iowa. After his death, his wife, Rosina, returned to Bellevue and moved to the farm where she and her son, Clarence, resided until her death.