Barbara Nigon
1st of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen
Born: May 19, 1873, Schwemlingen, Saarland, Germany
Died: Nov 8, 1937 (age 64), Pepin Hill, Wabasha Co., Minnesota; cerebral hemorrhage
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Immigrated: May 6, 1881, from Antwerp, Belgium to New York aboard the SS Jan Breydel
Naturalized Citizen: 1890
Married: Apr 19, 1898, Mathew Sylvester Clemens, St. John’s Church, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Thirteen children: Unnamed twins, Mary Anne Clemens, Elizabeth Barbara Clemens, Amelia Rose Clemens, Dorothy Helen Clemens, Aloysius Michael Clemens, Carl John Clemens, Cecelia Helen “Sister Ann” Clemens, Agnes Catherine Clemens, Anna Frances Clemens, Lawrence Matthew Clemens, Joseph William Clemens
Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens
7th of 7 living children of Mathias/Mathew Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland
Born: Mar 1, 1874, Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Died: Mar 30, 1947 (age 73), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; bronchopneumonia, throat cancer, during surgery
Buried: Apr 2, 1947, Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Occupation: Farmer
Married: Apr 19, 1898, Barbara Nigon, St. John’s Church in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
13 children, 11 living: (unnamed twins) Mary Ann Clemens, Elizabeth Barbara Clemens, Amelia Rose Clemens, Dorothy Clemens, Aloysius Michael Clemens, Carl John Clemens, Cecelia Helen “Sister Ann” Clemens, Agnes Catherine Clemens, Anna Frances Clemens, Lawrence Matthew Clemens, Joseph William Clemens
00. unnamed twins (female & male)
1st and 2nd of 13 children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
1898–1898 (died at three days) on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
1. Mary Ann Clemens
1st of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Oct 29, 1899, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: May 7, 1994 (age 94), Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Buried: Saint Felix Cemetery in Wabasha, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Married: Sep 9, 1924, Francis Peter “Frank” Wallerich
Five children: Joseph Matthew Wallerich, Mary Lou Wallerich, Robert Michael Wallerich, Francis Carl Wallerich, Norbert John Wallerich
2. Elizabeth Barbara Clemens
2nd of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Oct 15, 1900, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Dec 21, 1996 (age 96), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; from pneumonia after a hip break
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Never married, no children
Occupation: Medical Secretary at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and St. John’s Hospital in Lynwood, California
3. Amelia Rose Clemens
3rd of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Jan 17, 1902, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Jul 7, 1972 (age 70), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; stroke
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Married: Nov 22, 1927, Patrick Henry Conway, II, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Nine children: Patrick Henry “Pat” Conway, Daniel Matthew “Dan” Conway, Gerald William “Jerry” (Father Gerald) Conway, John Joseph Conway, Bernard Michael “Bernie” Conway, David Laurence Conway, Marilyn Ann Conway, Terrence James “Terry” Conway, Elaine Margaret Conway
4. Dorothy Clemens
4th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Feb 16, 1903, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Jun 18, 1903 (age 4 months), on the family farm in Cascade Township
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
5. Aloysius Michael “Louie” Clemens
5th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: May 5, 1904, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: May 5, 1929 (age 25), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota, auto accident
Buried: May 7, 1929. Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
6. Carl John Clemens
6th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Sep 25, 1905, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Sep 16, 1986 (age 80), Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California; prostate/bone cancer
Buried: Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California
Occupation: Farmer, construction laborer, iceman, store owner, managed Sprouse Reitz stores
Married (1): Feb 4, 1933, Noreen Ellen “Babe” Chatfield, Colusa, Colusa Co., California
Divorced: Legally separated Dec 1953, divorced May 1954
Five children: Gordon Lawrence “Larry” Clemens, Carleen Barbara Clemens, Elizabeth Ann “Liz/Betty” Clemens, Claudia Clemens, Catherine Frances “Cathy” Clemens
Married (2): 1957, Irene Venita (Tregear) Whitehed (Irene was 18 years his senior)
No children
Married (3): Sep 25, 1961, Marie Lenore (Macdonald) McCartney, San Francisco, California
No children
7. Cecelia Helen (Sister Ann) Clemens
7th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Jan 25, 1908, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Nov 1, 2003 (age 95), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; acute leukemia
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Religious Calling: Catholic Franciscan Nun, Teacher
8. Agnes Catherine Clemens
8th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Jun 27, 1909, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: May 21, 2005 (age 95), Seal Beach, Orange Co., California; suffered from dementia
Buried: Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach, Orange Co., California
Married: Aug 18, 1932, William Francis “Bill” Hauser, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Three children: Richard Francis “Dick” Hauser, Barbara Ann Hauser, William John “Bill” Hauser
9. Anna Frances Clemens
9th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Jan 9, 1911, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Jun 14, 1995 ( age 84), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; heart attack
Buried: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Occupation: Hospital purchasing department, accountant for advertising company
Married: Jun 17, 1933, Francis Sylvester “Frank” Walsh, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Three children: James Lawrence “Jim” Walsh (twin), Joseph Matthew “Joe” Walsh (twin), Leonard Francis “Len” Walsh
10. Lawrence Matthew Clemens
10th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Jul 28, 1912, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Sep 1, 1978 (age 66), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; cancer
Buried: Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Occupation: Farmer, also worked for General Farm Supply
Married: Jul 15, 1942, Pearl Louise Herrick, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Four children: private, private, Darlene Mary Clemens, Thomas Lawrence Clemens
11. Joseph William “Joe” Clemens
11th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon
Born: Oct 1, 1914, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Died: Aug 7, 2010 (age 95), Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Fillmore Co., Minnesota
Buried: Aug 10, Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Occupation: Farmer
Married (1): Apr 20, 1942, Elizabeth Ann “Betty” McGeary, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Ten children: Joan Elizabeth Clemens, William Joseph Clemens, private, private, private, private, private, private, private, private
Married (2): Dec 7, 1991, Rita (Pyffereon) Rhoten, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
No children
***************************
Timeline and Records
Spellings and information in the census and other records
are retained as in the original documents.
(italicized clarifications or corrections are in parentheses)
***************************
Thirteen children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen
1. Barbara Nigon
1873–1937
2. Magdalena “Lena” Nigon
1874–1915
3. Catherine Nigon
1876–1876
4. Maria “Mary” Nigon
1878–1966
5. Nicholas “Nick” Nigon
1880–1968
6. Michael “Mike” Nigon
1882–1971
7. John “Jack” Nigon
1884–1969
8. Katherine Nigon
1885–1940
9. Anna Clara “Annie” Nigon
1887–1948
10. Francis “Frank” Nigon
1890–1953
11. Margaret Mary Nigon
1892–1992
12. Teresa Anna Nigon
1894–1990
13. Elizabeth “Jane” Nigon
1897–1930
Seven living children of Mathias/Mathew Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland:
0. infant Clemens
1860–1860
1. Maria Elizabeth “Mary” Clemens
1861–1874
2. Catherine “Kate” Clemens
1863–1934
3. Peter Daniel Clemens
1864–1956
4. Margaret Elizabeth Clemens
1866–1954
5. Angeline “Annie” Clemens
1869–1962
6. Rose Clemens
1871–1943
7. Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens
1874–1947
Aug 7, 1872: Marriage of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen, parents of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens, at St. Gangolf Parish at St. Paul in Trier, Fitten, Saarland, Germany
Thirteen children: Barbara Nigon, Magdalena “Lena” Nigon, Catherine Nigon, Maria “Mary” Nigon, Nicholas “Nick” Nigon, Michael Nigon, John “Jack” Nigon, Katherine Nigon, Anna Clara “Annie” Nigon, Francis “Frank” Nigon, Margaret Nigon, Teresa Anna Nigon, Elizabeth “Jane” Nigon
May 19, 1873: Birth of Barbara Nigon, 1st of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen and future wife of Mathew Sylvester Clemens, in Schwemlingen (recorded in Hilbringen), Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany
Mar 19, 1873: German Birth Certificate for Barbara Nigon:
Transcription in Old German:
No. 54 Geburts- Akt. — im Sreise Merzig Zilbringen — – der neunzehnten des Monats Mar achtzehnhundert drei und siebensig, er mittags raht Uhr — erichien vor mir Joseph Hodch Bergermeister dls Begnten des Civisstandes der Bürgermeisterei Zilbringen der Nicolaus Nigon drer und zwgnzig Jahre alt, Standes Aekerer wohnhaft zu efmantelug im _, welcher mir erklärte, daß von seiner Iheffrau Barbara geborne Leinen neunzehn Jahre alt ohne Stand emmen wolghatt zu Schwenn lingen _ am nunzeheten Mai ieser Jahres Morgens dn dee Uhr in semmen Wohnung Zu Schweinlingen n ein Kind weiblichen Geschlechts geboren sei, welchem Kinde der Vorname “Barbara beigelegt wurde. Diese von mir in doppeltem Originale aufgenommene Erflärung ist geschehen in Anwesenheit der beiden Zeugen, als nämlich: “) Peter Fmthe drei und frefzg en Jahre alt, Standesirt wohnhaft zu Zulbrigen 2) Peter Setzellenbach Zwei und Fünfzig Jahre alt, Standes Ackerer wohnhaft zu echern en Gegenwärtige Urkunde ist demnach dann Deklarant nn und den Zeugen vorgelesen und mit denselben von mir schrieben worden. Oige Einten Schiktenbach Rosch
English Translation (Google):
No. 54 Birth Certificate – in the town of Merzig Zilbringen – – on the nineteenth of the month March 1873, at noon – I present to you Joseph Hodch, master miner, and beneficiary of the civic order of the mayoralty of Zilbringen, Nicolaus Nigon, twenty-thirty years old, farmer, resident in Schweinlingen, who declared to me that a female child was born to his wife Barbara, née Lemon (Leinen), nineteen years old, without a civic order, on the tenth of May of this year, at 8 p.m. in his apartment in Schweinlingen, to whom the first name “Barbara” was given. This declaration, which I have recorded in duplicate in original, was made in the presence of two witnesses, namely: Peter Fm, the three-and-twenty years old, farmer, resident in Furthermore, 2) Peter Setzellenbach, fifty-two years old, farmer, resident in Eger. The present document was therefore read to the declarant and the witnesses and signed by me. Oige Einten Schiktenbach Rosch
Mar 1, 1874: Birth of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens, 7th of 7 living children of Mathew Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland, in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
circa 1880: Family of Mathew Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland:
Standing: Catherine “Kate” Clemens, Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” Clemens, Angeline “Annie” Clemens, Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens
Seated: mother Anna Mary Reiland, Rose Clemens, father Mathias/Mathew Clemens, Peter Daniel Clemens
(note the size of Peter’s hands and fingers, due to acromegaly)
May 6, 1881: Nicholas Nigon was a farmer at Rech, Merzig, Saarland (D). He, his wife Barbara, and their five oldest children arrived in New York on May 6, 1881 aboard the SS Jan Breydel from Antwerp, Belgium. Only Barbara and their daughter Lena are listed on the available manifest.
Apr 19, 1898: Marriage of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Eleven living children: (unnamed twins), Mary Ann Clemens, Elizabeth Barbara Clemens, Amelia Rose Clemens, Dorothy Clemens, Aloysius Michael Clemens, Carl John Clemens, Cecelia Helen “Sister Ann” Clemens, Agnes Catherine Clemens, Anna Frances Clemens, Lawrence Matthew Clemens, Joseph William Clemens
Apr 19, 1898: Minnesota Marriage Index:
Name Matthew Clemens
Marriage Date 19 Apr 1898
Marriage Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Spouse Barbara Nigon
Certificate Number L249 (B05347aa.av7)
URL https://moms.mn.gov/
St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Apr 22, 1898: The Record and Union, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
1898: Birth and Death of unnamed female and male twins, the 1st and 2nd of 13 children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; died at three days
Oct 29, 1899: Birth of Mary Ann Clemens, 1st of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Mary, Amelia, Elizabeth
Jun 2, 1900: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Mathew Clemons (Mathew Sylvester Clemens)
[Mathew Clemens]
Age 26
Birth Date Mar 1874
Birthplace Minnesota, USA
Home in 1900 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Spouse’s Name Barbara Clemons
Marriage Year 1898
Years Married 2
Father’s Name Mathew Clemons
Father’s Birthplace Belgium
Mother’s Name Anna Mary Clemons
Mother’s Birthplace Belgium
Occupation Farmer
Can Read Yes
Can Write Yes
Can Speak English Yes
House Owned or Rented Own
Home Free or Mortgaged F
Farm or House F
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Mathew Clemons Age 26, Head, born Mar 1874, married 2 years, born Minnesota, father born Belgium (Luxembourg), mother born Belgium (Luxembourg, farmer (Mathew Sylvester Clemens)
Barbara Clemons Age 27, Wife, born Mar 1873, married 2 years, 1 child born, 1 child living, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Mary Clemons Age 7/12, Daughter, born Oct 1899, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany (Mary Clemens)
Mathew Clemons Age 64, Father, born Mar 1836, married 27 years, born Belgium (Luxembourg), father born Belgium (Luxembourg), mother born Belgium (Luxembourg), immigrated 1854 at age 46, boarder (Mathew Clemens)
Anna Mary Clemons Age 67, Mother, born Mar 1832, married 27 years, 8 children born, 6 living, born Belgium (Luxembourg), immigrated 1857 at age 43, boarder (Anna Mary (Reiland) Clemens)
Note: The Clemens’ are living next door to Barbara (Nigon) Clemens’ parents and family (see following census)
Jun 2, 1900: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Nicholas Nigon (father of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Age 50
Birth Date Nov 1849
Birthplace Germany
Home in 1900 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota
Race White
Gender Male
Immigration Year 1881
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Spouse’s Name Barbara Nigon (mother of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Marriage Year 1873
Years Married 27
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Years in US 19
Naturalization Naturalized
Occupation Farmer
Months Not Employed 0
Can Read Yes
Can Write Yes
Can Speak English Yes
House Owned or Rented Own
Home Free or Mortgaged F
Farm or House F
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Nicholas Nigon Age 50, Head, born Nov 1849, married 27 years, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, farmer immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S. (father of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Barbara Nigon Age 46, Wife, born Aug 1833, married 27 years, 12 children born, 12 children living, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S. ((Barbara (Leinen) Nigon), the mother of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Lena Nigon Age 25, Daughter, born Sep 1874, dressmaker, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S. (Magdalena “Lena” Nigon)
Mary Nigon Age 22, Daughter, born Mar 1878, dressmaker, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S. (Maria “Mary” Nigon)
Nicholas Nigon Age 20, Son, born Mar 1880, farm laborer, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S. (Nicholas “Nick” Nigon, Jr.)
Mickle Nigon Age 18, Son, born Apr 1882, farm laborer, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Michael “Mike” Nigon)
John Nigon Age 16, Son, born Mar, 1884, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (John “Jack” Nigon)
Catharine Nigon Age 14, Daughter, born Nov 1885, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Katherine Nigon)
Anna Nigon Age 12, Daughter, born Dec 1887, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Anna Clara “Annie” Nigon)
Frank Nigon Age 10, Son, born Jan 1890, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Francis “Frank” Nigon)
Mary Nigon Age 8, Daughter, born Mar 1892, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Margaret Mary Nigon)
Augusta Nigon Age 6, Son, born May 1894, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Teresa Anna Nigon)
Lizzie Nigon Age 3, Daughter, born Apr 1897, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Elizabeth “Jane” Nigon)
Note: The Nigon family is living next door to their daughter Barbara and her husband Matt Clemens (see above census)
Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen family (daughter Barbara (Nigon) Clemens is seated, second from left)
Oct 15, 1900: Birth of Elizabeth Barbara Clemens, 2nd of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Mary, Amelia, Elizabeth
Oct 15, 1900: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Elizabeth Barbara Clemens
Birth Date 15 Oct 1900
Birth Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Mother Maiden Name Nigon
Certificate Number Dc-48231
URL https://www.mnhs.org/search/people
Jan 17, 1902: Birth of Amelia Rose Clemens, 3rd of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Mary, Amelia, Elizabeth
Feb 16, 1903: Birth of Dorothy Clemens, 4th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Jun 18, 1903: Death of Dorothy Clemens (age 4 months), on the family farm in Cascade Township
Jun 1903: Burial of Dorothy Clemens at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; CC 30 15
Minnesota Cemetery Inscriptions:
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Dorothy Clemens
Birth Date 16/Feb/1903
Death Date 18/Jun/1903
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments WITH MATHEW & BARBARA
Section CC 30 15
May 5, 1904: Birth of Aloysius Michael “Louie” Clemens, 5th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
May 5, 1904: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Aloysius Michael Clemens
Birth Date 5 May 1904
Birth Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Mother Maiden Name Nigon
Certificate Number 1904-18187
URL https://www.mnhs.org/search/people
Jan 28, 1905: Minnesota State Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Clemens Mathew S Age 31, born Minnesota, father born Luxenburg (Luxembourg), mother born Luxenburg (Luxembourg) (father, Mathew Sylvester Clemens)
Clemens Barabor Age 32, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany (mother, Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Clemens Mary Age 5, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany (Mary Ann Clemens)
Clemens Elizabeth B. Age 4, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany (Elizabeth Barbara Clemens)
Clemens Aamelia R. Age 3, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany (Amelia Rose Clemens)
Clemens Aloysious M. Age 1, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany (Aloysius Michael Clemens)
Sep 25, 1905: Birth of Carl John Clemens, 6th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Sep 25, 1905: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Carl John Clemens
Birth Date 25 Sep 1905
Birth Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Mother Maiden Name Nigon
Certificate Number Dc-48519
URL https://www.mnhs.org/search/people
Jan 14, 1906: Death of Barbara (Leinen) Nigon (age 51), 1st of 6 children of Jacob James Leinen & Maria Fritz, and the mother of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Jan 1906: Burial of Barbara (Leinen) Nigon at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Note: Barbara was born Aug 3, 1853; her headstone reflects her birth year as 1854
Barbara is also later named on the cenotaph erected for her husband, Nicholas/Nikolas Nigon
Jan 28, 1907: Death of Nikolas Nigon (age 57), son of Johann Nigon & Magdelena Sellen and the father of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens, in Landkreis Merzig-Wadern, Saarland (now Germany)
1907: Burial of Nikolas Nigon in Hilbringen, Saarland, Germany. Nikolas died intestate on Jan 28, 1907 (headstone reflects death date of Jan 27, 1907), in Hilbringen, Germany. His home was in Cascade, Minnesota, but he’d returned to Germany in search of a new wife and died while there.
A headstone (cenotaph) for Nicholas/Nikolas Nigon is erected in memory at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; it reflects Nicholas’ birth as Nov 8, 1849, however, his German birth and marriage records list his birth date as Nov 30, 1849. His wife, Barbara, is also included on the memorial. Section CC 39 26.
=====================
In Memory of
NIKOLAS NIGON
BORN NOV 8. 1849.
DIED IN
HILBRINGEN GERMANY
JAN 27. 1907.
__________
BARBARA
WIFE OF
NIKOLAS NIGON
DIED
JAN 14. 1906.
AGED 52 YS. 5 MS. 11DS.
__________
NIGON
=====================
Jan 25, 1908: Birth of Cecelia Helen (Sister Ann) Clemens, 7th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Sisters: Agnes Catherine Clemens & Cecelia Helen Clemens:
Jun 27, 1909: Birth of Agnes Catherine Clemens, 8th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Sisters: Agnes Catherine Clemens & Cecelia Helen Clemens:
Apr 27, 1910: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Mathew Clemmons (Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens)
[Mathew Clemens]
Age in 1910 36
Birth Date 1874
Birthplace Germany
Home in 1910 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Race White
Gender Male
Immigration Year 1881
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Native Tongue English
Occupation Farmer
Industry General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other Employer
Home Owned or Rented Own
Home Free or Mortgaged Free
Farm or House Farm
Naturalization Status Naturalized
Able to read Yes
Able to Write Yes
Years Married 12
Enumerated Year 1910
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Mathew Clemmons Age 36, Head, Married 1, 12 years, born Germany (Minnesota), father born Germany, mother born Germany (Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens)
Barbara Clemmons Age 36, Wife, Married 1, 12 years, born Minnesota (Germany), father born Minnesota (Germany), mother born Germany (Barbara (Nigon) Clemens)
Mary Clemmons Age 10, Daughter, born Minnesota (Germany), father born Germany, mother born Germany (Mary Clemens)
Elizabeth Clemmons Age 9, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Elizabeth Barbara Clemens)
Amelia Clemmons Age 8, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Amelia Rose Clemens)
Alvinia Clemmons Age 6, Daughter (Son), born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Aloysius Michael Clemens)
Charles J Clemmons Age 4, Son, born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Carl John Clemens)
Celia H Clemmons Age 2, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Cecelia Helen Clemens)
Agness C Clemmons Age 0, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany (Minnesota), mother born Germany (Agnes Catherine Clemens)
Sebastian Bosneyk Age 26, Hired Man, born Austria, father born Austria, mother born Austria, farmer laborer on general farm
Jan 9, 1911: Birth of Anna Frances Clemens, 9th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Jul 28, 1912: Birth of Lawrence Matthew Clemens, 10th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Jul 28, 1912: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Lawrence Mathew Clemens
Birth Date 28 Jul 1912
Birth Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Mother Maiden Name Nigon
Certificate Number 1912-19788
URL https://www.mnhs.org/search/people
Fall of 1912: Clemens’ farm outside of Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Mathew Clemens, Matt Sylvester Clemens (Grandpa), mid-rear is Jane Nigon (Grandma’s youngest sister), the nine children (Joe, the youngest, was not yet born) Barbara (Nigon) Clemens (Grandma) holding Lawrence, Anna Mary at far right (Grandpa’s mother); (Carl, my father, is the blonde headed boy in the middle of all the kids)
Oct 1, 1914: Birth of Joseph William “Joe” Clemens, 11th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, on the family farm in Cascade Township just outside Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
abt 1916: Nigon cousin and Clemens sisters:
standing: Elizabeth “Jane” Nigon (cousin), Amelia Clemens; seated: Elizabeth Clemens and Mary Clemens:
Jan 12, 1920: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Mathew S Clemens (Mathew Sylvester Clemens)
Age 45
Birth Year abt 1875
Birthplace Minnesota
Home in 1920 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota
House Number Farm
Residence Date 1920
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Spouse’s Name Barbara Clemens
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Farmer
Industry General Farming
Employment Field Own Account
Home Owned or Rented Owned
Home Free or Mortgaged Free
Able to read Yes
Able to Write Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Mathew S Clemens Age 45, Head, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, farmer on general farm
Barbara Clemens Age 46, Wife, Immigrated 1881, Naturalized 1890, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Mary A Clemens Age 20, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Elizabeth Z Clemens Age 19, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, Chamber at Mayo Clinic (Elizabeth Barbara Clemens)
Amelia R Clemens Age 18, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Aloysius M Clemens Age 15, Son, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Charles J Clemens Age 14, Son, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Carl John Clemens)
Celia H Clemens Age 12, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Agnes C Clemens Age 10, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Anna F Clemens Age 9, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Laurence M Clemens Age 7, Son, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Lawrence Michael Clemens)
Joseph W Clemens Age 5, Son, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
1923: Mathew & Barbara Clemens family: Amelia, Lawrence, Barbara (mother), Mary, Agnes, Aloysius, Cecelia, Joe (young boy in front), Mathew (father), Elizabeth, Anna, and Carl
1923: Nigon aunts and uncles on the family farm outside of Rochester:
1923: Clemens and Nigon cousins on the family farm outside of Rochester::
Slightly different photo with all present identified:
Note: #37 (infant Clair Nigon) is in the arms of #1 (Mary (Clemens) Wallerich)
Tales Told: The Clemens and Nigon families did well, all successful farmers of German heritage. Not one family lost their farm in the Great Depression, like so many farmers who had strapped their land with bank loans.
They worked, paid cash for what they needed, then drank beer and danced… but not until their work was done. The family and neighbors had card parties, rotating from farm to farm. They played 500 with ten tables set up with four at a table, and after the card games, shared a potluck lunch. Once a year they had a big party with the Altar Society, who were all the Catholics at St. John’s. Music was played and German songs sung. The table was pushed off to the side and the mahogany Baldwin upright piano played; Grandpa smoked his pipe and played his harpsichord. People danced in the living room. If the party was too big, it was held in the barn, and all the zithers and fiddles were brought out.
In the 1920s, Matt and Barbara Clemens improved and modernized the stone farmhouse. Albert and William Ramthum, brothers from Byron, were hired to do the renovations. In the bedrooms they built large double clothes closets. Between the dining area and living room they created beautiful open colonnades. They tore down the stone wall between the parlor and the dining room and replaced it with full sized wood cupboards that opened with doors to both sides, reaching from floor to ceiling. They removed the small narrow porch on the west side of the house and built a large screened porch which extended along the north side and half of the west side of the structure. Kids rode their tricycles there. When Matt & Barbara celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and housed twenty-five additional relatives for six weeks, the new porch was a welcome addition. They dug out the rest of the basement and put in a coal burning furnace, a hot water heater, and another bathroom. They tore out the shed on the south side of the kitchen where the washhouse toilets had been. A whole new garage and laundry room was built. A large septic tank was dug and the house was piped for modern plumbing and water on both floors with running water not only in the house but also in the barn, the milk house, and the laundry area. The kerosene lamps on the first floor were replaced with valuable gas lamps.
Clemens’ Minnesota farmhouse
In the middle of the 1920s, Doctor Charles Mayo wanted to put electricity in his rural 3,000-acre Mayowood estate, and to do that, he needed to get power from the City of Rochester. The line crossed the Clemens’ property, so they were allowed to hook up to it. The house, barn, and all other buildings were wired, giving the family the great luxury of electric power.
The huge oak north of the house had a rope swing hanging from the largest branch. The concrete water storage tank was at the top of the hill behind the barn. The arched root cellar, doubling as the tornado cellar, had an outside entrance. Every year it was filled with vegetables from the garden, including 50 heads of cabbage and 100 bushels of potatoes. Grandma made whatever cabbage was leftover into sauerkraut. They butchered three hogs a year, salting, smoking, and canning their meat, and putting pork patties down in a 10-gallon crock of lard. They made head cheese from the feet, tails, and everything else left over, wasting nothing.
With ten kids and a revolving house full of aunts, uncles, and dozens of cousins, there were constant chores to be done beyond farm activities. One hot summer, 20 people were quarantined in the house because one had smallpox. Washday was every Monday morning. In the washroom next to the barn, Grandma and the girls boiled clothes, sheets, and towels over the big stove, scrubbed them on the metal washboard, then hung them on lines to dry. During the winter, everything on the lines would freeze, so the girls stacked the laundry like cardboard cutouts to carry it in. They hung these in the attic to dry.
Told to Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau by her uncle, Joseph William “Joe” Clemens (11th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon)
Clemens and Nigon gathering
May 5, 1929: Death of Aloysius Michael “Louie” Clemens (age 25), 5th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; auto accident on his 25th birthday
May 5, 1929: Minnesota Death Index:
Name Aloysius Clemens
Record Type Death
Death Date 5 May 1929
Death Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Death Registration Date 1929
Certificate Number 010199
Record Number 537081
May 7, 1929: Burial of Aloysius Michael “Louie” Clemens at Calvary Cemetery, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; CC 31 13
May 1929: Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index:
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Aloysius Clemens
Birth Date 1904
Death Date 1929
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments WITH MATHEW & ANNA MARY
Section CC 31 13
Apr 16, 1930: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Mathew S Clemens (Mathew Sylvester Clemens)
Birth Year abt 1874
Gender Male
Race White
Age in 1930 56
Birthplace Minnesota
Marital Status Married
Relation to Head of House Head
Home in 1930 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Home Owned or Rented Owned
Radio Set Yes
Lives on Farm Yes
Age at First Marriage 24
Attended School No
Able to Read and Write Yes
Father’s Birthplace Luxembourg
Mother’s Birthplace Luxembourg
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Farmer
Industry General Farm
Class of Worker Working on own account
Employment Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Mathew S Clemens Age 56, Head, Married 24 years, born Minnesota, father born Luxemburg, mother born Luxemburg, farmer on general farm
Barbara Clemens Age 56, Wife, Married 24 years, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881
Agnes C Clemens Age 20, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany
Anna F Clemens Age 19, Daughter, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany
Laurence M Clemens Age 17, Son, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany, farm laborer on general farm
Joseph W Clemens Age 15, Son, born Minnesota, father born Minnesota, mother born Germany
Mathew & Barbara (Nigon) Clemens:
Nov 8, 1937: Death of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens (age 64), 1st of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen and the wife of Mathew Sylvester Clemens, in Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Tales Told: In November of 1937, at the age of 64, Ma (Barbara (Nigon) Clemens) died. She was visiting her daughter in Wabasha, had a stroke in the middle of the night, and died within two hours. Ten years later, in March of 1947, at 73, about the age when most farmers wore out, Pa (Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens) died. He had suffered for some time and died after having surgery in the Colonial Hospital for lip and throat cancer; he smoked cigars and pipes his whole life.
Told to Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau by her uncle, Joseph William “Joe” Clemens (11th of 11 living children of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon)
Nov 1937: Burial of Barbara (Nigon) Clemens, at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; CC 30 13
1937: Minnesota Cemetery Transcription Index:
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Barbara Clemens
Birth Date 1873
Death Date 1937
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments SP. MATHEW
Section CC 30 13
Mar 30, 1947: Death of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens (age 73), 7th of 7 living children of Mathias/Mathew Clemens & Anna Mary Reiland and husband of Barbara Nigon, at the Colonial Hospital during surgery for throat cancer, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; bronchopneumonia
Mar 30, 1947: Minnesota Death Index:
Name Matthew Clemens (Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens)
Record Type Death
Death Date 30 Mar 1947
Death Place Olmsted, Minnesota, USA
Death Registration Date 1947
Certificate Number 010841
Record Number 1033200
Mar 30, 1947: Minnesota Death Certificate:
Mar 31, 1947: newspaper obituary, Rochester Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
MATTHEW S. CLEMENS, 73, SUCCUMBS HERE Matthew S. Clemens, who has lived in Rochester all but the first year of his life, died in the Colonial hospital last night after an illness of two weeks. He was 73 years old. Born in Mazeppa on March 1, 1874, he was brought to Rochester as an infant. On April 19, 1897 at St. John’s church in Rochester, he married the former Barbara Nigon, who died about 10 years ago. Mr. Clemens was a farmer. Surviving him are nine children, a brother, and two sisters. In January of this year, Mr. Clemens received a gold certificate for being a member of the St. Joseph society for 50 years, an award that he treasured highly.
Apr 2, 1947: Burial of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; CC 30 14
1947: Minnesota Cemetery Transcription Index:
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Mathew Clemens
Birth Date 1874
Death Date 1947
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments SP. BARBARA
Section CC 30 14
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2025: Researched and compiled by siblings Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens, the grandchildren of Mathew Sylvester “Matt” Clemens & Barbara Nigon and the children of Carl John Clemens & Noreen Ellen Chatfield. Thank you to Dana Conway for the photos from the family genealogy book of Father Gerald Conway.
Thank you to our uncle Joseph William “Joe” Clemens, our father’s brother, for imparting to me the tales told.
Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens
Direct line of Catherine and Gordon:
Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding (great-great-grandparents)
Nicholas/Nikolas Nigon & Barbara Leinen (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)
Note: The cemetery headstone photos from Find A Grave contained herein are the property of those who photographed them.
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