Anna Clara Nigon

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Anna Clara Nigon
9th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen
Born: Dec 22, 1887, Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Baptized: Feb 2, 1888, St. Felix Parish in Wabasha, Wabasha Co., Minnesota
Died: Jan 9, 1948 (age 60), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; after a lengthy illness
Buried: Jun 12, 1948, Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota
Education: Montana State Normal School, Dillon, Beaverhead Co., Montana
Occupation: Teacher
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 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 Anna Clara 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 Nigon, Anna Clara Nigon, Francis “Frank” Nigon, Margaret Nigon, Teresa Anna “Terese” Nigon, Elizabeth Susanna “Jane” Nigon
Note: Four of the Nigon sisters never married

Dec 22, 1887: Birth of Anna Clara Nigon, 9th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen, in Pepin Township, Wabasha Co., Minnesota

Dec 22, 1887: Minnesota Birth Index:
Name Anna Nigon
Gender Female
Birth Date 22 Dec 1887
Birth Place Pepin, Wabasha, Minnesota
Father Nicholas Nigon
Mother Barbara
FHL Film Number 1320190

Feb 2, 1888: Baptism of Anna Clara 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 “Terese” 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 Anna Nigon, standing second from left)

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

Note: Anna Nigon, age 17, born Minnesota, is listed 8th 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 Anna 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 Anna 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, Anna Nigon (age 19), is named in the document:

Apr 27, 1910: U.S. Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:
Name Nicholas Nigon
Age in 1910 30
Birth Date 1880
Birthplace Germany
Home in 1910 Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota
Race White
Gender Male
Immigration Year 1881
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Single
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
Enumerated Year 1910
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Nicholas Nigon Age 30, Head, Single, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, farmer, general farm (Nicholas Nigon, Jr.)
Lena Nigon Age 35, Sister, Single, born Germany, father born Germany, mother born Germany, immigrated 1881, housekeeper on farm
John Nigon Age 26, Brother, Single, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, farmer, general farm
Anna Nigon Age 22, Sister, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Frank Nigon Age 20, Brother, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, working on home farm
Margrett Nigon Age 17, Sister, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Theresa Nigon Age 15, Sister, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Elizabeth Nigon Age 13, Sister, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany
Note: Their parents died in 1906 and 1907, and eight of their children remained together, living on and running the family farm

1911: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota (pg 362):

Note: Anna is the 1st Nigon listed, above her mother, Barbara (Leinen) Nigon

Fall of 1912: Clemens’ farm in Cascade Township, Minnesota:

Amelia, Aunt Anne Nigon (Grandma’s younger sister)
Aloysius, Carl
Matt S. Clemens (Father), Elizabeth, Mary
Mathew Clemens, Sr. (GrandDad), (no Joe), Agnes, Cecelia, Anna,
baby Lawrence, Barbara Clemens (Mother), Mary (Reiland) Clemens (Grandmother)

(Note: Joe, incorrectly named, was not yet born)

1917: Anna moves to Fort Benton, Chouteau Co., Montana, according to her obituary

1920: U.S. Federal Census (no record for Anna Nigon found)

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

1928: Anna Nigon, Montana State Normal School, Dillon, Beaverhead Co., Montana:

Note: A normal school is a teacher training college

Mar 8, 1928: The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., Montana (pg 15):

Jan 10, 1929: The Augusta News, Augusta, Lewis and Clark Co., Montana (pg 3):

Apr 4, 1930: U.S. Federal Census, Augusta, Lewis and Clark Co., Montana:
Name Anna Nigon
Birth Year abt 1888
Gender Female
Race White
Age in 1930 42
Birthplace Minnesota
Marital Status Single
Relation to Head of House Lodger
Home in 1930 Augusta, Lewis and Clark, Montana
Dwelling Number 31
Attended School No
Able to Read and Write Yes
Father’s Birthplace Germany
Mother’s Birthplace Germany
Naturalization Naturalized
Able to Speak English Yes
Occupation Laborer
Class of Worker Wage or salary worker
Employment Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Lottie Barnard Age 66, Head
Anna Nigon Age 42, Single, Lodger, born Minnesota, father born Germany, mother born Germany, teacher, school

Apr 11/12, 1940: U.S. Federal Census, Fort Benton, Chouteau Co., Montana:
Name Anna Nigon
Age 51
Estimated Birth Year abt 1889
Gender Female
Race White
Birthplace Minnesota
Marital Status Single
Relation to Head of House Sister-in-law
Home in 1940 Fort Benton, Chouteau, Montana
Inferred Residence in 1935 Fort Benton, Chouteau, Montana
Residence in 1935 Fort Benton
Occupation Teacher
Highest Grade Completed College, 2nd year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census 40
Class of Worker Wage or salary worker in Government work
Weeks Worked in 1939 36
Income 2000
Income Other Sources No
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Lee R Loundagin Age 51, Head, Married, born Washington, owner of furniture store
Teresa Loundagin Age 45, Wife, Married, born Minnesota (Teresa Anna (Nigon) Loundagin)
Rita Loundagin Age 9, Daughter, Single, born Montana
Anna Nigon Age 51, Sister-in-law, Single, born Minnesota, teacher in grade school, income $2000 (sister of Teresa)

Jan 9, 1948: Death of Anna Clara Nigon, 9th of 13 children of Nicholas Nigon & Barbara Leinen (age 60), Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota; after a lengthy illness

Jan 9, 1948: Minnesota Death Index:
Name Anna Clara Nigon
Record Type Death
Death Date 9 Jan 1948
Death Place Olmsted, Minnesota
Death Registration Date 1948
Certificate Number 010533
Record Number 1056047

Jan 10, 1948: Rochester Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota (pg 12):

Jun 12, 1948: Burial of Anna Clara Nigon at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota:

Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index:
Township Cascade
County Olmsted
Name Anna C Nigon
Birth Date 1887
Death Date 1948
Cemetery Calvary Rochester
Comments WITH NIKOLAS & BARBARA (Anna’s parents)
Section CC 39 28

Original Calvary Cemetery Record Book (Anna C. Nigon):

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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.