Kluter, Henry 1838-1919 & Mathilda Twillman Family

KLUTER, TWILLMAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/11/2023 at 17:33:10

Kluter, Henry 1838-1919 and Mathilda Twillman and Family

This story was taken from pages 419-420 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

Henry Kluter was born in 1838 in West Phalen, Germany. Mrs. Mathilda (Twillman) Kluter was born in 1843 in Hanover, Germany. They lived for a time in Guttenburg, Ia., where a son, Charles, was born in 1868 and a daughter Louisa in 1870. In 1871, they and their two small children came to Sioux Co. in a covered wagon, a cow tied behind, and a pig inside. They chose to settle in Reading Twp., building a temporary sod house on the east side of Sec. 6. Later they hauled logs from the Rock River and built a log house. They also transplanted young trees from the Rock River for their grove. When the family outgrew this house they built a larger home, changing the location to the south side of the same Section, the barn and cattle yards being built across the road in Sec. 7. This is the same farm their son Fred Kluter, and later his son Arthur Kluter and their families occupied for many years. (The house is presently occupied by the Lee Harry family.)

Henry and Mathilda were the parents of seven children: Charles, who married Louisa Braaks; Louisa who married Charles Bertram; Will, who married Linda Hennrich; Louis who was found shot to death in the horse barn at the age of 24 years; Ella, who married Ed Hennrich; Martha, who married the Reverend Henry Rehwaldt; and Fred, who married Fannie Black. There being no doctor in the area, some of the Kluter children were brought into the world by a midwife, Mrs. Herman Hodam, who lived just south of what was later to become the town of Ireton.

The children first attended the Tarbox School, two miles west of the “homeplace.” The settlers in Sec. 7 and 8 decided they needed a school nearer to home, so Mr. Kluter, Mr. Elder, Mr. Shimer, and Mr. Fosburg contributed time and money and built a school on the SE corner of Sec. 6, on land donated by Mr. Kluter.

Henry Kluter’s support, both financially and spiritually, (he was often called “The Sainted Henry Kluter”) was of great help to many settlers. He helped to establish St. John’s Lutheran Church SE of town in 1875, and later was a charter member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ireton in 1886. (There are still many active fifth generation family members, as well as several sixth generation children represented at St. Paul’s.) Previous to this, the older Kluter children got their religious training in Plymouth Co., at Grant Township Church. This was 12 miles from home, so the children stayed in the minister’s home, and if the weather was bad they didn’t get home for weeks at a time.

Some incidents of note:

Louisa remembered once when Indians stopped for feed for their horses, and their parents were making their monthly trip to LeMars for supplies. The children, home alone at the time, were afraid, but the visitors left as soon as they were given sacks of oats for their ponies.

When the railroad was being laid and the grading was underway, the workmen lived in tents where the Ireton Public School building is. The Kluter cattle were grazed on that same spot when it was open prairie. On the day the first train was to go through Ireton everyone eagerly watched for the first sign of smoke in the east, and Louisa held her youngest brother, Fred, so he could watch too.

When an early minister of St. Paul’s was to be married the bride-to-be and her mother decided that the tiny building was too small for a proper wedding, so the Kluters offered their house and their help. (The tiny church is presently the home of Alice Den Ouden.)

After the children grew up and left home, Henry and Mathilda retired to Ireton, where they built a house on Main St. just south of St. Paul’s where their granddaughter Irene Eilts now lives. Here Harry passed away in 1919. Mrs. Kluter continued to live there until ill health forced her to make her home with her daughter Louisa and family, where she passed away in 1924.

RESEARCH NOTES: From a report on Ancestry.com public member trees done by other family members.
Henry Kluter was born 19 Nov 1838 Bunde Westphalen Germany died 5 Jul 1919 Ireton Iowa. His parents were not listed. His wife was Mathilda Twillman, they were married 5 Jun 1867 Ceres, Garnavillo Tsp. Clayton County Iowa.
Mathilda Twillman was born 18 Oct 1843 Reckum Muit Blumen, Hanover Germany and died 5 Feb 1924 Ireton IA. Her parents were Ludwig Twillmann 1808 and wife Metta 1820. They were the parents of seven children.

CHILDREN – Most of then report were taken from local obits in the newspapers.

1. Charles Henry Kluter born 19 Mar 1868 Delaware County Iowa died 25 Jul 1929 Council Bluffs, Iowa. He married Louisa Gretina Hermina Braaks 1873-1953 on 5 mar 1891 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Ireton IA. Hawarden Independent of Aug 1, 1929
Well Known Citizen Called by Death Chas. Kluter died early last Thursday morning in a sanitarium at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The remains were brought to Ireton and the funeral was held Saturday afternoon from St. Paul's Lutheran church, with Rev. J. E. Rich. Schmidt officiating. The church was crowded to capacity with relatives and friends and the floral offerings were many and beautiful. Charles Henry Kluter, eldest son of Henry and Matilda Twillman Kluter, was born May 19,1868, at Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, and died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 25, 1929, at the age of 61 years, 2 months and 6 days. When he was 3 years old, in 1871, the family came to Sioux county to take up a homestead among the earliest pioneers. The history of his life runs parallel with the history of this community. In March, 1891, he was united in marriage with Louise Braaks of Ireton and established the farm home in which he continued until death. Their union was blessed with twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, one of the sons dying in infancy in 1894. A year or so ago his health began to fail and he placed himself under the care of a physician. High blood pressure was found to be his trouble. Last spring ho suffered a slight stroke from which he quickly rallied, but his general condition failed of improvement. Also a short vacation trip to the northern Lakes which he made only a few weeks ago did not bring about the results he hoped for. A week before his death, at his own suggestion, he was taken to a sanitarium at Council Bluffs. He was up and about until Sunday, Early Monday morning he suffered a second and very severe stroke which left him unconscious and partially paralyzed. Wednesday evening he seemed to have regained consciousness but he was unable to speak. Thursday morning at 4:35 he passed away. There remain mourn his departure his widow, four sons: Louis, William, Carl and Elmer Kluter, all of Ireton; seven daughters Mrs. Clarence Holtdorf of Hawarden, Mrs. George Johnson, Mrs. Herb Brown, Mrs. Stephen Lemonds, Mrs Richard Prince of Ireton, Mrs. Ed. De Jager of LeMars, and Mrs. Wm Fischer of Brunsville; two brothers William J. and Fred Kluter of Ireton three sisters, Mrs. Chas. Bertram of Ireton, Mrs. Edward Hennrich of Denver, Colo., and Mrs. Walter Rehwalt of Norfolk, Neb., besides the member of St. Paul's Lutheran church and a host of friends and acquaintances.

2. Louisa Mary Kluter was born 28 Jul 1870 Guttenberg, Clayton Co., Iowa and died 25 Jan 1965 Hawarden, Iowa.
Funeral Service for Mrs. Louisa Mary Bertram,94,of Ireton who died Monday at the Hawarden hospital will be held at 1:30 this afternoon(Thursday)at the Irenton Barnard Funeral home and at 2 o'clock at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton. Rev. O.F. Pittack will officiate with interment to be made at Pleasant Hill cemetery under the direction of the Barnard Funeral home.
Mrs Louisa nee (Kluter) Bertram was born July 28, 1870 in Clinton county, Iowa. At the age of two she came with her parents to Sioux county where she had since been a resident. In 1894 she married Charles Bertram who prededed her in 1933. She was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton. Bertram American Legion Post in Ireton is named after her son, Edward, who was the first Ireton soldier to die in World War I. Survivors include a son Lawrence of Ireton; a daughter Mrs. Irene Eilts of Ireton; 12 grandchildren and 31 great Grandchildren Source: Hawarden Independent (1-28-1965)

3. William John Kluter born abt 1872 Ireton, Iowa died 8 Aug 1936 Ireton Iowa
Hawarden Independent of Aug 13, 1936
W. J. Kluter Died Suddenly Ireton and community received a severe shock when word spread that W. J. Kluter was suddenly called from this life at his home about 11 o'clock Saturday night, the cause of his death being heart failure. Mr. Kluter had been around town as usual Saturday and attended the Herman Renken sale when he seemed to be in his usual spirits. He and Mrs. Kluter were entertaining Rev. and Mrs. Victor Grimm of Macon, Mo., and his mother from Milwaukee and were busy all evening making things pleasant and enjoying a social evening. The heart attack came without much warning and proved fatal before those around him realized his condition. Born on the farm of his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kluter, on the north of the Ireton city limits, Dec. 23, 1871, he grew to manhood here and with the exception of two summers spent in Denver, Colo., he lived his whole life here and saw this part of Iowa develop from the raw prairies into beautiful farm homes and towns. He was married to Linda Hennrich Feb. 6, 1896. They lived on a farm near Ireton for thirteen years but poor health compelled him to move to town in 1919 and with the exception of the two summers spent in Colorado he made his home here continuously until his death. He engaged in the automobile business in 1912 but was again compelled to give up work. He was active in church work, being baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was faithful to his belief. He was a deacon in St. Paul's Lutheran church for 14 years. He was active in all town, state and national affairs. He held the office of town councilman for 12 years and had attended political gatherings in county and state where his fellow townsmen sent him as a representative to conventions. Mr. Kluter has always held the respect of all and although not of a forward nature, nevertheless his fellow townsmen knew that his judgment was dependable and his purpose and efforts were for the right: Although his health has been poor for some years, yet he kept active and many did not know of his ailments. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Lester Coates, and two grandsons. He is also survived by two sisters Mrs. Chas. Bertram, and Mrs. Rehwaldt, and one brother, Fred Kluter. Funeral services were held from St. Paul's Lutheran church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon and interment was made in the Lutheran cemetery. The church was crowded with friends and relatives of the departed. Floral offerings were many and beautiful. Rev. Krieger, the pastor, preached a comforting sermon from I Corinthians 15: 23. Lois Krieger and Loraine Vlotho sang "Rock of Ages." So closes the life history of another who has lived and wrought, doing his pan to make Ireton and community a place of happy homes. His age was 64 years and 7 months and 16 days. His parents one sister and two brothers preceded him in death.

4. Louis Frederick born 5 Dec 1873 Ireton IA died 7 Jan 1897 Ireton IA.
From the Alton Democrat of Jan 9, 1897
At 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, the body of Lewis Kluter was found in his father's barn near Ireton, with a bullet hole through his heart. it is believed the shooting was accidental. Deceased was the son of Henry Kluter, one of the wealthiest farmers and oldest settlers of Sioux County. He was 20 years of age.
(From the 1895 census and ancestry.com - Henry Kluter 56 b. 19 Nov 1838 Germany died 5 July 1919 Ireton, wife Mathilda Twillman 1843-1924 children - Charles 1868, Louisa 1870, William 1871, Louis 1873, Freddie 1877, Henrietta 1879, and Martha 1881.)

5. Johann H. Friederich ‘Fred’ Kluter born 31 Aug 1877 Ireton IA died 7 Feb 1962 Altoona Iowa Funeral services for Fred Kluter,84, pioneer resident of Ireton who died last Wednesday from a heart attack at the home of his son Morris at Altoona, Iowa, were held Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton. Rev. Paul Friedrich officiated. Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Ireton. Mr Kluter, youngest son of Henry and Matilda(Twillman) Kluter, was born August 31, 1877, at Ireton where he lived his entire life on the farm on which he was born with the exception of the past two years when he made his home with a son in Altoona. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and remained a member of the church his entire life. He was an active church worker. On February 19, 1902, he married Miss Fannie Black of Ireton to which union were born two sons and a daughter. Mr. Kluter served on the school board39 years and took part in school and community affairs.He was preceded in death by the daughter, Olive, who died in October, 1929 while a sophomore in high school; his wife who died in October, 1931; his parents; three brothers and two sisters. Survivors include two sons, morris of Altoona and Arthur of Ireton; a sister, Mrs.Louisa Bertram of Ireton, and three grandchildren. Source:Hawarden Independent(2-15-1964)

6. Henrietta Wilhelmina Kluter born 30 Jul 1879 Ireton Iowa died 14 Aug 1930 Denver CO. Mrs. E. H. Hennrich of Denver, Colo (No local obit found) From a family report on ancestry.com lists
Edward Henry Hennrich born 12 mar 1873 Delaware Co. Iowa died 1 Apr 1950 Denver CO wife Henrietta Wilhelmina Kluter born 30 Jul 1879 Ireton IA died 14 Aug 1930 Denver CO. Children listed were Velda louise Emma Hennrich 1901 and Martha Wilhelmine Hennrich 1908 – 1987 They lived in Sioux County to about 1920 when they moved to Denver CO..

7. Martha Maia Magdalena Kluter 1881-1955
Source: Hawarden Independent (5-9-1955) Born: September 17, 1881 Died: May 28, 1955
Mrs. Walter C. Rehwaldt, 73, of Waconia, Minnesota, a former resident of Ireton and Hawarden, died on Saturday, May 28, in a hospital at Waconia. Reverend Rehwaldt and Miss Martha Kluter of Ireton were married while Reverend Rehwaldt was minister of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden. After her marriage she and Reverend Rehwaldt lived in Hawarden two years. Mrs. Rehwaldt, a daughter of Henry and Matilda Kluter, was born September 17, 1881, at Ireton. She was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Ireton. She was married to Reverend Rehwaldt September 17, 1906. When she left Hawarden she lived ten years at Chaska and nine years at Emblem and Casper, Wyoming. She lived 24 years at Norfolk, Nebraska and since July, 1951, lived at Waconia. For many years she served as organist in the Churches Reverend served. She is survived by the widower; a son, Reverend Henry Rehwaldt of East St. Louis, Illinois; a daughter, Mrs. Severn Gladem of Dayton, Ohio; a sister, Mrs. Louisa Bertram, and a brother, Fred Kluter, both of Ireton; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Waconia Memorial Day.Ireton relatives who attended were Mrs. Louisa Bertram, Fred Kluter and son, Arthur Kluter, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eilts and I.N. Guin.

OBITUARY OF HENRY KLUTER
Hawarden Independent of Jul 10, 1919
Death of Grandpa KIuter
Henry Kluter, an old and highly respected citizen and one of the oldest settlers here, died Saturday evening at the age of 80 years. Grandpa Kluter was known by young and old but for a year he has been little seen on account of his crippled condition, caused by a horse falling on him.
The funeral was held on Wednesday afternoon and was one of the largest ever held in this vicinity. The church, of which he was a charter member, was crowded and an immense throng could not get inside. The pastor passed a fine, loving tribute to the one gone to rest and the floral offerings were beautiful and many, but none of these will be needed for the life he lived will be the best evidence and his greatest monument.
Jurgen Henry Kluter was born at Holighorst, province of Westphalia, Germany, on the 19th of November 1838, and died in Ireton July 5, 1919, aged 80 years, 8 months and 14 days. He fought in the Prussian army in the war against Denmark in 1864 and after its conclusion he came to America and settled at Guttenburg, Iowa.
He was united in marriage at that place with Mathilda Twillman and the two have gone together through life for 52 years. To this union were born seven children, Charles, William and Fred Kluter, all of Ireton; Mrs. Chas. Bertram, also of Ireton; Mrs. F.. H. Hennrich of Denver, Colo.; and Mrs. W. Rehwaldt of Emblem, Wyo. Louis, another son, died in his young manhood.
They came to Sioux county in 1870 where they homesteaded the farm just north of town and now occupied by Fred Kluter. He farmed for thirty years and then retired to Ireton to spend the evening of life. He was a loyal, active member of the Lutheran church which he helped found and his Christian effort, his stand for right, his conservatism stood hem well and others always were made better by it. He was a hard worker and idleness was not in his creed. His many kind and noble deeds will be as jewels held in memory by those who knew him best. Rev. Schmidt preached from Hebrews 13:4. Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” So another of our old honored settlers, neighbor and friend is laid to rest with the many who have gone before and may the Peace and Rest be undisturbed by summer’s heat or winter’s col. We extend to the bereaved wife and children the hand of sympathy in their loss.

OBITUARY OF MATHILDA KLUTER
Hawarden Independent of Feb 14, 1924
Death of Pioneer Lady
Mrs. Henry Kluter passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Bertram, about 5 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 5th. She had been seriously ill for several weeks and the end was not unexpected. During her illness she had the best of care and a trained nurse was in constant attendance.
Death was due to the infirmities incident, to her advanced years. Funeral services were held at the Lutheran church in Ireton last Friday afternoon, conducted by her pastor, Rev. J. E. Rich. Schmidt, and interment •was made in the Lutheran cemetery.
Matilda Twillman was born at Rekum, a suburb of Bremen, Germany, on Oct. 18, 1843, so had attained the age of 80 years, 3 months and 18 days. She received her elementary schooling at Rekum and after her confirmation took up work in Bremen where she grew to womanhood. In the spring of 1867 she came to America and on June 5th of that year was united in marriage with Henry Kluter in Clayton county, Iowa. They continued to reside in Clayton and Delaware counties for four years and then in 1871 came to Sioux county and took a homestead just north of the present town of Ireton where her son, Fred J. Kluter, now resides. There they endured the hardships and privations which the pioneers in this prairie country encountered.
Then in 1900 in the evening of life they moved into Ireton where they lived most happily and contentedly until 1919 when Mr. Kluter was called by death. Mrs. Kluter continued to make her home in Ireton after her husband's death but the past fall was persuaded to enter her daughter's home where she might receive every possible care.
She was the mother of four sons and three daughters . 0ne son, Louis, passed away in 1897, The children who survive are Charles, Fred J. and Will J. Kluter and Mrs. Chas. Bertram of. Ireton, Mrs. E. H. Hennrich of Denver, Colo., and Mrs, Walter Rehwaldt of Emblem, Wyo. Both of the daughters who reside in the west reached Ireton in time to see their mother before she passed away. She is also survived by one brother, Luder Twillman of Ireton, and by a large number of grandchildren and other relatives and many friends.

A picture was taken from an ancestry.com family report.

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