Steichen, John 1807-1882 & son John 1843-1916 Family

STEICHEN, SCHOUWELLER, WEYMAN, WAGNER, TRINCKES, GULLAUME

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2022 at 08:01:21

Steichen, John 1807-1882 and son John Steichen 1843-1916 Family

This BIOS for the descended families of John Steichen born 1807 Luxembourg died 1882 at Alton IA was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. John Sr. blazed the trail that led to Sioux County Iowa. His family information and stories of the life and times of those pioneers can be read about in several Sioux County Books. “The Story of Sioux County” by Charles Dyk give a very colorful account of pioneer life with it joys and hardships. The book “Siouxland A History of Sioux County” by Nelson Nieuwenhuis give a great historical account of the area. The “1908 Sioux County Atlas” also has historical accounts of the various townships of Sioux County as well as pictures of the pioneers.

From the church book of St. Mary’s Catholic church, this family story was transcribed from page 217:
JOHN STEICHEN FAMILY - First oldest settler of the family. 1807-1882
After the death of his wife (Margaret Schouweller) in Luxemburg. John Steichen brought his four children to the United States in 1852. He settled in the Dubuque and Jackson County area of Iowa. In the late summer of 1870 at the age of 73, John joined a group of Catholic Luxemburgers and Germans on a three week trip by ox drawn prairie schooners to settle in Sioux County east of the Floyd River near Alton. He son John and family joined him two years later. The original Steichen homestead was 2 miles east and 1 ½ miles south of Alton and remained in the family possession until 1980, when it was sold after the death of Mrs. Theodore Steichen, wife of John’s grandson.

John Steichen died April 1, 1882, at the age of 85. His only son John continued farming on the homestead. His three daughters were Mrs. Peter Frantzen, Sr., and Mrs. Forrette of Dubuque and Mrs. De Frank of Minnesota.

John Steichen now rests in St. Mary’s Cemetery; he is the first of six generations who are now buried at St. Mary’s. The others include; his only son, John; his grandsons John T., Peter, Theodore and Joseph; his great granddaughters Gertrude Biever, Viola, Calesta, and one great grandson, Earl; two great great grandsons, Kenneth Steichen and David Schebach; and one great great great granddaughter, the infant daughter of Theresa Schwebach Bunts.

RESEARCH NOTES for John Steichen Sr. 1807-1882
Jean ‘John’ Steichen was born 24 Oct 1807 Capellen Luxembourg and died 11 Apr 1882 Alton, Sioux IA. He married 28 Feb 1830 at Clemency, Capellen, Luxembourg to Margaret Schouweller. She died before 1852 when he came with his four children to the USA. John was the son of Nicolas Steichen 1762-1814 and Marie Francoise Weyman 1785-1814.

Margaret Schouweller born 27 Feb 1809 Clemency Capellen Luxembourg the daughter of Jean Baptisite Schouweller and Anne Wagner. She was one of about a dozen children.

John Steichen and Margaret Schouweller had a large number of children in the ‘old’ country with many dying as infants or very young. John came to America with four children: John P. 1843-1916 and three daughters. Catherine 1853-1925 Mrs. Peter Frantzen, Mrs. Margaret Forrette of Dubuque and Mrs. Barbara De Frank of Minnesota.

JOHN T. STEICHEN Jr. 1843-1916 and wife Margaret Trinckes/Frinks 1845-1928 Family
This family history comes from the church book of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Alton IA. Page 217 and 218.

John was born in Kinzig, Luxemberg, and at the age of 7 came with his father and three sisters to the United States in 1852. He worked near Bellevue,, Iowa. In August 1868 he met and married Margaret Frinks (Trinckes), a new immigrant from Hinsdorf, Luxemburg. In March, 1872, John and Margaret and their two young sons made the trek across Iowa to join John’s father on the Steichen farm near Alton.

John died Nov 30, 1916 at his home. The final sentence of his obituary in the Dec 2, 1816. Alton Democrat summed up his life and spirit in this manner. “Thus passes away one of the sturdy and respected pioneers who carved a mighty common-wealth out of the wilderness” John also embodied his religious beliefs and practices in his life by the endowment he created at the time of his death. At Loras College in Dubuque he left an endowment of $1000 to aid any of his male descendants in studying for the priesthood. Although his two daughters entered the religious life, no male descendants has yet claimed this endowment at Loras College.
Margaret died at her home on April 16, 1928. The descendants of John and Margaret Frinks(Trinckes) Steichen now number 40 grandchildren, and many great and great great grandchildren, and up to this time 4 great great great grandchildren

RESERACH NOTES for Margaret Trinckes found on a family report on ancestry.com which submitted by others. Margaret Trinckes born Jan 29, 1845 to John Trinckes born Sep 1817 Hunsdorf, Luxembourg and Maria Gullaume born 21 Oct 1820 Geggen, Luxembourg
Immigration passenger lists – Arriving alone was Margerite Trinkes age 22 arrived July 29, 1868 at Castle Gardens, on the ship, William Penn

CHILDREN of John Steichen 1843-1916 and Margaret Trinckes:
Eight children were born to John and Margaret: See most of the children’s obituaries at our web page www.iagenweb.org/sioux go to obits
1 . John T. Steichen 1869-1959 married Anna Klein 1873-1958 They had three daughters
2 . Nick Steichen 1871-1954 married Katherine Krantz 1876-1912. They had nine children. Second wife Mary Henrecy 1893-1964 They had eleven children
3 . Peter Steichen born 3 Oct 1873 Iowa died at 7 yrs on 11 Jan 1881
4 . Aloys Steichen born about 1874-1875 died after birth
5 . Mary Steichen born Feb 10, 1876 died May 8, 1938 entered St. Francis Convent in Dubuque at 14.
See her obit as Steichen, Sister Mary Innocence 1876-1938.
6 . Ann Steichen ‘Sister Natalia’ 1878-1954 also entered St. Francis Convent in Dubuque
7 . Thoedore Steichen 1880-1956 married Alvona Miller 1893-1979 and they had thirteen children.
8 . Joseph Steichen 1884-1941 married Louisa Langenhorst 1883-1978 and had four children.

OBITUARY of John P. Steichen 1843-1916
Source: Alton Democrat (12-2-1916) Born: September 26, 1843 Died: November 30, 1916 John P. Steichen died at his home in Alton yesterday morning at the age of 73 years after a long illness. Mr. Steichen was born September 26, 1843 at Kinzig, Luxemberg and came to America in 1856, working for some years near Bellevue. In August, 1868 he was married to Miss Margaret Trinckes and the two came to Sioux County in March, 1872, thus being among the very first pioneers in the county. They settled on a homestead southeast of town, removing to Alton in October of that year.
Six children survive: John T., Nicolaus, Theodore and Joseph of Alton, Sister Innocence at Bancroft, Iowa and Sister Nathalie of the orphanage at Sioux City. Two boys, Theodore and Aloyn died while young. Three sisters survive also, Mrs. Frantzen and Mrs. Forrette of Dubuque and Mrs. De Frank of Minnesota. Mrs. Steichen, although quite aged, is in good health except for some feebleness and rather weak eyes.
The funeral will be preached by Very Reverend F.J. Brune from St. Mary’s Church at 9 A.M. tomorrow. Thus passes away one of the sturdy and respected pioneers who carved a mighty commonwealth out of the wildness.

OBITUARY of Margaret Trinckes, Mrs. John 1845-1928.
Source: Alton Democrat (4-20-1928)
Born: January 30, 1845
Died: April 16, 1928
MRS. JOHN STEICHEN SR. PASSES AWAY
Mrs. John Steichen, Sr. passed away Monday morning, April 16, at the home of her son Ted southeast of Alton. Mrs. Steichen was 83 years old and had lived in Sioux County nearly 56 years, having settled on a farm near Alton with her husband and two little sons in the spring of 1872. Although somewhat feeble for the past few years, she was able to be up and retained all her faculties until but a few days before her passing.
Margaret Trinckes was born in Hinsdorf, Luxemburg, January 30, 1845. She came to the United States in 1868 and was married the same year at Bellevue to John Steichen. In 1872 the little family came to Sioux County, settling southeast of town and living there until 1893, when they moved to Alton. Mr. Steichen died on April 14th, 1916 and since that time Mrs. Steichen has made her home with her children on the farm.
Surviving Mrs. Steichen are four sons and two daughters namely: John and Nick of Alton; Sister Innocence, Pomeroy; Sister Nathalie, Sioux City; Ted and Joe of Alton; also 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The family have the sympathy of the community in the passing of a noble pioneer mother. Funeral services Wednesday morning were in charge of Very Reverend Bune.

No picture of John Steichen 1807 – 1882 was found by the submitter.
This is a picture of the family of John Steichen 1843-1916.

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