Jentges, Bros. William 1852-1928 & John 1865-1935 Families

JENTGES, KOETZ, KATZ, ASSELBORN, BOEVER, SCHLEICH, BLOCK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/26/2026 at 10:20:11

Jentges, Bros. – William 1852-1928 & John 1865-1935 Jentges Families

This biography of the William Jentges and John Jentges was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa pages 120 and 121. 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. Information was cross checked from other sources when possible.

WILLIAM JENTGES story from the St. Joseph’s church book page 121.

William Jentges was born on August 13 1852 in Goesdorf, Luxemburg, Europe. He and his brother, John Peter, came to Granville in 1884. They settled on a farm north of Granville. William married Anna Schleich, who was born on September 1, 1856 in Ludescheid, Luxemburg. They lived on the farm now occupied by Leonard Heying, the buildings were located further into the field. When they moved to town they lived where Gennie Diederich now resides.
Their daughter Susanna, was born on July 23, 1900 and died on October 28, 1900. After the death of Mrs. Michael Marx, the couple took little six month old Anna Marx to live with them. Anna Married Ferd Gaul on November 22, 1921.
William died on January 4, 1928 and Anna died on March 15, 1928. Both are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery with their daughter.
(end of William's story from the church book)

JOHN JENTGES story from the St. Joseph’s church Book page 120-121.

As a young man of 21, John Peter Jentges and an older brother, William, came to America from Goesdorf, Luxemburg in 1884, settled on a farm at Granville, Iowa.
On May 7th 1889 John Peter Jentges and Mary Catherine Block, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Block, were married at St. Joseph church in Granville. It was said they were the first couple married in the former Granville church. They lived on his farm that is now owned by Leo Kraus. Eight children were born to this couple, two while living at Granville: John Joseph, May 30, 1891 and Mary Catherine, April 8, 1893.
Because of poor health, doctors urged Mr. Jentge to move to a drier climate. He left Granville in 1893 and moved to Herndon, Kansas and in 1906 moved to Cottonwood, Idaho.
John Peter Jentges was born June 23, 1865 at Goesdorf, Luxemburg and died Februrary 7, 1935 at Cottonwood, Idaho. Mary Catherine Block Jentges was born March 30, 1869 at Harlingen, Luxemburg and died June 11. 1943 at Cottonwood, Idaho. Their eight children were:

1. John Jentges, born May 30, 1891 at Granville, Iowa. He died October 14, 1969 at Cottonwood, Idaho. He married Anna Willenborg on Febrauary 12, 1939 and had six chldren.

2. Mary Jentges, born April 8, 1893 at Granville and died on October 3, 1967 at Chewelah, Washington. She married John Duclos on January 21, 1913 and had nine chldren.

3. Josephine Jentges born May 30, 1896 at Herndon, Kansas and died March 22, 1927 at Greencreek, Idaho. She married Anton Schmidt on February 5, 1918 and had six children. One son, Brother Mark Schmidt, joined the Franchiscan Order at Santa Barbara, Califonia in 1947 and made his Soleman Professon in 1949. Brother Mark died May 11, 1983 at the Old Mission at Santa Barbara, California.2. One daughter, Sister Delores Mary, joined the St. Joseph Sisters of Chronalet at Los Angeles, California in 1947 and made made her Profession of Faith March 19, 1948.

4. Aloysious, Born September 17, 1898 at Herndon, Kansas. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Idaho on Jun 14, 1924 in his home parish at Greencreek, Idaho. He was the first boy from his home parish to be ordained a priest. He was invested as Domestic Prelate on January 19, 1960 at Holy Rosary Church at Idaho Falls Idaho where he was pastor.

5. William Jentges born November 25, 1902 at Herdon, Kansas, joined the Bendictine’s at Mr. Angel Abby, St. Benedict, Oregon in 1925. He was sent to Rome and Aslzburg, Austria for his final studies and to complete his doctorate. At his profession he received the name of Damian. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Gallen Switzerland on September 21, 1929. He said this first Mass in his father’s home parish in Goesdorf, Luxemburg. He was elected Abbor of Mr. Angel Abbey and received Abbarial Blessing on October 5, 1950. Rt. Rev, Abbot Damian Jentges O.S.B.S.T.D. died on September 1, 1974.

6. Carl Jentges, a twin, was born January 28, 1906 at Herndon, Kansas. He died September 13, 1983 at Grangeville, Idaho. He married Dorothy Wassuth on Octber 22, 1935 They had eight children.

7. Anna Jentges, a twin, was born January 28, 1906 at Hendron, Kansas. She joined the Order of Benedictine Sisters at St. Gertrudes Conven, Cottonwood, Idaho in 1925. Now, Sister Mary Regina Jentes, O. S. B. made her Solemn Profession on August 25, 1929 and died November 22, 1929.

8. Lena Jentges born December 10, 1908 at Cottonwood, Idaho, married Henry Schmidt on October 2, 1946. At this time she is the only surviving member of Mr. and Mrs. Jentges children and spouses. One of her stepsons, Rev. Urban Schmidt, was also a priest of the Idaho diosese.
(end of story from the St. Joseph's church book)

ANCESTRAL - FAMILY HISTORY OF THE JENTGES BROTHERS
(according to ancestry.com’s public member trees)

Their father: GUILLAUME JENTGES born 28 Sep 1812 Goesdorf, Wiltz, Luxembourg died 27 Oct 1884 Goesdorf Wiltz Luxembourg. The Jentges’ brothers grandparents: Antonie Jentges 1774-1841 and Catherine Asselborn. Guillaume Jentges married 17 Jan 1843 at Goesdorf to Catherine Koetz (Katz).

Their mother: CATHERINE KOETZ / KATZ born 25 Dec 1817 Goesdorf, Wiltz, Luxembourg died 19 Aug 1869 Goesdorf, Wiltz, Luxembourg. The Jentges’ brothers grandparents: Adam Koetz 1783-1847 and Susanne Boever 1794-1847.

CHILDREN William and John Jentges’s families with children addressed in above stories from the St. Joseph’s church book pages 111 and 112.

OBITUARY Obit William Jentges 1852-1928
Jentges, William born 13 Feb 1852 died 4 Jan 1928 St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA Alton Democrat of Jan 13, 1928
Wm. Jentges of Granville died at the hospital in Le Mars last Wednesday and funeral services were held at Granville Saturday from St. Joseph’s church. Mr. Jentges is survived by his wife and an adopted daughter Mrs. Ferd Gaul of Granville.
Alton Democrat of Jan 13, 1928 Wm. Jentges of Granville died at the hospital in Le Mars last Wednesday and funeral wevices were held at Granville Saturday from St. Joseph’s church Mr. Jenges is survived by his wife, and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Ferd Gaul of Granville.
OBITUARY of Anna Schleich Mrs. William Jentges 1858-1928,
Jentges, (Anna Schleich) born 1 Sep 1858 died 12 Mar 1928 St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville, IA. Daughter of Nick Schleich. married 13 Mar 1898 Lismore, Nobles, MN . 1925 Iowa Census lists Fredrich Sleich and Anna K. Gengler as parents. Ancestry’s public member trees has Anna’s parents as Frederic Schleich 1817-1875 and Anna Catherine Gengler 1819-1876.
Hospers Tribune Friday March 23 1928 Mrs. Jentges died at the LeMars hospital after a long illness and death due to complications of old age. About six weeks ago her husband Mr. William Jentges died.
Alton Democrat of Mar 22, 1928, The funeral of Mrs. Jentjes who died at Le Mars, was held here Thursday morning. Pete Wiltgen the Le Mars undertaker brought the body to Granville Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Jentjes is survived by on step daughter, Mrs. Ferd Gaul. Mr. Jentjes preceded her in death about 2 months ago.
LeMars Semi Weekly Sentinal of Mar 16 1928. Granville Resident Dies. Death of Mrs. Anna Jentjes Soon Follows that of Husband. Following the death of her husband, William Jentges, which took place a month ago, Mrs. Anna Jentges of Granville died at the Sacred Heart Hospital Monday night at the age of 70 years. Mrs. Jentges had been suffering from general debility and heart trouble for some time and was brought to the hospital here for attention and treatment. Mrs. Jentges was a native of Luxemburg Europe where she was born Sep 1, 1858 and came to America, when a young women. An Adopted daughter, Mrs. Gaul, lives at granville. The remains will be taken to Granville in charge of N. Wiltgen, and the funeral held Thursday morning at the Catholic Church in Granville.

OBITUARY of Susanna 1900-1900 Infant daughter of William and Anna Schleich Jentges. Source: Sioux County Herald (11-7-1900) Born: July 3, 1900 Died: October 28, 1900 Susanna Jentges, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. (William) and Annie (Sleich) Jentges died on Sunday morning. Funeral services were held at 9 A.M. on Monday. She was laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Granville, Sioux County, Iowa. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of all in their sorrow.

No obituaries were available for brother, John Jentges and wife as they died elsewhere.

RESEARCH NOTEs: ERRORS on web sites...
Sometimes the submitter runs into a web of errors presented in Ancestry.com, Find a Grave and etc. Submitters to the genealogy sites get snatched up by errors and information is taken as ‘ gospel’. Such is the case when the death dates and places for too different but basically same named William Jentjes/Jentges with exactly the same date and place of death and carried along repetitiously on many sites with wrong information on Henry Heinrich ‘William’ Jentges and for his spouse and children.

The subject of the above BIOS was William Jentjes/Jentges born 1852 in Goesdorf Luxembourg and died 1928 in LeMars IA buried in Granville. Wife Anna Schleich, they had only one deceased daughter several months old in 1900, adopted a daughter.

The Heinrich William ‘Henry’ Jentges who was born 1847 Syren, Luxembourg Germany married Margaretha Ludowisi. There are claims on Ancestry and other genealogy sites, etc. that he died 4 Jan 1928 in Le Mars /Granville IA (exact same death date and place as above William Jentges born 1852) . After much research by the submitter it was found that this Henry William Jentges never lived in Iowa. He died in Wilkin MN in 1913. His family as found in the 1900 census under Henry Jenkins (Jentges) lived in Wapeton, Richland, North Dakota and in 1910 lived in Wilkin MN. The names of the family members match the ancestry public member trees, which trees have the wrong birth and death data for Heinrich William ‘Henry’ Jentges 1847-1928, mistaken for William Jentges August 13 1852 in Goesdorf, Luxemburg died 4 Jan 1928.

Listed here are some records found to substantiate the errors and relate actual records pertaining to the Henry Jentges family. Found in deaths on ancestry.com that Henry Jentges died 9 Oct 1913 Wilkin, Minnesota. Found Henry Jenkins (Jentges) in 1900 census age 56 born March 1847 Germany lived in Wahpeton, Richland ND. (Where a few of his children were born) Immigrated in 1865, wife Margaret 46, Joseph P. 15, John H. 10, Nora 5. Found 1910 census Henry Jentges born about 1848 Germany lived in Wilkin MN. Immigrated 1871. Widowed He was 62, son John 20, daughter Susie 32, Elinora 15. Again, many errors can be found as in 1900 it states he immigrated in 1865 in the 1910 census it states 1871. If anyone reading this BIOS and is related to the Heinrich William Jentges family of North Dakota and Minnesota please contact the genealogy sites to correct the information.

Note: If anyone has an early story of the lives of the brothers William Jentges born1852 or John Jentges born 1865 contact the web coordinator of this page.

There was a picture in the church book of William and wife Anna on page 121 and a picture of the John Jentges family on page 120. Hopefully got it combined into on frame below.

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