Bussanmas, John Henry “Henry,” 1858-1935

BUSSANMAS, BUSSANMUS, DOMINISEE, AFOLATA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Alton Democrat, August 9, 1935, Granville news:

TO AMERICA AT AGE OF 8
J. H. Bussanmas, Granville Citizen, Was 77

John Henry Bussanmas, prominent Granville resident for the past forty-five years, passed away Monday morning, July 29, at 3 o’clock at his home following a lingering illness, at the age of 77 years, 2 months and 14 days. He was born May 15, 1858, at Westphalen, Germany. He was 8 years old when he came with his parents from Germany. They settled near Des Moines where they lived several years. From there they moved to Marcus where he operated a meat market for several years. Then they moved to Granville and he operated a meat market here 12 years. Then he had a saloon for 13[?] years and then he moved to his farm where the family resided until 1925 when they moved to Granville.

For several months Mr. Bussanmas had been ailing. He was confined to bed entirely until the day before his death.

He was married to Barbara Dominisee on Oct. 17, 1883, at St. Marys, Iowa. Deceased was a lifelong member of the Catholic church. In his passing the family loses a loving husband and father and the community one of its most loyal and creditable citizens. Surviving are his widow and the following children: Minnie, at home; Lawrence, Mitchell, S.D.; Louis, Omaha, Neb.; Frank, Harry and Gregor, near Granville; and Raymond. A daughter, Loretta, died at the age of 11 months in 1897. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren.

The funeral was held Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock with Rev. Francis Illg officiating. Interment took place at St. Joseph’s cemetery. Pallbearers were Mike Perlot, Wm. Niichel, John Noethe, Bert Schnurr, August Luken and George Schmidt. Out of town relatives who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bussanmas of Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Bussanmas of Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. H. Jorgensen of Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. John Bussanmas of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bussanmas and son of Bevington, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Felty Bussanmas of St. Marys, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bussanmas of Indianola, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Bill Meyer, Mrs. Marie Schemmel of Milford, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Murphy of Sheldon, N. C. Domminisee of Kleghorn, Mr. and Mrs. J. Goseling of Orange City, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Murphy of Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Lemke and their mother, Mrs. Chris Lemke, of Primghar.

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RESEARCH NOTES

A brief note on his death in the Alton Democrat, August 9, 1935, Granville news, calls him Henry Bussanmus.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Bussanmus, Henry, b. 1858, d. 1935, St. Josephs Cem, Granville IA. His FindaGrave.com page, however, includes a photo of the family stone, spelled Bussanmas.

His death certificate has him as John Henry Bussanmas; born May 15, 1858 in Germany; parents Chirs [Chris?] Bussanmas and Mary Afolata; wife Barbary Bussanmas; occupation, oil station manager; died at 3:05 a.m. July 29, 1935; cause, carcinoma of sigmoid, onset probably early in 1934; contributory causes, terminal hypostatic, onset July 27, and pulmon[illegible]; had a colostomy on 3/30/1935; diagnosis confirmed by X-ray and operation.

The 1925 Iowa state census spells his family’s surname Bussanmas. His father is given as Christ Bussanmas, mother’s name unknown. Barbara’s parents are given as John Domnisse and Kate Pool.

Researcher Wilma J. Vande Berg found a family record in the St. Joseph’s church register, spelled Bussanmus. Henry Bussanmus and Barbara Dominissee were early settlers near Granville. Barbara was born January 28, 1862 in New York and moved with her family to Wisconsin and later to St. Mary, Iowa and then to Granville. They were married on October 17, 1881. Six children are listed. She also found his probable parents on Ancestry.com: Christophe Bussanmus (1819-1888) and Anna Maria (1823-1903), son Henrich Bussanmus, born about 1859 in Germany.