Kraus, John 1840-1909 & Margaret Gehl Family

KRAUS, GEHL, SIMON, SCHMITGEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/22/2026 at 13:52:24

Kraus, John 1840-1909 and Margaret Gehl family

This biography of the John and Margaret Kraus family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page133. It was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The full narrative including additions to the church book story were made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index, internet searches and various local archives.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may vary from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter.

John Kraus Sr. story from the St. Joseph’s Church book page 133.

John Kraus, Sr. was born in Gazingen, Luxemburg in 1840 and came to America in 1862 and settled at St. Donatus, Iowa. Margaret Gehl was born Jurich, Luxemburg in 1843 and came to America in 1871 and resided in Dubuque. John Kraus and Margaret Gehl were married at St. Donatus, Iowa. They were farmers and in the early 1900 they came to Sioux County, Iowa and continued farming. Children born to them were: John M., John Peter, Peter, Margaret, Jacob and Mary. John, Sr. died in September of 1909 and Margaret Kraus died in September of 1931. Both are buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Granville.
(end of the story in the St. Joseph’s Church book)

RESEARCH Notes:

John Kraus was born 23 Mar 1840 Koerich Capellen Luxembourg died 20 Sep 1909 Granville, IA. He was the son of Joannes Kraus born 13 Jul 1802 Kehlen, Capellen Luxembourg died 21 Apr 1871 St. Donatus Jackson IA; and Susanna Simon born 22 Jun 1802 Goetzingen, Koerich, Capellen, Luxembourg died 21 Oct 1848 Koerich, Capellen, Luxembourgh. John Kraus married Margaret Gehl

Margaret Gehl was born 1 Oct 1842 Koerich, Capellen, Luxembourg died 18 Sep 1931 Granville, IA. She was the daughter of Joannes Gehl born 11 Nov 1799 Keispelt Capellen, Luxembourg died 29 Oct 1842 Koerich Capellen, Luxembourg; and Margaret Schmitgen born 28 Dec 1803 Koerich Capellen Luxembourg died 7 Dec 1874 Koerich, Capellen Luxembourg. (Margaret Gehl’s parents were traced through ancestry.com, her brother John Gehl 1836-1923 living in near Cascde, Dubuque IA).

CHILDREN:

1. John M. Kraus born 1871 Richland Jackson IA From the 1880 Richland, Jackson County IA. 1900 census of East Orange Sioux Iowa John was born Nov 1871 IA. He was single. He died about late 1925. 1920 census of Troy Pipestone MN, John Kraus was 48 wife Cecelia was 38. No children listed.

2. John Peter Kraus born 8 Oct 1874 Jackson County IA died 9 Mar 1939 Hospers IA. See His obituary on this web page. He married Elizabeth Hentges, they and a son and married daughter. Wife Mrs. John Kraus born June 2, 1884 Kossuth County, married Sept 14, 1910. Daughter Margaret Mrs. Joe Goegen and son Leo Kraus of Granville.

3. Margaret Kraus Bissen was born 3 Sep 1876 died 30 Jan 1912 buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. . Obit states - Alton Democrat of Apr 23, 1921 Mrs. Kraus and Mr. and Mrs. John Riese left Tuesday for Chicago to attend the funeral of Miss Bissen, a granddaughter of Mrs. Kraus.. Mrs. Bissen, the young lady's mother, will be remembered here as Miss Maggie Kraus who passed away some years ago. (The Sioux County cemetery index lists Margaret Bissen born 3 Sep 1876 died 30 Jan 1912 buried St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA.) 1910 census of Chicago lists Margaret Bisson born abt 1879 In Iowa. Husband Ferdinand Bisson 36 with child Margaret Bisson age 0. born 1910. They were married 17 Nov 1908 Chicago IL.

4. Peter Kraus born 1 Jan 1879 Granville, Sioux, IA died 17 Feb 1898 Granville IA. See his obituary on this web page. He died of an illness of dropsy and lung fever.

5. Jacob Kraus born 27 Aug 1879 Saint Donatus, Jackson Co. IA, died 11 Sep 1944 Orange City, IA buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. He was not married. See his obituary on this web page.

6. Mary Kraus Ries born 27 Aug 1881 Granville IA died May 1973 Granville IA. She married John Ries See the obit of John Ries 1875-1966 for details of the family. No children reported in his obit.

OBITUARY of John Kraus 1840 -1909
Alton Democrat of Sep 25, 1909 Granville news.

J. Kraus died at his home two and a half miles northwest of town Monday night at the age of sixty nine years. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and three sons and two daughters. Funeral services were held at St. Joseph's church Thursday morning. His remains wore laid to rest in St. Joseph's cemetery.

OBITUARY of Magaret Mrs. John Kraus 1842-1931
Source: Alton Democrat (9-26-1931)Born: October 1, 1842 died: September 18, 1931 MRS. MARGARET KRAUS---BORN IN LUXEMBOURG; CAME HERE IN 1891. Mrs. Margaret Kraus died at her home at Granville Friday at eight o’clock in the evening from an extended illness from which she had been suffering during the past four years. She was 89 years of age, having been born in the Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe, October 1, 1842 to Mr. and Mrs. John Gehl. She came to Sioux County in 1891.
Mrs. Johannes "John" Klaus is survived by three sons and one daughter, who are located at Granville, except one, where they are well known and respected citizens. They are Jake, Mrs. Mary Ries and James Kraus, all of Granville; and John of Pipestone, Minnesota.
Reverend J.A. Geriemann conducted the funeral services at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday, at 9:30 A.M. During her lifetime, Mrs. Kraus was a devoted member of the Church. Interment took place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery at that place. Among those from away who came to attend the services were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moes of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. John Kraus of Pipestone, Minnesota and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Klein of Alton; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kraus and son Joe of Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. Prints of Chicago.

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