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Kettler, Bernard & wife, Christina Brehm 1854-1941 -- Family

This family story was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book of 1883-1983, page not numbered. The story was transcribed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. 

Some research notes have been added. Variations of spellings, dates and places were left as they were in the cited source. And see the family biography as posted on this site's BIO Board. 

Bernard Kettler, born Feb 26, 1854, in Lorraine, Germany, came to the United Sttes and married Christina Brehm in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, June 25, 1879. They later moved to Cottonville, Iowa in 1885 or 1886, where he taught school and owned a small grocery store. About the turn of the century they bought and operated a hotel, the Dubuque House in Alton and raised 12 of their 14 children. Two boys died in infancy. Of the remaining twelve who grew up in Alton, most of them have since passed away. The story of the move to Alton, as it was told to us is that while they lived in Cottonville, Iowa, they read about land in western North and South Dakota being sold at a low price. They decided that with a growing family it would be a good idea to move to a farm. So with cash in her purse, the mother, Christine Kettler, was to go out west and buy some land. Bernard Kettler’s sister Margaret (married to Nick Koob) lived in Alton the town where Christina Kettler had to change railroads to continue her trip. She was to stay overnight with them. While here Nick Koob talked her out of going to make the land deal. He said people from Alton had also come out to see the land and said it was poor soil with very little rainfall. There was a hotel, the Dubuque House for sale in Alton and they had a family to help run it. So the Kettlers changed their minds and moved to Alton. As time went on and the children grew up they married and moved to other areas, most of them to other states and have since passed away, with the exception of Otto and Oswald. Otto married Viola Perlot, the granddaughter of the pioneer Micheal Haupert family and remained in Alton. Otto was clerk in the Alton Post Office for 52 years before retiring in 1966. They have three sons, Bernard, John and Edward who graduated from St. Mary’s school but have since moved to other states. Oswald, the youngest son of Bernard and Christina Kettler is also still living and is in Elk Grove Village, IL. Donald Schneider, a grandson of Bernard and Christina Kettler and his wife Jean also live in Alton where they raised their family. (end of the story in the church book) 

 RESEARCH NOTES: as found in various records including local obits and archives. Take note that the family records on the public member trees on ancestry.com were submitted by other than this submitter and not verified by this submitter. 

Bernard Theodor Kettler was born 26 Feb 1854 Drievorden, Grafschaft Bertheim, Niederschsen, Germany and died 29 Jun 1941 Homer, Nebraska. He was the son of Johann Theodor Kettler 1801 and Urphemia Margaretha Lohenrich 1812-1871. He married Christian Brehm 25 Jun 1878 at Buffalo Grove Cook, IL. 

Christina Brehm was born 8 Feb 1858 at Buffalo Grove, Cook, IL and died 21 Jul 1928 Alton Sioux Iowa. Her parents were not listed in the family report on ancestry.com. The 1925 Iowa census lists her parents as Matthew Brehm and Mary Spoerlein. In the quest to further identify Christina’s parents family, located John Brehm, Christina’s brothers family record on ancestry.com. He was born 19 Jan 1860 Cook Co. IL, to Matheus Brehm 1805-1866 and Maria Spoerlein 1818-1892. No children listed for John) That lead to finding the family of Mattis Brehm age 55 born 1805 in Bavaria, living 1860 at Wheeling Cook IL, wife Mary (Spoerlein) 42, children Joseph 17, Mary 16, George 13, Theresa 12, Barbara 11 Mary 8, Chris 3, and John 1. 

 CHILDREN of Bernard and Christina Kettler (see photos below)

 1. Margaret ‘Maggie’ Kettler born 14 May 1879 died late April 1964. She married Albert Probst. She was Albert’s second wife, first being Bertha Kettler, sister of Margaret. They were of Homer NE. Margaret had a step-son, Orville Probst of So. Sioux City NE in 1964. (He was a son of her sister Bertha) 

 2. Rosa Kettler born 28 Dec 1881 Buffalo Grove, IL. Died 17 May 1913 See her obituary on this web page. She had spinal meningitis when young a became an invalid. 

 3. Alex Kettler born 1 Sep 1883 Buffalo Grove, IL died 6 Aug 1949 St. Louis MO He married Ruth Sherwood Kettler 1890-1977 St. Louis MO. In the 1930 census one child was named born to them, Sherwood age 5. Her mother Fannie Sherwood 64, was living with them. 

 4. Leo Kettler born 5 May1885 Buffalo Groave IL. Died 9 Feb 1957 Le Mars IA. He married 14 Nov 1911 Alton IA to Anna Maria Hastert 1880-1984. They had a son, Walter Bernard Kettler 1919-1944. See Leo’s obit on this web page that states he had five sons and four daughters not named in the obit. Upon checking the 1930 census the children were listed as Willoyd, Clarence, Lawrence, Loretta, Walter,Cleona, Florence, Milo, Albert and Mary. 

 5. Clara M. Kettler born 16 Dec 1886 Alton IA died 18 Mar 1970 Lismore Nobles MN. She married 3 Feb 1913 Sioux County IA to Joseph A Fath 1886-1951. One child listed on Find A Grave as Arlene Dorothy Pick. 

 6. Bertha Kettler born 15Aug 1888 Cottonville IA died1922 Alton IA. She married Albert Probst on 2 may 1911. They were the victims of a terrible flood at Homer NE. They had a son Orville Probst. 

 7. Frank Kettler born 9 Jul 1890 Cottonville IA died 9 May1965 He married Ida Henkels. They had a son Melvin and a daughter Mrs. Gordon Cornwell of Anton. See his obit on this web page. 

 8. Otto P. Kettler born 7 Jan 1895 Cottonville IL. died 24 Jan 1988 Alton, IA . He married Oct 3, 1932 to Viola Perlot. They had children Bernard, John , and Edward. There was a family story in the St. Mary’s church book of Alton IA. Also see their obits on the web page. 

 9. Alma Kettler born 16 Mar 1897 Cottonville IL died 30 Aug 1967 Granville IA. She married Edward J. Schneider 1897-1967. Their children - Verla, Mrs. Maurice LeFlesch of Schenectady, New York and Charlene, Mrs. James Full of Owatonna, Minnesota; two sons, LeRoy of St. Paul, Oregon, and Donald of Alton. 

10. Elenora Kettler born 8 Apr 1899 Cottonville, IL died 17 Nov 1968 Park Ridge, Cook IL Marriage record – Eleanora C. Kettler born 1899, married 18 Apr 1922 at Alton IA to Joseph V. Mousel abt1895. One child listed on Find A Grave as Jean D. Mrs Donald Sommers. 

11. Oswald Kettler born 4 Mar 1902 died 1 Mar 1996 Mc Henry IL (DesPlaines IL) He married Mary E. Kettler 1905-1996. One child listed on Find A Grave as Joan M. Brunsfeld. In the 1940 census of Chicago IL ,wife Mary 37, children Joan 10, and James age 7. 

12. Saverna Kettler born Apr 14, 1905 died Jul 1941 Homer NE.