Herrig, Michael 'Mike' 1871-1921 & Catherine Ambrosy Family

HERRIG, AMBROSY, AMBORSIA, KIRSCH, NEMMERS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/4/2024 at 15:34:20

Herrig, Michael ‘Mike’ 1871-1921 & Catherine Ambrosy Family

This family story was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church book of 1883-1983 page 159.
This story was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County genealogical Society. Some research notes have been added. Spellings of names such as Ambrosy/Ambrose/Ambrosia are listed as found in the named source.

Mike Herrig was born Jun 23 1971, at St. Donatus, Iowa. Catherine Ambrosy Herrig was born November 5, 1883, at Gilbertville, IA. Mr. Herrig came to Sioux county in 1894 and bought a farm 4 ½ miles south of Alton. Mike Herrig and Catherine Ambrosy were married December 7, 1906, at Gilbertsville, Iowa, and came to live on this farm where their six children were born.

Mr. Herrig died December 14, 1921. Mrs. Herrig continued to operate the farm with the assistance of her brother, Bert Ambrosy, from Gilbertville, Iowa. Mrs. Herrig died on Jun 14. 1940, then Clarence and Edmund took over the farm. Mr. Ambrosy lived with them until 1947.

Mr. and Mrs. Herrig had six children: Angeline, Mrs. Nic Plathe, Celeste, Mrs. Leo Krogman of Ashton IA, Clarence Herrig, Edmund married Lorraine Mai is retired and lives in Alton, Ervin Herrig married Helen Alesch and lives in Alton IA., Gilbert Herrig is retired and lived in Alton. He was custodian of St. Mary’s church for many years.

(end of church book family story)

RESEARCH Notes: From local obituaries on our page and from family reports on ancestry.com which were submitted by other than this submitter.

Michael Herrig born 23 Jun 1871 Jackson County Iowa died 4 Dec 1921 Le Mars, Iowa, buried St. Mary’s Alton. He was the son of William Herrig 1828-1919 and Catherine Nemmers 1842-1910. He married Catherine Ambrosy on 7 Feb 1906 Gilbertville Iowa. Note - Michael was a brother of Mathias Herrig who has a separate BIOS on this web page.

Catherine Ambrosy was born 15 Nov 1883 Gilbertville IA and died 14 Jun 1904 Alton, IA She was the daughter of Michael 1838 and Mary 1838 Ambrosy. Michael and Catherine had six children.

In effort to find Mary Ambrosy born 1838 parents; the 1900 census found Michael Ambrosy born Jun 1838 Germany, living at Poyner, Black Hawk, IA, immigrated in 1870, married 1881 married 19 years, a farmer, wife Mary Ambrosy (Kirsch) born 7 May 1858 IA. Children – Michael 17, Catherine 16 yrs born Nov 1883, Mathilda 14, Nicholas 12, Clara 10, Margaret 8, Susan 6 and Bernard 3. Found the marriage record on ancestry.com Michael Herrig married Mary Kirsch in Black Hawk County in 18 May 1881.

Further found that Mary Kirsch age 12 born IA, was living in Poyner Black Hawk Iowa, as a daughter of Elizabeth Spoten, (Mrs. Martin Spoten) with siblings Nicolas14, Martin 12, Jacob 10 and Peter 5. Mary Kirsch born 7 May 1858 died 5 Sep 1927. Elisabeth’s first husband was Mathias Kirsch born abt 1820 died 30 Jan 1868. Elizabeth’s second husband Martin Spoten was born abt 1824 and died 1870-1880, Elizabeth Ambrose Kirsch (Ambrose was her maiden name) was born about 1820 died 12 Apr 1890 Black Hawk Co. Iowa.

Find A Grave’ has Mathias Kirsch born 18 Nov 1820 Niederweis Germany, died 30 Jan 1868 Gilbertville Black Hawk Iowa, married to Elisabetha Ambrosy born 30 Aug 1820 Kruchten Rheinland Pfalz Germany and died 12 Apr 1890 Gilbertville IA.

CHILDREN: Michael Herrig and Catherine Ambrosy children, from local obituaries on this web page and from the ancestry.com reports. All obits except Celeste’s are posted on this web page.

1. Angeline M. Herrig born 31 Mar 1907 Sioux County Iowa died 16 Jan 1964 Le Mars Iowa. She married on Jan 24, 1928 to Nicholas Plathe. Their children – Berthille Mrs. Roman Budden, Mark Plathe, Maro Plathe of Granville and Virgil Plathe of Alton.

2. Clarence M. Herrig born Nov 23, 1908 died May 10, 1965 Palm Springs CA buried St Mary’s Alton IA.

3. Celestine Herrig born 8 Feb 1911 Alton IA died 10 Jul 1991 Ashton IA. Married Leo Leo Krogman 1912-1994 of Ashton IA. Child named in ancestry.com report Laura Lee Krogmen 1938-2016

4. Edmund M. Herrig born 16 Nov 1914 Alton IA died 11 Jan 1992 Alton IA. He married Lorraine Mai on Sep 24, 1940 Alton IA. They had children Dan Herrig of Boise ID, Russ Herrig and wife Nancy of Sharon Mass, and Diane Mrs. Pat Hughes of Rock Rapids and Nancy Herrig Mrs. William Thurman of Redmond WA.

5. Ervin M. Herrig born 30 Oct 1917 Alton IA died 9 Jul 2001 Sioux City IA. He married Helen Alesch on Sep 23, 1946. Their children – Kathleen Mrs. Tim Graca of Burnsville MN, Chuck Herrig and wife Cathy of Sargeant Bluff, Don Herrig of Lake View and Jim Herrig of Iowa City.

6. Gilbert Herrig born 8 Jan 1919 Sioux City IA died May 1987 Alton IA.

OBITIARY of Michael ‘Mike Herrig’ 1871-1921

Alton Democrat of Dec 10, 1921
Michael Herrig Called To Far Land
Grim Reaper Claims Prominent Alton Farmer Lock Jaw Cause. Community Shocked.
The Alton community was greatly shocked to learn Sunday of the Death at 9 o’clock that morning of one of the community’s most solid and respected farmers, Michael Herrig, who passed away at the Sacred Heart hospital at Le Mars from lock jaw caused by a rusty nail which he had stepped on a week before. All that doctors and nurses could do was performed in the effort to save his life, but to no avail.
Mr. Herrig had stepped back onto a rusty nail Saturday, Nov 26 while chopping wood. Only ordinary attention was given to the small wound and nothing was though to it. He did not feel any pain or become sick until Saturday a week after the incident when his jaw became partially set. He was taken at once to the hospital at Le Mars and given every treatment known to medical science but it was too late to do any good and Sunday Dec 4th he passed away at 9 a.m. Sunday after noon the remains were brought home to the farm 4 ½ miles south and a half mile east of Alton and the funeral was held Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. form the home and at 9:30 at St. Mary’s church, Alton , solemn requiem high mass being given by Rev. Father F. J. Brune of Alton, Rev. Father Ambrosia, Rev. Father Dries of Hospers. The funeral was the largest ever held from St. Mary’s church here.
Michael Herrig was born at St. Donatus, IA on June 23, 1871, being aged 50 years 5 months and 12 days at the time of his death. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Herrig and when 23 years of age came to Sioux county and bought a farm southeast of Alton where by careful and intelligent farming he prospered, becoming one of the most solid and respected citizens of this community. In 1905 he married at Gilbertville to Miss Catherine Ambrosia and six children were born to them, the oldest now fifteen and the youngest two and one half years of age. They are Angeline, Celeste, Clarence, Edmond, Everett and Gilbert. Their home life was very happy. Mrs. Herring was a ‘home’ man and the home will never seem the same to the bereaved wife and children. He was an active member of St. Joseph’s society.
Besides the widow and children he leaves six brothers and five sisters to mourn their loss, as follows: Math of Alton: Mary of Gilbertsville; Mrs. Lizzie Schares of Gilbertsville; Peter and Charles of Iona MN; Nic, John and Lena, of Lamotte; George of St. Donatus; Anna of Norway IA; Sister Joanetta of Detroit MI; all were present for the funeral except Sister Joanetta who could not get here.
Mrs. Herrig’s brother, Rev. Father Ambrosia of Columbia College, Dubuque, assisted at high mass at the funeral. The six brothers were pall bearers.
Among the many present form away at he funeral were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Mike Ambrosia, Mrs. Herrig’s parents of Gilbertville; Rev. Father Ambrosia of Dubuque; Tillie Ambrosia of Balltone IA; Nic Stackert of Gilbertville; Nick Ambrosia of Mankato MN, Mrs. Lena ___ the rest of the names were blurred in the script and illegible.

OBITUARY of Catherine Mrs. Mike Herrig 1883-1940

Source: Sioux County Capital (6-20-1940) Born: November 15, 1883 Died: June 14, 1940
Mrs. Catherine Herrig took sick early Friday morning although she had been apparently well and before the doctor arrived she passed away of what seemed to be a heart attack. Mrs. Herrig was born in 1883 in Gilbertville, Iowa. She was married in 1904 to Mike Herrig and lived in this vicinity since that time. To this union six children were born most of them living in this community. Mr. Herrig preceded her in death twenty years ago. Funeral services were held Monday morning in St. Mary’s Church with Reverend Father Neppel officiating.
Those who were here Monday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Herrig were her brothers, Mr. and Mrs. P. Ambrosy of Jessup, Indiana, Joe Ambrosy of La Porte City, Iowa, Nick Ambrosy of Independence, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schares of Gilbertville, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Zweske of Fairbanks, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. P. Herrig and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas Herrig all of Iona, Minnesota and Nicholas Herrig of La Motte, Iowa and Mrs. Bernard Reuter of Gilbertville, Iowa.

This picture was taken from St. Mary’s Church Book page 159.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen