Brief Genealogy More »

 

Adolph Heinrich Fiegenbaum
and
Christine Elisabeth (Peterjohann) Fiegenbaum

 
photo of Adolph H. and Christine E. (Peterjohann) Fiegenbaum
Date and place unknown. Photo from Arthur Wellemeyer, Fiegenbaum, Wellemeyer (Klemme, Iowa: A. Wellemeyer, 1955) p.3. Courtesy of Eric Hanson and F. Gretchen (Klein) Leneerts.
 

Adolph Heinrich Fiegenbaum was born on 19 December 1793 at Ladbergen, Westphalia, Prussia and baptized in the evangelical church in that village later that month.

Christine Elisabeth Peterjohann was born 5 March 1797 at Lengerich, Westphalia, Prussia.

Adolph and Christine were married on 25 October 1820 at Ladbergen. It would appear that they lived the early part of their married life in Lengerich, for that is where the first five of their children were born. Adolph earned his living farming and building houses.

In 1834, Adolph, Christine, and their five children, between the ages of thirteen and one year, emigrated to the Untied States, landing in New Orleans and traveling up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri. They appear to have settled first in St. Charles County, Missouri. Heinrich Rudolph, their youngest child, was probably born here; his baptism is recorded in the archives of the church at Femme Osage, Missouri. In 1840, Adolph purchased land just east of this village (see land record).

Later, the family may have moved to the area of Hopewell, Missouri in neighboring Warren County. It seems that about this time they became familiar with the work of Franz Horstmann, who had established a German Methodist Episcopal mission at Pinckney, Missouri. Under his ministry, the parents and younger children were converted to Methodism. The three older children were already living and working in St. Louis at this time and, under the influence of revivals held there, also joined the Methodist church. Eventually, all four sons became ministers in this denomination and the two daughters married Methodist ministers.

In 1850, Adolph and Christine, the younger children and perhaps one married daughter and her family, moved to Louisa County, Iowa, near Wapello.

Christine died on 17 September 1871 and was buried at Colesburg, Iowa.

In 1875, Adolph moved with the family of his daughter, Christine, to Garner, Iowa in Hancock County. He died there on 11 January 1877, having spent the last few years of his life as an invalid as a result of injuries suffered in a fall. Adolph was buried at Garner.

Christine's body was brought from Colesburg and interned next to his in Concord Cemetery.

Adolph Heinrich Fiegenbaum's family

Christine Elisabeth Peterjohann's family

Adolph Heinrich Fiegenbaum and Christine Elisabeth Peterjohann were married 25 October 1820 at Ladbergen, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia.

Their children:

Photos

Documents

Burials

 

For more detailed genealogical information, search our Database.

Top of page