Klein, Peter V., 1868-1938

KLEIN, SCHUH, KUNCER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, July 15, 1938:

P. V. Klein, Former Resident Here Passed On

Mike Baatz arrived home Wednesday morning from Aurora, Illinois, where he was called about three weeks earlier by the death of his former friend, P. V. Klein. Mr. Baatz spent some time there after the funeral visiting relatives.

Mr. Klein and family lived in Rock Valley for several years and he ran a repair and auto shop here. He moved from Rock Valley to Aurora about twenty-five years ago. He has visited here several times since, and was here a few days visiting friends last fall. He will be remembered by a number of our people.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths Index on Ancestry.com has an entry for Peter V. Klein, born 1 May 1868 in Germany; died 22 June 1938 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois; buried in Winfield, DuPage County, Illinois; a machinist/own shop; parents Nicholas Klein and Helen Schu, both born in Germany; spouse Ida.

His FindaGrave.com page adds that he is buried in Saint John the Baptist Cemetery in Winfield. No other family data.

Germany Select Births and Baptisms on Ancestry.com has an index entry for Petrus Klein, baptised 1 May 1868 in Katholisch, Ittel, Pheinland, Prussia, parents Nicolai Klein and Helenae Schuh.

The 1880 census shows Peter Klein, age 12, living in Winfield, Illinois with parents Nicholas (60) and Helena (48) Klein and siblings Mathias (27), Eva (15), Nicholas (13), and Valentine (10). All were born in Prussia. Nicholas is a farmer.

Peter was not found in the 1900 census. The 1910 U.S. census shows him living in Rock Valley, age 41, a machinist in his own shop; born in Germany, immigrated in 1895, naturalized, married 13 years; wife Ida, age 31, also born in Germany and immigrated 1895, mother of four children, three living; children Clara (9), Katie (7), and Frank (3), all born in Iowa; also a nephew, Neal Klein (22), born in Iowa, working as a machinist in the shop.

In 1920 the family is still in Rock Valley: Peter V. (51), Ida (40), and children Clara (19), Peter (17), and Frank (12). This entry says Peter immigrated in 1873 and was naturalized in 1878; that Ida immigrated in 1895 and was naturalized in 1900; and that the three children were all born in Illinois.

In 1930 Peter V., Ida, and sons Peter (28) and Frank (22), both born in Illinois, are living in Aurora. Peter and Ida were married when he was 28 and she was 18. He immigrated in 1875 and she in 1896; both are naturalized. He is a machinist for a screw manufacturer, and the two sons are linemen for an electric company.

The Woodbury County (Iowa) marriage register for 1920/21 has an entry for his daughter Clara’s marriage in Sioux City to Herman R. Klantsch. Both are residents of Rock Valley; Clara was born in Chicago, Illinois; her mother’s maiden name is given as Ida Kuncer.