Wilwert, Philip 1858-1939 and Lena Dysburg Family

WILWERT, DYSBURG, DIESBURG, BLESUIS, KLEIN

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg (email)
Date: 8/14/2024 at 10:36:45

Wilwert, Philip 1858-1939 and Lena Dysburg Family

This family story is from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church book 1883-1983 page 226. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.
Some research notes have been added. Note– The surname Dysburg - aks Disburg, Diesburg

Philip Wilwert was born in 1858 in Glusserath, Germany, a village situated at the River Mosel Dam, While he was very young, his parents both died, leaving 4 small sons. At the age of 18, to escape military service (conscription) with the German Army he emigrated to America in 1876, and along with his brother Nic was employed in Dubuque County until his marriage to Lena Dysburg in 1882 at Holy Cross, Iowa.

They bought a farm at White Lake, S. D. where they pioneered for 8 years. After continued drought they sold everything but a wagon & horses and drove east with their 3 children to Granville, where they had relatives. He became a U S citizen in 1880. For 20 years they lived southwest of Hospers and moved to Minnesota. In 1907 they purchased a small farm in the north addition of Alton and lived there until 1919. (former Bloemendaal Hatchery and now golf links etc.) Then moved to town.

There were 10 children – 2 died in infancy. Mary (Mrs. C. E. Hentges), Peter of Taconite MN, Lizzie (Mrs. John Frank) of Caledonia MN, Anne ( John Kashmitter & and Frank Vortherms), Laura (Mrs. Harry Kennedy) of Elysian MN, Nic of Laurens Iowa, Lena (Mrs. Mrs. Geo. Hansen), Christine (Mrs. Leo Gengler), Mrs. Anna Vertherms the only survivor as of Dec 1982. Mary Hentges (mother of Molly Homan, Pearl Krogman, & Carl Hentges) died Jan 1982 at the age of 97 years.

Philip raised hogs on garbage collected from the Maplewood Hotel, milked cows, raised chickens and had a large garden. Old house was moved by the new owners and a new brick one built in 1932. All the girls except Mary, who had married C. W. Hentges in 1905 found jobs at the various hotels and prominent homes as maids. Lizzie had a hat making shop until her marriage to John Frank. The Kennedy’s operated a cafe. Anne married John Kaschmitter ( she has a separate story in this book) Lena Hansen was telephone operator.

Philip died at the C. W. Hentges home where he was living in 1939, his wife preceded him in death in 1929.

(end of the family story in the St. Mary’s book)

RESEARCH Notes: From a family report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter, and obituaries from this web page.

Philip Wilwert born 23 Nov 1858 Klusserath, Trier Saarburg, Rhineland, Germany died 24 Jan 1940 Alton IA. His parents were Peter Wilwert 1819 and Elisabeth Blesuis 1915. He married Magdalena ‘Lena’ Diesburg 1882 at Holy Cross Dubuque IA.

Magdalena Lena Diesburg was born 12 Jul 1858 Holy Cross Dubuque IA died 27 Dec 1929 Alton IA. Her parents were Peter Diesburg 1824-1886 and Angeline Klein 1832-1890. Philip and Lena had the following children:

CHILDREN: Found on family report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter.

1. Peter Nichola Wilvert born 8 Apr 1883 Holy Cross, Dubuque IA died 18 Apr 1958 Itasca MN. He married Philemina ‘Minnie’ Agnes Bissonette 1887-1960. Two children named were Cecelia Melvina Wilvert and Pearl Magdaline Wilvert 1910-1971

2. Mary Frances Wilwert born 26 Jul 1884 Dubuque IA died 11 Jan 1982 Orange City IA. She married Charles William Hentges 1875-1963. They had children Malvina Magdalena ‘Molly’ Hentges 1906-1994, Pearl Loretta Hentges 1915-2003 and Carl John Hentges 1923-2014.

3. Elizabeth Lizzie K. Wilwert born 13 Apr 1886 White Lake, Aurora SD and died 5 Feb 1958 Houston MN. She married John Alois Frank 1889-1957. They had children – Leroy Peter Frank 1914-1983, Alma Florence Frank 1918-2009, Henry M. Frank 1920-2012.

4. Annie Wilwert born 30 Aug 1891 Iowa died Dec 1990. She married John Andrew Kaschmitter 1883-1940. They had three children Vera Kaschmitter 1915-1985, Odillo Otto Kaschmitter 1919 and Leonard Henry Kaschmitter 1926-2009. Annie married second husband Frank Vertherms 1885-1966

5. Loretta C. Wilwert Loretta C. Wilwert 10 Aug 1893 Hospers IA died 21 Mar 1972 Elysian, Le Sueur, MN. She married Harold Kennedy 1888-1946. They had children William Nicholas Kennedy 1916-1977, Harold Charles Kennedy 1917-1996, Philip John Kennedy 1919-1993, Loretta Mae Kennedy 1921-1998, Robert Geo Kennedy 1923-2004 and Ivo Clement Kennedy 1925-1994.

6. Nicholas D. Wilwert born 28 Feb 1898 IA died Jan 1953 Laurens IA He married Lois Mary Tool 1914-1983. They had children – Gerald L Wilwert 1933-1984, Marilyn Jean Wilwert 1936-2014 and one other not named.

7. Magdalena Lena M. Wilwert born 2 Mar 1900 Floyd Tsp Sioux Co. IA died 1970 IA. She married George Hansen 1896-1986. They had children – Helen Lorraine Hansen 1921-2007, and three others not named.

8. Christina Frances Wilwert born 31 Dec 1902 Hospers Sioux IA died 29 Jul 1959 La Crosse, WI. She married Leonard Nicholas Gengler 1896-1973. They had children – Fay Lorriane Gengler 1928-2013, Ramon John Gengler 1931-1999, Nancy Louise Gengler 1941-2023, and one other not named.

OBITUARY of Philip Wilwert 1859-1939

P. WILWERT WAS NATIVE OF GERMANY
Died January 24 At Daughter’s Home In Alton
Philip Wilwert, long a respected resident of Alton, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chas. W. Hentges (Mary), Wednesday night at the age of 81 years. He was confined to his bed about three weeks with a heart affliction which proved fatal. He lived an active and useful life and was a favorite both with “old-timers” and younger people for his friendly smile and manner and sterling character.

He was born November 22, 1859, at Glusserath, Germany, a village situated at the River Mosel dam. While he was very young his parents both passed on, leaving four small sons. At the age of 18, to escape military service with the German army, he emigrated to the United States and was employed in
Dubuque county, eastern Iowa, until his marriage on Sept. 19, 1882, to Miss Lena Disburg at Holy Cross Church. They bought a farm at White Lake, S.D., where they pioneered for eight years. After continued drought they sold everything but a wagon and team of horses and drove east across country with their three small children to Granville where they had relatives.

While still in Dubuque, Mr. Wilwert applied for American citizenship in 1880, 50 years ago, and was granted his final papers at the Aurora county courthouse, South Dakota. After two years, they bought a farm near Hospers where they lived for about ten years, then sold their property and moved to
Minnesota. In 1904, they purchased from Henry Pins a small farm in the north addition of Alton and lived there until 1929 when they sold the place to Jim Bloemendaal and moved to town. Mrs. Wilwert died Dec. 27th, 1929. Since then Mr. Wilwert had lived with his children, for seven years with Mrs. John Frank of Caledonia, Minn. About two years ago, he came to Alton to live with Mr. and Mrs. Hentges.

Eight children survive their father: Peter Wilwert, Taconite, Minn.; Mrs. Hentges (Mary) of Alton; Mrs. J. Frank (Lizzie), Caledonia, Minn.; Mrs. John Kaschmitter (Anna), Alton; Mrs. Harry Kennedy (Laura), Elysium, Minn.; Nick, Laurens; Mrs. George Hansen (Lena), Alton; Mrs. Leo Gengler (Christine), Caledonia, Minn. Two daughters died in infancy.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in charge of the Very Rev. J. M. Neppel. Pallbearers were Peter Eulberg, Mike Zenk, J. P. Wiltgen, John Reeff, J. H. Homan, and Mat. Perlot. All the children and their families were here for the services except the oldest son, Peter, who visited here with his father in December. Others here from out-of-town included a granddaughter, Miss Anna Frank of Austin, Minn.; several nephews and nieces of Farley, Iowa; Nick Wilwert, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wilwert and Mrs. Tiesen, all of Farley, and old-time friends from neighboring towns.
~Source: The Alton Democrat, Friday, Feb. 2, 1940

OBITUARY of Madelena ‘Lena’ (Mrs. Philip Wilwert) 1857-1929
The Alton Democrat, January 3, 1930
RESIDENT OF SIOUX COUNTY MANY YEARS
Mrs. Philip Wilwert of Alton Died Last Friday at Her Home Here
The mother of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, Mrs. Philip Wilwert, a resident of Alton for 22 years, died Friday, Dec. 27, 1929, from the effects of anemia.
Madeline Disburg was born at Holy Cross, Iowa, July 12, 1857. There she grew to womanhood and in the Holy Cross Catholic church on September 19, 1882, she was married to Philip Wilwert. The young couple turned their faces westward and for some years farmed in Minnesota and White Lake, S.D., coming to Sioux county about forty years ago and settling at Hospers on a farm.
Twenty-two years ago they came to Alton. They farmed a thirty-acre place on the north side of town which they farmed until some fifteen years ago when they retired and moved to a home in town.
They raised a family of eight children, two having died in infancy. They passed through many hardships during the early days but were successful in fighting through the difficulties and winning success by hard work and perseverance. Many scores of friends here and in other communities where she was known, mourn the loss of a dear friend and lovely character. Mrs. Wilwert was a faithful member of the Rosary society of St. Mary’s church and a large number of the members of the society paid their respects to the deceased member by meeting at her home each afternoon at three o’clock and
saying the Rosary for her.
No sacrifice was too great for her to make for her children who repaid in full measure her devotion for them and the entire community extends heartfelt sympathy in the loss of their wonderful mother.
The children are: Peter of Taconite, Minn.; Mrs. Charles Hentges of Alton; Mrs. John Frank of Caledonia, Minn.; Mrs. John Kaschmitter of Alton; Mrs. Harry Kennedy, of Alton; Nick of Graff, Iowa; Mrs. George Hansen, of Alton; Mrs. Leo Gengler of Caledonia, Minn.. She is also survived by two
sisters—Mrs. Peter Smith of Caledonia and Mrs. Hart of Dubuque. An only brother died at his home at Holy Cross, Iowa, only a few months ago.
Funeral services were conducted Monday morning at St. Mary’s Church by the pastor, Very Rev. M. A. Schemel, and interment took place at Saint Mary’s cemetery.
All of the children were present at the funeral services, and also the following from out of the county: John Frank, Leo Gengler, Mrs. Peter Smith, Mrs. Margaret Hoffmann, and Mrs. Nick Frank, all of Caledonia; Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Mai, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Boever, Mrs. Paul Rodesch, Mrs. Richard Meyer, all of Remsen; Mr. and Mrs. L. Jungers, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stoil, of Hospers.

Picture of the family on page 226

Philip & Lena Wilwert Family Photo
 

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