Umhoefer, Frank, 1871-1947

UMHOEFER, SWEENEY, GRODE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/12/2022 at 19:30:53

From the Alton Democrat, June 26, 1947, Maurice news:

Mrs. H. J. Schlesser received a telegram Wednesday, informing her of the death of her uncle, Frank Umhoefer of Adrian, Minnesota. Mr. Umhoefer was 76 years old, and had been in fair health until last winter when he became ill with tuberculosis of the lungs. He is survived by his wife, Kate, and three sons and three daughters. The family were Maurice residents years ago when Frank and John Umhoefer operated a general store here. Mrs. Schlesser and cousin, Mrs. Henrietta Taylor of LeMars, attended the funeral at St. Adrian’s Church Saturday morning, at Adrian, Minn.

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From the Nobles County Review (Adrian, Minn.), June 20, 1947:

FUNERAL HELD SATURDAY FOR F. UMHOEFER

Funeral rites were held in St. Adrian’s church Saturday morning at nine for Frank Umhoefer, age 75, the Rev. Vernon Schaeffer officiating. Burial was made in St. Adrian’s cemetery. Mr. Umhoefer died Wednesday noon at the Southwestern Minnesota sanatorium where he had been a patient some two months.

He was born near Milwaukee, Wis., September 17, 1871. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Cherokee county, Iowa. He was married June 2nd, 1897, in Larchwood, Ia., to Catherine Sweeney of Rochelle, Ia. They resided in Iowa until 1904 when they moved to Adrian where they have since made their home. During most of that period Mr. Umhoefer was engaged in the mercantile business.

He is survived by his wife, three sons, Vernon and Ed of Seattle, Wash., and Leo of Minneapolis; three daughters, Mrs. L. J. Joswick (Loretta) of Chicago, Mrs. Walter Thorgeson (Marie) of Superior, Wis., and Mrs. E. D. Paulson (Eva) of Yonkers, N.Y.; and one brother, Joseph of Anthon, Ia. There are two grand-children.

Those attending the funeral from out-of-town were Joseph Umhoefer, brother of Frank Umhoefer, and son Roy of Anthon, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Umhoefer, Ashton, Iowa; Mrs. Henrietta Taylor, LeMars, Iowa; Mrs. Henry Schlesser, Maurice, Iowa; Mrs. Beatrice Stockdill and son Robert and Mrs. Hulda Umhoefer and son Warren, all of Triumph, Minn.; Mrs. Anna Sweeney, Mrs. Joseph Lawler and Marge Sweeney of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dr. Thomas M. Egan of Chicago, Ill.

Pallbearers were Herman Lane, Robert Murphs[?], R. D. Thom, Benjamin Forrette, L. J. Donnelly and V. A. Entwisle.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Minnesota death certificate 1947-MN-010318 (informant Sanatorium records) has Frank Umhoefer, resident of Adrian, Nobles County, wife Catherine Sweeny (age 76), occupation merchant; born Sept. 17, 1871 in Wisconsin; parents Joseph Umhoefer and Anna Groda, both born in Germany; died in the SW Minnesota Sanatorium, Worthington, at 12:20 p.m. June 11, 1947; cause, pulmonary tuberculosis; buried in Adrian cemetery.

His FindaGrave.com page has Francis T. “Frank” Umhoefer, born 17 Sep 1871 in Fussville, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, died 11 June 1947 in Nobles County, Minn., buried in Saint Adrian Cemetery, Adrian, Nobles County, Minn. Parents Joseph Umhoefer (1830-1906) and Anna Maria Grode Unhoefer (1832-1906). Siblings Andrew H. Umhoefer (1856-1921), John Joseph Umhoefer (1859-1947), John Benedict Umhoefer (1865-1940), and Appolonia Umhoefer Pins (1869-1934). Wife Catherine T. Sweeney Umhoefer (1871-1955, married 1897). One child listed: Vernon Joseph Umhoefer (1899-1976). There is a photo of his headstone, which calls him Frank T.

The 1896/1897 Lyon County, Iowa marriage register has groom Frank Umhoeffer, age 26, residence Larchwood, Iowa, a merchant, born in Wisconsin, parents Joseph Umhoeffer and Anna M. Grode; bride Katie Sweaney, age 25, residence Larchwood, Iowa, race Irish, born in Illinois, parents Thomas B. Sweeney and Cath McCrath; married in Larchwood June 2, 1897.

News notes in the Alton Democrat indicate that he was living in the Alton vicinity in 1891-1892; then in January 1893 moved with his brother John to Larchwood to open a general store; then he and John returned to Sioux County in 1897 to open a general store in Maurice. Early in 1903 John Umhoefer bought a half interest in a store at Struble, and in April Frank bought the Gleysteen restaurant and fancy grocery business in Alton. He sold this business in January 1904, then moved to Adrian in August 1904 to run a branch house for the Hanford Produce Co. of Sioux City.

An article in the Maurice Review, March 2, 1900, describes their general store there: “One of the most substantial general merchandise firms of Maurice is that of J. & F. Umhoefer. Their store is one of the largest and best in Sioux county, and the stock is made up of clean, seasonable goods. Messrs. John and Frank Umhoefer came here from Larchwood, Iowa, in August, 1897, and established themselves in business in the Van Beynum building on Main street. Later on, in order to better display their large stock, they removed to the store building in the opera house block on Second street. Their straight forward business methods have won for them a large and growing patronage. They carry a full line of staple and fancy groceries, a well selected line of the best dry goods, notions and furnishings the market affords, and a stock of men’s and boys’ clothing. Their shoe department is a specialty in their store, containing the most complete assortment of shoes and rubber goods to be found in Maurice. They also handle the best sewing machines, with repairs and supplies for the same…."

Census records for the years the family lived in Adrian show him as a produce dealer (1905), grocery store merchant (1910), a merchant (unspecified) (1920), the owner of a variety store (1930), and with no occupation (1940).