Klein, Nicholas 1849-1915 & Mary Didier Family

KLEIN, DIDIER, FLAMMANG, KETTEL

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/30/2026 at 08:19:51

Klein, Nicholas 1849-1915 and Mary Didier Family

This biography of the Nicholas Klein and Mary Didier family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page127. It was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The full narrative including additions to the church book story were made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index, internet searches and various local archives.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may vary from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter. Information was cross checked from other sources when possible.

NICHOLAS KLEIN STORY from the St. Joseph’s church book page 127.
Nicholas Klein was born February 26, 1849 in Tadler, Luxemburg and immigrated to America at the age of nineteen in 1868. He married Mary Didier of Chicago Illinois on February 5, 1873. They homesteaded land south of Granville in 1877 where they raised their family of nine children.
Jacob, born January 21, 1874, married Cecelia Goebel of Granville in 1902. They lived in the Granville area and had nine children, Jake died on January 8, 1969.
Catherine, born February 18, 1876, entered the mount St. Francis Convent of Dubuque, Iowa in 1896 and took the name of Sister Priscilla. She taught primary grades at Bancroft, Iowa for 21 years. She died August 28, 1942.
John, born January 12, 1881, married Frances Hansen of Alton in 1910. They lived in the Dell Rapids, South Dakota area and had eight children. John died September 20, 1972.
Frank was born February 9, 1883 and died three months later.
Mary, born March 19, 1884 entered the Mount St. Francis Convent of Dubuque, Iowa in 1904 and took the name of Sister Silvina. She taught school for many years at St. Joseph Iowa and died July 9, 1937.
Joseph, born February 22, 1886 married Mary Mossong of Colman South Dakota in 1922. They lived on a farm at Dell Rapids, South Dakota and had six children. Joe died on March 31, 1967.
Henry, born August 27, 1888, lived his entire life on the farm south of Granville. He died Jun 3, 1975.
Peter, born August 11, 1890 married Catherine Hodapp of Granville in 1919. They had six children. Peter died October 6, 1976.
Lawrence, born January 3, 1894, was ordained to the priesthood on January 22, 1922 at Sioux City , Iowa. He served as pastor at Ot, Alvord, Leeds, Wesley and Ashton Iowa. He died May 30 1966,
Nicholas died on December 11, 1915 and Mary died on October 13, 1944.
(end of the family story in the St. Joseph’s church book.)
There are a few more stories in the church book of descendant families of Nicholas and Mary Klein.

RESEARCH Notes on Klein ancestry:

Nicolas Klein born 26 Feb 1849 Tadler, Wiltz Diekirch, Luxembourg died 11 Dec 1915 Granville, Sioux County, Iowa His parents were Michel Klein 2 Feb 1812 Feulen, Diekirch, Luxembourg died 1 Mar 1853 Tadler, Wiltz, Diekirch, Luxembourg. and Maria Klein Flammang born 27 Oct 1820 Feulen Canton Diekirch, Luxembourg died 2 Apr 1896 Tadler, Diekirch, Luxemboug. Nicolas married Mary Didier of Chicago, Illinois on Feb 5, 1873.

Mary Didier born 9 Mar 1853 Deckerich, Redange, Diekirch, Luxembourg and died 13 October 1844 Sioux County IA. Her parents were Johann’John’ Didier born 19 Mar 1827 Beckerich, Redange, Dieirch, Luxembourg. Died 28 Jul 1901 Evanston IL USA; and Susanna Kettel born 27 Sep 1824 Buvange, Luxembourg, Belgium died 11 Dec 1890 Evanston, IL.

CHILDREN: Although the children were listed in above story from the St. Joseph’s church book they were addressed here again with additional information found from local obits on the web page and from Find A Grave site.

1. Jacob B. Klein born 21 Jan 1874 Chicago, Cook, IL died 12 May 1948 Granville, IA. He married Cecilia Goebel 1880-1969. Their children were – Nick Klein 1902-1966, Henry J. Klein 1904-1991, Mary Oda Klein 1907-1981, Anna P. Klein 1909-1971, Leo Klein 1912-1981, Agnes Fisher Klein 1915-1981, Mary Ann Antionette Klein Penning 1917-2012, Mary Ann Marion Klein 1917-1971, Lawrence Joseph Klein 1919-1971, Helen Klein 1922-1981, Tresa Klein 1923-2017

2. Catherine Klein born Feb 18, 1876 entered the mount St. Francis Convent of Dubuque, Iowa in 1896 and took the name of Sister Priscilla. She taught primary grades at Bancroft, Iowa for 21 years. She died August 28, 1942. See the obit of Jacob B. Klein 1874-1948 on this web page.. easier to search under Goebel.

3. John F. Klein , born January 12, 1881 Granville, IA died 20 Sep 1972 Dell Rapids, SD , married Frances Hansen 1881-1967, of Alton in 1910. They lived in the Dell Rapids, South Dakota area and had eight children. Clarence N. Klein 1911-2004, Peter A. Klein 1913-1982, Arthur J. Klein 1915-1988, Mathilda Cecelia Klein Gebhart 1916-2000, Frances C. Klein Klein, 1919-2016, Priscilla M, Klein 1921-2015, Mary Ann Klein 1923-2017. Per Find A Grave Index on line.

4. Frank Klein was born February 9, 1883 and died 16 May 1883. three months later.

5. Mary Klein, born March 19, 1884 died 9 Jul 1937 Granville, Iowa She entered the Mount St. Francis Convent of Dubuque, Iowa in 1904 and took the name of Sister Silvina. She taught school for many years at St. Joseph Iowa.

6. Joseph Klein , born February 22, 1886 Granville Iowa, married Mary Mossong of Colman South Dakota in 1922. They lived on a farm at Dell Rapids, South Dakota and had six children. Joe died on March 31, 1967 Sioux Falls SD buried Dell Rapids SD.. Children listed – Sister Delphine Klein 1923-2017, Norbert J. Klein 1924-1978, Sr. Judine Klein 1928-2025, Harold Klein 1931-2004. Per Find A Grave Index on line.

7. Henry Klein , born August 27, 1888, lived his entire life on the farm south of Granville. He died Jun 3, 1975. See his obit on this web page, he was not married.

8. Peter Klein , born August 11, 1890 Granville IA married Catherine Hodapp of Granville in 1919. They had six children. Peter died October 6, 1976 Granville IA . Children - Hilary Leonard Klein 1922-1016, Rosemary Rita Klein Braun 1925-2021, Charlie Henry Klein 1927-1990, Peter Klein Jr. 1931-1931, Joseph Klein 1933-1933, John Klein 1925-1935.

9.Lawrence Klein, born January 3, 1894, was ordained to the priesthood on January 22, 1922 at Sioux City , Iowa. He served as pastor at Ot, Alvord, Leeds, Wesley and Ashton Iowa. He died May 30 1966 Ashton, IA. ,

OBITUARY of Nicholas Klein 1849-1915
Alton Democrat of Dec 18, 1915
Nicholas Klein died at his home in East Orange township suddenly on the morning of Saturday Dec. 11 from heart failure. Deceased was born in Tadler Luxemberg Germany, Feb 26, 1849. He came to this country in 1868 and worked in Chicago for seven and one half years. In 1873 he married Miss Mary Didier at Rose Hill, Cook County IL. In 1878 they and their brothers Jacob and Theodore Klein came to Sioux County, settling first in Nassau Township. Two years later they moved to their present home in East Orange where they have lived happily and prosperously for 36 years.
Mr. Klein is survived by the widow, Mary Klein and the following children: Jacob B., who resides in Floyd; John at Dell Rapids, SD; Joseph, Henry and Peter at home, Lawrence studying for the priesthood at St Mary’s college at Winona MN, and two daughters, Sister M. Priscilla of Petersburgh IA. One son, Frank, died a the age of six months. Two brothers, Jacob and Theodore Klein, live in East Orange and a step brothers. Frank Flamming, was staying at the home of the deceased. Father Gerlemann officiated at the funeral Dec 14 which was one of the largest ever seen here, burial being made in the St. Joseph cemetery, Granville.
The county thus loses one of its oldest and most respected citizens. He was a devout Catholic and a man of the highest integrity. The six sons were the pallbearers.

OBITUARY OF Mrs. Mary Klein 1871-1944.
Oct 19, 1944 Alton Democrat
Mrs. Nick Klein Dies At Age of Nearly 92 Years-
Mrs. Nicholas Klein died on Friday, Oct. 13, in her 92nd year, at 8:15 p. m., at Granville. Her maiden name was Mary Didier. She was married to Nicholas Klein in February 1871, at Evanston, IL. Nine children were born to this couple of whom three preceded their mother in death, namely, Sister Mary Silvina O. S. F, Sister Mary Priscilla O. S. F., and a son, Francis. Her husband died in 1915.
She is survived by six sons, Jake, Henry and Peter of Granville, John and Joseph of Dell Rapids, S. D., and Father L. N. Klein of Wesley, Iowa. She is also survived by one brother, John Didier of Franklin Park. IL., and by three sisters, Mrs. M. Welter, Evanston; .Mrs. J. P. Evert, Chicago, Mrs. Nick Schumer of Bird Island, Minn. Mrs. F. A. Figge of Ossian, Iowa, for the past three years remained with Mrs. Klein at her residence in Granville, giving her constant care and assistance during her declining years.
The funeral mass was Held in St. Joseph’s church Granville, Monday morning at 10 o’clock. Father L. N. Klein, her youngest son was celebrant of the mass; Father Edward Klein of Rochester MN, was deacon; Father Henry Karhoff of Oyens , sub deacon; Father John Cullen of Sutherland master of ceremonies; Father Gerlemann conducted services at the grave.
Six grandchildren acted at pallbearers; Pfc. Hilary Klein of St. Petersburg, Fla, Norbert Klein of Dell Rapids, Charles, Nick and Leo Klein of Granville, Robert Klein, Dell Rapids.
Many priests were present at the funeral. Also many relatives from a distance were at the funeral. Too numerous to mention.

If anyone has a early family story to add to this biography contact this web page coordinator.

This is a family picture from the St. Joseph’s church book page 127.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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