Christiany, Peter 1821-1891 & Maria Kapgen Family

CHRISTIANY, KAPGEN, THEIS, AHNEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/31/2022 at 15:04:20

Christiany, Peter 1821-1891 and Maria Kapgen Family

This BIOS for the Peter Christiany family was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Their 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 gives a great historical accounts of the area. The “1908 Sioux County Atlas” also has historical accounts of the various townships of Sioux County.

No published family history was found for the family’s early years in the Hospers area. Available obits of the children are included that may yield insight into the family’s early years in the Hospers area.

From a family report on ancestry.com (submitted to ancestry by others, info not verified by this submitter)
Peter Christiany born 9 Jan 1821 Steinsel, Luxembourg died 7 Aug 1891 Hospers, Iowa. He was the son of John Christiany 1783 and Elisabeth Theis 1788 He was married 10 Jun 1848 at Steinsel, Luxembourg to Maria Kapgen

Maria Kapgen was born 6 Aug 1830 and died 26 Mar 1904 Hospers Iowa Her parents were Jean Baptiste Kapgen 1805 and Anne Marie Ahnen.

RESEARCH TIDBITS -
1870 Census of Bellevue, Jackson Co. IA Peter Christian 57, Maria 42, John 21 Josephine 18, Matthew 16, Mary 14, Loura 11, Sophia 8, and Victoria 6.

1876 Homestead Records has Peter Christiany final cert. Dated 3 May 1876 Iowa, land office Sioux City, section 26, township 95 north Range 43 west.

1880 census of Floyd Tsp. Sioux County IA Peter Christiany 59, wife Mary 54 Cathrina age 16 born about 1864 in Luxembourg.

Alton Review of Nov 14, 1884
Peter Christiany has the contract for building the school house at Hospers and also the new one to the northeast corner of 31 in Floyd township.

Alton Review of Aug 21 1885
Peter Chrisitiany is building a large dwelling house on the west side of the railroad track.

Sioux County Herald of March 25, 1886
… Peter Christiany returned home Saturday from a visit to the fatherland. He reports a pleasant time among his old friends

Alton Democrat of Nov 21, 1891
The will of Peter Christiany, admitted to porbate.
See copy of the will by doing a search on ancestry for Peter Christiany

1900 census of Floyd Sioux Iowa Mary Christiani 69 born Aug 1830 Germany was living with her granddaughter Sophia Frantzen age 22.

CHILDREN: Information on the children’s families in some cases was difficult and a challenge for the submitter of this narrative

1. John Christiany born 28 Jan 1849 Steinsel Luxembourg died 11 Mar 1910 Sheldon IA wife was Catherine Kones/Koens 1856-1915 Parents of possibly 10 children- Peter 1878, Henry 1879, Joseph 1882, William 1884, Mary 1888, Frank 1889, Edward 1801, Rose 1893, Lucille 1896 and Robert.
Obituary of John: Sioux County Herald March 23, 1910 Hospers News (Listed in The Sioux County cemetery index as buried at St Anthony's cemetery at Hospers) On Tuesday of this week the burial of John Christiany of Sheldon, took place at the Catholic cemetery in this place Mr. Christiany was sixty-one years old. Death was caused by heart failure, we are informed, his body having been found in the green house of which he was proprietor. He was one of the early settlers of Hospers, having been proprietor of a hotel in what is now the Sicker building, next to the bank. He moved with his family to Sheldon fifteen or twenty years ago. (John Christiany was born 29 Jan 1849 Luxembourg, death 11 Mar 1910 Sheldon, O'Brien, Iowa, Marriage: 1876; Spouse: Katherina/ Catherine Koens. Catherine Kones/Koens 1856–1915 Birth Mar 1856 Germany; Death 20 JAN 1915 Sheldon, O'Brien, Iowa, United States

2. Maria ‘Josephine’ Christiany born Apr 1851 Steinsel Luxembourg died 1880 Hospers IA. She married Henry Frantzen 1841- Nov 14, 1914 Alton IA One child reported on Ancestry family tree as John Peter Frantzen 1873-1938. Obituary - Fransen, H. Mrs of Hospers 1851-1881 DeVolksvriend of Sep 22, 1881 Hospers news In Dutch. Translated - H. Fransen's wife died here on Friday morning and was buried on Sunday. She had been ailing for a long time and leaves her husband 3 children. 1880 census of Hospers lists Henry Frantzsen, Henry age 37, Hotel Keeper, born Luxembourg, and wife Josephine 27 born Luxembourg, children were Peter 7, Mary 5, Mary 5 Lona 3 and Sophia 2. Research note: From a family report on ancestry.com (by others) Henry Frantzen born 28 Mar 1842 Kehlen Luxembourg died 27 Jan 1917 Alton IA
wife was Maria Jospehine Christiany born Apr 1851 Steinsel Luxembourg, died 1880 Hospers IA. She was the daughter of Peter Christiany 1821-1891 and Maria Kapgen 1830-1904. Children listed were Peter 1871-1930, Sophia 1878-1957, Lonnie and Mary Frantzen.

3. Mathew Christiany born 2 Mar 1853 Steinsel, Luxembourg died 1923 Iowa of Sheldon. Census of 1870 living with parents in Jackson Co. IA. 1895 census of Ashton IA Matt was 40 born in Luxembourg. 1905 census of Ashton Osceola IA, apparently single.

4. Maria ‘Martha’ Christiany born 15 Mar 1857 Steinsel Luxembourg died Iowa. Spouse Huerth or Hart of Cherokee at the time of her mother’s death. Husband Henry Huerth 45 (in 1895 census of Sioux City) Mary 34, child Theodore 15.
In the 1885 census Mary Huerth was 26, Henry Huerth 35, Theodore 6, and Annie 3. Lived in Sioux City IA It is assumed the Annie was actually Arnold 1884.
In 1895 Henry was 45 born in WI living in Sioux City, wife Mary was 34, son Theodore was 15.
In the 1910 census of Sioux City IA Henry Herth was 57 and Mary was 48. Complicated by the spelling of the surname no more was found on this family.
Found an Anthony H. Huerth born in Iowa to Henry Huerth and Martha Christiana, he was divorced and marrying Louise Pierson 16 May 1921 Spokane WA. He was born 22 May 1888 Iowa died 31 Jan 1945 Humboldt CA. , mother was Christiana and father was Huerth.
In a family report on ancestry (by others) Henry Huerth 1848-1930 and Martha Christiani had Children – Theodore 1880-1966. Arnold 1884-1941, and Anthony 1888-1945.

5. Anna Leone Christiany born 7 Jul 1858 Steinsel Luxembourg She married John Peter Glesener 1855-1921 Six children listed Mary 1881-1962, Nicholas 1883-1918, Viktoria 1885-1885, Theresa 1887-1895, Josephine 1889-1982 and John Glesener 1892-1941

6. Anna Sophia Christiany born 7 Sep 1860 Steinsel Luxembourg died Sioux City IA She married Peter Zahnen 1854. Children listed were – Mary 1882-1933, Peter 1883-1928, John 1885, Victoria 1887, Nicholas 1889-1925, Jospeh 1891-1917 Sophia 1894-1872, Frank 1898-1975, Infant 1901, and Michael.

7. Victoria Christiany born 26 Nov 1863 Steinsel Luxembourg died 1944 Sioux City IA. Her husband was John P. Kunnen 1856-1934. Married in 1881. They had children Peter 1883-1939, John 1887, Mary Ann 1889, Kate 1893, Henry 1899-1957, Jospehine 1899-1998, Sophia 1900, Tony 1901, and Jospeh 1904-1980

8. ?? Cathrina Christiany abt 1864 Luxembourg Listed in the 1880 census as daughter of Peter Christiany she was 16 years old. The 1885 census does not list a Cathrina under her parents names. No marriage record found for a Cathrina in Sioux County. No death record, no mention in parents obits, and no mention of her in the newspapers of the time frame. Her sister Sophia married in 1879. The conclusion is possibly Victoria and Cathrina are one and the same person.

OBITUARY of Peter Christiany From the Alton Democrat of Aug 15, 1891 Hospers Happenings
Peter Christiana (Christiany) one of the oldest settlers in Sioux County died last Friday. The funeral occurred Sunday afternoon from the Catholic Church and was the largest ever held in town. A large number of people from LeMars, Granville and Alton attended. Notes - In the 1885 census for Floyd Twp Sioux county
Peter Christiany was 65 born in Germany, wife Mary was 57 (wife Maria's maiden name was Kapgen). In the 1880 Census of Sioux County, Peter was 59 born in Luxembourg, wife Mary was 56 born in Luxembourg and they had one daughter Catherine age 16 born in Luxembourg living with them.

OBITUARY of Maria Mrs. Peter Christiany 1838-1904
Alton Democrat of April 2, 1904
Notice of Mrs. Christiany's death was received too late for publication in the Hospers news last week. She died Wednesday evening. She was born in Germany seventy three years ago and had lived in Hospers almost since the founding of the town. About two weeks ago she went to Ashton to visit her daughter and while there was taken sick. She returned home last Tuesday and took to her bed at once. General debility due to age was probable the principal cause. She was a kind motherly woman know and respected by a large circle. She leaves six children John and Mat of Sheldon and Mesdames Glessner of Granville, Hart of Cherokee, Zaanen of Nebraska and Kuhnen of Ashton. Her grandson Attorney Frantzen of Dubuque was present at the funeral which was held at St. Anthony's church in Hospers. (Hart = Heurth)
(Peter Christiany was born 6 Jan 1821 Kanton Gutzenburg, Luxembourg died 1 Aug 1891, Maria Kapgen was born 7 May 1838 and died 23 May 1904 Hospers. Both are buried in St. Anthony's cemetery.)
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