Peter Clemens & Maria Reding

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Peter Clemens
2nd of 4 children of Mathias Clemens & Margaretha Welter
aka: Pierre Clement at birth (French spelling used during the time of Napoleonic and French rule)
Born: Dec 16, 1808, Betzdorf, Canton Betzdorf, Luxembourg
Died: Jul 3, 1871 (aged 62), Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; consumption
Buried: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Military: Prussian Army (served 8 years); Militia Nationale, 2nd Regiment of the Lige (Legion)
Immigrated: Feb 10, 1855, from Antwerp, Belgium to New York, United States
Occupation: Stonemason
Married (1): Jun 9, 1835, Maria Mary Reding, Consdorf, Canton Echternach, Luxembourg
Four children: Mathew Clemens, Nicholas “Nic” Clemens, Peter A. Clemens, John E. Clemens

Maria Mary Reding
3rd of 5 children of Nicolas Reding & Magdelena Rollinger
Born: Nov 25, 1811, Colbette, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: abt 1845 (age 33-34), Luxembourg
Buried: Luxembourg
Married: Jun 29, 1835, Peter Clemens, Consdorf, Grevenmacher District, Canton of Echternach, Luxembourg
Four children: Mathew Clemens, Nicholas Clemens, Peter A. Clemens, John E. Clemens

Married (2): Catharina/Catherine Schmit
Parentage unknown
Born: Apr 1808, Rippig, Bech, Echternach, Luxembourg
Died: bet 1849 & 1854, Luxembourg
Buried: Luxembourg
Married (2): Aug 24, 1848, Peter Clemens, Bech, Grand Duchy, Luxembourg
One child: infant Clemens (died in infancy)

Married (3): Anna Maria “Mary” Reiland
2nd of 8 children of John Reiland & Anna Mary Clemens
Born: Dec 14, 1822, Bech, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: Feb 23, 1892 (age 69), Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Buried: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Married: Dec 18, 1854, Peter Clemens, Bech, Grand Duchy, Luxembourg
Seven children: Mary E. Clemens, Mathew B. “Mathias” Clemens, Catherine “Kate” Clemens, William Peter Clemens, Anna Mary Clemens, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clemens, Bernard “Barney” Clemens

1. Mathew Clemens
1st of children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding
Born: Mar 15, 1836, Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: Dec 22, 1920 (age 84), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; double pneumonia
Buried: Calvary Cemetery, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Immigrated: left Mar 10, 1854, from Luxembourg, arrived Jun 28, 1854, New York
Occupation: Farmer
Married: Apr 24, 1858, Anna Mary Reiland, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Eight children, seven living:
1. infant Clemens
1860 – 1860
2. Maria/Mary Elizabeth Clemens
1861 – 1874
3. Catherine “Kate” Clemens
1863 – 1934
4. Peter Daniel Clemens
1864 – 1956
5. Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” Clemens
1866 – 1954
6. Angeline “Annie” Clemens
1869 – 1962
7. Rose Clemens
1871 – 1944
8. Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens
1874 – 1947

2. Nicholas “Nic’ Clemens
2nd of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding
Born: Aug 18, 1838, Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: Sep 18, 1911 (age 73), Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; cerebral hemorrhage
Buried: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Immigrated: Feb 10, 1855, from Antwerp, Belgium to New York, United States
Occupation: Farmer
Married: Oct 25, 1863, Rose Anne Maire, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Divorced: shortly after 1885 state census, Minnesota
Five children:
1. Charles/Carl Theodore Clemens
1865 – not in 1885 state census
2. Joseph Edwin “Ed” Clemens
1870 – 1924
3. Mary Julia Clemens
1874 – 1965
4. Gilbert Nicholas Clemens
1878 – 1878
5. Rose Lusetta Clemens
1879 – 1937

3. Peter A. Clemens
3rd of 4 Children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding
Born: Mar 14, 1841, Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: Apr 28, 1918 (age 77) Mazepp, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Buried: Mazeppa Cemetery, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Immigrated: Feb 10, 1855, from Antwerp, Belgium to New York, United States
Military: Civil War, Union Army, Co. C 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Private 
Occupation: Farmer, laborer
Married (1): Oct 5, 1865, Elisabeth Mary “Lizzie” (Bouillard) Newell, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Divorced: 1889, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Seven children:
1. Peter Clemens
1866 – 1883
2. Frank John Clemens
1867 – 1948
3. George “Georgie” Clemens
1870 – 1882
4. Joseph Clemens
1871 – 1884
5. Mary Josephine “Bessie” Clemens
1873 – 1899
6. William A. “Whiskey Bill” Clemens
1876 – 1963
7. Anna “Annie” Clemens
1877 – 1938

Married (2): May 2, 1892, Helena Amanda (Black) Arnold, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
No children

4. John E. Clemens
4th of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding
Born: Jun 29, 1844, Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Died: Feb 17, 1901 (age 56), Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Buried: Saint Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Immigrated: Feb 10, 1855, from Antwerp, Belgium to New York, United States
Occupation: Farmer
Married: Dec 8, 1867, Mary Befort, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Six children:
1. Anna Mary “Annie” Clemens
1868 – 1897
2. John M. Clemens
1869 – 1955
3. Josephine Clemens
1871 – 1941
4. Mathew Mark Clemens
1872 – 1920
5. George Edward Clemens
1876 – 1955
6. William Henry “Willie” Clemens
1878 – 1949

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Four children of Mathias Clemens & Margaretha Welter
1. Anna Maria Clemens
1807 – 1808
2. Peter Clemens
1808 – 1871
3. Mathias/Mathew Clemens
1810 – 1841
4. Catherine Clemens
1817 – 1877

Five children of Nicholas Reding & Magdelena Rollinger
1. Mathias Reding
1808 – 1814
2. Dominic Reding
1809 – 1843
3. Maria Mary Reding (1st wife of Peter Clemens)
1811 – abt 1845
4. John Reding
1818 –
5. Peter Reding
unkn – unkn

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Timeline and Records

Spellings and information in the census and other records are retained
as in the original documents (corrections or explanations in italics)

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Peter Clemens: Timeline and Family (2 pages):


Source: Ancestry Tree of Gordon L. Clemens

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Luxembourg History:
In 1308 the Count of Luxembourg became Holy Roman Emperor Henry XII, and in 1354 Luxembourg was raised to a duchy. In 1445 it was incorporated into the Duchy of Burgundy, and in 1482 the area passed to the vast Habsburg domains. From the 15th to the 18th centuries, Luxembourg’s history was shared with that of southern Netherlands as Spain and Austria alternately dominated the country until 1795 when Napoleon seized the area of Luxembourg and established French institutions.

In 1815 at the close of the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna elevated Luxembourg to a Grand duchy and placed it under the rule of William I, King of the Netherlands, and the northeastern portion surrounding Bitburg was given to Prussia. At the same time, Luxembourg joined the German Confederation, and was garrisoned by Prussian troops. When Belgium rebelled against the Netherlands in 1830, Luxembourg supported the Belgians. After Belgium gained independence in 1839, it claimed the entire country of Luxembourg. Luxembourg remained a member of the German Confederation.

In 1866 the King of the Netherlands decided to sell Luxembourg to France; this action nearly brought about a war between France and Prussia. In 1867 the European powers at the Treaty of London declared Luxembourg an independent, neutral country. It became a parliamentary democracy under a constitution adopted in 1868.

The Grand duchy was occupied by German troops in both world wars, and was liberated both times with the arrival of American forces. At Hamm, outside Luxembourg city, more than 5,000 American soldiers lie buried, including General George S. Patton, Jr.

On 26 June 1945 the country became an original member of the United Nations. An agreement establishing a customs union among Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, known as Benelux, took effect on 1 January 1948. Under the terms of a constitutional amendment adopted in 1948, Luxembourg abrogated its traditional neutrality and became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Timeline:
1815 – After the defeat of Napoleon, Luxembourg was disputed between Prussia and the Netherlands
1838–1839 – Treaty of London. Under the treaty, the European powers recognized and guaranteed the independence and neutrality of Belgium and established the full independence of the German-speaking part of Luxembourg
1871 – As a result of Germany’s victory over France, Luxembourg’s boundary with Lorraine, containing Metz and Thionville, changed from being a frontier with a part of France to a frontier with territory annexed to the German Empire as Alsace-Lorraine under the Treaty of Frankfurt
1914 – Imperial Germany violated Luxembourg’s neutrality in WW I by invading it in the war against France
1940 – After the outbreak of World War II, Luxembourg’s neutrality was again violated when the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany entered the country, entirely without justification and under the German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II, the country was treated as German territory and informally annexed to the adjacent province of the Third Reich
1944 – Luxembourg was liberated
Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Luxembourg_History

Luxembourg Immigrants:
Throughout the 19th century, Luxembourg was subject to frequent devastating famines. Sudden, huge price increases for grain repeatedly put bread out of reach of the masses. The years: 1816-17, 1831, 1840, 1846-47 and 1853-54, are particularly brutal. Desolation, indebtedness and sheer desperation led many families to consider emigration as the last resort to escape a dismal plight.

Over 50 years, from 1841 to 1891, some 72,000 Luxembourgers left their homeland in search for better shores. Rapidly, industrious America became the Promised Land attracting the largest contingent of Luxembourgers. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin are favored destinations with other settlers venturing to Nebraska, the Dakotas and further west. Quite often, one emigrant or a family scouted an area and then sent word back to the old country luring relatives, friends and neighbors to join the new community. Togetherness alleviated lonesomeness and yearning. Together, they built churches, schools, mills and stores; together they re-created their homeland on still foreign soil. Their sturdy houses look like carbon copies of houses in the old country.

Today, the extent of the community formed by descendants of immigrants from Luxembourg is still insufficiently recognized, as many Americans did not know what nationality they actually possessed, which is understandable considering the political imbroglio (and moving borders) Luxembourg lived through in the 19th century. On entering the United States, Luxembourgers were frequently recorded as of Belgian, Dutch, French, German, or Prussian descent.
Note: Antwerp, Belgium was the main port our ancestors departed Europe for America, the vessels of the Red Star Line carrying many a Luxembourger to the New World. The original Clemens coming from Luxembourg spoke German, while other ancestors spoke French.
Source: Fausto Gardini

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Dec 16, 1808: Birth of Peter Clemens, 2nd of 4 children of Mathias Clemens & Margaretha Welter, in Betzdorf, Canton de Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Dec 16, 1808: Peter Clemens (Petrus Clemens) Baptismal record:

Jun 25, 1811: Birth of Maria Mary Reding, the daughter of Nicolas Reding & Magdelena Rollinger and the 1st wife of Peter Clemens, in Colbette, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Jun 7, 1835: Military Permission for Marriage of Pierre Clement (Peter Clemens) & Maria Mary Reding:

Original Document #816:

Jun 29, 1835: Marriage of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, his 1st marriage, in Consdorf, Canton Echternach, Luxembourg
Four sons:
1. Mathew Clemens
1836 – 1921
2. Nicholas “Nic” Clemens
1838 – 1911
3. Peter A. Clemens
1841 – 1918
4. John E. Clemens
1844 – 1901

Jun 29, 1835: Marriage record of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding:

Mar 15, 1836: Birth of Mathew Clemens, 1st of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Aug 18, 1838: Birth of Nicholas “Nic” Clemens, 2nd of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Mar 14, 1841: Birth of Peter A. Clemens, 3rd of 4 Children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Jun 29, 1844: Birth of John E. Clemens, 4th of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

abt 1845: Death of Maria Mary (Reding) Clemens (age 33-34), the 1st wife of Peter Clemens and the mother of their four young sons, Mathew, Nicholas, Peter, and John, in Luxembourg

Aug 24, 1848: Marriage of Peter Clemens & Catharina/Catherine Schmit, his 2nd marriage, in Bech, Grand Duchy, Luxembourg. They had one child who died in infancy.

Bef 1854: Death of Catharina/Catherine (Schmit) Clemens, the 2nd wife of Peter Clemens, died and was buried in Luxembourg

Dec 18, 1854: Marriage of Peter Clemens & Anna Maria “Mary” Reiland, his 3rd marriage, in Bech, Grand Duchy, Luxembourg

Dec 18, 1854: Marriage Record of Peter Clemens & Anna Maria “Mary” Reiland:

Jan 14, 1855: Peter & Anna Maria “Mary” (Reiland) Clemens sail on The Henry Reed, and arrive in New York from Antwerp, Belgium on Feb 9, 1855, with three of his four sons from his first marriage, Nicholas Clemens, Peter A. Clemens, and John E. Clemens. Mathew Clemens, the oldest, emigrated the year before.

Feb 10, 1855: The Henry Reed passenger list:
Peter is with his 3rd wife (Anna Maria “Mary” (Reiland) Clemens) and three of his four sons from his first marriage
#57 Peter Clemens age 45 male, Holland (age 46)
#58 Marie Clemens age 35 female Holland (age 32)
#59 Nicholas Clemens age 14 male Holland (age 15)
#60 Peter Clemens age 11 male Holland (Peter A. Clemens age 13)
#61 Jean Clemens age 9 male Holland (John E. Clemens, age 10)
Note: They are the last five entries on the page below:

Map of Belgium

Jul 1, 1860: Compiled U.S. Federal Census and Census Substitutes Index, Goodhue Co., Minnesota:
Name Peter Clemens
Age 52
Birth Year abt 1808
Gender Male
Race White
Birth Place Luxembourg
Home in 1860 Township 109 Range 15, Goodhue, Minnesota
Post Office Pine Island
Dwelling Number 856
Family Number 791
Real Estate Value 50
Personal Estate Value 251
Household Members (Name) Age:
Peter Clemens Age 52 Farmer, born Luxembourg (father)
Mary Clemens Age 38 Housekeeper, born Luxembourg ((Peter’s 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Nicolas Clemens Age 21 Farmer, born Luxembourg (Nicholas Clemens, son of Peter & 1st wife, Maria Reding)
Peter Clemens Age 18 Farmer, born Luxembourg (son of Peter & 1st wife, Maria Reding)
John Clemens Age 16 Farmer, born Luxembourg (son of Peter & 1st wife, Maria Reding)
Mary Clemens Age 4, born New York (daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Mattes Clemens Age 2, born Minnesota (Mathias/Mathew B. Clemens, son of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Catharine Clemens Age 1, born Minnesota (daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)

Dec 9, 1861: Peter & Mary Clemens sell 40 acres of their land (Section 24 in Goodhue Co., Minnesota) to their son, Nicholas “Nic” Clemens for $100

Dec 9, 1861: Peter & Mary Clemens sell 20 acres of their land (Section 24 in Goodhue Co., Minnesota) to their son, Peter A. Clemens for $65

Dec 9, 1861: Peter & Mary Clemens sell 40 acres of their land (Section 24 in Goodhue Co., Minnesota) to their son, John E. Clemens for $55

Jun 1, 1865: U.S. Territorial and State Census, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota (#83):
Name Peter Clemens
Census Date 1 Jun 1865
County Wabasha
Locality Mazeppa
Gender Male
Line 23
Peter Clemens male (father)
Mary Clemens female ((Peter’s 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Peter Clemens male (Peter Roy Clemens, son of Peter Clemens & 1st wife Maria Reding)
Mary Clemens female (Mary E. Clemens, daughter of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
C Clemens female (Catherine Clemens, daughter of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
M Clemens male (Mathias/Mathew B. Clemens, son of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
Wm Clemens male (William Peter Clemens, son of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
A Clemens female (Anna Mary Clemens, daughter of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
L Clemens female (Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clemens, daughter of Peter Clemens & 3rd wife Mary Reiland)
Peter Fandermann male

Jul 1, 1870: U.S. Federal Census, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota:
Name Peter Clemens
Age in 1870 60
Birth Date abt 1810
Birthplace Deutschland
Dwelling Number 119
Home in 1870 Mazeppa, Wabasha, Minnesota
Race White
Gender Male
Post Office Mazeppa
Occupation Farmer
Father of Foreign Birth Yes
Mother of Foreign Birth Yes
Male Citizen Over 21 Yes
Personal Estate Value 500
Real Estate Value 1000
Household Members (Name) Age
Peter Clemens Age 60, born Germany
Mary Clemens Age 48, born Germany  (Peter’s 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Mary Clemens Age 14, born New York (daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Matthew Clemens Age 12, born Minnesota (son of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Kate Clemens Age 11, born Minnesota (Catherine Clemens, daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Wm Clemens Age 9, born Minnesota (son of Peter & 3rd wife,  Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Anna Clemens Age 8, born Minnesota (daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Elisabeth Clemens Age 6, born Minnesota (daughter of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)
Barney Clemens Age 2, born Minnesota (son of Peter & 3rd wife, Maria “Mary” Reiland)

Jul 3, 1871: Death of Peter Clemens (aged 62), in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota. consumption

Jul 1871: Burial of Peter Clemens at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota

Peter Clemens
1808 – 1871
Mary Clemens Reiland (his 3rd wife)
1822 – 1892

1884: bio from “HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY”:
Clemens, Peter (deceased) was a veteran of the German army, having served eight years in the war against Napoleon. He was also a pioneer of the Roman Catholic church in Mazeppa, having thrown open his house for services some years before the erection of a church here. He practically built the first edifice, paying nearly all its cost from his own pocket. Mr. Clemens was born in Haster, Gruebenmacher, Germany, December 11, 1808, and died here July 3, 1871. At twenty-seven years of age he learned the mason’s trade, and followed it nearly all the rest of his life. He was married November 18, 1854, to Mary Reuland. He landed in New York on January 1, 1855, and took up his residence in Westchester. Thence he removed to Minnesota, and bought a quarter-section of land in Pine Island township, near Mazeppa. Here he lived till 1865, when he moved to this village. He was the father of twelve children, four by his first marriage. All are living in this vicinity. Here are their names: Matthew, Nicholas, Peter, John, Mary (Mrs. George Hertzig), Matthew D., Catharine (Mrs. Nic. Hoffman), William, Anna (Mrs. J.B. Gregoire), Elizabeth; Barney, the youngest, is dead.
Note: Some of the dates are incorrect, along with Peter’s birth date (he was born Dec 16, not Dec 11), and birthplace (he was born in Luxembourg)

1890s photo: Clemens brothers (sons of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding) emigrated to America from Luxembourg and settled in Minnesota

Restored photo: courtesy of a member of the “Old Photo Restoration” Facebook page

Feb 17, 1901: Death of John E. Clemens (age 56), 4th of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Olmsted Co., Minnesota

Feb 1901: Burial of John E. Clemens at Saint Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Olmsted Co., Minnesota

Sep 18, 1911: Death of Nicholas “Nic” Clemens (age 73), 2nd of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; cerebral hemorrhage; atheroma of arteries

Sep 1911: Burial of Nicholas Clemens at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota

Apr 28, 1918: Death of Peter A. Clemens (age 77), 3rd of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; chronic and acute intestinal nephritis

Apr 30, 1918: Burial of Peter A. Clemens at Mazeppa Cemetery in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota

Dec 22, 1920: Death of Mathias/Mathew Clemens (age 84), 1st of 4 children of Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding, in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; lobar pneumonia

Dec 27, 1920: Burial of Mathew Clemens at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Note: Mathew’s death year on his headstone is incorrect; he died in 1920

1965: Century of Memories 1864-1965: Saints Peter and Paul Church:

Source: Century of Memories 1864-1965: Saints Peter and Paul Church, Minnesota. Mazeppa, Sts. Peter and Paul, Parish histories, pub 1965

*The history of Peter Clemens, his 3rd wife, Anna Maria “Mary” Reiland, and seven children follow in a separate post

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Jun 1979: Contributed by Marian (McLellan) Clemens:
In June of 1979, when Gordon and I were 45, we boarded a Boeing 747 to do genealogy research on the Clemens family. We landed in Frankfurt, Germany, and rented a little red VW Gulf. Driving along the Rhine River to Koblenz, we saw castle ruins, gardens, and vineyards on hillsides. At Koblenz, we traveled down the Mossel Valley toward Luxemburg. We hunted for records in Consdorf, Bech, Betzdorf, and also in Merzig in Germany. We found Peter Clemens’ birth certificate, which had his name as “Pierre” Clemens as the borders changed during the time of war, so his name was in French. In the village of Bech, we found the actual birth and military certificate for Peter Clemens, along with his marriage record, which also listed his parents. When we discovered Mathias Clemens’ birth record from 1836, it also listed his mother and father and the parents of his mother. We found records for Johann Nigon, for his parents; Franz Nigon and Anna Maria Kling; Franz’s parents Johann Nigon and Magdalen Karp; and Margaretha Sellen and her parents, Nicholas Sellen and Magdalen Sellen. We explored a few cemeteries and found some headstones; however, many cemeteries were destroyed during World War II, and the local people had few cemeteries pre-World War II to explore.

In each office, the secretary and the cure’ (official) were amazed at our project and so helpful in finding records even further back than we anticipated. They translated some for us and made copies of them all. Some were written in “old German” or “old French” that even they couldn’t translate. They were amazed that traveling Americans could speak German and that we were even interested in old records. I studied German for a year at our local community college before our trip. Wherever we were researching, they eagerly joined in. Talk about fun!

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2025: Researched and compiled by siblings Gordon L. Clemens and Catherine F. (Clemens) Sevenau (the great-great-grandchildren of Peter Clemens & Maria Reding

Sources: Gordon Clemens & Marian (McLellan) Clemens, Father Gerald Conway, Robert J. Lari, John F. Clemens, Helen Reiland, Ancestry.com, Find A Grave, Family Search, miscellaneous internet searches

Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau & Gordon Clemens

Direct line of Gordon and Catherine:
Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding (great-great-grandparents)
Mathias “Mathew” Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland (great-grandparents)
Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon (grandparents)
Carl John Clemens & Noreen Ellen Chatfield (parents)
Gordon Lawrence Clemens and sister Cathrine Frances (Clemens) Sevenau

Note: The cemetery headstone photos from Find A Grave contained herein are the property of those who photographed them.