Gillen John 1832-1917 & Katherine Hengel Family

GILLEN, HENGEL, LUDOWISSI

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/7/2024 at 21:06:36

Gillen, John 1832-1917 and Katherine Hengel Family

This family history was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book 1883-1983 page 145. 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, with spellings of names and places listed as indicated the in the source.

John Gillen was born in Luxembourg on April 25, 1832. He accompanied his mother on a journey to the U. S. sometime about 1846. She died and was buried at sea, due to the plague. All of John’s records and possessions were buried at sea also. John landed in the U. S. unable to speak or write English; unable to contact his father and brothers and sisters who were waiting for their mother to establish contacts in the U. S. Other people in the boat befriended him, and eventually he got to Wisconsin where he worked in the mines, then farmed near Port Washington, Wisconsin.

John served with the 25th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War and married Katherine Hengel, daughter of Frank and Margaretha Ludowissi Hengel, before traveling to and farming near Hartford, South Dakota. They retired from farming and moved to Alton, Iowa spending their last years with a daughter, Frances. They raised nine children Nick, who married Mary Robinet; Ann who married Peter Robinet; Mary who married Mike Even; Frank who married Rose Finton; John who married Susie Speilman; Henry who married Anne Speilman, Margaret who married Peter J. Frederickson; Celeste who married Walter Gilchrist and Frances who married Peter Schroeder.

John died January 29, 1917. Katherine died on November 15, 1923.

RESEARCH Notes: From family report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter, and from census records, birth, marriages, and deaths on ancestry.com

Upon checking the immigration lists, there were many John Gillens who came to America during the time period most originated from Ireland. John Gillen could not be found in the 1860 censbut us was thought to be living in Wisconsin.

Census of 1870 John Gillen age 38 born about 1832 Luxembourg, lived at Belguim, Ozaukee WI, he was a farmer, spouse was Catherine Gillen 30, born about 1840 Luxembourg, Children were Nicholas age 8 born about 1862 Michigan, Frank age 6, born abt 1864 WI, Anna age 4 born abt 1866 WI, Mary age 1, born WI.

Census of 1880 John Gillen age 48 born abt 1832 Luxembourg, lived at Belguim, WI, he was the son in law to the head of household who was, Frank Hengel age 71 born abt 1809 Luxembourg and his wife Margaret Hengel age 72. John’s wife was Catherine Gillen age 42 born abt 1838 Lux., Children of John and Catherine listed – Nicholas 18, Ann 14, Mary 11, John 9, Henry 6, Margaret 4 and Calestine 2.

Census of 1900 John Gillen Sr. age 68 born Apr 1832 Luxembourg, lived in Hartford, Minnehaha, SD, immigrated in 1854, owned farm. Wife Kate Gillen, age 63 born Luxembourg, Children were Henry Gillen age 26 born Apr 1874 WI, Frances Gillen age 1879 born Oct 1879 born WI.

Census of 1905 John Gillen born Luxembourg was living in Sioux County IA.

Ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitters lists -

Johann ‘John’ Gillen born 25 Apr 1832 Bertrange, Luxembourg and died 29 Jan 1917 Alton IA. According to the report on ancestry, his parents were John Gillen 1795-1841 and Barbara Oberweis 1810-abt 1855. John and Barbara were married 1814 (Barbara being 4 yrs old when son, John was born??) according to the submitter which is in error causing dispute if the parents names are correct at all. Johann ‘John’ Gillen born 1832 married Katherine Hengel 7 Jul 1861 Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County Michigan.

Katherine Hengel was born 6 Jun 1837 Hassel, Weiler-la-Tour, Luxembourg and died 15 Nov 1923 Alton IA. She was the daughter of Frank Hengel 1808-1886 and Margaretha Ludowese 1807-1886.
John Gillen and Katherine Hengel were the parents of nine children as listed below.

CHILDREN – Most of their information was found in a family report on ancestry.com by others.

1. Nicholas Gillen born 22 Apr 1882 Igelhaar, Michigan died 24 Aug 1941 Cunningham KS. He married Mary Frances Robinet 1863-1933, their children were – John Peter Gillen 1886-1966;m Peter William Gillen 1889-1968; Michael J. Gillen 1891-1981; Alexander Peter Gillen 1893-1966; Aloysious John Gillen 1893-1968; Dominic Joseph Gillen 1894-1988; Susan Rose Gillen; 1896-1958; Joseph Herman Gillen 1899-1965 and Arnold Peter Gillen 1902-1956.

2. Frank Gillen born 19 Jun1865 Port Washington, WI died 30 Sep 1905, Hartford, SD. Find A Grave lists Frank Gillen born May 1865 Wisconsin died 30 Sep1904 Hartford SD. Wife was Rose Finton 1868-1941. Child Lawrence Gillen 1894-1934.

3. Anna Gillen born 3 Jun 1867 Ozaukee Co. WI died 14 May 1889 Hospers, IA. She married Peter Robinet 1861-1933.

4. Mary Gillen born 10 Mar 1869 Belguim WI died 8 Jul 1956 Alton IA. She married Michael Even 1864-1940 Their children were – Frank Mathias Even 1889-1984; Anna Even 1891;, Ottilia Anna Even 1893-1980; Joseph Theodore Even 1895-1981; Edward Joseph Even 1897-1960; Georgia M. Even 1900-1992 and Frances Even 1903-1989.

5. John Gillen born 27 Mar 1871 Belguim WI died 18 Dec 1916 Hartford SD He married Suzanne Katherine Spielmann 1876-1954 Their children were – John Leslie Gillen 1898-1959; Michael A. Gillem 1897-1961; Marian A. Gillen 1899-1980; Raymond Nickolas Gillen 1900-1985; Leonard Henry Gillen 1902-1960; Lewis P. Gillen 1904-1905; Francis Michael Gillen 1906-1987; William Gillen 1908-1965 and Xavier Francis Gillen 1914-1981.

6. Henry Gillen born 30 Apr 1874 Belguim WI died 19 Apr 1955 Los Angeles CA He married Anne Speilman. Children listed were Helen Elizabeth Gillen 1913-1994; and Bernadette Claire Gillen 1922-2008.

7. Margaret Gillen born 7 May 1879 Belguim WI died 26 Oct 1957 Minnehaha Co. SD. She married Peter J. Frederickson about 1878. Their children were – Lewis H. Fredrickson 1902; George B. Frederickson 1903; Evertett P. Frederickson 1906; Earl Frederickson 1908.

8. Frances Gillen born 12 Nov1880 Belguim WI died 29 Nov 1967.She married Peter Schroeder.

9. Celestine Gillen born 20 Oct 1882 Belguim WI died 15 Apr 1951. She married Walter Gilchrist 1876-1928. Two children listed – Florence Gilchrist 1907 and Georgia Gilchrist 1909.

OBITUARY of John Gillen
From the February 3, 1917 Alton Democrat (the microfilmed image was very difficult to read and several lines are totally illegible): Soldier, Pioneer Dies Quietly John Gillen, a veteran of the Civil War and pioneer resident of South Dakota, passed away quietly Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Peter Schroeder. The funeral was held Thursday morning from St. Mary’s church, with Rev. F. J. Brune officiating.
John Gillen was born in Bartringen, Luxembourg, Europe on April 25, 1832, being 84 years old at the time of his death. He came to America when 22 years old, working in Wisconsin for eight months and then moving to Michigan where he worked in the _____ _____. After a short time, he went to Paha(?), Missouri where he went to work in the lumber camps, staying two years. From there Mr. Gillen moved north to Lake Superior and Eagle Harbor, Michigan where he was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Hengel (?) on July 7, 18__ (1861?). They moved to a farm in Washington ____, Wisconsin, (2 totally illegible, absent lines here). In 18___, Mr. Gillen joined the army, going with the ___ Wisconsin regiment. During this time he endured many hardships in the ___ of ___ and after the war returned home to his family with his eyesight somewhat impaired as the result of hardships endured.
In 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Gillen moved to Hartford (?), S.D. where they settled again on a farm in 1900 moved to Alton where they have lived since.
Nine children were born, namely: Nic Gillen of Willowdale, Kansas; Anna Gillen Robinet, Frank Gillen, Mary Gillen Even, John Gillen, and Henry Gillen of Watertown, S.D., Margaret Gillen of Watertown, S.D., Celeste Gillen Gilcrist of Worthington, Minn., Frances Gillen Schroeder of Alton. Anna, Frank and John are dead. The wife and six children survive him; also 35 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Poster’s note: Family trees on ancestry.com have Mrs. Gillen’s maiden name as Catherine Hengel so although the “n” is illegible in the obituary, that is probably right. They give the marriage date as July 7, 1861 (July 7 is legible in the obituary but not the 61).
It is hard to tell but it looks like Nic, Henry, Margaret, Celeste, Frances survived him and probably Mary Gillen Even; however, her address is not given in the obituary. But from census information, it looks like she also lived in Alton, Iowa (probably why her residence was not given) and that she did not die until 1956.
Mr. Gillen's birth place looks like Bartringen and I see that place used in relation to Bertrange when I google it so I that is how I transcribed it.
According to his military record on this site, Mr. Gillen was Drafted to Company U, Wisconsin 25th Infantry Regiment on 01 Dec 1864.

OBITUARY of Catherine Mrs. John Gillen 1837 - 1923
Alton Democrat of Nov 17 1923
Mrs. Catherine Gillen, long a resident of Alton, died Thursday Nov. 15 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Peter Schroeder. Mrs. Gillen passed out peacefully at about 1.20 p.m.. after a few weeks Illness, her death coming as the result of old age. She was 86 years old. The funeral will be held at St Mary's church Monday morning at nine o'clock. A full obituary will appear in our next issue.
Alton Democrat of Nov 24, 1923
Passing of Aged Alton Resident Funeral of Mrs. Catharine Gillen Held Monday at St. Mary’s church. Funeral services for Mrs. Catharine Gillen, who passed on Thursday Nov… 15th were conducted Monday by Very Rev F. J. Brune at St. Mary’s church and the remains laid to rest in St. Mary’s cemetery. Mrs. Gillen who was over 80 years old had been gradually failing since last June, but kept her keen mentality to the last, quietly passing out at 1:20 Thursday afternoon. She will be missed not only by her children and grandchildren but by neighbors and friends to whom during her 23 years residence in Alton she was affectionately known as Grandma Gillen. Six children survive their mother. They are Nic Gillen, Willowdale Kan.; Mrs. Mike Even, Alton; Henry Gillen, Watertown, SD; Mrs. Peter Frederickson of Sioux Falls; Mrs. Walter Gilchrist of Worthington MN; Mrs. Peter Schroeder of Alton. Mrs. Gillen also has two sisters living Mrs. Anna Reis of Portland OR and Mrs. M. Sweeney of Chicago. Catherine Hengel was born at Hessel Luxembourg Europe on May 21st, 18_7. She came to America wither parents in 1847, the family settling at Port Washington WI. On July 7th 1861 Miss Hengel was married to John Gillen at Eagle Harbor Mich. In 1866 the family moved to a farm near Hartford SD. Where they made their home until 1900, when they came to Alton. Mr. Gillen passed away in January of 1917. For the last 28 years Mrs. Gillen and Mr. Gillen until his death made their home with their daughter Mrs. Peter Schroeder.
Relatives and Friends from a distance were mentioned.