Katherine “Kate” Nigon

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Katherine “Kate” Nigon
8th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen
Born: Nov 8, 1885, Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Baptized: Nov 10, 1885, St. Felix Parish in Wabasha, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Died: Jan 4, 1940 (age 54), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Buried: Jan 6, 1940: Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Occupation: Housekeeper, registered nurse
Never married, no children

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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)

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Thirteen children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen:


1. Barbara Nigon
1873–1937
2. Lena Nigon
1874–1915
3. Katharina/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 “Kate” Nigon
1885–1940
9. Anna Clara Nigon
1887–1948
10. Francis “Frank” Nigon
1890–1953
11. Margaret Mary Nigon
1892–1992
12. Teresa Anna Nigon
1894–1990
13. Elizabeth Susanna “Jane” Nigon
1897–1930

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Aug 7, 1872: Marriage of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen, parents of Katherine “Kate” Nigon, 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 “Kate” Nigon, Anna Clara Nigon, Francis “Frank” Nigon, Margaret Nigon, Teresa Anna Nigon, Elizabeth Susanna “Jane” Nigon
Note: Four of the Nigon sisters never married

Nov 8, 1885: Birth of Katherine “Kate” Nigon, 8th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen, in Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota

Nov 8, 1885: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Katherine Nigon
Gender Female
Race White
Birth Date 8 Nov 1885
Birth Place Pepin, Wabasha, Minnesota
Father Nicholas Nigon
Mother Barbara
FHL Film Number 1320190

Nov 10, 1885: Baptism of Katherine/Cathryn Nigon at St. Felix Parish in Wabasha, Wabasha Co., Minnesota:

Jun 2, 1900: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Nicholas Nigon
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
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.
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)
Lena Nigon Age 25, Daughter, born Sep 1874, dressmaker, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, 19 years in U.S.
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 “Kate” Nigon)
Anna Nigon Age 12, Daughter, born Dec 1887, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Anna Clara 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 (Daughter: Teresa Anna Nigon)
Lizzie Nigon Age 3, Daughter, born Apr 1897, at school, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Elizabeth Susanna “Jane” Nigon)
Note: The Nigons are living next door to their daughter Barbara (Nigon) Clemens and her husband Matt Clemens

abt 1902: Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen family (daughter Katherine/Catherine Nigon is seated at far left next to her mother Barbara)

Jun 1, 1905: Minnesota State Census, Olmsted Co, Minnesota:

Note: Katherine “Katie” Nigon, age 19, born Minnesota, is listed 7th from the top

Jan 14, 1906: Death of Barbara (Leinen) Nigon (age 51), 1st of 6 children of Jacob James Leinen & Maria Fritz, and the mother of Katherine “Kate” Nigon, 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 Katherine “Kate”Nigon, in Landkreis Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, 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 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.

May 3, 1907: U.S. Probate Records for Nicholas Nigon; his daughter, Katherine Nigon (age 21), is named in the document:

Katherine with younger sister, Margaret Nigon:

Apr 21, 1910: U.S. Federal Census, Aurora, Kane Co., Illinois:
Name Katherine Nigon
Age in 1910 24
Birth Date 1886
Birthplace Minnesota
Home in 1910 Aurora Ward 1, Kane, Illinois
Sheet Number 12b
Street Oak Ave
Race White
Gender Female
Relation to Head of House Sister-in-law
Marital Status Single
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Native Tongue English
Able to read Y
Able to Write Y
Enumerated Year 1910
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Michel Reuland Age 41, Head, Married 5 years, born Illinois, mother born Germany, father born Germany, Confectionary Store
Mary Reuland Age 32, Wife, Married 5 years, 2 children born, 1 child living, born Germany, mother born German, father born Germany
Hellen Reuland Age 2, Daughter, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany (Helen Marie Reuland)
Ralph Reuland Age 10, Son, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Illinois (son of Michael Reuland and 1st wife, Katherina M. “Kate” Wenmacher)
Katherine Nigon Age 24, Sister-in-law, Single, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (sister of Mary (Nigon) Reuland)

Jan 14, 1920: U.S. Federal Census, Aurora, Kane Co., Illinois:
Name Michael Reuland
Age 50
Birth Year abt 1870
Birthplace Illinois
Home in 1920 Aurora Ward 1, Kane, Illinois
Street Oak Ave
House Number 51
Residence Date 1920
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Spouse’s Name Mary Reuland
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Merchant
Industry Groceries etc
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:
Michael Reuland Age 50, Head, Married, born Illinois, father born Germany, mother born Germany, Merchant in Groceries etc
Mary Reuland Age 41, Wife, Married, immigrated 1881, Naturalized, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Maria “Mary” (Nigon) Reuland)
Ralph Reuland Age 20, Son, Single, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany, Clerk in Grocery store (son of Michael Nicholas Reuland & his 1st wife, Katherina M. “Kate” Wenmacher)
Helen Reuland Age 10, Daughter, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany
Catherine Reuland Age 9, Daughter, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany
Dorothy Reuland Age 4, Daughter, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany
Marion Reuland Age 2, Daughter, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Germany
Catherine Nigon Age 34, Sister-in-law, Single, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany (Katherine “Kate” Nigon, sister of Mary (Nigon) Reuland)
Margaret Nigon Age 27, Sister-in-law, Single, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, bookkeeper in office (sister of Mary (Nigon) Reuland)
Elizabeth Nigon Age 22, Sister-in-law, Single, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, bookkeeper in office (sister of Mary (Nigon) Reuland)

1923: Nigon sisters on the Clemens family farm outside of Rochester:


Note: four of the eight living Nigon girls, Lena (not pictured, died in 1915), Katherine “Kate,” Margaret, and Anna “Anne” never married

Apr 7, 1930: U.S. Federal Census, Fort Benton, Chouteau Co., Montana:
Name Katherine Nigon
Birth Year abt 1886
Gender Female
Race White
Age in 1930 44
Birthplace Minnesota
Marital Status Single
Relation to Head of House Nurse
Home in 1930 Fort Benton, Chouteau, Montana
Map of Home Fort Benton, Chouteau, Montana
Street Address Sisters of Charity
Ward of City 2nd
Institution St Clara Hospital and Home for the Aged
Dwelling Number 146
Able to Read and Write Yes
Father’s Birthplace France
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Nurse registered
Industry Hospital
Class of Worker Wage or salary worker
Employment Yes
Household members Name Age:
Delvina Robidoux 58
Lucie Dorais 52
Mary Walsh 54
Marion Ganthier 38
Charlebois Lucienne 32
Marie R Dufauld 30
Germaine Lavigne 30
Leforest Arnende 39
Leonie Martin 30
Marie A Vallee 27
Anna Perrault 65
Amanda Godin 42
Marion Yumnsow 24
Kathleen Hall 24
Katherine Nigon Age 44, Single, born Minnesota, father born France, mother born Germany, registered nurse in hospital
James J Wall 56
John Karney 78
Frank Samples 70
Robert Zirpell 86
Mike Kelley 80
Michael Burke 71
Geo Harms 53
Edward Kelley 80
Joseph Verana 75
James D Wolff 78
Note: Katherine’s younger sister, Anna Nigon, is also living in Fort Benton, Chouteau Co., Montana

1940: Rochester, Minnesota City Directory (pg 332):

Note: Katherine is living with her sister and husband, Elizabeth Susanna “Jane” (Nigon) Kleist & Clarence Elmer Kleist

Elizabeth “Jane” (Nigon) Kleist & Clarence Elmer Kleist:

Jan 4, 1940: Death of Katherine “Kate” Nigon (age 54), 8th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen, in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota

Jan 4, 1940: Minnesota Death Index:
Name Katherine Nigon
Record Type Death
Death Date 4 Jan 1940
Death Place Olmsted, Minnesota
Death Registration Date 1940
Certificate Number 010147
Record Number 828466

Jan 4, 1940: Rochester-Post Bulletin, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota (pg 5):

Jan 6, 1940: Burial of Katherine “Kate” Nigon at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; Sec CC 39 27:

Note: Katherine was born in 1885; the birth year on her headstone and the cemetery inscription index is incorrect

Original Calvary Cemetery Record Book:

1940: Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index (Katherine Nigon (age 54):
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Katherine Nigon
Birth Date 1886 (correction, born in 1885)
Death Date 1940
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments WITH NIKOLAS & BARBARA
Section CC 39 27

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2025: Researched and compiled by siblings Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens, with contributions from Bernard Nigon and Dana (Walker) Conway.

Direct line of Catherine and Gordon:
Peter Clemens & Maria Mary Reding (gg-grandparents)
Nicholas/Nikolas Nigon & Barbara Leinen (gg-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.