Pike Township Family Stories
BERNARD AND CHARLOTTE KIRCHNER
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 317-318
Written by Frances Elder; submitted by Betty BieriBernard Kirchner was born in Weimar, Saxony, Germany, 2 December 1833, the son of Christian Kirchner and Dorothy Gepford Kirchner. Both parents lived their entire lives in Germany.
Bernard came to America as a young man in 1852, and after spending two years in New York, lived in Rock Island, Illinois, for a short time. In 1855 he began farming in Muscatine county by renting land. He later purchased 160 acres in Pike township, which he cultivated until 1873, when he came to Nichols and opened a mercantile establishment. He was successful both as a farmer and as a merchant, but in 1894 he retired, his sons taking charge of the business. He was also a stockholder of the Lone Tree Savings bank.
On 23 December 1863, Mr. Kirchner was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Lenz. Charlotte was born 27 November 1845 in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. She was a daughter of Valentine Lenz and Barbara Lenz, coming to America with her parents on the ship “Palestine.” It was a hard trip. During the voyage the ship caught fire twice and provisions ran so short that they were without food for three days. They landed in New York on 10 May 1857 and went directly to Rock Island county, Illinois, where they obtained work for 50 cents a day. They settled in Buffalo Prairie, Illinois, and later moved to a farm near Nichols. At age eleven she was confirmed in the Protestant Evangelical church.
Bernard died 27 November 1906 in Nichols, and Charlotte died 27 October 1931. Both are buried in the Nichols cemetery.
They were parents of eight children: Fred Kirchner, Elizabeth Kirchner, Margaret Kirchner, Henry Kirchner, Bernard Kirchner, Anna Kirchner, John Kirchner and Gertrude Kirchner.
Frederick Henry Kirchner was born 1864, died 15 March 1935 at Nichols. He married in December 1895 Anna Mae Constant, who was born 14 May 1869 in Johnson county, Iowa, died 19 February 1938. Both are buried in the Lone Tree cemetery. Their child was Gildra Bernard Kirchner.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kirchner was born 1 February 1867 at Nichols, died 15 June 1937. She married 12 November 1901 William Bowen, who died in 1910. Her second marriage was to Charley Koelling. She had no children.
Margaret “Maggie” Kirchner was born 8 January 1869, died 4 August 1940. She married 6 October 1886 Dr. Frank F. Carl II, who was born 22 February 1860, died 6 February 1938. They were parents of two children: Evan Carl and Verna Maleta Carl.
Annie Kirchner was born 25 May 1877. She married Louis Mapes, who was born June 1880 at Adams Station in Pike township, the son of Albert and Mary Mapes. Annie and Louis had two children: Dorothy Charlotte Makes and Bernard Mapes.
John Kirchner, born 29 May 1879 near Nichols, died in 1940. He married Lucy Mapes of Adams, a cousin of Louis who married John’s sister, Annie. Lucy was born in August 1879. Their children were William Kirchner, Charlotte Kirchner, James Kirchner and Genevieve Kirchner.
John worked at the Kirchner General store and owned a restaurant in Nichols. He also lived in Portland, Oregon, and Fort Worth, Texas.
After John and Lucy were divorced, Lucy married Benjamin Black, son of Robert C. Black and Melissa Black. Lucy’s father, Fred B. Mapes, was in the real estate business in Nichols.
Gertrude Kirchner was born 21 June 1882, died 20 February 1949. She never married. She is buried in the Nichols cemetery.
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