Hemmen, Mathias 1833-1915 & Elizabeth Steines Family

HEMMEN, STEINES, STRAUS, GEORGE

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg -volunteer (email)
Date: 1/13/2026 at 21:23:27

Hemmen, Mathias 1833-1915 and Elizabeth Steines Family

This biography of the Mathias Hemmen and Elizabeth Steines family was partially taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page 109. The short narrative in the church book was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The 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. Information was cross checked from other sources when possible.

The history of Mathias Hemmen born 1833 died Mar 2, 1915 is rather confusing from the small clip in the St. Joseph’s church book page 109.

Direct from the church book with corrections in ( )
Matt Hemmen was born on March 7 1862 (1833) and died on March 2, 1915. A single man he (it was his son,John) was going to build his home on what is now the property of Shorty Nemmers when a tornado struck the project and completely destroyed it. He ( Matt’s son John) was killed in this tornado and was found near a well by his neighbors. (end of the short story from the church book.)

( The subject of the tornado was John Hemmen born 1858 the son of Mathias Hemmen)
See ‘Children’ and the article in the Alton paper under John Hemmen 1858, as a son of Mathias Hemmen.

RESEARCH Notes From Find A Grave & ancestry.com searches.

Mathias Hemmen born 10 Aug 1833 at Ihnen, Canton de Grevenmacker, Luxembourg. Died 2 Mar 1915 at Granville, Sioux County, Iowa, buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. His Parents were: Johann Peter Hemmen born 24 Dec 1805 Ehnen, Luxembourg; and Maria Straus born 20 Dec 1799 Ehnen, Luxembourg. Mathias Hemmen’s first wife mother of his son, John, according to ancestry.com was Maria George 1824-1872.
(Further Hemmen ancestral lineage grandparents of Mathias were – Jacob Hemmen and Johanna Demurth, Mathias Straus and Maria Wiltz)

Mathias’s second wife was Elizabeth Steines born 6 Jun 1851 Sandweiler, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg. She died 29 Jul 1917 Granville, Sioux Co. Iowa buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. Her parents were Johann and Susanna Steines. Mathias and Elizabeth were married; obit states marriage 10 March 1876 in Lenningen, Luxemburg.

CHILDREN: Found on Find A Grave and local obit archives.

Son of Mathias Hemmen and first wife Maria George:
1. John Hammen born 25 Oct 1858 Sandweller, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg. John died 7 May 1886 at Granville buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. (tombstone death year appears to be wrong and was in the newspaper of May 11, 1889.) Alton Democrat of May 11, 1889. The windstorm of-Monday night did considerable damage here, over turning outhouses and small buildings. It tore down the hay shed belonging to H. Walters, causing that gentleman considerable damages The Catholic church was so badly damaged by the recent windstorm, that it is feared another wind will destroy it. The only loss of life reported here is that of John Hemmen, living one mile west of town, who had just built a new house which was completely destroyed. Mr. Hemmen was a young man, universally liked and was to have been married in a few weeks. He suffered great pain till half past four Wednesday morning, when he passed away. Charley Schinning;, who was with him at the time of the storm, had a very narrow escape and says he prefers the next cyclone to call when he is not at home.

Children of Mathias Hemmen and Elizabeth Steines:
2. Mary Ann Hemmen born 6 Mar 1876 Sandweiler, Luxembourg died 27 Sep 1930 Granville, IA. She married Mathias Nichalous Haupert 1865-1946. Their children - Nicholas John Haupert 1895-1985, Margaret Haupert 1896-1955, Rose Elisabeth Haupert 1899-1970, Jacob Matthew Haupert 1902-1983, Cecelia Haupert 1904-1991, Lawrence Matthew Haupert 1907-1993, Olivia Marie Haupert 1909-1982, Charles John Haupert 1910-1910, Mathaus Nichalous Haupert 1910-1911, Clarinda Mary Portz 1912-2001, Saverna Mary Haupert 1920-2008. See the obituary of Mary Ann Haupert (Mrs. Matthias) 1876-1930 on this web page, search ‘Hemmen’.

3. William Hemmen born 8 Jun 1877 Sandweiler, Luxembourg died 30 Oct 1943 Minnehaha Co. SD. Married Julie Monner 1878-1938 . 3 mos old baby boy died May 12, 1906. Find A Grave lists children – Raymond M. Hemmen 1906-1906, Vincent Mathias Hemmen 1907-1935, Marcella M. Hemmen 1908-1908, Eloy M. Memmen 1910-1911, Cecilia A. Hemmen Johnson 1911-1982, Dorothy K. Memmen 1913-1913, Luella Hemmen Hansen 1916-1977, Raymond E. Hemmen 1917-1945.

4. Elizabeth Hemmen born 20 Mar 1882 IA died 3 Jul 1939 Granville, IA She was first married to John Krantz1867-1920. They were the parents of seven children listed on Find A Grave as - Mathias H. "Matt" b. October 10, 1903 d. December 19, 1935, Ida E. b. May 27, 1905 d. October 19, 2002, Elmer Frank b. March 22, 1908 d. September 14, 1979, Rosella A. b. December 16, 1910 d. June 19, 1984, Clarence F. b. June 9,1912 d. November 17, 1985, Armella M. b. February 17, 1914 d. March 27, 1998, Mildred Ida b. January 29, 1918 d. November 1, 1924 Elizabeth Later married Albert Henry Kuester born 1880.

5. Anna Hemmen born 6 Apr 1884 IA died 18 Jun 1947 Sleepy Eye MN. She married Nick E. Lux 1886-1981. Children as recorded on Find A Grave. Mathilda E. Seidl 1911-1994, Peter M. Lux 1915-1915, LeRoy Lux 1916-1996, Josephine Lux 1918-1925, Joseph N. Lux 1918-1990, George Jake Lux 1920-2012, Viola M. Lux Strate 1921-1999, Marcella Lux 1924-1944, Loe Lux 1925-1944, Marion Mathilda Lux 1926-1944, Jerome Leo Lux 1928-1981.

6. Frank Lawrence Hemmen born 30 Aug 1886 IA died 15 Dec 1964 Slayton, Murray, MN . He married Mary Engeldinger died 1926. Second marriage to Josephine Hunt. . Their children Leo Hemmen 1913, Edmund Hemmen 1913, Claude Hemmen 1918-1998, Viola Hemmen 1921-1928, Robert Hemmen 1931-1995, Derald Hemmen 1932-1983, Gerald 1932-2023. See Find A Grave index.

OBITUARY if Mathias Hemmen 1833-1915

Source: Alton Democrat (3-27-1915) Born: March 7, 1832 (Aug 10, 1833) Died: March 2, 1915 We recently received the following obituary which we would like to have published three weeks ago. The item concerns an old Granville settler and we are therefore pleased to give it space.
“Mathias Hemmen died at his home south of town March 2nd after a long, lingering siege of asthma. Deceased was born at Ihnen, Luxemburg in 1932. On March 10, 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Steines, at Lenningen, Luxemburg. Seven years later he came to America and settled at Bellevue, Iowa, where he remained one year. In 1884 he moved to Granville and located on the H. Deckman farm. He lived on this place for six years when he moved onto his own farm south of town where he resided until his death.
Deceased is survived by five children--Mrs. H. Hupert, Mrs. Jno. Krantz, Mrs. Nic Lux and Frank of Granville and Will of Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He is also survived by his aged widow and one sister, Mrs. John Gelen of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Interment was made in St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Granville on March 4th. Father Gerleman officiating.

OBITUARY of Elizabeth Mrs. Mathias Hemmen

Alton Democrat of August 4, 1917
Sunday Afternoon at four o’clock one of the esteemed residents of Granville, Mrs. Elizabeth Hemmen, who had been an invalid for more than a year, passed away. The funeral was held Wednesday morning, interment taking place at St. Joseph’s cemetery by the side of her husband, Mathias Hemmen, who died in March 1915. the services were conducted by Rev. Father Gerlemann. Mrs. Hemmen, formerly Elizabeth Steiches, was 67 years of age. Forty six years ago she was married in the duchy of Luxemburg to Mathias Hemmen who at that time had returned there from America. The young couple returned to this country together and settled in Jackson county, from where they moved to a farm between Alton and Remsen 36 years ago and from there to their present farm in East Orange Township. Five children survive their beloved parents as follows: Mary, now Mrs. Mathias Haupert, Will, Lizzie, now Mrs. John Krantz, Anna, Now Mrs. Nich Lux and Frank. They all reside on farms near Granville except Will who at present lived in Jackson county. He expects, however to move to his farm in South Dakota next spring. The Democrat extend sympathy to the bereaved relatives.

Note: If anyone has early family stories to share please contact this web page coordinator.

This picture was found on the public members trees on ancestry.com. Seated Eliabeth and Mathias Hemmen in the back row Anna, William Mary, Frank and Elizabeth.

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